"Jacqueline Lichtenberg - Molt Brother" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lichtenberg Jacqueline)

failed.
Sudeen said, "Zref, what you need is a customer to take
your mind off things."
"I don't feel like doing the patter for the tour right now," Zref answered.
When Sudeen failed to protest, Zref followed his gaze to the doors of the arrivals building. A kren and a human had
paused on the steps to survey the huge Mautri kyra-lizth, one of the stretched-pyramid structures that were found all
over Camiat. The human male stood close to the kren female, one arm casually encircling her shoulders as only a
bhirhir would dare. The kren female tilted her head, listening to the human. Her skin glinted with the dark tones of the
saltwater-spawned kren of the distant islands, and she wore only a casual twist of light cloth about her body.
As his eyes lit on her, Zref was overcome with a shud-dering constriction that sent cold dread knifing through his
heart, as if something of great meaning to him were about to be ripped away, leaving life not worth living. An image
froze his heart: Bloody kren arm outflung against his mother's carpet. Sudeen's armтАФ
"What's the matter, Zref?" Sudeen touched his fingertips to the side of Zref's face. "A flash?"
Zref jerked away! "I don't have flashes. That's your de-partment," he said more gruffly than he'd intended.
Sudeen let his hand fall away; his eyes traveled back to the couple on the steps. "What a saltwater beauty she is! I'll
bet she's just molted."
"Quench it, Sudeen. She wouldn't have anything to do with you, freshwater spawn!"
On the steps, the human male steered his bhirhir off to-ward the underground train entrance, moving easily through
the new flood of arrivals while the island girl gazed from side to side. At one point, she seemed to single Sudeen out,
and Zref felt his bhirhir responding as any healthy male kren would.
"Come on, Zref. Maybe they could use a guide." He half rose, but Zref restrained him with one hand.
"He looks like he knows where he's going."
Then Zref's eye lit on a lone figure coming from the port clearance doors, perhaps the last of the Mormorant's
pas-sengers. The clenched dread he had felt subsided to a mild tingle as he watched the cloaked figure descend the
shallow steps toward the fountain where they sat.
"Here's our customer, Sudeen!" said Zref, tugging Sudeen after him to meet the figure. As they neared, he could see
that the man wasn't human or kren. He wore a full-cut traveler's cloak and hood with environmental con-trols. Only his
eight-digited hands, covered with what seemed a natural horny substance, were exposed. At closer range, they could
make out a snouted face covered with a fine, red-brown fur.
"A Brenilak," Sudeen said quietly. "His cloak would be set on cool today, but he'd like the normal climate here. I think
it's a he. The females have a lighter coloring."
Zref made what he thought of as his comical native bow for all purposes and started his spiel: A guide to the city was
necessary, surprisingly inexpensive, remarkably entertaining, and incredibly knowledgeable. An irresistible bargain all
around.
The customer listened, head cocked to one side in amusement or maybe interest. Sudeen finally caught fire and took
up the patter, interspersing Zref's sentences with comments. They were so busy, neither of them saw the security
uniform until the guard spoke.
"I thought I told you kids to clear out of here!" It was the human security guard they had had a running battle with.
"We're sorry, sir," said Zref while Sudeen kept up the patter. "We're moving, now, see." He demonstrated by skipping
sideways after the retreating customer.
"Sir," said the guard to the Brenilak, "are these young-sters bothering you?"
The Brenilak glanced at them and then at the guard. "I was considering their proposition."
"You won't be wanting this pair as city guides!"
"Are they dishonest?"
"Oh, they'll show you everything and return you safe to your hotel. But don't believe a word they tell you, or you'll
end up thinking Firestrip is the City of a Million Legends!"
The Brenilak looked searchingly at Zref and Sudeen. The guard's comments seemed to have kindled real inter-est in
their customer. He said, "I thank you very much for your information, but I believe I will take a chance on these two."
The guard began to protest but stopped as the Brenilak produced a gleaming gold clip and set it on the outside of his
cloak. When he removed his hand, they could all see that he was now wearing the medallion of the Interface Guild.