"Scott G. Gier - Genellan 02 - In the Shadow of the Moon" - читать интересную книгу автора (Gier Scott G)

Chastain seized her wrist. In that instant she knew no force in the
universe could break their bond. She landed on the rock-studded slope and
was surrounded by an iron-hard embrace. Charlie stirred but did not
awaken.

"Thanks, Jocko." She exhaled, tilting her chin to give the gentle giant a
smile. Chastain blushed, as he always did.

She looked back defiantly at the shattered torrent, its leaping spray
dancing in rainbow mists. Far below, the plummeting tributary was
overwhelmed in confluence with the river. The greater current, its majestic
tumult exploding in brain-dulling cascades, thundered downstream in
boulder-rolling waves.

Lizard Lips, downy fur glistening with gems of spray, chirped and thrust
the communicator at her. His gruesome countenance jerked upward, long
snout lifting in unbridled emotion. Rows of jagged teeth glinted in the bright
sunтАФnot a smile.

SHORT-ONE-WHO-LEADS ENDANGER OFFSPRING. GIANT-ONE
MUST CARRY, the icons on the communicator admonished.
 She looked into the ugly creature's double-lidded black eyes and signed
back: "My turn to carry. My duty. My offspring."

Chirping with agitation into the ultrasonic, Lizard Lips rudely recovered
the communicator and started to punch in more icons. Buccari waved away
his efforts and signed: "Talk later. Walk now. Many spans."

Lizard Lips whistled something. Buccari fixed the cliff dweller with an
unblinking glare. The chastised steam user bowed formally, if quickly, and
jumped into a rolling waddle.

Chastain moved farther from the river. Solid pillars of granite rose
between them and the watercourse, shielding them from the crashing
hydraulics. Above them, on precipitous cliffs, clusters and points of
whiteness moved sedatelyтАФmountain goats. The hikers twisted around
rugged formations. Trees grew on the higher slopes, but the rugged terrain
in which they found themselves was unrelieved rock.

Shrieks! Overhead, hunters, no longer merely swirling motes, plummeted
closer. Buccari glanced up at their bedlam. Danger! the hunters screamed.
She brought a heightened attention to the ground.

Lizard Lips signed unnecessarily: "Alert. Something wrong."

Movement in the boulders caught her eye. A rockdog!

Slinking with feline grace, the predator emerged from dark shadows,
sunlight reflecting brilliantly from its silky black pelt.