Read Online Flinx Transcendent by Alan Dean Foster - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Alan Dean Foster
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prevalent among his kind. Noninterference in the young nye's decision was, on Flinx's part, something of a gamble. He smiled inwardly. He had gambled similarly on one or two occasions in the past, and he was still here.
His assessment paid off. Turning his head to one side, Kiijeem exposed his throat. At the same time, he reached out toward the human, the claws on his hand fully retracted. Across the distance that separated them, Flinx mimicked the clutching gesture flawlessly.
“Sso you are telling me,” a now far more at ease Kiijeem began as he lowered his arm, “that you have ssomehow penetrated all Imperial planetary and ssysstem defenssess ssolely in the sservice of a perssonal interesst?”
Flinx nodded, then thought to add the appropriate AAnn gesture of third-degree reassurance. “That's one reason. There is another.” Turning slightly to his left, he glanced at the eastern sky. It was starting to lighten. “Not enough time for complete explanations now, I'm afraid. You and I have struck concordance. I'm not sure others of your kind would be so accommodating if they were aware of my presence here.” He turned back to his young host. “Also, the city authorities are looking for me.”
Kiijeem looked startled. “They know there iss a ssoftsskin in Krrassin?”
Flinx smiled. “No. They're looking for a nye who has made use of illicit exchange.” He indicated his neatly laid-out simsuit. “Not only have I passed illegally among your kind, I've passed illegal funds.”
“Sso that iss what you are doing here, on the property of my family.” Kiijeem's emotions had run the gamut all the way from fear to delight. “You are a fugitive twice over: as a ssoftsskin without portfolio and as a common criminal.”
Flinx shrugged. “Anymore it seems like I'm always doing things in multiples.” He indicated an artificial rock overhang, the area it sheltered hidden from both the low-lying main residence and the street. “Can I stay awhile, and if I do will you keep my presence here a secret?”
“Are we not now friendss in combat, ssoftsskin?” Straightening out of his crouch, Kiijeem approached as Flinx rose to his feet. Turning his head to one side, the young AAnn exposed his throat. Flinx gripped it lightly, withdrew his hand, and turned his own head. Had he not been able to perceive the nye's emotions, he would never have taken such a chance. Young as he was, Kiijeem still had claws sharp enough to rip out a human throat.
The AAnn touched him appropriately and then stepped back. “You may sstay. Can you eat normal food?” Flinx gestured assent, though without the typical tail embellishment. Even in the absence of the accompanying gesture, Kiijeem understood. “You musst hide during the day. Tonight I will bring you ssomething to eat. Thiss area of the compound iss maintained and groomed by automatics. They are unssophissticated and eassily avoided.” He studied the tall human. “Tonight you will ansswer my quesstionss. I have many.”
“I have a few of my own,” Flinx replied. The possibilities presented by this unexpected new relationship were unspooling in his mind. In seeking a quiet place to hide for the night, he might have found a good deal more.
If Flinx handled it right, young Kiijeem AVMd might just be his way safely out of the capital city of Krrassin and off the homeworld of the predatory AAnn.
Hidden away within an artificial landscape on private property deep in the capital city on the homeworld of humanxkind's most implacable enemies, Flinx took pleasure in a surprisingly relaxing sleep. While the sandstone crevice in which he had sequestered himself for the night was hard and unyielding, the simsuit on which he was lying provided some padding. As for Pip, she obtained all the heat she needed for a good night's rest by simply coiling up next to her recumbent master.
The sun woke Flinx with enough force to remind him that he needed the simsuit as much to prevent sunstroke and
His assessment paid off. Turning his head to one side, Kiijeem exposed his throat. At the same time, he reached out toward the human, the claws on his hand fully retracted. Across the distance that separated them, Flinx mimicked the clutching gesture flawlessly.
“Sso you are telling me,” a now far more at ease Kiijeem began as he lowered his arm, “that you have ssomehow penetrated all Imperial planetary and ssysstem defenssess ssolely in the sservice of a perssonal interesst?”
Flinx nodded, then thought to add the appropriate AAnn gesture of third-degree reassurance. “That's one reason. There is another.” Turning slightly to his left, he glanced at the eastern sky. It was starting to lighten. “Not enough time for complete explanations now, I'm afraid. You and I have struck concordance. I'm not sure others of your kind would be so accommodating if they were aware of my presence here.” He turned back to his young host. “Also, the city authorities are looking for me.”
Kiijeem looked startled. “They know there iss a ssoftsskin in Krrassin?”
Flinx smiled. “No. They're looking for a nye who has made use of illicit exchange.” He indicated his neatly laid-out simsuit. “Not only have I passed illegally among your kind, I've passed illegal funds.”
“Sso that iss what you are doing here, on the property of my family.” Kiijeem's emotions had run the gamut all the way from fear to delight. “You are a fugitive twice over: as a ssoftsskin without portfolio and as a common criminal.”
Flinx shrugged. “Anymore it seems like I'm always doing things in multiples.” He indicated an artificial rock overhang, the area it sheltered hidden from both the low-lying main residence and the street. “Can I stay awhile, and if I do will you keep my presence here a secret?”
“Are we not now friendss in combat, ssoftsskin?” Straightening out of his crouch, Kiijeem approached as Flinx rose to his feet. Turning his head to one side, the young AAnn exposed his throat. Flinx gripped it lightly, withdrew his hand, and turned his own head. Had he not been able to perceive the nye's emotions, he would never have taken such a chance. Young as he was, Kiijeem still had claws sharp enough to rip out a human throat.
The AAnn touched him appropriately and then stepped back. “You may sstay. Can you eat normal food?” Flinx gestured assent, though without the typical tail embellishment. Even in the absence of the accompanying gesture, Kiijeem understood. “You musst hide during the day. Tonight I will bring you ssomething to eat. Thiss area of the compound iss maintained and groomed by automatics. They are unssophissticated and eassily avoided.” He studied the tall human. “Tonight you will ansswer my quesstionss. I have many.”
“I have a few of my own,” Flinx replied. The possibilities presented by this unexpected new relationship were unspooling in his mind. In seeking a quiet place to hide for the night, he might have found a good deal more.
If Flinx handled it right, young Kiijeem AVMd might just be his way safely out of the capital city of Krrassin and off the homeworld of the predatory AAnn.
Hidden away within an artificial landscape on private property deep in the capital city on the homeworld of humanxkind's most implacable enemies, Flinx took pleasure in a surprisingly relaxing sleep. While the sandstone crevice in which he had sequestered himself for the night was hard and unyielding, the simsuit on which he was lying provided some padding. As for Pip, she obtained all the heat she needed for a good night's rest by simply coiling up next to her recumbent master.
The sun woke Flinx with enough force to remind him that he needed the simsuit as much to prevent sunstroke and
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