"Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman - StarShield Book 1" - читать интересную книгу автора (Weis Margaret)

┬й Copyright 1997 by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman / All Rights Reserved. Page 12
Chapter2: Minor Inconvenience
Oscan Kelis rubbed the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. He was tired and the puzzle that contin-
ued to float at the back of his mind was rapidly turning from a minor problem into a major headache.
None of the usual actions seem to help. He passed his hand over his bald scalp. No answer. He rolled
his head around, trying to shake something loose in his mind. No answer. He stood up from the glowing
plate in his work alcove, strode purposefully into the main hall of the ancient Rhishan Monastery, past
the numerous alcoves filled with other Atis Librae huddled over their tasks and out onto the concourse
overlooking the falls. The patterns of water woven beneath him, tumbling into the chasm far below had
always soothed his mind and helped him bring order to his thoughts when no other source would
possibly have given him the answers that he sought. So he leaned against the machicolation, gazing
down through the crenel into the swirling mists far below him, searching for some clue within himself
that would give him an answer.
No answer.
тАЬDonтАЩt jump, Oscan!тАЭ
Oscan shook with a start at the voice suddenly materializing at his ear. He turned, heart racing
toward the sound. тАЬBy the Great Spirit, Librae Dharah, you gave me such a start!тАЭ
тАЬBe at peace, Librae Kelis,тАЭ Terica Dharah returned in her best mock formal tone. тАЬI shall not
cause you any harm.тАЭ
Oscan found his breath difficult in returning, and not just because of the fright his coworker had
given him. Terica Dharah was uncommonly beautiful for a тАШsifterтАЩ тАФ as most Atis Librae called them-
selves тАФ being a tall, willowy woman with gentle features. Oscan has once happened upon her briefly
during a holiday on Tentris. It was the only time he remembered seeing her with raven-black hair
liberated from the tightly controlled severity that she always fashioned for her work. The luxurious
satiny ripples of her hair framed the long oval of her face perfectly. The room had been crowded and he
couldnтАЩt say just how long he stood there, frozen by the beauty of her and the distant sound of her
laughter welling up from the murmuring sound of her companions. The smile she flashed him when she
notice him in return brought a heat to his face that he still felt just thinking about it. He had nearly made
a fool of himself then in his rush to escape the gamesroom where he encountered her, lamely waving in
acknowledgment and then running directly into a table as he attempted to beat a suave retreat out of the
room. Now, he couldnтАЩt see her without remembering the soft wave of her black hair framing that
perfect face. The air around her seemed to rare to him.
тАЬOf course not, Librae Dharah. ItтАЩs just that . . .тАЭ
тАЬTerica, Oscan.тАЭ
тАЬWhat?тАЭ
тАЬMy nameтАЩs Terica,тАЭ she laughed in a quiet voice which was all the more unsettling for him

┬й Copyright 1997 by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman / All Rights Reserved. Page 13
because of its sweet familiarity. тАЬThereтАЩs no one around in the courtyard and even if there were, the
EтАЩtoris is well off world and therefore not close enough to command strict protocols of address. Be-
sides, weтАЩve known each other far too long for such formality. So, what drives you out here to gaze
down into the abyss?тАЭ
тАЬIt may be nothing, Ter . . . Terica.тАЭ Oscan stumbled over her name again and cursed himself
inwardly for it. тАЬItтАЩs just that I canтАЩt get the sector updates to corroborate. WeтАЩve got information
coming up the links that is being sifted as usual and then after we pass it on up to the citadel on Tentris
it comes back down on reflect wrong.тАЭ
тАЬThatтАЩs supposed to be impossible,тАЭ Terica responded. тАЬI thought all the reflects were auto-
mated.тАЭ