Part 5 (1/2)

”Sorry,” Holloway said. ”Talking to Carl.”

”What I'm saying is that even in the archives there's no evidence of a creature like this,” Isabel said, continuing on. ”We have data on a few mammal-like creatures, basically rodents, and one of the flying creatures here is mostly mammal-like. But nothing even comes close to this. How big was this creature, Jack?”

Holloway looked at the creature, which had made its way into the kitchen area. ”It's about the size of a cat, I'd say,” he said. ”A big cat. Like a Maine c.o.o.n. If you stood the cat up on its hind legs.”

”So it was primarily bipedal,” Isabel said. ”I mean, so far as you observed it.”

The cat thing was climbing up one of the chairs at the kitchen nook table. ”I'd say so.”

”That's unusual too,” Isabel said. ”All the other mammal-like creatures here are quadrupeds. Except the flying one. Did you see it use its hands? Did it show any significant manual dexterity?”

The cat thing, by now on the seat of the chair, flung itself toward the kitchen counter, grabbed it at the edge, and deftly pulled itself up.

”Some,” Holloway said.

”Do you know how unusual this creature is, Jack?” Isabel said.

”I'm getting the idea,” Holloway said. The cat thing had by now reached its destination, which was the plastic bell Holloway kept his fruit under. Holloway maneuvered himself out of his sleeping alcove and walked toward his kitchen. ”It sounds like you're pretty excited about it, at least.”

”I am,” Isabel said. ”A new, large mammal like this in a faunasphere that's primarily reptilian in nature is a significant find. Really Really significant. It just doesn't happen that often.” significant. It just doesn't happen that often.”

”Looks like you finally hit your big score,” Holloway said, intentionally echoing the words Isabel used with him the last time they'd seen each other. He'd reached the kitchen. The cat thing was looking at him, and then looking at the fruit bell, as if to say, Get that for me, would you Get that for me, would you.

”No,” Isabel said. She hadn't noticed Holloway's choice of words. ”No offense, Jack, but your security camera video could easily be faked.”

”I didn't fake it,” Jack said. He lifted the bell off the fruit.

”I know you didn't,” Isabel said. ”That's not what I'm saying. What I'm saying is I can't use it as evidence or proof. Video is too easy to tamper with or change. This isn't a secure-grade recording. If I submitted this as evidence, I'd get laughed at.”

The cat thing reached into the fruit plate and lifted out the bindi, using both hands. ”So what are you saying?” Holloway asked.

”Jack, do you think the creature is still in the area?” Isabel asked. ”Somewhere close by, I mean.”

The cat thing walked the bindi over to Holloway and set it down in front of him.

”Probably,” Holloway said.

”I want to come out,” Isabel said.

”Excuse me?” Holloway said. This statement distracted him completely away from the cat thing. ”For a second there it sounded like you actually said you wanted to come out here.”

”Yes,” Isabel said.

”You,” Holloway said. ”Out Holloway said. ”Out here here. Near me me.”

Isabel sighed. ”Jack,” she began.

”Wait, scratch that,” Holloway said. ”Not near near me. me. With With me. Because you'd have to stay with me. Unless you fancied camping with the raptors.” me. Because you'd have to stay with me. Unless you fancied camping with the raptors.”

”Are you enjoying yourself, Jack?” Isabel said.

”Maybe,” Holloway said.

The cat thing reached over and poked Holloway in the side to get his attention. Holloway looked over. What? What? He mouthed silently to the creature. He mouthed silently to the creature.

The cat thing lifted the bindi again and set it down again, and then looked at Holloway with a look that betrayed impatience. Holloway suddenly remembered that the last time he'd given the thing some bindi, he'd sliced up the fruit. The animal was waiting for its slices.

”Pushy thing, aren't you,” Holloway said. He reached into his drawer to retrieve a knife.

”I thought you might want to help me, Jack,” Isabel said. ”Considering you gave me the video in the first place.”

Holloway realized Isabel thought that last comment was directed at her. ”Sorry,” he said. ”I didn't mean that the way you took it.” He set down the infopanel and reached for the bindi.

”Look, Jack,” Isabel said. ”I know we ended things badly, and I know you're still upset with me about it. And I admit I didn't help things at the end. But I thought we'd gotten over that enough that we can be friends. Actual friends, as opposed to the 'polite in public' sort of friends. Right? So I'm asking you as a friend if you'll help me out with this.”

”As a friend,” Jack said. He quartered the bindi and offered the cat thing a slice, then set the rest of the fruit on the counter and washed his hands in the sink. The cat thing watched and seemed fascinated by the faucet.

”If it's not too much to ask,” Isabel said. ”This could be a really important find. And somewhat less importantly, it could be good for me. I'd like to think that still means something to you.”

While Isabel spoke, Holloway reached into his cupboard, pulled out a small bowl, and filled it with water from the sink. He presented it to the cat thing, which crouched down and drank from it, pursing its lips like a human, rather than lapping from it like a cat or dog.

”Well, they are definitely interesting creatures,” he said.

”So,” Isabel said.

Holloway directed his attention back to the infopanel. ”Of course you can come out, Isabel,” he said. ”I'll be happy to see you. I don't know where I'll put put you, but I'll be happy to see you.” you, but I'll be happy to see you.”

”Thank you, Jack,” Isabel said. ”Don't worry. You won't even notice I'm there.”

Holloway cracked a smile. I doubt that, I doubt that, he thought to himself. he thought to himself.

He glanced back over to the cat thing, which had finished its drink. Holloway had expected the creature to be eating its fruit, but what it was doing was taking a second slice of bindi and hefting it and the first slice under an arm. Then it sat, used its legs and feet to drag its fuzzy b.u.t.t over to the edge of the kitchen counter, and jumped off. One of the bindi slices fell out of its grip when it landed; the cat thing collected it and then set off for the door.

”When do you want me?” Isabel asked.

”What?” Holloway said. He had been distracted by the cat thing.

”When do you want me to show up?” Isabel said. ”I don't want to get in the way of your schedule.”

”When do you want want to show up?” Holloway asked. By now the cat thing had completed its journey to the door, and stood by it, as if waiting for someone to open it. It coughed. Holloway picked up the infopanel and started to move to the door, but then Carl got up from where he was sitting by the work desk. to show up?” Holloway asked. By now the cat thing had completed its journey to the door, and stood by it, as if waiting for someone to open it. It coughed. Holloway picked up the infopanel and started to move to the door, but then Carl got up from where he was sitting by the work desk.

”I'd like to be there this afternoon, to be honest,” Isabel said. ”But I have things I need to do here first.”

”I thought you said you didn't have any work these days,” Holloway said. Carl had walked to the dog door and stepped through. As he went through, the cat thing slipped under Carl and out the door, the dog's hindquarters following.

”I didn't didn't have any work,” Isabel said. ”And then someone apparently found a huge sunstone deposit, and I've been told to prepare a biological impact report, double time.” have any work,” Isabel said. ”And then someone apparently found a huge sunstone deposit, and I've been told to prepare a biological impact report, double time.”