"Lisanne Norman - Sholan 03 - Fire margins" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norman Lisanne)

Prologue
"Approaching the trading world now, General M'ezozakk," said his navigator.

"Inform Priest J'koshuk that his skills are needed," said M'ezozakk, watching as the planet grew larger on
the main view screen.

"No need, General, I'm here," said the priest, stepping out of the bridge access corridor. Behind him the
door ground noisily as it closed.

"Hasn't anything been done about that damned door yet?" M'ezozakk demanded testily, ending on a
sibilant hiss of displeasure.

"No, General. Maintenance and engineering are monitoring the hull patch continuously lest it is breached
again. We can't afford to lose any more ..."

"I don't want excuses," snapped M'ezozakk, his crest rising as he turned to look at the First Officer. "I
want results! If it isn't fixed within this shift, I'll throw you to J'koshuk to play with!"

The officer's skin paled visibly, his tongue flicking out nervously as he glanced at the carmine-robed priest
who now stood to the left of the General.

"I'll see to it personally, General," he said, ducking his head down in a low bow of obeisance.

"Do so." M'ezozakk turned back to the screen. "Wait," he said. "On your way, see that the captives are
cleaned up. We need to get a good price for them. Make sure that they understand this, because if they
don't cooperate, I'm sure J'koshuk could spare a few last moments with them."

"Yes, General," said the officer, beginning to sidle toward the exit.

"We're within communications range, General," ventured the crew member manning the comm unit.

"You realize our information regarding this world is minimal," said J'koshuk quietly, leaning toward the
General "I can't be sure that the language we have on our data banks is their universal port language."

M'ezozakk turned his unblinking gaze on the priest. The vertical slits narrowed slightly. "Are you telling
me you don't think you can communicate with these ... savages?"

"By no means, General," said the other, his tone more conciliatory. "I don't yet know just how ... basic ...
that communication will be."

"Your position gives you many privileges, J'koshuk. Should I, on your advice, have detoured to this
world and be unable to accomplish our mission, those privileges can be rescinded. I believe Mzayb'ik has
ambitions ..." He left the rest of his sentence hanging.

"If I cannot communicate with these barbarians, General, then none of Mzayb'ik's ambitions will help
you," said J'koshuk, his own eyes narrowing as he bowed his head slightly to the General.

"If you can't make yourself understood, then his lack of knowledge would hardly be an impediment,"
M'ezozakk said smoothly.