Freedom's Landing
- Автор: Маккефри Энн
- Серия: Catteni Sequence #1
- Язык: английский
- Жанр: Научная фантастика
Электронная книга - «Freedom's Landing». Краткое содержание книги:
The alien Catteni value strength and intelligence in their slaves—and Kristin has managed to survive her enslavement while hundreds of other humans have not. But her trial has just begun, for now she finds herself part of a massive experiment. The aliens have discovered a new world, and they have a simple way of finding out if it’s habitable: drop hundreds of slaves on the surface and see what happens.
If they survive, colonization can begin. If not, there are always more slaves.
Kris was amused to see that pieces of mechos were doubling as stools while the carcasses, in various stages of dismantlement, had been pushed back to allow enough space for the meeting. She noted the veritable snow of sketches, diagrams and drawings that were tacked up on the walls and hung over different worktops which were littered with components being reused.
Mitford made a point of having Zainal sit on his right while Slav was on his left.
"First off, folks, I'd like to say that we owe a lot more to Zainal here than we can ever repay. He got us nutrients that'll keep our Deskis alive and tester kits so we won't have to risk poisoning to find out what is edible. He got," and now Mitford held up the folder that the Catteni captain had passed to Zainal, "the "official"
- , and he paused for a sardonic grin, "survey report on this planet. You will be glad to know that we're on the biggest of Botany's four continents, the temperate one.
Zainal's translated the report and, frankly, I don't think much of the exploratory team that landed on this world.
Neither does Zainal."
"Nice to know the Cats aren't as great as they think they are," someone said. "No offence, Zainal!"
"None taken,' Zainal said with a cheery wave and a bland expression on his face.
"Zainal will summarize the report to us. Floor's yours," and Mitford sat down, gesturing for Zainal to stand.
"The report says that the planet has good air to breathe, good water to drink, and the…green plants - grow, so plants for other worlds can - - - grow well, too. True. The report says two…
Cats.. and Zainal's use of that nickname in a pejorative tone of voice elicited grins from his audience, "disappeared one night. Guard saw movement but did not go see.
He thought men go to leak." Zainal might not be obviously trying to ingratiate himself, but he was couching his comments very cleverly indeed. "Not found anywhere. Guard tells of strange movement.
This planet has dangers. Two more are not seen so all sleep inside." "Ah, c'mon, Zainal, how'd they miss the garages and these barns and all?" Esker wanted to know.
"Sensors look for live flesh and ship lands in cold season." Zainal shrugged. "Sensors register metal but not much for…" He turned to Kris, "those who work in ground "Miners."
"Miners, and no special metals needed by Catteni."
"Some of those mecho alloys are very special indeed," Lenny Doyle said, "very special."
"I agree," Zainal said, "but the stupids on survey do not know. Take dirt, water, stone samples, and flesh of rock-squats, avians, loo-cows and critters they find on other lands, but…they do not see trees for forest." Ninety laughed aloud at that. "Attaboy, Zainal." Kris had been watching reactions and, of all there, only Dowdali and Tesco didn't seem to respond in any way to Zainaclass="underline" they just sat there, eyes on the Catteni.
Kris wondered from their attitude if they even believed what he was saying.
"What about winters here, Zainal?" Lenny asked.
"Report of - - -" he frowned and turned to Kris, "what falls from skies, wet, cold, solid but…runs like water from sun "Snow.
"Ah, snow."
"Deep snow?" Lenny asked.
"Not when here. Oh, hand wide," and Zainal held his big thick hand flat, thumb down, to indicate the depth.
"That's deep enough."
"Longer day than Catten, longer y) "How long?" "Report says," and now he held up four fingers, then all five and flnally two.
"Oh Lordee, that's longer by three more months.
How're we going to feed twenty-five hundred plus all winter long?"
"Find more silos and start breeding rock-squats in captivity," Mitford said. "Anyone volunteer to farm rock-squats?"
"Hell, Sarge, don't take the fun out of it for us hunter types," Worry said plaintively.
"Say, Zainal, how long did this team of surveyors stay on Botany?" Zainal looked down at the report. "Twenty days.
"Hell's fire, we've surveyed better than they did, haven't we?" Ninety said, laughing.
Zainal tapped the sheets. "This has tests done which Leon and Joe Marley need. Useful. Some plants deadly."
"Tell us something we didn't find out the hard way," Tesco muttered.
"That'll help even at this date," Mitford said. "Now, would you mind telling us about your conversation with the Catteni ship captain?" Zainal's wide lips twisted briefly in mild contempt.
"Not captain. Below captain. One step."
"His exec?" Mitford suggested.
Zainal shrugged. "Emassi may command, even Emassi who is drop.
They obey. Good habit. They do not believe mechs. Do not wish to believe what is not in report." He gave an amused snort. "They will.
They also debrief." He shot a glance at Mitford. "We will see."
"Yeah, but they won't see any mechos if they do a fly-by now, will they, since we've disabled them all," Ninety said, almost querulously.
"So?" Zainal asked. "We are here. We can use mechos.
Next time Catteni drop, different story. I do not stand," and he imitated his cross-armed stance at the bottom of the ramp, "and wait." "You'd attack one of your own ships?" Ninety asked, surprised.
"Why not?" And Zainal regarded Ninety with amused condescension.
"A ship useful when mechos return next year to collect."
"You mean, you'd mount an expedition to follow them to their home system?" Kris asked, amazed by his intention.
Zainal nodded. "Be very good to see who farms whole planet."
"Hell, I'd be scared out of my wig," Dowdall said, regarding Zainal with interest. "Wouldn't they be a bit much for you by yourself?"
"You come with me?" "Me?" Dowdall was surprised and then he grinned, rather nervously, back at the Catteni. "Man, if you're willing to go, I guess I would be, too."
"We have six airline pilots now plus two retired NASA mission specialists," Kris said brightly. "Maybe we could Boy, I'd just give my eye-teeth to be in a first contact group."
"No eye-teeth left," Zainal told her with a big grin.
A rather odd silence followed that remark which made Kris blush though no-one was actually looking at her.
"A lot of us here would, not just those NASA blokes," Worry said, breaking in. "But I think that's down the road a while. You didn't happen to find out if they're going to dump more people on us, did you?" he asked wistfully Zainal shook his head. "Not the question to ask. Captain takes orders. Low captain. Not smart," and he held up one big hand, rocking it as he had seen Ninety do. "You Terrans make trouble, get put here. Simple." He grinned in what Kris took as approval. "Terrans make big trouble for Catteni." His grin broadened.
"And you like that?" Tesco asked, an edge to a voice that was louder than it need be.
"Yes, I do," and he jerked one thumb at his own chest, "other Catteni do not!" And he shook his head.
"Good on you, he added, "to make big trouble. Makes Catteni think." Worrell guffawed out loud. "Good on you, Zainal, too.
Couldn't be cast off with a nicer bloke."
"So, we can expect more?" Mitford said, not entirely pleased with that prospect.
"Believe so. But…" and Zainal held up his hand, "maybe report changes minds. Maybe.
"But don't count on it, huh?"
"And the Cats would let us take the rap from the creatures who own this planet?" someone at the front of the garage asked in a sharp voice.
"Possession is nine-tenths of the law," Kris said emphatically, having caught the hostile tone in the murmured comments around the garage. "We're here and we're obviously going to stay "Catteni are not the highest. We take orders, too," Zainal surprised everyone by saying.
"From those Eosi you were telling me about?" Mitford demanded, scowling, his body tense.
"We work for the Eosi who own most planets good for humans, Catteni and others. You do not want to meet them," Zainal said, shaking his head.