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

the deepest obeisance of her life without faltering, and said, "Prince Jindigar was apprehensive that such a
thing might happen to the Oliat while in The Presence, Excellency. He has instructed me to apologize for
Kamminth's Oliat, and to explain that in the event of some mischance with Fedeewarn, he would revert to
the Office of Receptor."

She stopped when Zinzik flipped a hand at her sharply, his whole manner speaking of his total familiarity
with the sensitive Oliat mechanism. She nestled the piol against her breast and circled away from Zinzik,
bowing as low as she could. He couldn't have done this on purpose.

Zinzik did not deign to notice her but circled the other way and followed the Oliat. Sh& trailed behind,
wondering if she could beat Jindigar to the infirmary by taking a shortcut. But no, if there were any
shortcuts in the ancient structure, he'd know them.

In an atrium where a fountain danced merrily, they came upon the five Dushau. The four males knelt
around Kamminth who writhed on the tiled floor as if her flesh were seared by the sunlight from the open
roof. One of them screamed, an ululating roar of unparalleled anguish.

Kamminth's heels beat against the tiles, a seizure's rhythm. Another of the Dushau vomited on the edge of
the fountain, and then fell headfirst into the water. Jindigar remained clutching Kamminth, his hands
bracing her head.

Guards swept into the atrium in the Emperor's wake, and formed up around him, awaiting orders.
Krinata ran to the Dushau drowning unconscious in the fountain and, setting the piol on the edge, she
hauled the large Dushau out of the water. He wasn't breathing.

She pulled him over on his chest and cleared his air passages, noting the unhealthy pallor of his teeth. Just
as she was steeling herself to administer resuscitation, Jindigar's hands replaced hers. He was vibrating
again, as he had in the robing room, his whole body in the grip of a palsy of terror. He said, "Kamminth's
dead. I could do nothing." And he bent to force air into the Dushau.

Krinata watched the fight for life, glancing occasionally at the dead form of Kamminth surrounded by two
traumatized Dushau men, and feeling their awesome age. What was it like to have invested five or six
thousand years in building a life, to feel the beginnings of maturity, and to have it all ripped away in death?
Her tears gathered for Kamminth, and her whole body yearned to help the drowned man.

When he finally coughed and choked and drew breath, his teeth taking on the healthy blue cast of the
living Dushau, his body convulsed, head thrown back, spine arched. Jindigar gathered him in as he had
Kamminth, then reached out to sweep Krinata into their huddle. He grabbed her leptolizer from her belt
hook and forced it between the man's jaws. Then he just held on, damping the thrashing with his weight
and hers. As Jindigar offered solace to his Oliat mate, he also clutched at her again, as if she were his
lifeline to sanity.

She never knew how long it lasted, but the Emperor and his guards still stood by the archway when the
Dushau relaxed and began to breathe normally. Jindigar flashed her a smile, his teeth pale, but still a living
blue. He returned her leptolizer, and went to the three other figures.

One of the other two Dushau was slumped bonelessly over Kamminth's corpse. The remaining one
huddled upon himself. Jindigar put an arm around him, murmured something, and gently urged him
toward Krinata and his half-drowned colleague. As he joined them, the Dushau touched Krinata and
said, "I'm sorry you had to witness that."