As both Picard and Elnor had known she would, Laris had tall, cool glasses of lemonade waiting for them when they returned to the chateau. This time they settled in the cool interior to drink their refreshments and eat a light lunch. Laris had placed out a selection of various cheeses, breads, and sliced meats for each of them to make their own sandwiches. Elnor noticed that she had included his favorite flatbread and resolved to help her make it next time. It wasn't as if the nuns hadn't also taught him to make bread. He might as well use all the skills they had taught him. Besides, he appreciated Laris' efforts to make him feel comfortable and accepted.
Once again, Number One settled himself at Picard's feet. And once again, the small, black cat, her fur significantly longer than Number One's, soon made an appearance. As before, she moved with a majestic grace. This time, however, she levitated to occupy a seat next to Elnor.
"Oh my," Picard's eyes widened, "I do believe she likes you."
Without even looking at Elnor, she raised a dainty paw and deftly snagged a slice of roast beef off of his plate. She proceeded to devour her purloined food right on the chair, ignoring Number One's drooling mouth and begging eyes.
Elnor, too shocked to stop her, lifted his eyes to Picard's and asked, "Does she always do that? Is she normally allowed to do that? You would never let Number One get away with doing something so rude as taking food from someone's plate!"
With a sigh of resignation, Picard replied, "No, she isn't allowed to do that. And yes, she always does that. Cats, well, they're different than dogs. Dogs love us and wish to please us. Cats. . . are cats. They will do what pleases them whether we wish it or not."
"At breakfast, you said that I might have more in common with cats than with people. Did you mean that I am rude?"
"Oh no, Elnor, that's not what I meant at all!" Assessing correctly that Elnor's feelings might be hurt, he added, "So far you've observed little more than how she moves. How would you describe her movements?"
"Graceful," Elnor admitted.
"Wait until you see her do more than walk and jump onto a chair. You'll understand more what I mean then."
After lunch on Saturdays was their open time, unscheduled, during which any of them might make suggestions as to what to do, or even take some time to spend in solitude. On other occasions, Picard had often suggested famous places on Earth that they might visit. The three of them had toured the ancient pyramids of Egypt, wondered what might have been the purpose of the still mysterious Stonehenge site, and walked on the Great Wall of China. In all his time on Vashti, Elnor had never traveled much on the planet. Now he wondered what he might have missed. But now, in this moment, he was on Earth. And now, on this particular Saturday afternoon, none of them seemed to have anything in particular that they wanted to do.
"Now, I wonder," mused Picard, "instead of traveling with our bodies, where might we travel with our minds?" He browsed the massive bookshelves of his study, eventually settling on a book bound in classic brown leather. "Elnor, I believe I got you started on this story many years ago. Shall we see where it goes next?"
His interest piqued, Elnor took the volume from Picard's hands almost reverently and read the title aloud, "Twenty Years After by Alexandre Dumas." He looked at Picard with his eyes wide.
"What?" asked Picard. "You didn't think d'Artagnan's adventures ended with The Three Musketeers, did you?"
"Actually, I did." Elnor replied honestly.
"Well, you would be wrong. Shall we continue where we left off so many years ago? Or, actually, pick up the story of d'Artagnan twenty years after his early adventures."
Elnor nodded in agreement and handed the book back to Picard. He, Laris, and Picard all found comfortable seats and Picard began to read. Lost in the words, taken back to his childhood, Elnor barely noticed at first when the cat brushed against his arm. Soon, she was settled in his lap, emitting a soothing, rhythmic rumble.
"Oh my!" Picard paused in his reading, "She really does like you! In the week we've had her, this is the first time I've heard her purr. Isn't that so, Laris?"
"It is," she agreed. "I was beginning to wonder if she even knew how."
"Is that what this sound is called? A purr?" asked Elnor. "I find it very relaxing."
"Most people do." agreed Picard. "It's one of the reasons they find such favor with us as pets in our homes."
Picard continued reading until he noticed Elnor's eye were closed, the young man lulled into sleep by the still unnamed cat's soothing purr.