"Ann Maxwell - Concord 1 - The Singer Enigma" - читать интересную книгу автора (Maxwell Ann)

LyraтАЩs voice left no doubt that such a miracle was to be savored and explored. Tarhn filed that
incredible fact under the growing mental category called Lyra Mara. He wanted to ask the name of her
home planet, but that would be a curdling breach of Courtesy. Better to wait, grow closer, observe, as
the Carifil had trained him to do. And they had trained him well. Not so much as a flicker of incredulity
escaped his mental discipline.
He was almost as wary about communicating his appreciation of LyraтАЩs radiant grace. He thought of
complimenting her, but said nothing out of fear that she would be offended.
тАЬIтАЩm not,тАЭ said Lyra softly.
Though TarhnтАЩs walk never missed a beat, his mind flashed instantly into defensive silence.
тАЬIтАЩve been clumsy again,тАЭ said Lyra. тАЬForgive me. Your mind is deeply disciplined, yet ...тАЭ
She stopped and lifted her strange eyes to his. For a moment Tarhn felt swept by vertigo as he
looked into the widening gold at the center of her eyes. Then the feeling passed and he found himself
listening tensely to her.
тАЬ... No word for it here. Complement? Yes, but more. Far more. Ease and rightness and creation.тАЭ
When there was no lessening of his mental barriers, Lyra lowered her eyes and said sadly, тАЬOf all the
aspects of Courtesy I donтАЩt understand, the injunction against truth is the most baffling. I know our minds
would be unity, one with the other, as surely as I know we are man and woman. Yet I must say nothing
or risk offending you. I risked and lost. I will offend no further.тАЭ
Tarhn watched her walk away, divided between profound relief and a numbing sense of loss. Out of
the turmoil which passed for thought came the certainty that whatever else might pass, Lyra had told the
truth as she knew it. He would bet his life on it.
He already had.
The realization that there lived a psi who could easily penetrate at least the outer levels of his mind
moved through him like a shock wave.
Abruptly he turned toward his cabin. What had been a quiet cruise on an amusingly archaic
spaceship had turned into a trap. No Access. No way for the Carifil to replace him. No way to escape.
Tarhn paused in midstride, surprised by the intensity of his emotions. Just what was he escaping
from? A beautiful woman who found him desirable? A terrible crime, surely, punishable by extended,
intimate confinement with him.
He debated going after her and apologizing for his rudeness, but a cold thread of unease held him
back. He tried to pursue the thread, to discover its source and thus know whether it was tied to real or
imagined threat. But the thread was born of patterns he had avoided so long that they were inaccessible
to him now.
With a surge of impatience at his coy mind, Tarhn started swiftly after Lyra. Whether the danger was
real or not, he had a job to do.
тАЬLyra,тАЭ he said, catching up with her. тАЬLetтАЩs forget Courtesy for a while. ItтАЩs more suited to people
who have little in common and less common sense.тАЭ When she hesitated, he added, тАЬMinds as ...
perceptive as yours are rare. You surprised me. IтАЩm not used to being surprised. I reacted badly.тАЭ
LyraтАЩs sudden smile told him that the contact was retrieved.
тАЬMy slakes are still hungry. Are you still interested in seeing them?тАЭ
In answer, Lyra put her arm through his and leaned lightly against him. The subtle moonlight scent of
her skin made Tarhn take an involuntary breath. Instantly she pulled back, fearing she had offended him.
TarhnтАЩs arm tightened, holding her close.
тАЬI like it this way,тАЭ he said, leading her back down the passageway.
тАЬLetтАЩs start again,тАЭ he said lightly. тАЬThough born on Tau, IтАЩm essentially a Concord citizen. IтАЩve lived
on twelve planets and visited many, many more. Cultural variations seldom surprise me, and the only
thing which offends me is intentional cruelty.тАЭ
 Lyra moved her right hand in an unmistakable gesture of approval.
тАЬGood,тАЭ he said. тАЬNow. The most logical, rational approach for us would be to use your cultural
norms, at least until we understand each other well enough to make our own private rules. Agreed?тАЭ he