(O) Omnibus(C) Collection(A) Anthology

Фантастика Серии Blake Walker/Crosstime Crosstime 2008 fb2 (O) Contents: THE CROSSROADS OF TIME QUEST CROSSTIME

Carolus Rex (with Rosemary Edghill) 01 The Shadow of Albion 1999 fb2 02 Leopard in Exile 2001 fb2

Catfantastic (серия антологий, Андре Нортон - редактор, для каждой антологии она написала по одному рассказу) 01 Catfantastic: Nine Lives and Fifteen Tales 1989 epub (A) Contents: Introduction The Gate of the Kittens - Wilanne Schneider Belden The Damcat - Clare Bell Borrowing Trouble - Elizabeth H. Boyer Day of Discovery - Blake Cahoon Wart - Jayge Carr Yellow Eyes - Marylois Dunn It Must Be Some Place - Donna Farley The Dreaming Kind - C. S. Friedmart Trouble - P. M. Griffin SKitty - Mercedes Lackey The Game of Cat and Rabbit - Patricia Shaw Mathews From the Diary of Hermione - Ardath Mayhar It's A Bird, It's A Plane It's … Supercat! - Ann Miller - Karen Elizabeth Rigley Noble Warrior - Andre Norton Bastet's Blessing - Elizabeth Ann Scarborough 02 Catfantastic II 1991 fb2 (A) Contents: Introduction Bomber and the Bismarck by Clare Bell A Puma and a Panther by Wilanne Schneider Belden The Last Gift by Elizabeth H. Boyer Papercut Luck by Patricia B. Cirone Shado by Marylois Dunn In Bastet's Service by P. M. Griffin Shadows by Caralyn Inks The Execution by A. R. Major Hermione at Moon House by Ardath Mayhar Quest of Souls by Ann Miller and Karen Rigly Ede's Earrings by Sasha Miller Clara's Cat by Elizabeth Moon Hob's Pot by Andre Norton The Queen's Cat's Tale by Elizabeth Ann Scarborough The Keep-Shape Spell by Mary H. Schaub Of Age and Wisdom by Roger C. Schlobin Critical Cats by Susan Shwartz In Carnation by Nancy Springer 03 Catfantastic III 1994 fb2 (A) Contents: INTRODUCTION by Andre Norton A WOMAN OF HER WORD by Lee Barwood A TANGLED TAHITIAN TAIL by Clare Bell SAXOPHONE JOE AND THE WOMAN IN BLACK by Charles de Lint TEDDY CAT by Marylois Dunn CAT O' NINE TALES by Charles L. Fontenay PARTNERS by P. M. Griffin ... BUT A GLOVE by John E. Johnston III FEAR IN HER POCKET by Caralyn Inks A TAIL OF TWO SKITTYS by Mercedes Lackey HERMIONE AS SPY by Ardath Mayhar MOON SCENT by Lyn McConchie CAT'S WORLD by Cynthia McQuillin SNAKE EYES by Ann Miller and Karen Rigley ONE TOO MANY CATS by Sasha Miller NOBLE WARRIOR MEETS WITH A GHOST by Andre Norton CONNECTICAT by Raul Reyes and Elisabeth Waters THE CAT-QUEST OF MU MAO THE MAGNIFICENT by Elizabeth Ann Scarborough THE CAT, THE WIZARDS, AND THE BEDPOST by Mary H. Schaub TO SKEIN A CAT by Lawrence Schimel ASKING MR. BIGELOW by Susan Shwartz

Central Control Star Soldiers 2001 fb2 (O) Contents: Star Guard Star Rangers

Council/Confederation The Game of Stars and Comets 2009 epub (O) Contents: SIOUX SPACEMAN EYE OF THE MONSTER THE X FACTOR VOORLOPER

Dipple Masks of the Outcasts 2005 fb2 (O) Contents: Catseye Night of Masks

Five Senses 01 The Hands of Lyr 1994 fb2 02 Mirror of Destiny 1995 fb2 04 Wind in the Stone 1999 fb2

Forerunner Warlock 2002 fb2 (O) Contents: Storm Over Warlock Ordeal in Otherwhere Forerunner Foray The Forerunner Factor 2012 epub (O) Contents: Forerunner Forerunner: The Second Venture

