"Ann Maxwell - The Jaws of Menx" - читать интересную книгу автора (Maxwell Ann)

The Jaws Of Menx
Ann Maxwell
1981

A STRANGE, ASCENDING HOWL ECHOED FROM THE MOUNTAINS ...
Shiya looked at Rhane and said, тАЬTheyтАЩre coming.тАЭ
Standing in the gloom, waiting uneasily to meet a legend, Rhane asked, тАЬI donтАЩt see any restraints.
How do you control them?тАЭ
тАЬI donтАЩt.тАЭ
Suddenly Rhane wondered if this was what Lor Jastre had meant when he asked Shiya if she had an
unpleasant accident prepared for Rhane. Ifreskans were no myth, they were among the most intelligent,
savage predators on the known planets. With rising anger, he turned on Shiya, reached for her.
тАЬDonтАЩt move!тАЭ
Something in her voice penetrated his anger and he stood absolutely still.
тАЬSlowly, very slowly, turn your face toward the rocks. You wonтАЩt see anything, but the reskans are
here.тАЭ
He did as he was told and at first saw nothing. Then the top of the nearest boulder leaped off and
landed less than a handтАЩs length from him, and Rhane found himself staring into the eyes of a Menx
reskan, the eyes of deathтАФ

I
Rhane examined the slender, long-fingered woman who stood so quietly within the pool of light just
outside his room. It was too late for a casual caller; nor was she dressed in the manner of Siolan women.
тАЬHow may I please you?тАЭ said Rhane, using the neutral words of Galactic Courtesy.
The womanтАЩs elegant hands moved in a gesture of gratitude and, oddly, regret. When she spoke
aloud, it was in the language of Siol, his native planet.
тАЬFirst SonтАЩs First Son, I am Meriel. I would share images of the planet Menx.тАЭ
Rhane could not control the quick tensing of his body at hearing the name of Menx, deathplace of
two en Jacaroens. He examined the woman more closely, but neither her clothes nor her words revealed
her planet of origin.
тАЬImages?тАЭ asked Rhane in unaccented Galactic, refusing the strangerтАЩs offer of his native language.
тАЬYes.тАЭ The woman called Meriel almost smiled. тАЬMay I touch your hand, Rhane en Jacaroen, and
share images of Menx?тАЭ
The womanтАЩs request was made in Siolan, couched as a petition from a member of the ruled class to
one of the rulers. An en Jacaroen could not refuse the request. Even so, Rhane hesitated, searching his
instincts for any sense of personal danger. His reluctance showed in the slowness with which he extended
his left hand.
Meriel's long, long fingers closed around RhaneтАЩs wrist, and the world exploded into images of the
planet where RhaneтАЩs father and half brother had died. He saw khi in bloom, a silver lake smoking in the
dawn, blue-black boulders holding up the empty sky, and his fatherтАЩs eyes, yellow-gray, and CezineтАЩs
just gray. Menx. The sound of childrenтАЩs laughter and the silence of death.
After the first overwhelming moment, Rhane realized that the images were his own memories of his
half brotherтАЩs young laughter and the silky feel of Shiya, alien Shiya, more alluring than any child had a
right to be. Cezine laughing, melting, dying. Dead.
 Rhane yanked free of the womanтАЩs grasp. She did not resist, though his roughness must have hurt.
When she smiled, Rhane looked away, not wanting to see such sadness.
тАЬYes, you are Rhane en Jacaroen. You, too, have learned that Menx is another name for death.тАЭ
MerielтАЩs voice changed. She spoke in perfect High Galactic. тАЬForgive the intimacy, although I did warn
you.тАЭ
Rhane was too shaken to speak or even to examine the ramifications of the womanтАЩs words. With an