Read Online Howling Stones by Alan Dean Foster - Free Book Online
Authors: Alan Dean Foster
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get started.”
“Just arrived and already you’re anxious to leave.”
He nodded. “Just because I’ve done a lot of fieldwork doesn’t mean I particularly enjoy it.”
“I’ll bet you don’t like having to rely on others, either.” She disappeared into a back storeroom and returned moments later with a thin belt. Hanging from the belt was a qwik holster holding a compact needler. Extra power cells occupied the other side of the belt, balancing out the modest weight of the weapon.
“I think this one’ll fit you.” She tried to hand him the belt and gun.
He demurred. “Why give me this? Except for what’s in the already outdated study file, I wouldn’t know what to pet and what to shoot.”
“I’ll take care of the flora and fauna. This is in case we run into any AAnn. Their base is only thirty minutes away by fast skimmer. I haven’t had any serious run-ins with them, but other outposts have. When they think they can get away with it, they’re not above taking potshots at the competition, especially when it’s isolated and alone out in the local woods.”
“Meaning us?” Reluctantly he accepted the belt and began strapping it on.
“Meaning you, anyway. I’ve been so quiet here for so long I’m not sure they regard me as much in the way of competition. That suits me just fine. I’ve had a couple of chats with their local chief of operations, an oily type named Essasu. Everything very formal and polite. But if I didn’t keep rigorous, recoverable recordings of my movements, I’m sure he’d cheerfully have one of his underlings slap an explosive shell into my spine the firsttime I wasn’t looking. Traveling armed lets him know that I’m neither naive nor helpless. I’m a firm believer in discouraging temptation right from the start.”
The needler was virtually unnoticeable on his hip. “Competition for the hearts and minds of the natives is supposed to be on a friendly basis.”
She made a rude noise. “Sure it is. And the AAnn are happy-go-lucky comedians who’ll gather ’round at every opportunity just to tell you the latest jokes from Blassusar.” She patted the weapon that rode high and wide on her left hip. “That’s why I’m always careful to carry my critic with me.
“Plus, there’s always the chance that a
gribiwith
or a
cochco
vine will take a leap at you when I’m not in a position to help. Think of your needler as a prophylaxis.” She nodded in the direction of their living quarters. “Any other gear you want to bring? I have my recorder with me.”
He shook his head. “Not on the first visit. I need to acclimate myself first.”
She nodded and turned in the direction of the central elevator shaft. Once he had joined her, she thumbed the single switch and the cylindrical conveyor started down. It squealed and whined outrageously, suggesting that it, too, had been the subject of less than assiduous maintenance.
“Why didn’t they site the skimmer shed closer to the station and connect it with a sealed walkway?” he wondered aloud.
She shrugged. “Probably cheaper this way. I don’t mind. I like being outside. Later I’ll show you my favorite swimming hole. It’s a deep pool fed by a five-meter-high waterfall. Smooth rocks on the bottom, clean sand around the edges. I’d call it Eden, if I were inclined to name things. When I’m bored or just hot I’ll walk in toit on the little trail I’ve cut, take everything off, and just float or lie on the fronting beach.”
Pulickel manfully turned his thoughts from the image thus conjured up. “The natives leave you alone at all times?”
She nodded. “They have plenty to do and as you know from your prep, the nearest village is a ways from here. I very rarely see them unless I go looking for them. They never bother the station.”
The lift bottomed out with a grinding sound. When after a suitable pause the door refused to open, Fawn kicked it into compliance. She smiled apologetically.
“Damn
“Just arrived and already you’re anxious to leave.”
He nodded. “Just because I’ve done a lot of fieldwork doesn’t mean I particularly enjoy it.”
“I’ll bet you don’t like having to rely on others, either.” She disappeared into a back storeroom and returned moments later with a thin belt. Hanging from the belt was a qwik holster holding a compact needler. Extra power cells occupied the other side of the belt, balancing out the modest weight of the weapon.
“I think this one’ll fit you.” She tried to hand him the belt and gun.
He demurred. “Why give me this? Except for what’s in the already outdated study file, I wouldn’t know what to pet and what to shoot.”
“I’ll take care of the flora and fauna. This is in case we run into any AAnn. Their base is only thirty minutes away by fast skimmer. I haven’t had any serious run-ins with them, but other outposts have. When they think they can get away with it, they’re not above taking potshots at the competition, especially when it’s isolated and alone out in the local woods.”
“Meaning us?” Reluctantly he accepted the belt and began strapping it on.
“Meaning you, anyway. I’ve been so quiet here for so long I’m not sure they regard me as much in the way of competition. That suits me just fine. I’ve had a couple of chats with their local chief of operations, an oily type named Essasu. Everything very formal and polite. But if I didn’t keep rigorous, recoverable recordings of my movements, I’m sure he’d cheerfully have one of his underlings slap an explosive shell into my spine the firsttime I wasn’t looking. Traveling armed lets him know that I’m neither naive nor helpless. I’m a firm believer in discouraging temptation right from the start.”
The needler was virtually unnoticeable on his hip. “Competition for the hearts and minds of the natives is supposed to be on a friendly basis.”
She made a rude noise. “Sure it is. And the AAnn are happy-go-lucky comedians who’ll gather ’round at every opportunity just to tell you the latest jokes from Blassusar.” She patted the weapon that rode high and wide on her left hip. “That’s why I’m always careful to carry my critic with me.
“Plus, there’s always the chance that a
gribiwith
or a
cochco
vine will take a leap at you when I’m not in a position to help. Think of your needler as a prophylaxis.” She nodded in the direction of their living quarters. “Any other gear you want to bring? I have my recorder with me.”
He shook his head. “Not on the first visit. I need to acclimate myself first.”
She nodded and turned in the direction of the central elevator shaft. Once he had joined her, she thumbed the single switch and the cylindrical conveyor started down. It squealed and whined outrageously, suggesting that it, too, had been the subject of less than assiduous maintenance.
“Why didn’t they site the skimmer shed closer to the station and connect it with a sealed walkway?” he wondered aloud.
She shrugged. “Probably cheaper this way. I don’t mind. I like being outside. Later I’ll show you my favorite swimming hole. It’s a deep pool fed by a five-meter-high waterfall. Smooth rocks on the bottom, clean sand around the edges. I’d call it Eden, if I were inclined to name things. When I’m bored or just hot I’ll walk in toit on the little trail I’ve cut, take everything off, and just float or lie on the fronting beach.”
Pulickel manfully turned his thoughts from the image thus conjured up. “The natives leave you alone at all times?”
She nodded. “They have plenty to do and as you know from your prep, the nearest village is a ways from here. I very rarely see them unless I go looking for them. They never bother the station.”
The lift bottomed out with a grinding sound. When after a suitable pause the door refused to open, Fawn kicked it into compliance. She smiled apologetically.
“Damn
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