Halfblood Chronicles (with Mercedes Lackey) 01 The Elvenbane 1991 fb2 02 Elvenblood 1995 epub 03 Elvenborn 2002 fb2

Hosteem Storm/Beast Master Beast Master's Planet 2005 fb2 (O) Contents: 01 The Beast Master 02 Lord of Thunder 03 Beast Master's Ark 2002 epub (with Lyn McConchie) 04 Beast Master's Circus 2004 fb2 (with Lyn McConchie) 05 Beast Master's Quest 2006 epub (with Lyn McConchie)

Imperial Lady 01 Imperial Lady 1989 epub (with Susan Shwartz) 02 Empire of the Eagle 1993 epub (with Susan Shwartz)

Janus Janus 2002 fb2 (O) Contents: 01 Judgment on Janus 02 Victory on Janus Jern Murdoc Search for the Star Stones 2008 fb2 (O) Contents: 01 The Zero Stone 02 Uncharted Stars

Magic 01 Steel Magic(AKA Gray Magic) 1965 epub 02 Octagon Magic 1967 epub 03 Fur Magic 1968 fb2 04 Dragon Magic 1972 fb2 05 Lavender-Green Magic 1974 epub 06 Red Hart Magic 1976 epub

Mark of the Cat 01 The Mark of the Cat 1992 epub

Moon Singer/Free Trader/Moon Magic Moonsinger 2006 fb2 (O) Contents: 01 Moon of Three Rings 02 Exiles of the Stars Moonsinger's Quest 2011 fb2 (O) Contents: 03 Flight in Yiktor 04 Dare to Go A-Hunting

Pax/Astra Star Flight 2007 fb2 (O) Contents: 01 The Stars Are Ours! 02 Star Born

Psychocrat Gods and Androids 2004 fb2 (O) Contents: 01 Android at Arms 02 Wraiths of Time

Quag Keep (with Jean Rabe) 01 Quag Keep 1978 fb2

Ross Murdock/Time Traders Time Traders 2000 fb2 (O) Contents: 01 The Time Traders 02 Galactic Derelict Time Traders II 2001 fb2 (O) Contents: 03 The Defiant Agents 04 Key Out of Time 05 Firehand 1994 fb2 (with P. M. Griffin) 06 Echoes in Time 1999 fb2 (with Sherwood Smith) 07 Atlantis Endgame 2002 fb2 (with Sherwood Smith)

Solar Queen 01 Sargasso of Space 1955 epub 02 Plague Ship 1956 fb2 03 Voodoo Planet 1959 fb2 04 Postmarked the Stars 1969 epub 05 Redline the Stars 1993 epub (with P. M. Griffin) 06 Derelict for Trade 1997 fb2 (with Sherwood Smith) 07 A Mind for Trade 1997 fb2 (with Sherwood Smith)

Star Ka'at (with Dorothy Madlee) 01 Star Ka'at 1976 fb2 02 Star Ka'at World 1978 fb2 03 Star Ka'ats and the Plant People 1979 fb2

The Cycle of Oak, Yew, Ash, and Rowan 01 To the King a Daughter 2000 fb2 02 Knight or Knave 2001 fb2 03 A Crown Disowned 2002 fb2 04 Dragon Blade 2005 fb2 05 The Knight of the Red Beard 2008 epub

Trillium/World of the Three Moons 01 Black Trillium 1990 fb2 (with Julian May and Marion Zimmer Bradley) 03 Golden Trillium 1993 fb2

Witch World Universe Lore of the Witch World 1980 epub (C) Contents: Introduction by C. J. Cherryh Spider Silk (1976) Sand Sister (1979) Falcon Blood (1979) Legacy from Sorn Fen (1973) Sword of Unbelief (1977) The Toads of Grimmerdale (1973) Changeling (1980) Ully the Piper 1970 fb2

Estcarp 01 Witch World 1963 fb2 02 Web of the Witch World 1964 fb2 03 Three Against the Witch World 1965 fb2 04 Warlock of the Witch World 1967 fb2 05 Sorceress of the Witch World 1968 fb2 06 Trey of Swords 1977 epub 07 'Ware Hawk 1983 fb2 08 The Gate of the Cat 1987 epub

