"Ken Rand - Here There Be Humans" - читать интересную книгу автора (Rand Ken)

Many had mates and birth-kin afield, AтАЩcom knew.

тАЬThen thereтАЩll be a ransom demand,тАЭ Admin Second, now Acting Admin
First, Julas DтАЩfif said, тАЬwill there not, milord?тАЭ His throat pouch quivered and he
drummed inner thumbs on the table. An annoying habit, that drumming, AтАЩcom
thought.

тАЬIf so, shouldnтАЩt weтАФтАЭ DтАЩfif stammered to a halt.

AтАЩcom glared and puffed his throat pouch in mute threat and DтАЩfif plopped
back in his seat, blinking, drumming, quivering. DтАЩfifтАЩs neckfins had extended,
dissipating nervous body heat.

Base atmosphere conditioning seemed normal. AтАЩcomтАЩs neckfins lay flaccid
on his shoulders and he breathed the filtered air easily. Alarm gauges read colorless
and the cooled air was toxin-free.

He felt comfortable, despite having just arrived from orbital with his team, but
the dozen others in the room, all downwell vets, seemed tense. AтАЩcom saw furtive
glances exchanged among the twitchy bunch.

What in LтАЩhocтАЩs name is going on? Are they just nervous about the potential
threat to them, or am I seeing conspiracy?

тАЬSecurityтАЩs being puffed up.тАЭ AтАЩcom hoped his smile and full color might
ease tensions. тАЬThereтАЩs no cause for alarm.тАЭ

AтАЩcom could have cut the tension with a dull bondknife.

Curiosity piqued, he shifted color, adopted a different tact. He sat still, face
neutral, pouch slack, and waited for somebody to break the heavy silence. After a
moment, a female began to weep in muted sobs, saggy pouch a livid purple. Her
comrades studied the walls, the floors, their thumbs. Neckfins sprouted and the
conditioner whined.

WhatтАЩs going on?

AтАЩcom sighed, stood, and ended the meeting. тАЬMy people will interview each
of you, and your techs. Separately.тАЭ

****
 тАЬTheyтАЩre worried about outlaws, Sula,тАЭ tech Dor KтАЩrou said. He waved a
hand slate, his enhancer-probe interview transcripts, just finished.

AтАЩcom nodded as he sipped a bulb of fresh ground thusea, savoring the bitter
tang. He sat in the Admin FirstтАЩs private office, at the FirstтАЩs desk in his cushy,
high-backed chair. Search headquarters now. With him sat or stood his team chiefs
making their first report and conducting their first strategy session since planetfall.