"Frank Herbert - Escape Felicity" - читать интересную книгу автора (Herbert Brian & Frank)

'Is it safe?'
'Of course.'

'Why're they laughing?'

'They're laughing at themselves. You tricked them, made them jump. This is definitely laughter.'

Hesitantly, Beirut moved to Autoga's side, sat down. Autoga stopped grunting, put a hand on Beirut 's
shoulder, spoke to his companions. With a millisecond delay, the computer began translating: 'This
god-self-creation is a good Joe, boys. His accent is lousy, but he has a sense of humor.'

'Are you sure of that translation?' Beirut asked.

'Reasonably so,' the computer said. 'Without greater morphological grounding, a cultural investigation in
depth and series comparisons of vocal evolution, you get only a gross literal approximation, of course.
We'll refine it while we go along. We're ready to put your sub-vocals through the lingua pack.'

'Let's talk,' Beirut said.

Out of the lingua pack on his chest came a series of sounds approximating 'Ai-ing-eeya.'

Computer translation of Autoga's reply was: 'That's a good idea. It's open sky.'

Beirut shook his head. It didn't sound right. Open sky?

'Sorry we damaged your vehicle,' Autoga said. 'We thought you were one of our youths playing with
danger.'

Beirut swallowed. 'You thought my ship ... you people can make ships of this kind?'

'Oh, we made a few about ten millionklurch ago,' Autoga said.

'It was at least fifteen millionklurch,' said the wrinkle-faced native on Beirut 's left.

'Now, Choon, there you go exaggerating again,' Autoga said. He looked at Beirut . 'You'll have to
forgive Chpon. He wants everything to be bigger, better and greater than it is.'

'What's a klurch?' Beirut asked.

The computer answered for his ears alone: 'Probable answer -the local year, about one and one-third
standards.'

'I'm glad you decided to be peaceful,' Beirut said.

The lingua pack rendered this into a variety of sounds and the natives stared at Beirut 's chest.

'He is speaking from his chest,' Choon said.

Autoga looked up at the ship. 'There are more of you?'