Read Online The Tar-aiym Krang by Alan Dean Foster - Free Book Online Page A

were also rare, and this one had
still
refused cognizance of his presence.
    He made a rapid decision and brought back a foot, delivering a solid blow to the upthrust portion of the unbalanced figure below. It uttered a single screech and shot through the grill into the room beyond. In a split second he had regretfully discarded both pheasant and cheese and rolled through after it, coming up on his feet on the other side. The startled faces of Malaika, Tse-Mallory, and Truzenzuzex were already gazing in astonishment at the scene. The figure stood opposite him, rubbing the injured portion. It cursed him steadily and fluently. He noticed absently as he dodged the fingers which drove for his larynx that the figure was very much that of a woman. It matched the thoughts he had picked up. Reluctantly he assumed a defensive pose, legs apart, knees slightly bent, arms out and forward. Pip fluttered nervously on his shoulder, the pleated wings unfurling preparatory to the minidrag’s taking flight.
    The woman made another motion as if to attack again, but was frozen by the bellow which came from Malaika’s direction.
    “ATHA!” She turned to face him.
    The big merchant strode over to stand between them. His eyes went from one to the other, finally settling hard on Flinx.
    “Well,
kijana?
I suggest something profound, and quickly!”
    Flinx tried to keep his voice as even as possible, despite the adrenalin pumping through his system.
    “I was in the pantry and happened to notice the door to the room next to it was open” (never mind why he had noticed it). “Looking in, I saw a figure . . . that figure . . . hunched over next to a grill. The room most certainly ought to have been locked. I assumed that this was not part of your normal method of conducting private business talks and so I decided to force the issue—and the person—into the open, where the air is clearer. I’m sorry if I’ve broken a fetish or taboo of yours.”
    “What!” Then he caught the humor of it and grinned. “Think I’m a weirdie, eh,
kijana?”
    “It was a thought, sir.”
    “
Adabu!
No, you did right, Flinx.” He turned a furious gaze on the girl. She shrank back slightly under that withering visage but the obstinate glare never left her face. Somehow she found the where-withal to look righteous.
    “Goddamn you, girl, double-damn and collapsed drives, I’ve told you about this, before!” He shook his head in exasperation. “Again,
kwa ajili ya adabu,
for the sake of manners, I forgive it. Get out to the port and check out the shuttle.”
    “It was checked again only last week and nothing was wrong with . . .
    “Agggh!” He raised a hand the size of a ham. “I . . . strongly . . . suggest . . . that you . . .!” She skittered by the descending hand and sped for the exit. The look she sent Flinx on the way out was brief, but hot enough to melt duralloy. Malaika caught his breath and seemed to calm himself somewhat.
    “How much of what she heard did you hear?”
    Flinx lied. In the situation he considered it more than ethical. “Enough.”
    “So, so!” The merchant considered. “Well, perhaps it will work out for the better. You’ll probably turn out to be the sharpest one aboard, lad, but I’d stay clear of Atha for awhile. I’m afraid your method of making first greetings will never replace shaking hands!” He shook with laughter at his own witticism. He put out an arm as if to embrace Flinx’s shoulders, drew it back hastily at a warning gesture from Pip.
    “She works for you?” It was a rhetorical question. But Flinx was curious to know what position the girl held that could inspire such trust on Malaika’s part that he could treat her as he had without fear of reprisal.
    “Atha? Oh yes.” He looked in the direction taken by the girl. “You wouldn’t think a
mwanamke
that ferocious would have the patience to make starship copilot at her age, would you? She’s been with me in that capacity for six