"Walter Jon Williams - Surfacing (2)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Williams Walter John)

"Can you teach me to talk to them?"


The wind blew chill between them. "I don't," he said, "talk to them."


She seemed not to notice his change of mood, stepped closer. "You haven't tried that yet? That would seem to be reasonable, considering they've already noticed us."


He could feel his hackles rising, mental defenses sliding into place. "I'm not proficient enough," he said. /


"If you could attract their attention, they could teach you." Reasonably.


"No. Not yet." Rage exploded in Anthony/'s mind. He wanted her off his boat, away from his work, his existence. He wanted to be alone again with his creatures, solitary witness to the lonely and wonderful interplay of alien minds.


SURFACING 17 *V


"I never told you," Philana said, "why I'm here." i/t;;.-. vnt,;)rir. Y


"No. You didn't." -.:ХХ Хv-sio7.- ..:.... !


"I want to do some work with the humpback cows." ;;


"Why?"


Her eyes widened slightly. She had detected the hostility in his tone. "I want to chart any linguistic changes that may occur as a result of their move to another environment." .


Through clouds of blinding resentment Anthony considered her plan. He couldn't stop her, he knew: anyone could talk to the whales if they knew how to do it. It might keep her away from the Dwellers. "Fine," he said. "Do it."


Her look was challenging. "I don't need your permission."


"I know that." - - .. .; ,,.-..Х


"You don't own them."


"I know that, too."