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

тАЬNeither threatened nor instructed,тАЭ murmured the woman. тАЬAh, well, I suppose inflexibility is better
than hostility.тАЭ She tilted her head aside as though listening to distant music. Her long fingers moved in
counterpoint to her thoughts, agreeing and disagreeing with equal elegance. тАЬYes,тАЭ she murmured to
herself, тАЬwe can only try.тАЭ
Rhane shifted his weight, not bothering to conceal his impatience. The doorway hummed slightly,
reminding him that it had been held open for an unusual length of time. With abrupt decision, he stepped
back and gestured the tall woman into his suite. The door hissed shut, closing out the pale-green light of
SiolтАЩs eighth and largest moon.
Silently, Rhane set out the thorn wine and sand bread that Siolan ritual required every guest be
offered. Meriel drank and ate quickly, binding herself to Siolan custom, and binding him as well.
тАЬThe Council voted against your request,тАЭ said Meriel, holding the thin carved crystal glass that was
now empty, тАЬBut the Carifil control the Accesses. If you agree to help us, weтАЩll see that you get to
Menx.тАЭ
тАЬHelp you? How?тАЭ
тАЬInformation,тАЭ she said succinctly.
тАЬI doubt that I can tell you anything that the TтАЩaeln donтАЩt know about Menx.тАЭ
тАЬThe TтАЩaeln donтАЩt seem to know anything useful.тАЭ
Though Meriel did not move, Rhane sensed a strand of danger as clearly as though it were wire
drawn about his throat. In the instant that the feeling passed, he realized that the danger did not involve
him. The woman was merely angry with a situation that she was powerless to alter. Her feeling of
impotent rage was one Rhane understood; he had felt it too many times since Cezine had died alone.
тАЬIn fact,тАЭ said Meriel, continuing as though the moment of anger had never intervened, тАЬthe TтАЩaeln
have no interest in the highland tribes and their god myths. Normally that wouldnтАЩt matterтАФmore than
seventy percent of the population of Menx live in the flatlands. But the situation is no longer normal. ItтАЩs
imperative that we know more about the highlands.тАЭ
тАЬWhy? The First and Second Contact teams didnтАЩt think it was necessary to go beyond the beginning
of the mure forest.тАЭ
тАЬWe thought we would have time, all the time in the Concord, We were wrong. Now we have to
learn why we failed, quickly, before Menx is abandoned. Then perhaps the same mistake wonтАЩt be
repeated in the future, and another world wonтАЩt have to be left to scavengers.тАЭ
The elegant fingers moved restlessly, as though with a life of their own.
тАЬYou are one of the few Concord survivors of that planet,тАЭ she said, her voice low but clear. тАЬWe
need every bit of information you have.тАЭ
Rhane thought of the eight years since his father and half brother had died on Menx. The planet had
been far from his mind, deliberately so. By choice and necessity, he had spent the years preparing himself
to be the RA Jacaroen, hereditary alter ego of Siol, and symbolic focus of SiolтАЩs continuity.
And now Menx was here again in the form of an alien woman, asking him to remember all the things
he wanted to forget.
тАЬI donтАЩt know much more about Menx now than when I left eight years ago,тАЭ Rhane said. тАЬIтАЩve
concentrated my studies on my own planetтАЩs history. A history,тАЭ he added, тАЬthat is quite extensive.тАЭ
тАЬYouтАЩve regularly requested Menx data.тАЭ
тАЬMy teachers have, yes. They knew IтАЩd have to go back for CezineтАЩs death moments.тАЭ
The womanтАЩs fingers touched the empty crystal glass, then closed around it with a precise strength
that was reflected in her voice.
тАЬTell me what conclusions youтАЩve reached about Menx.тАЭ
тАЬConclusions?тАЭ said Rhane, startled. тАЬNone.тАЭ
A shadow of amusement crossed MerielтАЩs face. тАЬYour mind is more complex than you realize, even
though itтАЩs not wholly formed.тАЭ Her fingertip rubbed over the rim of the crystal glass, leaving behind a
musical vibration. тАЬOpinions, then. Surely you admit to having them?тАЭ
She looked up, probing Rhane with alien eyes.