High Hallack 01 Horn Crown 1981 epub 02 Year of the Unicorn 1965 epub 03 Spell of the Witch World 1972 epub (C) Contents: Dragon Scale Silver Dream Smith Amber Out of Quayth 04 The Jargoon Pard 1974 epub 05 Zarsthor's Bane 1978 fb2 06 Songsmith 1992 epub (with A. C. Crispin) The Gryphon Saga 01 The Crystal Gryphon 1972 fb2 02 Gryphon in Glory 1981 epub 03 Gryphon's Eyrie 1984 fb2 (with A. C. Crispin)

Witch World Chronicles (with Lyn McConchie) 01 - The Duke's Ballad 2005 fb2 02 - Silver May Tarnish 2005 fb2

Witch World Secrets 01 The Key of the Keplian 1995 epub (with Lyn McConchie) 02 Ciara's Song 1998 fb2 (with Lyn McConchie) 03 The Magestone 1996 epub (with Mary H. Schaub) 04 The Warding of Witch World 1996 epub The Toads of Grimmerdale 1973 fb2

Witch World: The Turning 01 Storms of Victory 1991 fb2 (A) (with P. M. Griffin) Contents: Port of Dead Ships by Andre Norton Seakeep by P. M. Griffin 02 Flight of Vengeance 1992 fb2 (A) (with P. M. Griffin and Mary H. Schaub) Contents: Exile by Mary H. Schaub Falcon Hope by P. M. Griffin 03 On Wings of Magic 1994 fb2 (A) (with Sasha Miller and Patricia Matthews) Contents: We the Women by Patricia Mathews Falcon Magic by Sasha Miller

Внесерийные романы Dark Companion 2005 fb2 (O) Contents: Dark Piper Dread Companion Darkness and Dawn 2003 fb2 (O) Contents: Daybreak - 2250 AD (Star Man's Son) No Night Without Stars Deadly Dreams 2011 fb2 (O) Contents: Perilous Dreams (C) Toys of Tamisan Ship of Mist Get Out of My Dreams Nightmare Knave of Dreams From the Sea to the Stars 2007 fb2 (O) Contents: Sea Siege Star Gate Here Abide Monsters 1973 fb2 House of Shadows 1984 fb2 (with Phyllis Miller) Huon of the Horn 1951 epub Ice and Shadow 2012 epub Contents: Ice Crown Brother to Shadows Merlin's Mirror 1975 epub Operation Time Search 1967 epub Secret of the Lost Race 1959 fb2 Seven Spells to Sunday 1979 fb2 (with Phyllis Miller) Star Hunter 1961 epub The Iron Breed 2013 epub (O) Contents: Iron Cage Breed to Come Three Hands for Scorpio 2005 fb2 Wheel of Stars 1983 fb2 Yurth Burden 1978 epub

Сборники Moon Mirror 1988 fb2 Contents: Book 1: HOW MANY MILES TO BABYLON? Book 2: THE TOYMAKER’S SNUFFBOX Book 3: TEDDI Book 4: DESIRABLE LAKESIDE RESIDENCE Book 5: THE LONG NIGHT OF WAITING Book 6: THROUGH THE NEEDLE’S EYE Book 7: ONE SPELL WIZARD Book 8: OUTSIDE Book 9: MOON MIRROR The Andre Norton Megapack 2012 epub Contents: "The People of the Crater" "The Gifts of Asti" "Plague Ship" "Star Born" "All Cats Are Gray" "The Time Traders" "Voodoo Planet" "Storm Over Warlock" "Star Hunter" "The Defiant Agents" "Key Out of Time" "Ralestone Luck" (historical) "Ride Proud, Rebel!" (historical) "Rebel Spurs" (historical) "Murders for Sale" (mystery) The Book of Andre Norton 1975 fb2 Contents: Introduction The Toads of Grimmerdale London Bridge On Writing Fantasy Mousetrap All Cats Are Gray The Long Night Of Waiting The Gifts Of Asti Long Live Lord Kor! Andre Norton: Loss of Faith Wizards' Worlds 1989 fb2 Contents: Falcon Blood Toads of Grimmerdale Changeling Spider Silk Sword of Unbelief Sand Sister Toys of Tamisan Wizards' Worlds Mousetrap Were-Wrath By a Hair All Cats Are Gray Swamp Dweller

