"What are they?" asked Lyllin, fascinated.
"Fireflies?" Kirk said doubtfully. "I remember that word, from somewhere...."
Then he suddenly started and exclaimed, "Hell, what—"
A small sinuous body had suddenly plopped into his lap. Two green eyes looked insolently up at him. It was the cat.
"It's very tame," said Lyllin. "It must have been somebody's pet."
"Probably belonged to the last people who lived here," Kirk said. "It's tame, all right."
He stroked its furry back. The cat half-closed its eyes and emitted a rusty purring sound. "Like that, eh, Tom?"
Tom settled down cozily, in answer. Lyllin reached to stroke its head.
With startling swiftness, the cat recoiled from her and leaped off Kirk's lap. It stared green-eyed back at them, then started across the lawn.
Kirk turned, laughing. "Crazy little critter—" He stopped suddenly. "Lyllin, what's the matter?"