"Anthony,.Piers.-.Mute (2)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Anthony Susan)

"You are not as slow as you look. You are right. Mit

is mutant."

"Ah. Mental rather than physical? Does he have psi?" "Yes. He is probably the best psi-crab in existence. He

is clairvoyant and precognitive."

Knot laughed, pleased. "He knows there is no danger!" "Precisely. No danger to him or to you. When I carry

him, I know when there is any threat to me. He hides

in his shell and chatters his teeth."

"Chatters his teeth!" Knot knew she spoke figuratively.

"Did you say he has a double psi talent? I thought that

was impossible."

23



Piers Anthony

"Extremely rare, but it happens. Even triple talents are theoretically possible. One chance in a hundred billion or so, I believeЧand since there are not nearly that many mutant births in a century, we really don't need to let the prospect concern us unduly. CC is very interested in such combinations, and collects all the dual-mutes it finds."

Knot felt another chill. He covered it with a smile. "No wonder I couldn't bluff you. You know all my secrets."

She nodded smugly. "Mit knows, at any rate. Tangible things, mainly; intangibles become too complex for his comprehension."

Intangibles were beyond the crab's limited power. Knot allowed himself more hope. "I find myself liking you, Finesse. Let me be blunt, while I have the clairvoyance in my hand. You've been coming on to me from the outset, but you're a normal, and not an ugly or stupid one. What is on your mind? You can't find me. physically attractive."

"Men don't have to be physically attractive." She squinted at him appraisingly. "Actually, there is a certain appealing quality to you. Were your proportions normal, you would be a handsome man, and even as it isЧ"

"You're avoiding the issue again. There is no visible reason why you should play up to me, especially on business time. You've gotten your information; you verified the power of the leadmuter. You caught our enclave cheating the planetary government and hiding a psi-mutant from CC. It makes most sense for you to scoot the hell home to the machine and make your devastating report. Instead you're acting as though I'm of more interest thanЧ" He paused, glancing down at the hermit crab. "Mit, did she come to investigate me?"

"Won't work, Knot," she said. "He's only a crab, with the mind of a crab. Even if he could grasp the complexities of human subterfuge, he can neither comprehend your speech nor reply in kind. He tunes hi on danger to himself and to those nearest him, without defining it. At least, not in our terms. Were you telepathic, you could converse with him and obtain more specific information; otherwise the best you can do is tap questions on his shell and get yes-no answers. Since I mean you no mis-
chief of a tangible kind, he feels secure. You'll learn nothing from him you can use."

; "Getting me fired of transferred to an inclement enclave ji&r lobotomized as a criminal would not be completely ible by my reckoning," Knot said. "You don't have club me on the head to hurt me."

"Oh, such things are not beyond Mil's ken. He might understand them, but he can precog your future if. And he would inform you by clicking on his shell. fiat my plans for you are a good deal more devious, and H; really do not mean you any harm, Knot. I do rather like lyou, despite your ornery ways, though I will not pretend ;you are any rival to a normal or any model of integrity." It;" She was really working him overЧbut she still had not ight on to his secret, he judged. Best not even to think (bout that. "And if I take you hi my arms and do with

what you're obviously made forЧ?" "In due course. I'm not an amateur in that respect. But it there is one other thing I must show you." She Itcached into another pocket and drew out a small, slender, animal with a little round, whiskered face. "This is ffcrmine, the weasel. She's a mutant too."

Knot accepted the weasel in his left hand. She was with sleek fur, and had the secure footing and icness of a healthy predator. Knot liked all animals Other than household pests, but he found himself liking one hi quite a strong, specific way. "And what is your ^talent, Hermine?" he asked, not expecting an answer. !i; Nice man. Like you.