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

"Waken, please, we must talk," Enge said, then waited until the others had stirred and were attentive again. "We cannot discuss, so I ask compliance/obedience. Will you do as I ask?"

"You speak for us all, Enge," Omal said simply and the others signed agreement.

"Then this is what we will do. While four sleep one must always be awake-for there are great dangers. That is what must be done. If one is sleepy then another must be awoken. One will always sit awake beside the sleepers." She looked about as they all communicated understanding and agreement. "Then all is well. Now sleep my sisters and I will remain awake at your side."

Enge was sitting in the same position some time later when Vaintш climbed down from the fin, a shiver of hatred running the length of her body when she caught Enge's watching eye. Enge did not respond-nor did she turn away. The placidity of her gaze irritated Vaintш even more so that she was forced to lie at a distance, her back turned, in order to calm herself.

It was a fast and uneventful crossing, for all aboard were so shocked by the death of Alpшasak that they escaped their remembered terrors in sleep, waking only to eat, then sleep again. But one of the appointed five was always awake, always watchful.

Enge was asleep when land was sighted, but she had left her orders.

"It is there, the greentree shore of Entoban*," Satsat said, touching Enge lightly to awaken her.

Enge signed grateful thanks and waited in silent stolidity until the time came when the commander was alone on top of the fin: she joined her there and they both looked in silent appreciation at the line of white breakers that were drawn against the greens of the jungle beyond.

"Respectful request for knowledge," Enge signed, and Erafnais let acceptance be known. "We are looking at the shore of warm and eternal Entoban*. But is it known at what position on the coast we see?"

"Somewhere here," Erafnais said, holding out the chart tight-clamped between the thumbs of one hand, the thumbs of the other spanning a distance on the coast. Enge looked closely at it.

"We must proceed north along the shore," Erafnais said, "then on past Yebшisk to the island city of sea-girt Ikhalmenets."

"Would impertinence be assumed if I asked the commander to point out warm-beached Yebшisk when we are close?"

"Communication will be made."

Another two days passed before they came to the city. Vaintш was also interested in Yebшisk and stood at the far end of the fin while Erafnais and Enge remained at the other. It was late afternoon when they passed the high trees, the golden curve of the sands on each of the city's flanks, the tiny forms of the fishing boats returning with the day's catch. Surprisingly, after all her earlier curiosity, Enge showed scarcely any interest at all. After one long glance she signed her gratitude for information and went below. Vaintш permitted herself a spasmodic glare of hatred as she passed, then stared back at the shore.

In the morning she listened as a crewmember addressed the commander, and could not control the tremors of anger that shook her body. She should have known-should have known.

"They are gone, Erafnais, all five of them. I saw their sleeping positions vacated when I awoke. They are not here in the uruketo or in the fin."

"Nothing was seen?"

"Nothing. It was my duty to awaken first this day to take the guiding position. It is a mysteryЕ"

"No it is not!" Vaintш cried aloud and they drew back from her. "The only mystery is why I did not see what was going to happen. They know that no good will come to them in the bold city of Ikhalmenets. They seek hiding places in Yebшisk. Turn about, Erafnais, and go there at once."

There was command in Vaintш's voice, authority in the stance of her body. Yet Erafnais made no move to obey, instead stood in immobile silence. The watching, listening crewmembers were rigid, each with an eye turned toward one of the speakers. Vaintш signed urgency and obedience and wrath, hovering like a destructive thundercloud over the smaller commander. Bentback, dragfoot Erafnais.

With a will of her own. She had had more than a hint of the motives involved here. Enge had been kind to her and never offended her-while she knew little of the Daughters of Life, cared even less. What she did know was that there had been enough killing. And it was obvious that death lay behind every one of Vaintш's venomous movements.

"We will proceed. We will not turn back. Dismissal of presence from commander to passenger."

Then she turned about and walked away, letting her limp muffle the positions of pleasure and superiority in her body movements.

Vaintш was rigid with anger, paralyzed by impotence. She did not command here-did not command anywhere echoed back darkly from her thoughts-nor could she use violence. The crewmembers would not permit that. She was locked in a silent, internal battle with her anger. Logic must rule; cold thought must vanquish. The inescapable fact was that there was absolutely nothing that could be done at the present time. Enge and her followers had escaped from her for the moment. That was of no importance. In the fullness of time they would meet again and instant justice would follow. Nor could anything be done now about the commander of the uruketo. These things were all too petty to be considered. What she should be thinking about was the riverine city of Mesekei and the important tasks that must be undertaken there. If she were to achieve her ends careful planning would be needed, not mindless anger. For all of her life she had kept her anger carefully in check and she wondered now at the newfound strength of it. It was the ustuzou that had done that, destroyed her calm and turned her into a creature of intemperate justice. Kerrick and his ustuzou had made her like this. It would not be forgotten. In the future her anger would be kept under control at all times, for all things. Except one. Hatred treasured was hatred that grew strong in a hidden place. One day to be released.

With the working of these thoughts the tension eased and her body was hers again. She looked around and found that she was alone. Erafnais was in the fin above with the crewmembers who were on duty; the rest were comatose and asleep. Vaintш looked toward the place where Enge and her followers had slept and it was just an empty area that meant nothing to her. This was as it should be. She was back in control of her body and her emotions again. There was a movement in the darkness beyond and she could clearly hear the sounds of communication-desired. Only then did she remember the presence of the fat scientist and the male. She approached them.