Nimisha's Ship
- Автор: Маккефри Энн
- Язык: английский
- Жанр: Научная фантастика
Электронная книга - «Nimisha's Ship». Краткое содержание книги:
When Nimisha takes an experimental ship on a solo test flight, something goes horribly awry, marooning her light-years from home on a planet as deadly as it is beautiful. Now the ruthless members of a rival branch of the Rondymense family are given the chance they've been waiting for: to reclaim the Ship Yards by any means necessary.
Only Nimisha's ingenious child, Cuiva, stands in their way. But for how long? For just when her daughter needs her most, Nimisha is in a precarious situation herself--and unable to help. But Nimisha has never given up in her life--and she's not about to start now . . .
"Maybe they're just not curious," Casper said, getting to his feet. "C'mon, Tim, we're all having an early night to be rested for tomorrow's meeting."
"Can I finish watching this adventure? It's exciting."
"A soothing nightcap might be advisable," Doc said charmingly. "Cater, do provide us with an appropriate beverage."
"My pleasure. What may I serve you, Lady Nimisha? A tea perhaps?"
Whatever it was, herbal and tasty, had undoubtedly been laced with a mild sedative, Nimisha decided the next morning when Helm's chimes roused her. She had slept like the proverbial log.
Helm announced that there were significant movements at the proposed site, so everyone climbed into the gig after Jon carefully exited the Fiver's garage. They had patched in both Doc and Helm to the gig and, through that control board, to their wrist units, which would be recording the proceedings. Nimisha fixed a com-unit to Tim's belt, rather than wrapped about his much smaller wrist. Ton suggested an earring, so that Tim could receive advice from his mentors during the interview; a small receiver was found and planted behind his right ear. He strutted about, pleased with his equipment.
"A reception committee," Nimisha murmured when the gig, coming in at an angle over the obscuring bluff, showed them the throng that had gathered.
"They've set us a table, too," Timmy cried excitedly, pointing.
When the adults saw the rest of the carefully set scene, they exchanged amused glances. There were four stools set well back from the table, just as they had been positioned to allow Timmy to make the initial contact on the Fiver. There were little piles of what were obviously samples of edibles on pottery plates, as well as cups and several pottery jugs.
"Nice design on the pottery. Looks painted on with fine brush-work," Jon murmured. "Glazed, too."
"The best china for the visitors?" Nimisha replied.
"No diagnostic unit though," Syrona remarked with a sigh of relief.
"They are showing a nice degree of intelligence by reproducing our first encounter as well as they have," Jon said.
"All right, Tim, you're our resident ambassador," Casper said. "You go first."
"Me?" Tim went all wide-eyed and nervous. "They've set everything up for you, honey," Syrona said encouragingly, giving him a little shove toward the gig's open hatch.
"They have no weapons with them," Helm said, his low reassurance making Tim square his shoulders and advance. "Based on Doc's medical reports, they are at ease and waiting. No elevation of pulse or heartbeat."
"We're right behind you, cadet ensign," Jon said.
"So long as you are." Tim muttered, but he took the step forward. Then he paused and gulped as he reached ground level and began to appreciate just how many were assembled up the hill beyond the meeting place. "There's an awful lot of them, isn't there? What do I say? What do I do?" Apprehension made his voice quiver.
"Walk up to the table, Tim," Jon said. "We'll prompt you. Put your left hand behind your back if you want suggestions. I suggest that you point to yourself and say your own name. Then ask for Ay and Bee. Let's see if they remember the names we gave them."
"Shouldn't one of us go with him?" Syrona asked anxiously. "Tim's a brave lad," Nimisha said, assessing the rows and rows of quiet gray aliens seated in their odd cross-legged position. "He'll do the ambassador very well indeed." She made certain her voice was loud enough to reach Timmy's ears as he advanced. He must have heard her, for he suddenly stood a little straighter.