Рассказы и повести Sow's Ear--Silk Purse 2002 fb2 The Dowry of the Rag Picker's Daughter 1988 fb2 The Gifts of Asti(ill) 1948 fb2 The Outling 1998 fb2 The Way Wind 1995 fb2

Не фантастика Серии Drew Rennie 01 - Ride Proud, Rebel 1961 epub 02 - Rebel Spurs 1962 fb2

Внесерийные романы Ralestone Luck 1938 epub Shadow Hawk 1960 epub Sneeze on Sunday 1954 fb2 (with Grace Allen Hogarth) The Opal-Eyed Fan 1977 fb2 The Prince Commands 1934 epub

Chapter I - PERFUMED PLANET

DANE THORSON, CARGO-MASTER-APPRENTICE of the Solar Queen , Galactic Free Trader spacer, Terra registry, stood in the middle of the ship’s cramped bather while Rip Shannon, assistant Astrogator and his senior in the Service of Trade by some four years, applied gobs of highly scented paste to the skin between Dane’s rather prominent shoulder blades. The small cabin was thickly redolent with spicy odors and Rip sniffed appreciatively.

“You’re sure going to be about the best smelling Terran who ever set boot on Sargol’s soil,” his soft slur of speech ended in a rich chuckle.

Dane snorted and tried to estimate progress over one shoulder.

“The things we have to do for Trade!” his comment carried a hint of present embarrassment. “Get it well in—this stuff’s supposed to hold for hours. It’d better. According to Van those Salariki can talk your ears right off your head and say nothing worth hearing. And we have to sit and listen until we get a straight answer out of them. Phew!” He shook his head. In such close quarters the scent, pleasing as it was, was also overpowering. “We would have to pick a world such as this—”

Rip’s dark fingers halted their circular motion. “Dane,” he warned, “don’t you go talking against this venture. We got it soft and we’re going to be credit-happy—if it works out—”

But, perversely, Dane held to a gloomier view of the immediate future. “If,” he repeated. “There’s a galaxy of ‘ifs’ in this Sargol proposition. All very well for you to rest easy on your fins—you don’t have to run about smelling like a spice works before you can get the time of day from one of the natives!”

Rip put down the jar of cream. “Different worlds, different customs,” he iterated the old tag of the Service. “Be glad this one is so easy to conform to. There are some I can think of—There,” he ended his message with a stinging slap, “You’re all evenly greased. Good thing you don’t have Van’s bulk to cover. It takes him a good hour to get his cream on—even with Frank helping to spread. Your clothes ought to be steamed up and ready, too, by now—”

He opened a tight wall cabinet, originally intended to sterilize clothing which might be contaminated by contact with organisms inimical to Terrans. A cloud of steam fragrant with the same spicy scent poured out.

Dane gingerly tugged loose his Trade uniform, its brown silky fabric damp on his skin as he dressed. Luckily Sargol was warm. When he stepped out on its ruby tinted soil this morning no lingering taint off his off-world origin must remain to disgust the sensitive nostrils of the Salariki. He supposed he would get used to this process. After all this was the first time he had undergone the ritual. But he couldn’t lose the secret conviction that it was all very silly. Only what Rip had pointed out was the truth—one adjusted to the customs of aliens or one didn’t trade and there were other things he might have had to do on other worlds which would have been far more upsetting to that core of private fastidiousness which few would have suspected existed in his tall, lanky frame.

“Whew—out in the open with you—!” Ali Kamil, apprentice Engineer, screwed his too regular features into an expression of extreme distaste and waved Dane by him in the corridor.

PART I: VENTURE OF SULCARKEEP

I

SIEGE PERILOUS
The rain was a slantwise curtain across the dingy street, washing soot from city walls, the taste of it metallic on the lips of the tall, thin man who walked with a loping stride close to the buildings, watching the mouths of doorways, the gaps of alleys with a narrow-eyed intentness.

