"Eric Flint - Ranks of Bronze 2 - Carthago Delenda Est" - читать интересную книгу автора (Flint Eric)

InvestigatorтАЩs movements which created a certain sense of anxiety in AgayanтАЩs mind. His own
species, supple but slow-moving, retained a primordial fear of predators.

He shook the uneasiness off. Ridiculous, really. Even a bit embarrassing. Such atavistic fears
had no basis in reality. AgayanтАЩs raceтАФlike that of the InvestigatorтАФwas counted among the
Doge Species which dominated both the Federation and the great trading Guilds and
Combines.

The Doge Species numbered only twenty-three. All other races were subordinate, to one
degree or another. Some, like the species which provided the Pilots and Medics for the great
trading ships, were ranked Class One. Class One species were privy to the highest technology
of galactic civilization, and enjoyed many privileges. But they were still subordinates. Others,
specialized laborers like the Gha, were ranked Class Two. Below Class Two species came
nothing but indentured servant races, like the quasi-reptilian Ossa whose flexible phenotypes
made them useful, or outright slaves likeтАФ

The shuttle swept in for a landing. The Investigator joined Agayan as they marched up the
ramp.

тАЬI told you the humans did it,тАЭ he hissed, knotting the finger-clusters of his forelimbs in
satisfaction.




II
┬л^┬╗
After their ship left the planet, Agayan pressed the advantage.
тАЬIt is the only possibility,тАЭ he announced firmly. тАЬRidiculous to think those natives were
responsible!тАЭ

He and the Investigator were in that chamber of the vessel which combined the functions
of a lounge and a meeting room. In deference to its multispecies use, the room was bathed with
soft indirect light and bare of any furnishings beyond those of use to its current occupants.
Each of those two occupants, in his or its own way, was relaxing. For Agayan, that involved
nothing more elaborate than draping his body over a sawhorse-shaped piece of furniture and
enjoying a tumbler of a mildly intoxicating liquor.

For the Investigator, relaxation was more intense. Yuaw Khta was also positioned on its
preferred furniture, in that posture which almost all bipeds adopted when resting. (In their
different languages, it was called sitting. As always, it seemed peculiar to AgayanтАФas if a person
would deliberately choose to break his body in half.) Yuaw Khta was also sipping at a beverage.
A different one, of course. The liquor in AgayanтАЩs tumbler would poison the Investigator; and,
while Agayan would survive drinking the blue liquid in Yuaw KhtaтАЩs cup, he would certainly
not enjoy the experience.

In addition, however, the Investigator enjoyed the ministrations of a personal attendant. As
it leaned forward in its chair, the Ossa behind it subjected Yuaw KhtaтАЩs long neck to a vigorous
massage.