Read Online Star Risk - 02 Scoundrel Worlds by Chris Bunch - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Chris Bunch
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raised by a couple other than her parents, with all respect. The parents had agreed. A woman said that she would be taking an additional husband by next Spring Festival. There would be a peaceful protest scheduled outside a prison against an execution.
Then a man and a woman, at either side of the room, began tapping softly on small drums. A woman got up and told a little story about seeing a woman walking along in the rain, and noting a gutter was blocked. She knelt and cleared it with her hands, an obvious good deed, since she thought she was unobserved. Goodnight rolled his eyes back in disbelief.
Two or three people got up and started slowly dancing to the drumbeat. One of them shed her clothes.
Goodnight, remembering Riss's comment about those who go to orgies, winced. The woman would have been better advised to wrap herself in a tablecloth. A very large tablecloth.
A man stood up, shouted "Praise God," and sat down abruptly. Others started dancing as well. A man, writhing like a dervish, began chanting in a tongue Riss had never heard. Others followed, each in a language of her or his own.
Goodnight noted that the only woman he considered pretty, other than Riss, sat primly in her chair, lips moving soundlessly.
That went on for too long. Then, without a signal, everyone returned to their seats. The naked fat woman didn't bother to dress.
Elder Bracken recited another equally bland prayer, bowed, and the worshipers got up and started out.
Bracken came up to them. "What do you think?"
"What should I be thinking?" Goodnight asked.
"That, perhaps, our ribaldry or devil-worshiping is a bit exaggerated?"
Riss laughed.
"There've been quite a few other outsiders at our services," Bracken said. "Unfortunately, few of them come more than once. And many of them leave disappointed."
"Why?" Goodnight asked.
"They expected something different," Bracken suggested. "We have enemies�have had them for generations�who spread the most dreadful calumny. Now, with the unfortunate incident of Brother Sufyerd, the holos are also spreading these lies.
"I fully expect, any day now, they'll claim we sacrifice newborn infants." He shook his head sadly.
"We're from offworld," Riss said, "and have wondered why you Jilani are badgered."
"Because we live our lives separately, yet within the Dampier System's culture, just as we do on other worlds, other systems. We do not vote, we pay taxes reluctantly, and avoid military service as much as possible, practicing pacifism. We do not espouse treason, nor even passive resistance to the state."
"But this Sufyerd�" Goodnight said.
"Some feel Brother Sufyerd had backslid into apostasy, but the truth is that he, and some of our more progressive thinkers, feel we should amalgamate ourselves more into society."
He shook his head sadly. "I'm afraid his current predicament suggests to me the possible incorrectness of the theory, although there are still those who persist, and who have dedicated their lives to that belief.
"On the other hand, since Brother Sufyerd's conviction, there are those� respected members of our group� who think pacifism is an outmoded tool in a society that sneers at peacefulness and persecutes us. They think we should be willing to take up cudgels against those who are our enemies.
"I�and most other Jilani�disagree, and think the best way to end persecution is to continue to live blameless lives."
"Boring from within?" Riss said.
"I could wish," Bracken said. "Of course I would that everyone on this planet believe as we do. But we do not proselytize, never have, and most likely never shall. Our ultimate dream is to simply be left alone, as we attempt to leave others alone."
"Let me ask you another question," Goodnight said. "How many of these strangers who came to your services did you suspect were police agents, or counterintelligence operatives?"
"Such as yourselves?" Bracken said, and grinned broadly, seeing their reaction. "I just said that to
Then a man and a woman, at either side of the room, began tapping softly on small drums. A woman got up and told a little story about seeing a woman walking along in the rain, and noting a gutter was blocked. She knelt and cleared it with her hands, an obvious good deed, since she thought she was unobserved. Goodnight rolled his eyes back in disbelief.
Two or three people got up and started slowly dancing to the drumbeat. One of them shed her clothes.
Goodnight, remembering Riss's comment about those who go to orgies, winced. The woman would have been better advised to wrap herself in a tablecloth. A very large tablecloth.
A man stood up, shouted "Praise God," and sat down abruptly. Others started dancing as well. A man, writhing like a dervish, began chanting in a tongue Riss had never heard. Others followed, each in a language of her or his own.
Goodnight noted that the only woman he considered pretty, other than Riss, sat primly in her chair, lips moving soundlessly.
That went on for too long. Then, without a signal, everyone returned to their seats. The naked fat woman didn't bother to dress.
Elder Bracken recited another equally bland prayer, bowed, and the worshipers got up and started out.
Bracken came up to them. "What do you think?"
"What should I be thinking?" Goodnight asked.
"That, perhaps, our ribaldry or devil-worshiping is a bit exaggerated?"
Riss laughed.
"There've been quite a few other outsiders at our services," Bracken said. "Unfortunately, few of them come more than once. And many of them leave disappointed."
"Why?" Goodnight asked.
"They expected something different," Bracken suggested. "We have enemies�have had them for generations�who spread the most dreadful calumny. Now, with the unfortunate incident of Brother Sufyerd, the holos are also spreading these lies.
"I fully expect, any day now, they'll claim we sacrifice newborn infants." He shook his head sadly.
"We're from offworld," Riss said, "and have wondered why you Jilani are badgered."
"Because we live our lives separately, yet within the Dampier System's culture, just as we do on other worlds, other systems. We do not vote, we pay taxes reluctantly, and avoid military service as much as possible, practicing pacifism. We do not espouse treason, nor even passive resistance to the state."
"But this Sufyerd�" Goodnight said.
"Some feel Brother Sufyerd had backslid into apostasy, but the truth is that he, and some of our more progressive thinkers, feel we should amalgamate ourselves more into society."
He shook his head sadly. "I'm afraid his current predicament suggests to me the possible incorrectness of the theory, although there are still those who persist, and who have dedicated their lives to that belief.
"On the other hand, since Brother Sufyerd's conviction, there are those� respected members of our group� who think pacifism is an outmoded tool in a society that sneers at peacefulness and persecutes us. They think we should be willing to take up cudgels against those who are our enemies.
"I�and most other Jilani�disagree, and think the best way to end persecution is to continue to live blameless lives."
"Boring from within?" Riss said.
"I could wish," Bracken said. "Of course I would that everyone on this planet believe as we do. But we do not proselytize, never have, and most likely never shall. Our ultimate dream is to simply be left alone, as we attempt to leave others alone."
"Let me ask you another question," Goodnight said. "How many of these strangers who came to your services did you suspect were police agents, or counterintelligence operatives?"
"Such as yourselves?" Bracken said, and grinned broadly, seeing their reaction. "I just said that to
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