Dinosaurus Planet Survivors
- Автор: Маккефри Энн
- Серия: Dinosaur Planet #2
- Язык: английский
- Жанр: Научная фантастика
Электронная книга - «Dinosaurus Planet Survivors». Краткое содержание книги:
“Yes, so it has,” Sassinak mused, a slight smile on her face. “It really doesn’t do for the heavyworlders to get so arrogant and presumptuous with us lightweights, does it?” Sassinak leaned forward, her expression sad. “The irony of these instances is that those who struggled to pave a way would have found themselves discarded by such as Cruss, cast away entirely, once their purpose had been served-I wonder if Tanegli and his fellow mutineers ever considered that possibility. Of course,” and a complacent smile bowed the commander’s mouth, “your survival is as unexpected as my arrival. Not to mention the interest the Thek are evincing in Ireta-can you explain that for me, Kai?”
“No, Commander. I haven’t been able to get any of them to speak to me. My personal contact, the one called Tor, is not among them. May I have access to your computer on the subject of Thek? I want to check other occurrences of such numbers descending on a planet. They seem to be settling on the points where: we discovered existing cores.”
“Existing cores?” Sassinak was surprised. “According to Fleet records, this planet has never been explored.”
“That was our understanding, too, Commander.” Kai’s tone was dry.
“Nevertheless, my geology team found cores of extreme antiquity in place.”
“Fascinating. I can only hope that we shall be enlightened in due course.”
“Commander Sassinak,” Kai began more formally, “does your presence here constitute the relief of the ARCT-10 expeditionary team?”
“How could it, my dear Kai?” Sassinak grinned. “I didn’t know you existed. My jurisdiction begins and ends with that transport out there. You were, and still are, an authorized exploration team to Ireta. As Varian has reminded me, that makes you both governors pro-tem on Ireta. Since your EV has not collected you in the time allotted for your explorations, in FSP law that makes you shipwrecked-stranded, if you prefer. And it is standard Fleet procedure to give all aid and assistance to stranded personnel. Have I made my position plain?”
“Indeed, you have.”
“Will I see you both at dinner this evening?”
“You will, Commander, and our thanks for the invitation.”
“It isn’t often that representatives of two generations four times removed get a chance to meet, is it? Even in this crazy universe!” Sassinak was smiling as she broke the connection.
“Do you need any supplies urgently, Governors?” Fordeliton asked with a grin. Kai and Varian tendered their lists. “Good, then, I can escort Kai to Mayerd’s clutches and take Varian on to the quartermaster. Mayerd’s very good, you know,” Fordeliton went on easily as he preceded them through the confusing maze of corridors. “Loves nothing better than a medical puzzle. So much space medicine is fairly cut and dried-if you’ll forgive the puns. She’s always writing obscure essays for the Space Medical Journal. This is our first planetfall in four months. Too bad the planet stinks so. We could use shore leave.”
“The first forty years are the hardest,” Kai remarked.
Fordeliton paused before the sick-bay entrance and Kai, with a grimace, waved them a jaunty farewell.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Varian and Fordeliton had swung down the corridor toward the quartermaster section when Aygar and two of the group from the camp meeting came down another access hall. Aygar gave Varian only a curt nod of acknowledgment. All three wore the brief Iretan costume adopted by the native-born, now enhanced by forcebelts, stunners, and clips. Varian decided the Iretans were really much more attractive as human derivatives than the Heavyworld adaptations.
After she had filled her list, with the exception of the nose plugs which the quartermaster felt would be her most pressing need, Varian was asking for help to convey her booty to the sled, when Fordeliton’s caller sounded.
“A moment, Varian, this concerns you, too. Commander Sassiness’ compliments, and can we join her immediately? Crewman, secure those supplies in Governor Varian’s sled.”
Varian was surprised to find Kai, the medic Mayerd, and Florasse, Tanegli’s daughter-whom she had met when barriered as Rianav. While she was being introduced, Aygar was admitted.
Then the commander activated the main screen. “This report has just arrived from the southwest, from the geologist Dimenon. He thought we should know about this development.”
“That’s the site of Dimenon’s last strike,” Kai said when he recognized the terrain.
“And the current habitat of twenty-three small Thek if my tally is correct,” Sassinak added with wayward amusement. “Now watch the edges of the picture.”
Even as she spoke, Kai let out an inadvertent gasp of horror and revulsion. He held both hands out in front of him as the fringes advanced in their inimitable close-stretch propulsion, heading directly toward the sedentary Thek.
“Those critters are in for a big surprise, Governor,” Sassinak remarked.
Nonetheless, Kai sucked in his breath and arched his body backward, as the first fringe spread to envelop a Thek. Varian was not the only one more interested in Kai’s reactions than what was occurring on the screen. Mayerd was discreetly watching him. The fringe had been attracted by a lethal entity, for its sides began to melt and, before the creature could desist, it had been reduced to its crumpled cartilaginous framework. The other fringes met the same rate. Then, as the fascinated observers watched, fringes that had not deployed on their intended victims began to slow their advance, and came to fluttering halts.
“Varian, have you done much investigation of these-what did you call them, Aygar?” Sassinak asked.
“Fringes.” Aygar’s single word broke Kai’s transfixed gaze from the screen to the Iretan’s presence.
“Young Terilla named them that,” Kai said in a flat cold voice, turning away from Aygar.
The big Iretan made no comment, inclining his head briefly.
“Whatever those black pyramids are-”
“Thek!” Kai was almost surly.
“The fringes have met their match, then, in these Thek. Do they generate much heat?”
“Yes.”
“What was it you told me, Kai?” Mayerd said into the awkward pause after Kai’s response. “The Thek are gorging themselves on raw Iretan energy?”
Kai nodded curtly.
“Were we told about Thek, Florasse?” Aygar asked.
The woman shook her head slowly, her eyes never leaving the screen.
“They are not of this world, Aygar, so why would we have needed to know.” Florasse’s voice held overtones of betrayed trust and disillusionment, enough to make Kai regard her with surprise.
“What interest do the Thek have on my world?” Aygar asked, his glance sliding from Kai’s closed expression to Varian.
“We would feel easier, Aygar,” Sassinak answered him, “if we ourselves knew. The Thek are a long-lived race who keep their own counsel, vouchsafing to us poor ephemera’s only such information as they consider us worthy to receive.”
“They are your supreme rulers?”
“By no means! They are, however, a vital force in the Federated Sentient Planets. One does not-as you just saw-meddle with a Thek with impunity. What is germane to us right now is the question, what do you native Iretans know about the fringes?”
“To stay away from them.” Aygar’s glance flickered to Kai.
“And?” Sassinak prompted him.
“They are attracted by body heat and envelop their prey, clasping the digits midsection to secure it. Then they consume their victim with a digestive juice. The shipsuit you were wearing saved your life,” Aygar remarked to Kai. “Fringes have trouble digesting synthetic fibers.”