Dinosaurus Planet Survivors
- Автор: Маккефри Энн
- Серия: Dinosaur Planet #2
- Язык: английский
- Жанр: Научная фантастика
Электронная книга - «Dinosaurus Planet Survivors». Краткое содержание книги:
Sassinak cleared her throat. “Not that we know of.”
“Then why are the big Thek squatting about the transport like they mean business?”
“The biggest Thek landed beyond the transport because of the grid.”
“Grid didn’t do much for ’em, did it?” Varian said with another malicious grin. “Now what?”
“My precise words,” Sassinak said. She gave a deep sigh. “However, since the Thek are here and the Fleet enjoins its officers to cooperate with those entities, I suppose we must be dismissed until such time as we are recalled to notice. How many years did it take them to answer your distress call, Kai?”
“Forty-three.”
“But only three days to answer your query about Tor’s whereabouts,” Sassinak added. “A noticeable improvement.”
“Look what it brought us, though,” Ford said, waving his hand aft toward the Great-Big Bears.
“Commander I am not on the duty roster and I did request permission to join a shore-leave party, Anstel began, rising from his chair and putting it back under the table in the habit of a person inherently tidy. When Sassinak inclined her head, granting permission, he executed a slight bow in Varian’s direction. “Kai mentioned that you had found a hyracotherium before you went cryo. Is there any chance that your travels today will take you near their habitat? I would dearly like to observe those creatures alive. We dinosaur buffs, I’ve discovered, all have a favorite species. The equine types are mine.”
“I don’t see why not,” Varian said with a wide, encouraging smile. She rose. “Kenley and I got some superb footage of the giffs fishing. The aquatic life performed some acrobatics-scared Kenley out of his wits when some fringes nearly reached us.” She paused. “The aquatic fringes are a great deal smaller than the land ones. I should get some more records of them, I suppose.”
“I’d consider it a privilege to help you in any research, Governor.”
Varian smiled up at him, for the man was considerably taller. “Well, then, time’s a’wasting. And Ireta’s giving us a relatively squall-free day. Grab your gear and I’ll meet you at my sled.” She turned to Kai. “Shall I drop you off back at the camp or are you staying on here, in case”-her grin became mischievous-“the Thek come to a quick decision.
Kai rose. “No, I’d better get back.” He turned to Sassinak to thank her.
“If there’s no objections, Commander, I’ll just retrieve the men I left guarding the camp. Quicker in the pinnace, anyway.” Fordeliton got to his feet.
“And I’ll follow protocol and inform Sector Headquarters of the Thek arrival,” Sassinak said.
They left the mess hall, separating in the corridor. Fordeliton walked with Kai and Varian to the access air lock. Fordeliton peered with exaggerated caution toward the transport and the triangular tops visible above the looming carcass.
“Still there?” Varian asked.
“In residence!”
“They’re impressive, aren’t they? Oh ho, and I wonder what he thinks about them?” Varian pointed.
The two men followed her finger and watched as a sled approached the Medium-Size Thek.
“That would be one of the Iretans, I think,” Fordeliton said. “We gave them a sled with that registration.”
“Aygar,” Varian said. “What have they been doing, d’you know?”
“I haven’t had time to catch up on their activities, so much has been going on in your camps. I believe they have already smashed one sled. Takes a while to get used to modern conveniences.”
However, Aygar landed his sled deftly, emerged, and walked around the Thek. It made rather an interesting contrast, Varian thought, a fine specimen of a man, wearing little in the way of modern clothes or weapons, striding arrogantly about one of the oldest living creatures in the galaxy: each entity very certain of its position in that galaxy, even if Aygar was willing to limit himself to one planet. Having finished his circuit, Aygar noticed the observers and paced stolidly toward them.
“What are those things?”
“Thek,” Varian replied, grinning.
“What are they doing here?”
“Verifying.”
Aygar swiveled his upper body to look at the silent and rigid Thek.
“Verifying what?”
“They didn’t say.”
“Do they always mess up landing grids like that? Must make them unpopular visitors.”
“When you get that big, no one has the nerve to complain.”
“That commander woman said they’re allies?” When Varian nodded, he went on. “Allies of whom? Your lot,” and his gesture included the cruiser, “or them?” And he indicated the transport.
“Who are you allied with?” Fordeliton asked in a suspiciously bland tone. “Them or us?”
Aygar grinned back, the first time Varian had seen genuine amusement on the young Iretan’s face. “You’ll know when I have decided. If I do.”
With that he swung about on one heel and marched back to his sled, moving with an unexpectedly graceful economy of motion. In a single fluid movement, he climbed into the sled, closed its canopy, and took off.
“Varian?” Anstel’s call was breathless. “Oh, I was afraid that you’d taken off. I just needed a few things.”
Varian choked on her laughter. Anstel had festooned himself with a variety of equipment, some of which she could not identify.
“Well, I’m ready when you are,” Varian said. “Keep me informed, will you, Ford? Kai? It’s as well to let the giffs settle down to normal this afternoon so, Anstel, this quest of yours is most welcome. Shall we go?”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The two men left at the campsite were still goggle-eyed about the appearance of so many Thek.
“More than I’ve ever seen, thassa fact,” said the older steward, “and I been around this galaxy, so I have seen a lot of them, you know, only sort of one here and then another there, but so many at once?” He scrubbed at his stubbly pate, dragging his hand down his face, and then mimed the wiping off of an expression. “Quite a sight, really! Something to swap for drinks.”
“Did any address you?”
The steward’s mouth dropped in amazement. “Address me?” he cocked his thumb and jabbed it against his chest. “Me? I told ’em to locate the cruiser,” and he paused to wink broadly, “cause I know they can find anything anywhere.”
Kai and Fordeliton exchanged amused glances.
“They found you.” He exhaled a hissing breath. “Never seen anything like it, though, all those Thek,” and he planed their angle of arrival with his left hand, “just flowing in-if silicon triangles can flow-just sort of gliding in and never losing their formation, just all of a sudden down on the ground.”
“Thek can be impressive,” Fordeliton agreed urbanely and then gestured for the men to board the pinnace.
“Governor, we left some dinner on the hob like. Had some time to kill,” the older steward said, and the younger one began to grin, well pleased with himself. “I like messing with real food stuffs. Only this time, someone else gets the kp.”
Kai nodded, grinning. “That’s fair enough. Believe me, your efforts will be much appreciated by everyone.”
“Least we could do, you guys having had such a rough time and all.”
As the pinnace took off with a high-speed whush, the globe’s glow caught his eye, brightening momentarily before regaining its regular coloration. Then the silence in the amphitheater was broken only by the faint hiss of the forcescreen as it disintegrated insects, a comforting noise. Kai took in a deep breath, inordinately relieved to be alone, to have a few hours before the others trooped back in. He strolled over to the mess hall, sniffing at the odor of simmering stew.