"Jacqueline Lichtenberg - Dushau Trilogy 01 - Dushau" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lichtenberg Jacqueline)

As one, the Dushau started forward. Krinata, out of step from the first, did her best to keep from tripping
on the long Dushau cloak. A part of her wished she could relax and soak up every bit of this, to enrich
future dreams. But she felt ridiculous, conspicuous, and wholly out of place. Her Ceremonial instructor
had once told her, Believe what you're doing is significant, and it will be. As they inserted their
formation among the eight Honor Guards, she tried to believe she was a Receptor of this proud Oliat,
worthy of this Imperial Honor.

They emerged into the bright afternoon sunlight, diffused by the force-field dome overhead, and were
inspected by the massed thousands of the Court. They slow-marched across the chamber, turned in the
wide center aisle, made obeisance, and advanced toward the throne, all to the beat of the Dushaun
anthemтАФslow, infinitely patient, fraught with eternity. Indigo music.

She'd never been this close to the throne before. The solid gold throne carved with the insignias of all the
Allegiancy species filled her view. Beside it, only slightly less spectacular, was the Imperial Consort's
throne, vacant now since Rantan, as a Lehiroh, didn't marry. To either side, other functionaries were
seated or posted in ostentatious splendor.

Rantan Lord Zinzik himself was a short, middle-aged but trim Lehiroh, dressed in the imperial green,
loaded down with badges and honors. For an instant, his careless cruelty to the Oliat was wiped away by
the upwelling magic of the vision before her: Emperor of the Allied Species. Rantan, whatever he might
be personally, had become the living symbol of the Empire and all that was good in their lives. She saw
him as one fighting bravely and imaginatively for their survival. Tears came to her eyes as she marched
amid the ghosts of her famous ancestors and all they'd sacrificed for the Allegiancy's peace and
prosperity.

She blinked away the sudden tears. When the Oliat came to the foot of the stairs, she surprised herself
with the smoothness of her deep obeisance, for the first time expressing, in the movement of her body,
the emotions she felt for the Allegiancy Empire, the first galactic civilization granting full rights to all
species. She treasured the Allegiancy and served it with all her heart.

The Oliat held the kneeling posture while Jindigar rose and answered the Emperor's formal inquiries.
Then, at Zinzik's bidding, they all rose and were escorted to chairs set on a lower dais, the banners
planted in holders all about them. It was the routine she had seen at dozens of these ceremonies, yet
when Jindigar sat beside her, he whispered, without turning his head, "Does Rantan follow all the old
protocol exactly?"

"He's fanatic about it," she answered, also facing front and trying to speak without moving her lips.

"Then something is dreadfully wrong." He folded his arms about a bulge in his lap. His surplice stirred and
a furry head poked out mewling. He petted the piol as if everyone carried an animal when being
presented to the Emperor. But his eyes roved the audience, measuring. "Where is the Dushaun
delegation?"

She found their usual place, high on a side balcony, and saw empty seats. "Rantan's going to be furious. I
hope he doesn't blame you that they didn't come."

"They'd be here if summoned. And did you notice the odd stirring among the Lehiroh and the Holot we
passed?"