"Alan Dean Foster - Flinx 3 - Orphan Star" - читать интересную книгу автора (Foster Alan Dean)

"Mahnahmi, I see you've been entertaining oar guest," Challis said to the girl. "Now go somewhere
and play like a good child."
"No. I want to stay and watch."
"Watch?" Flmx tensed. "Watch what?"
"He's going to use the jewel. I know he is!" She turned to Challis. "Please let me stay and watch,
Daddy! I won't say a word, I promise."
"Sorry, child. Not this time."
"Not this time, not this time," she repeated. "Yon never let me watch. Never, never, never!" As
quick as a sun shower turns bright, her face broke into a wide smile. "Oh, all right, but at least
let me say good-bye."
When Challis impatiently nodded his approval she all but jumped into Flinx's arms. Much to his


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distress, she wrapped herself around him, gave him a wet smack on one cheek, and whispered into
his right ear in a lilting, immature soprano, "Better do what he tells yon to, Flinx, or he'll rip
out your guts."
Somehow he managed to keep a neutral expression on his face as she pulled away with a disarmingly
innocent smile.
"Bye-bye. Maybe Daddy will let us play later." Turning, she skipped from the room, exiting through
a doorway in the far wall.
"An ... interesting little girl," Filax commented, swallowing.
"Isn't she charming," Challis agreed. "Her mother was exceptionally beautiful."
"You're married, then? You don't strike me as the type."
The merchant appeared truly shocked. "Me, life- mated? My dear boy! Her mother was purchased right
here in Drallar, a number of years ago. Her pedigree claimed she possessed exceptional talents.
They turned out to be of a very minor nature, suitable for parlor tricks but little else.
"However, she could perform certain other functions, so I didn't feel the money wholly wasted. The
only drawback was the birth of that infant, resulting from my failure to report on time for a
standard debiojection. I didn't think the delay would be significant." He shrugged. "But I was
wrong. The mother pleased me, so I permitted her to have the child.... I tend to be hard on my
property, however. The mother did not live long thereafter. At times I feel the child has
inherited her mother's minuscule talents, but every attempt to prove so has met with failure."
"Yet despite this, you keep her," Flinx noted curiously. For a second Challis appeared almost
confused, a sensation which passed rapidly.
"It is not so puzzling, really. Considering the manner of the mother's death, of which the child
is unaware, I feel some small sense of responsibility for her. While I have no particular love for
infants, she obeys with an alacrity her older counterparts could emulate." He grinned broadly and
Flinx had the impression of a naked white skull filled with broken icicles.
"She's old enough to know that if she doesn't, I'll simply sell her." Challis leaned forward,
wheezing with the effort of folding his chest over his protruding belly. "However, you were not
brought here to discuss the details of my domestic life."
"Then why was I brought here? I heard something about a jewel. I know a little about good stones,
but I'm certainly no expert."
"A jewel, yes." Challis declined further oral explanation; instead, he manipulated several
switches concealed by the far overhang of the table between them. The lights dimmed and Challis'
pair of ominous attendants disappeared, though Flinx could sense their alert presence nearby. They
were between him and the only clearly defined door.