Read Online Shadow World by A. C. Crispin, Jannean Elliot - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: A. C. Crispin, Jannean Elliot
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"Let's get this project under way before your partner starts to feel neglected. You know the drill?"
Mark nodded. "First order of business is to pack a few things and move into the room we'll share together during orientation. Where's Eerin's stuff?"
"Still in the shuttle. Hin barely got here in time for the program."
They walked over to join Kkintha ch'aait and the Elpind. The
47
Administrator was also discussing the "drill," but her attention was distracted when Cara and her camera suddenly appeared and waved at Mark from the other side of the stage.
Mark chuckled at the eager look on the journalist's face. "Eerin," he said, speaking Mizari, "I want you to meet a friend of mine."
48
Chapter 4 CHAPTER 4
Eerin
By the time the StarBridge corridors dimmed to signify the rest cycle--night, as human students referred to it--Mark was exhausted. He'd talked until he was hoarse, but each answer seemed only to generate another dozen
questions from Eerin.
The human student had been astounded to learn that it had taken Eerin only four weeks to learn Mizari. The Elpind spoke it almost as well as he did. "I suppose they must have given you hypno-learning sessions," he said during their orientation tour. Each new sight seemed to make the Elpind's golden eyes grow wider as hin tried to take in everything at once.
Eerin glanced at him. "No. Hin learned quickly because ours is an oral culture. Elspind know how to listen carefully, learn quickly, and how to hold knowledge firmly in mind. It is important, for each learner will, at some time, be a teacher of the young and there is much to pass down."
Mark gazed at the Elpind skeptically. It was true that Eerin hadn't used any kind of recording device all afternoon, but he'd attributed that to first-day excitement. "You mean you'll remember everything you see and hear well enough to report on it when you get back to Elseemar? From one
exposure?"
48
49
Eerin nodded, a gesture hin had already picked up from Mark in their short acquaintance, claiming it was "economical."
"Okay," Mark said. "I'd like to see you in action. Tell you what, look through this doorway for thirty seconds and then I'll ask you to describe everything you see."
The portal in question opened on the Spiral Arm, the students' favorite hangout. The Elpind stood in the doorway, utterly still for the first time, as hin's huge, golden eyes intently scanned the place.
"Time's up," Mark announced, and Eerin stepped obediently back into the hallway.
"Okay," the young man challenged. "Describe what you saw." He was expecting four or five accurate details, mixed in with a greater amount of vague and uncertain half memories.
What he got was a flood of sharp, clear images. Eerin described the pattern in the tile, the layout of the tables, each hanging plant, each holo-vid decorating the eatery. Hin verbally sketched the foods on the tables by the door so accurately that Mark recognized each item. The Elpind was just starting in on the various beings themselves when Mark held up a hand.
"I believe you," he said simply. The remainder of the day Mark was very much aware that everything they did, every word he said, was literally being recorded in that amazing brain of Eerin's. It made him speak carefully, and think before he spoke.
That was one of the main reasons he was worn out by bedtime.
"Eerin," he said when they were finally settled in their new suite for the night, Mark on the couch and the Elpind perched restlessly in a chair, "this ability you have to learn and remember is marvelous. I'm envious. But with the recording technology the CLS can offer, your people wouldn't have to spend time memorizing things to preserve their knowledge. Instead you could use your mental talent for other things."
The Elpind blinked, considering. "It is difficult to think about changing something that has been part of our lives for so long," hin said. "Our people face many difficult choices now. Since that day eight of your years
Mark nodded. "First order of business is to pack a few things and move into the room we'll share together during orientation. Where's Eerin's stuff?"
"Still in the shuttle. Hin barely got here in time for the program."
They walked over to join Kkintha ch'aait and the Elpind. The
47
Administrator was also discussing the "drill," but her attention was distracted when Cara and her camera suddenly appeared and waved at Mark from the other side of the stage.
Mark chuckled at the eager look on the journalist's face. "Eerin," he said, speaking Mizari, "I want you to meet a friend of mine."
48
Chapter 4 CHAPTER 4
Eerin
By the time the StarBridge corridors dimmed to signify the rest cycle--night, as human students referred to it--Mark was exhausted. He'd talked until he was hoarse, but each answer seemed only to generate another dozen
questions from Eerin.
The human student had been astounded to learn that it had taken Eerin only four weeks to learn Mizari. The Elpind spoke it almost as well as he did. "I suppose they must have given you hypno-learning sessions," he said during their orientation tour. Each new sight seemed to make the Elpind's golden eyes grow wider as hin tried to take in everything at once.
Eerin glanced at him. "No. Hin learned quickly because ours is an oral culture. Elspind know how to listen carefully, learn quickly, and how to hold knowledge firmly in mind. It is important, for each learner will, at some time, be a teacher of the young and there is much to pass down."
Mark gazed at the Elpind skeptically. It was true that Eerin hadn't used any kind of recording device all afternoon, but he'd attributed that to first-day excitement. "You mean you'll remember everything you see and hear well enough to report on it when you get back to Elseemar? From one
exposure?"
48
49
Eerin nodded, a gesture hin had already picked up from Mark in their short acquaintance, claiming it was "economical."
"Okay," Mark said. "I'd like to see you in action. Tell you what, look through this doorway for thirty seconds and then I'll ask you to describe everything you see."
The portal in question opened on the Spiral Arm, the students' favorite hangout. The Elpind stood in the doorway, utterly still for the first time, as hin's huge, golden eyes intently scanned the place.
"Time's up," Mark announced, and Eerin stepped obediently back into the hallway.
"Okay," the young man challenged. "Describe what you saw." He was expecting four or five accurate details, mixed in with a greater amount of vague and uncertain half memories.
What he got was a flood of sharp, clear images. Eerin described the pattern in the tile, the layout of the tables, each hanging plant, each holo-vid decorating the eatery. Hin verbally sketched the foods on the tables by the door so accurately that Mark recognized each item. The Elpind was just starting in on the various beings themselves when Mark held up a hand.
"I believe you," he said simply. The remainder of the day Mark was very much aware that everything they did, every word he said, was literally being recorded in that amazing brain of Eerin's. It made him speak carefully, and think before he spoke.
That was one of the main reasons he was worn out by bedtime.
"Eerin," he said when they were finally settled in their new suite for the night, Mark on the couch and the Elpind perched restlessly in a chair, "this ability you have to learn and remember is marvelous. I'm envious. But with the recording technology the CLS can offer, your people wouldn't have to spend time memorizing things to preserve their knowledge. Instead you could use your mental talent for other things."
The Elpind blinked, considering. "It is difficult to think about changing something that has been part of our lives for so long," hin said. "Our people face many difficult choices now. Since that day eight of your years
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