Simon Tregarth had left the railroad station two — or was it three hours ago? He had no reason to mark the passing of time any longer. It had ceased to have any meaning, and he had no destination. As the hunted, the runner, the hider — no, he was not in hiding. He walked in the open, alert, ready, his shoulders as straight, his head as erect as ever.

In those first frantic days when he had retained a wisp of hope, when he had used every scrap of animal cunning, every trick and dodge he had learned, when he had twisted and back-trailed, and befogged his tracks, then he had been governed by hours and minutes, he had run. Now he walked, and he would continue to walk until the death lurking in one of those doorways, in ambush in some alley would confront him. And even then he would go down using his fangs. His right hand, thrust deep into the soggy pocket of his top coat, caressed those fangs — smooth, sleek, deadly, a weapon which fitted as neatly into his palm as if it were a part of his finely trained body.

Tawdry red-and-yellow neon lights made wavering patterns across the water-slick pavement; his acquaintance with this town was centered about a hotel or two located at its center section, a handful of restaurants, some stores, all a casual traveler learned in two visits half a dozen years apart. And he was driven by the urge to remain in the open, for he was convinced that the end to the chase would come that night or early tomorrow.

Simon realized that he was tiring. No sleep, the need for constant sentry-go. He slackened pace before a lighted doorway, read the legend on the rain-limp awning above it. A doorman swung open the inner portal and the man in the rain accepted the tacit invitation, stepping into warmth and the fragrance of food.

The bad weather must have discouraged patrons. Maybe that was why the headwaiter welcomed him so quickly. Or perhaps the cut of the still presentable suit protected from the damp by the coat he shed, his faint but unmistakable natural arrogance — the mark left upon a man who has commanded his kind and been readily obeyed — insured for him the well-placed table and the speedily attentive waiter.

Simon grinned wryly as his eye sped down the lines of the menu, and there was a ghost of true humor in that grin. The condemned man would eat a hearty meal anyway. His reflection, distorted by the curving side of the polished sugarbowl, smiled back at him. A long face, fine-drawn, with lines at the corners of the eyes, and deeper set brackets at the lips, a brown face, well-weathered, but in its way an ageless face. It had looked much the same at twenty-five, it would continue to look so at sixty.

Tregarth ate slowly, savoring each bite, letting the comforting warmth of the room, of the carefully chosen wine, relax his body if not mind and nerves. But that relaxation nurtured no false courage. This was the end, he knew it — had come to accept it.

“Pardon…”

The fork he had raised with its thick bite of steak impaled did not pause before his lips. But in spite of Simon’s iron control a muscle twitched in his lower eyelid. He chewed, and then he answered, his voice even.

“Yes?”

The man standing politely at his table might be a broker, a corporation lawyer, a doctor. He had a professional air designed to inspire confidence in his fellows. But he was not what Simon had expected at all, he was too respectable, too polite and correct to be — death! Though the organization had many servants in widely separated fields.

“Colonel Simon Tregarth, I believe?”

1

To Nick’s left the sun had hardly topped the low trees. It was a ball of red fire; today was going to be a scorcher. He hoped he could make it into the woods road before the heat really hit. Of course he had wanted to start earlier, but there was always some good reason why—Behind the faceplate of his helmet Nick scowled at the road ahead.

Always some good reason why the things he wanted to do did not fit in with plans, not his plans, naturally. Did Margo actually sit down and think it out, arrange somehow ahead of time so that what Nick had counted on was just what was not going to happen? He had suspected that for some time. Yet her excuses why this or that could not be done were so perfectly logical and reasonable that Dad always went along with them.

At least she had not ruined this weekend. Maybe because she and Dad had their own plans, or rather her plans. Give Nick another year—just one—and Margo could talk to the thin air. He would not be there to listen to her. That—he relished the satisfaction that thought presented—was the day he was going to start living!

Dad—Nick’s thoughts squirmed hurriedly away from that path. Dad—he had chosen Margo, he agreed with Margo’s sweet reasonableness. All right, let him live with it and her! Nick was not going to a minute longer than he had to.

The trees along the road were taller now, closer together. But the surface over which the motorbike roared was clear and smooth. He could make good time here. Once he turned into the lake road it would be different. But in any event he would reach the cabin by noon.

