I stared at the tiny little body, lying too still on the pillow. Wee Bairn the air duct kitten was gone. I gently ran one finger down the length of his tiny body. He’d fought so hard, but the lack of food and water, and the injuries he’d received while living in the air duct had been too much. Even though I’d only found him three days ago, he’d wormed his way into my heart. I sighed, wrapping him in a towel and placing him in a small wooden tchotchke box I had on my nightstand. No matter what, or how hard, we love, it all passes away. I picked up my tiny bundle and headed for the airlock. He’d get a proper spacer’s funeral. I placed him gently on the floor of the airlock right next to the outer door, and after one last pat, stepped back and closed and latched the inner door. I watched through the window as the cycle was completed and the outer door opened. The small box holding Bairn shot into the vacuum as the last of the oxygen left the lock.
“Farewell, brave Bairn. I hope you find all the mice you want in your kitty heaven,” I whispered.
I turned away and trudged back to my quarters. About two meters from my door, I heard a small sound.
Coming from the air duct.
What the hell?
I paused, listening. The sound came again. Scratching followed by a small squeak.
There were more cats in the air ducts? Where the hell did they come from? I dashed into my quarters, grabbed my tool box, and raced back to where I’d heard the sound. I stopped short and held my breath. There! I heard it again.
I started to open up the panels that would give me access to the interior of the air duct.
“Uh, sir? What are you doing?” The voice of my navigator came from behind me.
“Found another kitten in the air ducts,” I said, continuing to open up the wall.
“Are you kidding?” Niko exclaimed. “I’ll be right back.” He ran off and returned very quickly with his own tool box and a small crate lined with a towel. When I glanced at him, he shrugged.
“It or they will likely be cold and could be hurt. I mean, look at Bairn’s condition when we found him.”
I nodded. “Good thinking. I’ve almost got it…” One last screw and I was in the air duct.
Two tiny sets of eyes peered out at me. The kittens looked to be about eight weeks old, but they were too skinny. Their condition made me think mama hadn’t survived. I carefully pulled them out of the ductwork and placed them in Niko’s box.
“Go find some milk, or ground meat for them. I’ll put this all back together and meet you in the galley.”
“Will do, cap’n,” Niko said. He gazed down at the two little balls of squeaking fluff. “Welcome to the more comfortable part of the Burning Eagle,” he told them in a gentle voice.
I smiled. For a very large, very scary-looking guy, Niko was quite a soft touch, especially around small, vulnerable creatures.
After putting everything back together, I headed for the galley to check on our newest crew members. Niko was sitting at the small table, staring into the crate which was placed in the middle of the table. He glanced up as I entered.
“I think these guys will be okay, Perry,” he said quietly. “They’re eating well and I don’t see any obvious injuries on them. I’m guessing little Bairn just got unlucky.”
“That’s good. I’d rather not leave any more to the vacuum right now.”
Niko nodded his agreement. We both gazed down at the two kittens who were ravenously devouring the ground beef Niko had put in front of them. I noticed there was also a small dish of water in the crate with them.
“Well, I’ll keep them in my quarters for now. I’ll have to find something to use as a litter box for them, but hopefully in a week or so we can let them out into the rest of the ship,” I said.
“As long as they don’t get into any more air ducts,” Niko added.
“Yeah, we’ll have to figure out where mama might have gotten in, and we’ll have to find her as well. I don’t relish the idea of breathing in eau de dead cat,” I said.
“No, I don’t either. I’m sorry she didn’t make it, but I’m glad we were able to save these guys,” Niko said.
“Me, too. Now we just have to come up with names.”
******
This week my prompt challenge came from Parrish Baker: No matter what we love, it all passes away. My prompt went to TA Leederman. This short scene involves characters from my short story Market Station which was published in the Raconteur Press anthology Goblin Market. If you haven’t already guessed, or known, I like cats. I fully expect there to eventually be cats on long-haul space ships if for no other reason than companionship and ease of care. Make your way over to More Odds Than Ends and see what everyone else came up with. It’s fun and makes for a good break in the day.