The Alien Trace [Cord 01] Read Online Free

soon to talk about it, that's all. It's based on a wholly new approach to the problem of detecting criminal tendencies-"
        "And we're still afraid we've made some enormous miscalculation, that it will be worthless," Neteel finished. She stroked Finola's arm and then rested her hand on her husband's forearm.
        The mood in the room was shifting. Their words were now tinged with desire and need for a generous friend. For a moment Cord thought of the warm, soft body of Bird, quick and light as her name. He also thought that the three of them had forgotten he was there, and now their foreplay was bathing him with fiery caresses. He groaned, and an obvious bulge appeared in the front of his tunic.
        They turned to him in amusement. "Why don't you pay Bird a visit?" his mother suggested. "You can tell her the news-if it's all right to speak of it," she added to Finola.
        "Only if he speaks of trade-and love." Finola smiled, a sly, secretive smile that was one of her most attractive characteristics.
        "Bird is the daughter of the Third District Speaker."
        "That's all right. Fyrrell told me as much. My love-friend on the Council is a bit more powerful than the Speaker."
        Fyrrell and Neteel laughed a little. Even Cord knew that Finola's friend was the Council's head. Thanking her, Cord took his leave. Not only was he anxious to see Bird, but he could tell from the heightened emotional coloration in the room that his parents and Finola were interested in being alone to pursue their own amorous bent.
        As he left the dwelling, their rising tide of lust caught him in a backlash, making his blood pound and his loins ache. His tail whipped in anticipation.
        Before he boarded the intercity transport, he took care to close down his mind to those he would be encountering. Probably none would recognize him for what he was, but if they did, he preferred not to feel their contempt. He recited a brief but calming ancient hymn.
        The jointed, wheeled bus came quickly, and he joined the throng boarding. It was crowded but cheap.
        He spent the journey to Bird's suburb watching the other passengers. There were many lovely young women, he noticed. All had long, slim legs and soft, tinted skin. They favored short, colorful shifts that came close to revealing ail their assets. And many returned his appraising stare frankly. He'd already learned that his smooth, muscular chest and bulging arms excited many women. He had kept in top physical condition; he had to, to be ready to hunt at any time. Women found him quite attractive-until they learned of his profession.
        He closed down his mind even further. Eventually the few women who had returned his stare turned their attention elsewhere. If he maintained such control, as well as his posture and mannerisms, then he would remain invisible to notice. Being completely inconspicuous was part of his work, and, like his parents, he was very good at what he did. Besides, Bird was waiting at the end of the trip. And while she was no more fond of his work than most Mehirans, she was more understanding and certainly more loving.
        She and her father lived outside the main part of town, in an area consisting of single-family houses, not like his family's teeming building. Many of the single houses were built around garden courtyards, with beautiful sculptures, fish ponds, elaborate garden furniture. The Third District Speaker's home was less rich than some, as he made no effort to compete with those in the medical or entertainment arts. He was said to have simple tastes. All the same, Cord envied the ease of Bird's existence.
        She was still in school, studying speech and history, intending to take up politics. At present she acted as her father's aide. It was only the luxury Cord admired, however. He would not want to be a Speaker; the job entailed not only presenting his constituency's desires to the Council but