[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
the Tuvela on her way over from the other forest and that she d wiped it out
single-handedly before it could get out an alarm. Then a short while ago
they d begun getting reports that a small fast surface vessel was maneuvering
elusively about the Drift
the Sotira sleds had kept their promise to provide her with a message courier.
The Everliving naturally associated the presence of the ship with that of the
Tuvela. But they didn t know what its purpose was. . . .
Page 185
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
They d been under psychological pressure since she d first avoided what had
seemed inevitable capture. With each move she d made thereafter the pressure
increased. That the moves were forced on her they didn t realize. All of it
would seem part of the Tuvela s developing plan . . . a plan they didn t
understand and seemed unable to check. They didn t know to what it would lead.
Fears they d nourished and fought down for over half a century fed heavily on
them again.
So they, the proud Palachs of Porad Anz, had sent out Dr. Ticos Cay and a
delegation of the Voice of Caution to offer the Tuvela a cessation of
hostilities and the opportunity to present the Guardians terms to them in
person. No doubt some of Koll s adherents remained ragingly opposed to the
move.
Could she risk talking to them?
As things stood, she had a very good chance of getting away from here
presently. Then she could warn her kind that there was an enemy among them and
that they must prepare for attack. If she walked into the enemy s camp and
couldn t maintain the Tuvela bluff, she d have thrown away the chance. If
Ticos had understood that, he mightn t be urging her now to reveal herself.
But if she didn t respond and remained concealed, the pressure on the
Everliving wouldn t let down. They d interpret silence to mean that they were
no longer being offered an opportunity to withdraw. How would they react? They
might feel it was too late to attempt retreat. They d had many weeks to
prepare the strike against Nandy-Cline from their hidden floatwood bases. If
they decided to launch it before countermoves began, how long would it be
before space weapons lashed out at the mainland? Hours? Her warning would come
too late in that case.
The real question might be whether she could risk not talking to them.
Abruptly, Nile made up her mind.
The Parahuan boat came slowly around the curve of the forest. The loudspeaker
began to shout again. After a few words it stopped. The Palach Moga, standing
beside Ticos Cay, lowered the instrument carefully and turned it off with an
air of preferring to make no sudden moves. There was a burst of sibilant
whisperings behind Ticos. They ceased. The boat s engines cut out and it
drifted up against a tangle of lagoon weeds. The man and the six aliens stared
at the motionless figure standing at the forest s edge ten yards away.
The Tuvela s voice said crisply, Dr. Cay!
Ticos cleared his throat. Yes, Guardian?
Have that craft brought over here and introduce the Parahuan officers to me
Stepping down into the boat was like crossing the threshold of a grotesque
dream. They stood erect on long legs, abandoning the natural posture of their
kind, balanced not too certainly on broad feet. Parahuan heads inclined in
obeisance to the Guardian as Ticos introduced them in turn. She knew the names
of the Palach Moga and one of the others from his report. Along with half a
dozen Great Palachs, Moga was the most influential member of the Voice of
Caution. He retained his place beside Ticos. The others stood well to the back
of the boat as it turned out again into the lagoon.
Moga spoke briefly into a communicator, said to Nile, The Everliving are
assembling to hear the Guardian. . . .
She didn t ask where they were assembling. A Tuvela would show no concern for
such details. An angry whistling came for an instant from farther out in the
lagoon. Sweeting still didn t approve of this move.
The sound seemed to jar all along Nile s nerves. She was frightened; and
knowing that now of all times she couldn t afford to be frightened simply was
making it that much worse. For moments her thoughts became a shifting blur of
anxieties. She tried to force them back to what she would say to the
Everliving, to anticipate questions to which she must have answers. It didn t
work too well. But the physical reactions faded gradually again.
