"Ann Maxwell - Concord 2 - A Dead God Dancing" - читать интересную книгу автора (Maxwell Ann)

and seeing impractical.
тАЬHow can she sleep so long?тАЭ said Nevin, looking enviously at Syza.
Lhar shook out his gritscarf and replaced it before opening his mouth. тАЬExhaustion. Controlling those
taman and drifsen is work. Especially the drifsen. Their minds are elusive.тАЭ
тАЬMinds?тАЭ
тАЬSyza used psi to control the drifsen. How do you think she heals if not with her mind?тАЭ
Nevin moved uneasily. тАЬI never thought about it. All my time has been spent studying retrograde
cultures.тАЭ
тАЬThatтАЩs why youтАЩre here. You worry about nursing this culture through exodus intact. IтАЩll worry about
Syza.тАЭ
тАЬGlad itтАЩs your job.?
Lhar let go of the tent flap and turned back toward the younger man. тАЬPsi talents are no better or
worse than a talent for singing or dancing or leather working,тАЭ said Lhar slowly. тАЬThe Chanteuse was
born with a special ability. Do you dislike her for that?тАЭ
Nevin looked shocked. тАЬNo one could dislike her for anything! The whole galaxy loves her, whoever
and wherever she is.тАЭ
Lhar smiled. тАЬPsi is just another talent, no matter what your native culture taught you.тАЭ He turned
back toward the flap. тАЬI have to check on the drifs.тАЭ
тАЬTheyтАЩd better stay healthy. In this culture theyтАЩre second only to water as the source of life.тАЭ
тАЬAnd prestige.тАЭ
тАЬUgly beasts,тАЭ said Nevin. тАЬThey smell like singed zarf.тАЭ
тАЬA matter of taste,тАЭ said Lhar over his shoulder. тАЬYouтАЩll acquire it.тАЭ
As Lhar had expected, the drifsen had the animals under tight control. None looked sick or lame. He
took his time checking them anyway. As he finished he sensed TтАЩMero approaching from behind.
тАЬEverything clear?тАЭ asked Lhar.
тАЬNo large animals have moved into the canyon. No water lines anywhere on the canyon wall.
NтАЩLithтАЩs storms are dry.тАЭ
тАЬWas Syza awake?тАЭ said Lhar, assuming that TтАЩMero had also checked the tent.
тАЬNo.тАЭ
тАЬDiri?тАЭ
тАЬCoping with Nevin.тАЭ
Lhar gave a last pat to the drifsen lounging at his feet. тАЬI hope NevinтАЩs innocence was more apparent
than real. Were the waterbags secure?тАЭ
тАЬAs long as Diri is busy, yes. Her discipline goes no further than dancing.тАЭ
тАЬSheтАЩll learn.тАЭ
Lhar and TтАЩMero walked slowly to the tent. Syza was awake, examining harness for signs of wear in
the muted tent light. She glanced up at their entrance, then returned to her work without a word.
тАЬHow do you feel?тАЭ asked Lhar.
тАЬBetter.тАЭ
тАЬYour drifsen have the animals well under their fangs.тАЭ
Syza said nothing.
*ThereтАЩs more to this assignment than animals and harness. We are supposed to be a native khaner,
a breeding group, an extended family. Friends. Your preference for being left alone does not coincide
with the reality of a native khaner.*
SyzaтАЩs slim, chapped fingers tightened on the harness and her mind shied from the unwanted contact.
When she looked up her green eyes slid away from his unhealed cheek.
тАЬYes, the drifsen are very quick,тАЭ she said quietly. тАЬItтАЩs a pleasure to work with them.тАЭ
Before Lhar could respond, Diri and Nevin pushed aside the flap separating the sleeping area of the
tent. Nevin watched Diri with a look of stunned admiration; obviously his innocence had been real. Lhar
quickly decided that this was an excellent time to test the depth of NevinтАЩs Tal-Lith imprint.