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

bed frame and began manually adjusting settings. As the numbers for the others came onscreen, the
Holot dictated them while writing them on the portable screenboard hanging at the foot of each bed. The
Lehiroh made the adjustments. By the time he finished, Seum was stirring. Arlai dictated another change,
and the whole thing was repeated twice more.

At last Jindigar opened his eyes, peering about him Wearily. The windows had turned to reflective black
as the lights came on. He raised his head on hunched shoulders, glimpsed the other two of his team, then
collapsed back onto the bed with a gusty sigh. Then he saw Krinata. "You came!"

Gratitude flooded from his eyes to hers, and she was warmed. Arlai called, "Jindigar, how do you feel?"

Recognizing the voice, he twisted his head to catch sight of the screen. Krinata tilted the unit so he could
see, and Arlai appeared behind the numerals. Computer and Immortal grinned at each other. Then
Jindigar said, "I feel terrible. Are you doing this?"

"All my fault. Want something for the headache?"

"Sure. But nothing will blunt the other ache."

Then the other two Dushau were greeting Arlai, getting the whole story of Finemar's embarrassment
which could have been fatal to them, and dragging themselves to their feet to dress. The two attendants
helped the others while Krinata fetched Jindigar's tunic and shoes.

Jindigar introduced Arlai to the piol, and petted it as he struggled into his clothing, and wound his turban.
Then he placed the piol on top of his head, signed them all out of the infirmary and led the way back
toward Krinata's office, which was several stories underground.

She halted them at the ground floor. "It's well past working hours, and I just don't want to go back there
today."

Jindigar checked his leptolizer for the time. His was a simple, polished steel model, hardly longer than a
finger, the old-fashioned, unadorned model that could do everything the cumbersome heraldry-decorated
one could do, and weighed less than a third as much. The one the Emperor had given him hung at his belt
with Fedeewarn's.

"I didn't realize it was so late. I'm sorry. You go on home, and we'll check in at the embassy."

"The Dushau embassy is closed for the day."

"That's peculiar," said one of the Dushau.

Realizing he owed introductions, Jindigar said, "Krinata, this is Dinai, Protector of Kamminth, and Seum,
Formulator of Kamminth. Krinata Zavaronne, our debriefing officer. I've worked with her often, and
found her most competent. Perhaps we even owe her our lives. But now I must get to a screen and talk
privately to Arlai."

She noticed Jindigar's teeth weren't nearly as blue as they ought to be. "You all aren't well enough to be
running around hunting a hotel. Come on home with me. I've a guest room, and one of you can have the
sitting room." Seum was leaning against the wall as if he couldn't stand upright, and Dinai was panting.
Jindigar stood straight, but he was too stiffтАФresisting weakness. "I'll order in some food, and you can