Stocky Oganoon figures, weapons formally displayed, lined the sides of the
water-level entrance to the blockhouse. The boat moved a few yards along a [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl fopke.keep.pl
the Tuvela on her way over from the other forest and that she d wiped it out
single-handedly before it could get out an alarm. Then a short while ago
they d begun getting reports that a small fast surface vessel was maneuvering
elusively about the Drift
the Sotira sleds had kept their promise to provide her with a message courier.
The Everliving naturally associated the presence of the ship with that of the
Tuvela. But they didn t know what its purpose was. . . .
Page 185
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
They d been under psychological pressure since she d first avoided what had
seemed inevitable capture. With each move she d made thereafter the pressure
increased. That the moves were forced on her they didn t realize. All of it
would seem part of the Tuvela s developing plan . . . a plan they didn t
understand and seemed unable to check. They didn t know to what it would lead.
Fears they d nourished and fought down for over half a century fed heavily on
them again.
So they, the proud Palachs of Porad Anz, had sent out Dr. Ticos Cay and a
delegation of the Voice of Caution to offer the Tuvela a cessation of
hostilities and the opportunity to present the Guardians terms to them in
person. No doubt some of Koll s adherents remained ragingly opposed to the
move.
Could she risk talking to them?
As things stood, she had a very good chance of getting away from here
presently. Then she could warn her kind that there was an enemy among them and
that they must prepare for attack. If she walked into the enemy s camp and
couldn t maintain the Tuvela bluff, she d have thrown away the chance. If
Ticos had understood that, he mightn t be urging her now to reveal herself.
But if she didn t respond and remained concealed, the pressure on the
Everliving wouldn t let down. They d interpret silence to mean that they were
no longer being offered an opportunity to withdraw. How would they react? They
might feel it was too late to attempt retreat. They d had many weeks to
prepare the strike against Nandy-Cline from their hidden floatwood bases. If
they decided to launch it before countermoves began, how long would it be
before space weapons lashed out at the mainland? Hours? Her warning would come
too late in that case.
The real question might be whether she could risk not talking to them.
Abruptly, Nile made up her mind.
The Parahuan boat came slowly around the curve of the forest. The loudspeaker
began to shout again. After a few words it stopped. The Palach Moga, standing
beside Ticos Cay, lowered the instrument carefully and turned it off with an
air of preferring to make no sudden moves. There was a burst of sibilant
whisperings behind Ticos. They ceased. The boat s engines cut out and it
drifted up against a tangle of lagoon weeds. The man and the six aliens stared
at the motionless figure standing at the forest s edge ten yards away.
The Tuvela s voice said crisply, Dr. Cay!
Ticos cleared his throat. Yes, Guardian?
Have that craft brought over here and introduce the Parahuan officers to me
Stepping down into the boat was like crossing the threshold of a grotesque
dream. They stood erect on long legs, abandoning the natural posture of their
kind, balanced not too certainly on broad feet. Parahuan heads inclined in
obeisance to the Guardian as Ticos introduced them in turn. She knew the names
of the Palach Moga and one of the others from his report. Along with half a
dozen Great Palachs, Moga was the most influential member of the Voice of
Caution. He retained his place beside Ticos. The others stood well to the back
of the boat as it turned out again into the lagoon.
Moga spoke briefly into a communicator, said to Nile, The Everliving are
assembling to hear the Guardian. . . .
She didn t ask where they were assembling. A Tuvela would show no concern for
such details. An angry whistling came for an instant from farther out in the
lagoon. Sweeting still didn t approve of this move.
The sound seemed to jar all along Nile s nerves. She was frightened; and
knowing that now of all times she couldn t afford to be frightened simply was
making it that much worse. For moments her thoughts became a shifting blur of
anxieties. She tried to force them back to what she would say to the
Everliving, to anticipate questions to which she must have answers. It didn t
work too well. But the physical reactions faded gradually again.
Stocky Oganoon figures, weapons formally displayed, lined the sides of the
water-level entrance to the blockhouse. The boat moved a few yards along a [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]