"Harrison, Harry - Eden 2 - Winter In Eden" - читать интересную книгу автора (Harrison Harry)

"You know where the hanalш is?"

"The location is known to me."

"Lead us."

The fargi, swollen with importance, waddled quickly to the fore and the procession wound its way along the avenue. Large boughs overhung it, providing protection from the sun, but the cool north wind made the sun desirable. They proceeded along the sunlit strip to one side, to a great structure with a sealed door. Two fargi, holding dried and preserved hшsotsan as symbols of their status, stood before it.

"Summon the esekasak who is in charge of all affairs here," Vaintш ordered. The guards writhed with inferior confusion until Vaintш snapped a clarification to the command.

"That one will go; that one will remain on guard."

The esekasak radiated lack-of-knowledge of arrival and willingness-to-obey when she appeared and saw them waiting. Vaintш, every movement of her body demanding obedience and respect, addressed her.

"Here is a new male for your loyal protection. We will bring him into the entrance for you."

Once inside, with the heavy door closed behind them, they could not be overheard.

"This is what must be done," Vaintш said. "This is Esetta< and he has just crossed the ocean from a far city. He is tired and needs rest. He also needs privacy-without-end until your eistaa commands different. You will bring his meat and he will speak only to you. If you are asked who issued these orders, you will say that Vaintш has done this. Do you understand?"

"Great Vaintш crossed the ocean to be eistaa in a distant city," Akotolp said, humbly and proudly, deliberately speaking of things past in such a manner a listener might consider them things present as well. Vaintш appreciated the adroit assistance.

"As Vaintш has ordered-so shall it be," the esekasak said instantly, signalled request for permission to leave, then took Esetta< away as soon as she received it. Esetta< knew better than to express the hatred and fear of the recent events that he felt, instead he looked about at the warm security of the hanalш and let his motions show pleasure-at-arrival-which was certainly true enough.

There was still a small crowd of fargi waiting outside; nothing new had caught their attention and they waited dimly at the site of their last interesting observation. The older one who had led them here stood to one side, signing respective obedience when Vaintш looked her way. Vaintш waved her over.

"Your name?"

"Melikelш. Is low one permitted to know identity of high one who is speaking?"

"This is Vaintш," Akotolp said, making sure that all the highest marks of respect were associated with the name.

"Do you wish to follow me, Melikelш?" Vaintш asked.

"Wherever the path goes; I am your fargi."

"To the place of eating first. Then I wish to know more of this city."

Akotolp had seen Vaintш's radiant leadership before, yet respected it anew. In this city on a rock in the sea, where she had never set foot before-she still commanded instant obedience. And she spoke of food, excellent idea. Akotolp snapped her jaws together loudly at the thought.

Melikelш led the way back down the hillside to the shore, and along it to an enclosure beside the beach. Since it was not the usual time for eating, the open area under the translucent cover was empty. Tanks lined the wall and the attendant fargi were pulling large fish from them, slicing them with string-knives, gutting and cleaning them and putting the resultant slabs of meat into enzyme solutions.

"A waste," Akotolp pronounced. "For hundred-year-old nenitesk steaks this treatment might be needed-not for fish. Let me see what they have in the tanks. Small Crustacea, delightful when fresh-behold!"

She seized a large one between her thumbs, snapped off its head and limbs and shelled it in one practiced movement, popped it into her mouth and chewed with pleasure. Vaintш cared little for the food she ate and took a slab of fish on a leaf instead. Melikelш did the same as soon as Vaintш had turned away.

Akotolp muttered to herself with happiness while a mound of discarded husks grew at her feet. Radiating pleasure-with-eating she took no notice of the fargi working around her, or of the Yilanш who emerged from an adjoining structure. Who looked at her, then looked again more closely, who then approached.

"Passing of time-ending of separation," the newcomer said excitedly. "You are Akotolp, you must be Akotolp, there is but one Akotolp."