"Walter Jon Williams - Prayers on the Wind" - читать интересную книгу автора (Williams Walter John)

against the floor as she trotted to the dais, her lower arms offering a khata. She had no tongue to stick
out -- her upper and lower palates were flexible, permitting a wide variety of sounds, but they weren't as
flexible as all that. Still she thrust out her lower lip in a polite approximation.
"I am honored to be presented at last, Omniscient," !urq said. Dr. O'Neill gave a snort of anger.
The Treasured King draped a knotted khata around the Ambassador's neck. "We of the Diamond
Mountain are pleased to welcome you. I hope you will find our hospitality to your liking."
The old man reached forward for the blessing. !urq's instructions did not permit her to bow her head
before an alien presence, so the Incarnation simply reached forward and placed his hand over her face
for a moment. They remained frozen in that attitude, and then !urq backed carefully to one side of the
platform, standing near Jigme. She and Jigme then presented their respective parties to the Incarnation.
By the end of the audience the head of the Gyalpo Rinpoche looked like a tiny red jewel in a flowery
lotus of white silk khatas.
"I thank you all for coming all these light-years to see me," said the Incarnation, and Jigme led the
visitors from the audience chamber, chanting the sutra Aum vajra guru Padma siddhi hum, Aura the
diamond powerful guru Padma, as he walked.
!urq came to a halt as soon as her party had filed from the room. Her lower arms formed an
expression of bewilderment. "Is that all?"
Jigme looked at the alien. "That is the conclusion of the audience, yes. We may tour the holy places in
the Library, if you wish."
"We had no opportunity to discuss the matter of Gyangtse."
"You may apply to the Ministry for another interview."
"It took me twelve years to obtain this one." Her upper arms took a stance that Jigme recognized as
martial. "The patience of my government is not unlimited," she said.
Jigme bowed. "I shall communicate this to the Ministry, Ambassador."
"Delay in the Gyangtse matter will only result in more hardship for the inhabitants when they are
removed."
"It is out of my hands, Ambassador."
!urq held her stance for a long moment in order to emphasize her protest, then relaxed her arms. Her
upper set of hands caressed the white silk khata. "Odd to think," she said, amused, "that I journeyed
twelve years just to stick out my lip at a human and have him touch my face in return."
"Many humans would give their lives for such a blessing," said Jigme. "Sticking out the lip is quite rude
where I come from, you know."
"I believe you have told me this."
"The Omniscient's hands were very warm." !urq raised fingers to her forehead, touched the ebon
flesh. "I believe I can still feel the heat on my skin.
Jigme was impressed. "The Treasured King has given you a special blessing. He can channel the
energies of the Diamond Mountain through his body. That was the heat you felt."
!urq's antennae rose skeptically, but she refrained from comment. "Would you like to see the holy
places?" Jigme said. "This, for instance, is a room devoted to Maitreya, the Buddha That Will Come.
Before you is his statue. Data can be accessed by manipulation of the images on his headdress."
 Jigme's speech was interrupted by the entrance of a Masker servant from the audience room. A white
khata was draped about the avian's neck. !urq's trunk swiveled atop her centaur body; her arms assumed
a commanding stance. The clicks and pops of her own language rattled from her mouth like falling stones.
"Did I send for you, creature?"
The Masker performed an obsequious gesture with its parasol. "I beg the Colonel's pardon. The old
human sent for us. He is touching us and giving us scarves." The Masker fluttered helplessly. "We did not
wish to offend our hosts, and there were no Sang to query for instruction."
"How odd," said !urq. "Why should the old human want to bless our slaves?" She eyed. The Masker
and thought for a moment. "I will not kill you today," she decided. She turned to Jigme and switched to
Tibetan. "Please continue, Rinpoche."