His thoughts soared away from what lay behind, already seeking the peace ahead. The weekend, and it was a long one from Friday to Monday, was his alone. Margo did not like the lake cottage. Nick wondered why she had never talked Dad into selling it. Maybe she just did not care. There was plenty else for her to own. Just as she owned Dad.

Nick’s scowl deepened, his black brows drawing together, his lips thinly stretched against his teeth. That scowl line now never completely faded, it had had too much use over the past three years. He swayed and adjusted to the swing of the machine under him as an earlier generation would have ridden a horse, the metal framework he bestrode seemingly a part of his own person. The bubble safety helmet covered his head front and back. Below that he wore a tee shirt, already dust streaked, and faded jeans, his feet thrust into boots.

Saddlebags, tightly strapped against loss, held the rest of his weekend wardrobe and supplies, save for the canned food at the cabin and what he would buy at the store going in. He had a full tank of gas, he had his freedom for four days—he had himself! Nick Shaw as he was, not Douglas Shaw’s son, not Margo’s stepson (though, of course, that relationship was hardly ever mentioned). Nick Shaw, himself, personal, private and alone.

A twisting curve downhill brought him to the store at the foot of the bend, a straggle of houses beyond. This was Rochester, unincorporated, with no “Pop.” on the sign Nick flashed past. He came to a stop at the store. A Coke would go good. Ham Hodges always had those on ice.

Bread, cheese, Nick had no list, just had to remember to get things that would not be affected by the bumpy ride in. His boots thumped on the porch as he reached for the knob of the screen door. Behind the screening a black shape opened its jaws in an almost inaudible but plainly warning hiss.

Nick jerked off his helmet. “I’m no Martian invader, Rufus,” he said to the big tomcat.

Unblinking blue eyes stared back but the jaws closed.

“Rufe, you there—move away from the door. How many times am I going to tell you if you sit there you’re going to be stepped on someday—”

Nick laughed. “By whom, Ham? Some customer pounding in for bargains, or one going out because you ran the prices up on him?”

The cat moved disdainfully back a little, allowing him to pass by.

“Nick Shaw!” The youngish man moved out from behind the counter on the left. “Your folks up for the weekend?”

Nick shook his head. “Just me.”

“Sorry your Dad couldn’t make it. Larry Green sighted some big ones in the cove. He was just saying to me no more’n an hour ago that Mr. Shaw sure ought to come up and cast a line for one of those. He hasn’t been here for a long time now.”

Ham was being tactful, but not tactful enough. Nick shifted his feet. They never mentioned Margo, but she was always right there, in their minds as well as his, when they talked about Dad. Before Margo Dad had loved the lake, had been here in the summer and the fall every minute he could get away. How much longer would he even keep the cabin now?

“No,” Nick answered in a voice he kept even with an effort. “He’s been pretty busy, Ham, you know how it is.”

“Don’t suppose I can sell you any bait—”

Nick managed a smile. “You know me, Ham. I’m about as much a fisherman as Rufus is a dog lover. What I do want is some stuff to eat—what I can carry on the bike without a smashup. Any of Amy’s bread to go?”

“I’ll see. No reason why we can’t spare some baking—”

Hodges turned to the back of the store and Nick moved around to pick other items. A package of bacon from the freezer bin, some cheese. From all the years he had been stopping at Ham’s he knew where most things were. Rufus was back on guard at the screen door. He was about the biggest cat Nick had ever seen, but not fat. Instead, in spite of the plates of cat food he could and did lick clean each day, he was rather gaunt. His conformation was that of his Siamese father, though his color was the black of the half-breed.

“How’s hunting, Rufus?” Nick asked as he returned to the counter.

An ear twitched, but the cat’s head did not turn even a fraction. His interest in what lay outside was so intent that Nick moved up behind him to look out, too. There must be a bird, even a snake—something in the road. But he could see nothing.

Which did not mean that nothing was there. Cats saw above and below the human range of sight. There could be something there all right, something invisible—

Nick wondered just how much truth there was in some of the books he had read—those that speculated about different kinds of existence. Such as the one that had suggested we share this world with other kinds of life as invisible to us as we might be to them. Not altogether a comfortable thought. You had enough trouble with what you could see.

“What’s out there, Rufus? Something out of a UFO?”