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 . . .
"Could have something to do with the fact they feel safe," Casper suggested. He was far from upset to know that Syrona was carrying mixed twins. "A general fertility increase for all of us."
Nimisha refused to be convinced. It was all too true to say that everyone felt safe now in the six Sh'im towns; their allies rarely had fewer than three births at a time, and more accommodations had to be raised. With repeller shields to protect settlements, they no longer needed to seek caves for shelter from the avian denizens.
In order to reduce that danger, the four adult humans led a large band of well-armed Sh'im, transported in the three air vehicles available, for a concerted attack on the mountain mews where the avians bred their young.
The nests, with as many as twenty eggs, were destroyed, along with as many of the female defenders as possible. At Doc's suggestion, they also left out poisoned substances, reluctantly prepared by Cater to simulate what the avians preferred to eat. The poison that Doc concocted, having examined the flesh of an avian before scavengers could devour it, would inhibit the formation of healthy yolks in the eggs.
"We may succeed in reducing the population on this continent in the next decade or so," Doc remarked.
"You're fixated on eggs, Doc," Nimisha said slyly
"Not at all, m'dear Nimisha," was his airy reply, "but it does get to the heart of the problem."
When the resources of the freighter were exhausted, the humans turned to the primitive mining that the Sh'im had already begun, and Nimisha focused her design talents on designing better mine hoists, drills, tracks, and carts.
"Rather primitive…" she said, dubiously reviewing the sketches.
"I'm no mining engineer," Jon replied, "but I don't see why those wouldn't work. You based them on data from the library."
"I just wish there were an easier, less physical way of achieving the same results," she said. "It's bloody hard work, even if we have been able to locate the main lodes without having to do a lot of exploratory prospecting."
"The Sh'im won't mind," Syrona said.
"They'd be delighted to have work for some of the maturing younglings," Casper said.
"They don't pay attention to lessons. Ay says we've made life too easy for them," Tim put in, disgusted. He was usually included in planning sessions since he often contributed good ideas, being closer in so many ways to the Sh'im. He, Ay, and Bee formed quite a triumvirate. "Used to be that as soon as they had all their teeth, they were sent out to hunt, gather wood, and search for tuber plants."
"Well, I've designed the mining equipment for three-fingered usage," Nimisha said, tapping the drawings.
"What'll I use then?" Tim asked, affronted.
"You don't need to mine," Syrona said.
"I gotta show 'em all that I can do everything they can, and better. Then they can't figure out ways to show me up," Tim said with a malicious grin.
The others all laughed.
"We had noticed that little trick, Tim," Jon said approvingly.
The inauguration of the Fiver-Sh'im Mining Company involved Nimisha as chief engineer so completely that she failed to notice any indications that she was beginning a third pregnancy.
"Nimi, pet," Jon began one morning as they started the day by indulging in the most pleasurable of activities, "you can't be putting on weight just here…" He spread his wide hand across her abdomen, "And, unless I'm mistaken, you seem to be a trifle touchy here-" He touched her left breast.
"Oh, shaggit," she murmured, feeling her belly and wincing as she prodded her breasts. "I am pregnant. Not," she added hurriedly, kissing him, "that I mind. The twins are old enough."
"Have you seen Doc?"
"No, I haven't," she replied quickly and then grinned. "And it's too late for him to fiddle me again."
Jon turned a chuckle into an amused snort before he gathered her close against him. Then, with one finger, he traced the tattoo on her neck. "I never thought I'd father Vegan First Family progeny…"
"Let me remind you that we are the First Families of Erehwon, and that's an achievement reserved to two families alone! Not many planets can boast that kind of hierarchy. Or do I mean hegemony?"
"Oligarchy?" Jon put in.
"Aristocracy… of some sort or another."
"Whatever," Jon said, and then he turned serious, smoothing her long hair back from her face. "Get Doc to check you over. You've been working pretty hard in the mines. And you're to stay out of them from now on, hear me?"
"Oh, come on, Jon," she said, a bit annoyed. "It's not as if we've had any problems, not with being able to seal the shafts the way we have."
He pulled her back when she started to rise. "No, I'm serious, Nimisha. You take enough chances as it is. Please don't take unnecessary risks."
"And I haven't."
"We all have," he said in a very serious tone. "We all know we have, but there's even more at stake for you now." Once again he placed his hand on her abdomen.
"We can't ask the Sh'im to do what we won't. Tim's notion on that score is very accurate," she protested.
"Even the Sh'im females know when to stop working, lover mine."
Nimisha looked down at a stomach no longer flat, feeling here and there as if trying to estimate what was going on inside. "I can't be that far along. I've been feeling so energetic. Last time it was all I could do to get out of bed some mornings."
"It's your third-" He inhaled sharply, for any reference to her first daughter tended to sadden her.
"My third, yes. And Cuiva will be fourteen in three days. My dam will put on her Necklace-" Nimisha bit her lip, tears forming in her eyes."-and pronounce that she has reached her minor majority so she can take her rightful place in society. Won't my dam just love that!"
"Oh, my love…" Jon held her tenderly against him, wishing there were some way to relieve her anguish.
"We can't be at the end of the universe, can we, that we've heard nothing?" she asked piteously.
"I devoutly hope not," Jon said firmly, doing his best to comfort her.
"I designed that beacon. It's eating our messages, so the receiver's working."
"I do feel more confidence in anything you've designed, love," Jon said with a twinkle in his eye. "Now if it had been Fleet issue, I could entertain doubts."
She sniffed, rubbed tears from her cheeks, and gave him an over-bright smile. "I'm silly. There's not a damned thing I can do about it. Nor you, but you're sweet to worry over it." She kissed him, pushed him away, and decisively swung her legs over the side of the bed.
She didn't immediately check with Doc. Jon had to remind her twice. When she did, Doc sounded peevish.
"I honestly didn't know," Nimisha said, imbuing her tone with innocent surprise. "Jon noticed my belly protruding more than it should the other morning…"
"Other morning?" Doc repeatedly sarcastically.
"Two mornings ago, all right? I had to supervise the drilling of that new shaft in the iron mine."
"Had to?"
"Had to," she said, getting angry.
"You're fine; foetal health and development is normal." She felt a spray penetrate her left buttock. "That's concentrated full-spectrum vitamins and minerals. I'll send Cater the information for dietary additives. You may follow your troglodyte imperatives until even you can't fit in those holes you're digging."
Unaccustomed to such curtness from Doc, Nimisha made haste to leave the Fiver and indulge in the "troglodyte" activities on her schedule. All too soon she discovered a sudden claustrophobia, and because Ess and Uv were now well able to supervise the underground work, she let them.
Other Sh'im, aided by Helm, were printing out the Sh'im history found on board the Bird Ship, as well as translating Sh'im glyphs into English. Helm was also translating a short history of humankind into Sh'im for Ool, Ook, and any others who might be interested. The older Sh'im, unable to work as long or hard as they had in their younger days, found that reading passed the time enjoyably. They repeated the information in storyteller sessions in the evenings, amusing the youngest Sh'im.