Read Online Uhura's Song by Janet Kagan - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Janet Kagan
Tags: Fiction, General, Science-Fiction, adventure, Space Opera, Performing Arts, Interplanetary voyages, Space ships, History & Criticism, Television, Star Trek Fiction, Kirk; James T. (Fictitious Character)
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place, the landing party found a small clearing. All around them ancient trees rose to heights she had seen only in wilderness preserves, but- Uhura blinked back tears of relief- they were familiar. She laid her hand on the trunk before her and its very solidity warmed her: she knew this place. CloudShape to-Ennien had once cloaked herself in mist and climbed a tree like this one...to where the storm clouds had been at play with their lightnings. Fooled by the mist, the storm clouds invited CloudShape to join their game. They tossed a lightning to her- and CloudShape caught it with her tail and scurried down as fast as she could climb, leaving the storm clouds to boom their anger.
Once Sunfall had burst into laughter at the sight of a barbecue. When Uhura had asked her why, Sunfall said, "To see a cooking fire is to see the singe marks on CloudShape's tail."
"Mr. Spock?" Captain Kirk's puzzled voice broke into her thoughts and drew her back to the business at hand.
Spock took a reading from his tricorder and said, "The inhabited area is about three hundred yards in that direction, Captain. As these people have, in all probability, seen neither a human nor a Vulcan, I did not wish to add to their surprise with a materialization."
"Good thinking, Mr. Spock." Kirk gestured. "Let's go then.... Set phasers on stun and stay alert, people." With him in the lead. the party began to move warily through the forest.
Before her, Mr. Chekov took quick suspicious steps, matching his pace to Captain Kirk's. Slightly to her right, Evan Wilson crept swiftly along the rapt concentration on her face made Uhura think of a child at play but her steps made no sound. Behind her, she could sense Spock's reassuring presence.
The captain stopped, raised his hand to motion them forward. They approached cautiously. "We hev found a trail, Mr. Spock," said Chekov, somewhat unnecessarily; he kept his voice low.
The trail was not broad- two might walk abreast- but it was hardpacked from frequent use. Kirk looked inquiringly at Spock, who said quietly, "We do not come as enemies, Captain. A straightforward approach would seem most appropriate."
"My thought exactly." Captain Kirk spoke in a normal tone of voice.
A single shriek of wordless anger stabbed through the forest.
"Down!" shouted Kirk, diving for cover himself, as the branches high above them came alive with furious movement and a chorus of chilling cries.
Uhura found herself sheltering beneath a partially fallen tree trunk as a hail of small round objects struck and bounced. She lifted her phaser and scanned the trees. At first, all she could make out were flapping branches, then she caught a glimpse of one of the creatures: it was small and brightly furred. Its feet and long tail were definitely prehensile. Another bounced suddenly into view; it too was screaming, but Uhura could see that the teeth it bared so threateningly were the flat teeth of leaf-eaters.
"Nuts!" said Evan Wilson from just beneath Uhura's left elbow. "They're throwing nuts at us!" The announcement brought a second hail down on them.
That stirred the memory of one of Sunfall's songs. Uhura twisted to look at Evan, but found herself face to face with Captain Kirk. Evan was wedged beneath the two of them, staring down at her tricorder. "They're welcome-homes, Captain," Uhura said. "That's all they do- make noise, wave branches and throw things."
Kirk nodded at her and emerged cautiously from cover. Spock followed suit. The welcome-homes kept to the safety of their perches; farther up the trail, another group took up the raucous cries. "All bark and no bite," he said to Spock and winced as a shower of pellets bounced off his head.
"If I understand your meaning, sir, yes. These creatures would be herbivorous. Shall we go on?"
"Yes, Mr. Spock. The Sivaoans can hardly have failed to notice our presence. I
Once Sunfall had burst into laughter at the sight of a barbecue. When Uhura had asked her why, Sunfall said, "To see a cooking fire is to see the singe marks on CloudShape's tail."
"Mr. Spock?" Captain Kirk's puzzled voice broke into her thoughts and drew her back to the business at hand.
Spock took a reading from his tricorder and said, "The inhabited area is about three hundred yards in that direction, Captain. As these people have, in all probability, seen neither a human nor a Vulcan, I did not wish to add to their surprise with a materialization."
"Good thinking, Mr. Spock." Kirk gestured. "Let's go then.... Set phasers on stun and stay alert, people." With him in the lead. the party began to move warily through the forest.
Before her, Mr. Chekov took quick suspicious steps, matching his pace to Captain Kirk's. Slightly to her right, Evan Wilson crept swiftly along the rapt concentration on her face made Uhura think of a child at play but her steps made no sound. Behind her, she could sense Spock's reassuring presence.
The captain stopped, raised his hand to motion them forward. They approached cautiously. "We hev found a trail, Mr. Spock," said Chekov, somewhat unnecessarily; he kept his voice low.
The trail was not broad- two might walk abreast- but it was hardpacked from frequent use. Kirk looked inquiringly at Spock, who said quietly, "We do not come as enemies, Captain. A straightforward approach would seem most appropriate."
"My thought exactly." Captain Kirk spoke in a normal tone of voice.
A single shriek of wordless anger stabbed through the forest.
"Down!" shouted Kirk, diving for cover himself, as the branches high above them came alive with furious movement and a chorus of chilling cries.
Uhura found herself sheltering beneath a partially fallen tree trunk as a hail of small round objects struck and bounced. She lifted her phaser and scanned the trees. At first, all she could make out were flapping branches, then she caught a glimpse of one of the creatures: it was small and brightly furred. Its feet and long tail were definitely prehensile. Another bounced suddenly into view; it too was screaming, but Uhura could see that the teeth it bared so threateningly were the flat teeth of leaf-eaters.
"Nuts!" said Evan Wilson from just beneath Uhura's left elbow. "They're throwing nuts at us!" The announcement brought a second hail down on them.
That stirred the memory of one of Sunfall's songs. Uhura twisted to look at Evan, but found herself face to face with Captain Kirk. Evan was wedged beneath the two of them, staring down at her tricorder. "They're welcome-homes, Captain," Uhura said. "That's all they do- make noise, wave branches and throw things."
Kirk nodded at her and emerged cautiously from cover. Spock followed suit. The welcome-homes kept to the safety of their perches; farther up the trail, another group took up the raucous cries. "All bark and no bite," he said to Spock and winced as a shower of pellets bounced off his head.
"If I understand your meaning, sir, yes. These creatures would be herbivorous. Shall we go on?"
"Yes, Mr. Spock. The Sivaoans can hardly have failed to notice our presence. I
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