"Well, see here, young fellow," Barnes protested amiably, "I'm the
president, so I have to have one of these cats. Emmet has one already
and the Humberford Foundation really needs one, and there are only
three in the country. You heard the young lady from Vega say it."
Several people and the two satyrs wandered up, attracted by the
argument.
"I don't care," Phil said, greatly encouraged by the tightness with
which Mitzie's hand gripped his. "I know that this is a cosmic crisis
and all that, but this is my cat and I fed it and I'm going to keep it.
C'mere, Lucky."
Lucky jumped out of the box into his arms.
"I guess that proves it," Phil said.
Barnes looked at him just a bit indignantly and there were all sorts
of murmured comments, but just then they heard a tiny and varied
mewing. It came from the box from which Lucky had sprung.
They looked in and saw five tiny duplicates of Lucky nosing their
little conical faces upward.
Dytie said, "They small, but they just much good big pussycat, just
much helpful."
Barnes said, spreading himself around, "Why, now there'll be one for
the Army, the Navy, Dr. Opperly, myself, that goon back east who thinks
he's going to be the next president...."
"Now Bobbie," Opperly suggested, "don't go giving away more kittens
than you've got."
"... and, I was about to say," Barnes finished calmly, "one for this
young fellow here."
Phil looked down at Lucky cradled in his arms. "So you're a she after
all," he said.
"Oh no!" Dytie burst out excitedly, half out of her cloak and half
in it. "You no un'erstand Vega. On Vega sex different. On Vega it's
like ..." and she screwed up her face, seeking for the word.
"Kangaroos," Opperly interposed.
"Yes!" Dytie exclaimed triumphantly. "Only this difference: wife carry
babies while, then babies go in father's pouch, he carry rest time.
Everybody help. Later on, babies leave pouch, nurse from mother. Take
off pants, Dion, show pouch."
But Dion refused rather indignantly.
"Vega men much modest," Dytie observed to Phil. "Anyway, Lucky is he."
* * * * *