Read Online John Maddox Roberts - Spacer: Window of Mind by John Maddox Roberts - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: John Maddox Roberts
Ads: Link
erudite creature in existence? It's hard to believe that anything so—so—peculiar-looking, is a poet and a scholar."
"I've been working with Homer lately," Kiril said.
"Oh, really? On what, poetry?"
"No, he's been doing a study on human profanity. Do you know the Taurus IV word for—"
"Ah, yes, wonderful being, Homer," said Lafayette, breaking in abruptly. "He's a little disconcerting at first, but you get used to him." He helped Kiril to a load of Yorkshire pudding, perhaps in hopes of shutting her up. A welcome distraction was provided by K'Stin, who was regaling his neighbors down the table with tales of his bloodthirsty exploits.
"And then, at the great Post-Adolescent Talent Contest, I fought the mighty B'Kin," he said with enthusiasm. "I ripped off his pectoral chitin and disemboweled—"
"But, ah, Mr. K'Stin," said a junior diplomat, looking rather green, "doesn't it damage your people's renowned posture of defense for your young warriors to be killing each other?"
"Hah, it takes more than a little disemboweling to kill a Viver," K'Stin asserted. "Once, at the Inter-Clan Fun-Fair, the estimable K'Tok and I fought with heavy billhooks and he beheaded me.'' He thumped the thick stalk of interlocking rings that served him for a neck. ' 'Grew back together good as new.'' It might have been true. Nobody knew for sure what it took to kill a Viver since nobody had accomplished the feat.
The rest of the dinner was occupied with small talk. Kiril noticed that people avoided talking about the mission. She got the distinct impression that they didn't know what the mission was all about anyway. She asked Lafayette about this as people began leaving the table. "It's likely," he said. "The navy people can be sent anywhere, they don't have to be told why. As for the scientific and diplomatic people . . ." He shrugged. "I don't know. We do know that we weren't told not to talk about ii Maybe everybody's just playing cagey. 1 have a feeling that there's a lot of politics being played here. Now, look, we're expected to socialize for a while. That means 1 can't monopolize you. Circulate, make small talk, but avoid prying questions. It somebody starts to talk about something you don't want to bring up, or it's something you don't know anything about, just change the subject. It's expected."
"I can take care of myself," she said. Actually, she wasn't so sure. This wasn't the streets. She went ahead and took the plunge, keeping her shipmates' locations in mind in case she should feel the need of backup. She found her task to be fairly easy. Everybody wanted to talk a great deal and say very little. It was almost fun.
"We haven't properly met," said a voice. Kiril turned and her heart lurched. For a split second she thought she was facing l/.quierda, then realized that she wasn't looking high enough and this man had black hair. It was Huerta.
"I guess not," she said, covering her confusion. "I'm Kiril. I just joined the Angel a few weeks ago." She spoke slowly, trying to keep her grammar straight.
"I wanted to say I'm sorry about that little scene a while ago. I know my uncle and your captain have some kind of feud dating back to the War. It's a shame that they should hold a grudge so long."
"I'll go along with you there," she said. That seemed safe enough. Her guard was up, but he didn't seem to be nearly as menacing as his uncle.
"Well, I just wanted you to know that, whatever his grudge is, 1 don't share it. I certainly wouldn't extend it to the rest of you, in any case. This is going to be a long expedition, and 1 hope we can be friends."
"That sounds good to me," Kiril said. She wondered whether he meant all of them or herself in particular. She hoped not. The last thing she wanted was to start liking this handsome schlucter. "Let's just figure the truce has been signed and we're back to square one, okay?"
"That will have to do," he said, smiling, "at least for a start." He had one of the better smiles she'd
"I've been working with Homer lately," Kiril said.
"Oh, really? On what, poetry?"
"No, he's been doing a study on human profanity. Do you know the Taurus IV word for—"
"Ah, yes, wonderful being, Homer," said Lafayette, breaking in abruptly. "He's a little disconcerting at first, but you get used to him." He helped Kiril to a load of Yorkshire pudding, perhaps in hopes of shutting her up. A welcome distraction was provided by K'Stin, who was regaling his neighbors down the table with tales of his bloodthirsty exploits.
"And then, at the great Post-Adolescent Talent Contest, I fought the mighty B'Kin," he said with enthusiasm. "I ripped off his pectoral chitin and disemboweled—"
"But, ah, Mr. K'Stin," said a junior diplomat, looking rather green, "doesn't it damage your people's renowned posture of defense for your young warriors to be killing each other?"
"Hah, it takes more than a little disemboweling to kill a Viver," K'Stin asserted. "Once, at the Inter-Clan Fun-Fair, the estimable K'Tok and I fought with heavy billhooks and he beheaded me.'' He thumped the thick stalk of interlocking rings that served him for a neck. ' 'Grew back together good as new.'' It might have been true. Nobody knew for sure what it took to kill a Viver since nobody had accomplished the feat.
The rest of the dinner was occupied with small talk. Kiril noticed that people avoided talking about the mission. She got the distinct impression that they didn't know what the mission was all about anyway. She asked Lafayette about this as people began leaving the table. "It's likely," he said. "The navy people can be sent anywhere, they don't have to be told why. As for the scientific and diplomatic people . . ." He shrugged. "I don't know. We do know that we weren't told not to talk about ii Maybe everybody's just playing cagey. 1 have a feeling that there's a lot of politics being played here. Now, look, we're expected to socialize for a while. That means 1 can't monopolize you. Circulate, make small talk, but avoid prying questions. It somebody starts to talk about something you don't want to bring up, or it's something you don't know anything about, just change the subject. It's expected."
"I can take care of myself," she said. Actually, she wasn't so sure. This wasn't the streets. She went ahead and took the plunge, keeping her shipmates' locations in mind in case she should feel the need of backup. She found her task to be fairly easy. Everybody wanted to talk a great deal and say very little. It was almost fun.
"We haven't properly met," said a voice. Kiril turned and her heart lurched. For a split second she thought she was facing l/.quierda, then realized that she wasn't looking high enough and this man had black hair. It was Huerta.
"I guess not," she said, covering her confusion. "I'm Kiril. I just joined the Angel a few weeks ago." She spoke slowly, trying to keep her grammar straight.
"I wanted to say I'm sorry about that little scene a while ago. I know my uncle and your captain have some kind of feud dating back to the War. It's a shame that they should hold a grudge so long."
"I'll go along with you there," she said. That seemed safe enough. Her guard was up, but he didn't seem to be nearly as menacing as his uncle.
"Well, I just wanted you to know that, whatever his grudge is, 1 don't share it. I certainly wouldn't extend it to the rest of you, in any case. This is going to be a long expedition, and 1 hope we can be friends."
"That sounds good to me," Kiril said. She wondered whether he meant all of them or herself in particular. She hoped not. The last thing she wanted was to start liking this handsome schlucter. "Let's just figure the truce has been signed and we're back to square one, okay?"
"That will have to do," he said, smiling, "at least for a start." He had one of the better smiles she'd
Similar Books