Four aliens rose and came forward to the table, bowing to Tim, and then bowing again to the larger humans and gesturing to the seating provided. Timmy bowed back.
Obediently the adults sat down, though the stools were more suited to smaller rear ends than theirs.
"Notice the much darker coats of two of them," Nimisha said softly. "Would that indicate age?"
Jon shrugged. "We should have painted Ay and Bee on the two while we had them. They all look exactly alike."
"They won't when we get used to them," Casper said. "I think they mean to get used to us."
Nimisha firmly hoped so. That would be a plus for the Poolbeg crew, and for herself and the achievements of the Fiver. She tried to settle on her stool, but it was too unstable on the soft ground for her to really relax or even put her full weight on it.
"Tim," the boy said, pointing to himself. "Ay? Bee? Oh, hey, they know who they are!" As two of the four aliens took an additional step forward, he turned about to grin at the adults.
Ay bowed again and said quite plainly, pointing to itself, "Ay."
"BbbbbEEEE," the second one managed to get out, having a lot of trouble with "b," which sounded more like "bubbubb," as it stepped forward. It took a plate carefully in both three-fingered hands and held it out to Tim. Then it took one of the unevenly chopped pieces and popped it into its mouth, chewing vigorously and making a thing of swallowing.
"I don't know what it is," Tim asked plaintively, eyeing the dish with anxiety.
"Doc says the offered food will not harm you but he can't guarantee the taste, Tim," Helm said softly, using the earring amplifier.
Tim reached hesitantly, but he took the food, sniffed it as the aliens had done, licked it. "Not so bad." He popped the morsel into his mouth. "Chewy," he added. "Like the nuts we found, Syrie."
He smiled, then rubbed his stomach and licked his lips. The two who stood beyond Ay and Bee recoiled slightly.
"Whaddid I do wrong?" Tim asked anxiously.
"I don't think you did anything wrong," Jon said quietly. "Take another piece and don't make faces."
"I thought it'd help if I showed 'em I liked it," Tim replied, but he took another morsel, chewed it, and swallowed. Ay offered him a pottery cup with water in it. Then Bee picked up another cup, took a careful sip, and handed it to Tim. He sniffed at it, since that seemed to be acceptable behaviour. "Some sort of sweet-smelling stuff, like the fruit you picked last year, Cas."
"Doc says neither will harm you, Tim," Helm said through the earring.
"Hey, the juice is good," Timmy said after the first sip, and drained the cup. Bee was quick to refill it, and Ay presented a different plate of small brown balls that Nimisha thought might have been cooked. Ay ate a ball before offering the plate to Tim.
"Doc says it's a meat product and harmless," Helm informed him.
Tim popped a ball into his mouth, closed his mouth, and then reacted in distress, opening his mouth wide, fanning it.
"Harmless?" Tim drained the fruit juice with a sigh of relief. "Hot stuff-not hot to touch, hot to eat. Wooof!"
His antics seemed to amuse not only Ay, Bee, and the other nearer aliens, but all those observing. Muted hoots and ooos rippled through the audience.
Bee said something liquid in sound to Ay, who changed plates to some green sprouts.
"I know what these are," Timmy said and crammed a handful into his mouth, nodding enthusiastically. Another ripple of hoots circulated the audience.
Ay picked up another plate and, after showing it to Tim, waved its free hand in front of its mouth and put the plate to one side.
"Thanks. Ay. That was hot all the way down," Tim said. "I wouldn't mind some more of the first stuff," he said, and picked up two more morsels from the plate. This appeared to please the audience.
"Is it possible to get samples of all they have offered?" Helm asked.
"Tim, why don't you load some of the food on the greens plate and bring it back to us," Jon suggested.
"Shouldn't I ask first?"
"Make gestures," Jon said and Tim went through an elaborate pantomime, of filling a plate, taking it to the adults, and bowing as he pretended to serve it.
Ay and Bee turned to the other two, sound rising and falling in the ensuing conversation.