"Timothy Zahn - Conquerors 2 - Conquerors' Heritage" - читать интересную книгу автора (Zahn Timothy)

Ship Commander Zbb-rundgi hadn't been able to grasp that concept. Or was simply too nervous
about anticipated Human attacks to care about healers' warnings. But as long as Thrr-gilag stayed
outside the Diligent, he retained the final word on when the ship lifted. "Have the Elders been able to
learn anything about their injuries?"

"They're still doing studies," the technic said, the last word almost lost in the brief screech of
ceramic against ceramic as the tissue analyzer came up off the floor and onto the carrier. "So far
they're as puzzled as the healers are."

There was a flicker beside Thrr-gilag, and Chrr't-ogdano was back. "I have a pathway to
Commander Thrr-mezaz," he growled. "Begin."

"This is Thrr-gilag," Thrr-gilag said, wondering what had taken Chrr't-ogdano so long. There was
supposed to be a permanent straight-line pathway between here and all three of the Zhirrzh
beachheads. Had something gone wrong? "Base World Twelve was attacked about six tentharcs ago
by Human fighter warcraft of the type described in your last report. Question: are you certain both of
those warcraft are still on Dorcas?"

Chrr't-ogdano nodded and vanished again. Thrr-gilag waited, watching the technic maneuver the
tissue analyzer to the door and counting the time to himself. It would take around fifteen beats, he
estimated, for each repetition of the message, beginning with whichever communicator Chrr't-
ogdano had made contact with on the Zhirrzh homeworld of Oaccanv. From that Elder, then to
another, and possibly another, until the message reached the shrine of someone who was also serving
as communicator with the Dorcas ground force. Then a similar delay as Thrr-mezaz's return message
wended its way back along the same route. The last time he'd talked with someone at the Dorcas
beachhead, the round trip had taken roughly 120 beats. It ought to be something similar this time.

He was up to 190 beats when Chrr't-ogdano reappeared. " 'Both warcraft are still here,' " he delivered
the message. " 'Are you injured, my brother?' "

Thrr-gilag flicked his tongue in a wry smile. That was Thrr-mezaz, all right. He would be the
overprotective worried big brother until both of them were raised to Eldership. Probably even after
that. "I'm fine," he said to Chrr't-ogdano. "You?"

" 'Last I checked, I was still here,' " the reply came back a hunbeat later. At least Thrr-mezaz hadn't
lost his dry sense of humor. " 'How badly was your base damaged?' "

"Hardly at all," Thrr-gilag said. "It was an extremely precise attack."

" 'They were somewhat less so here. How many spacecraft did they use?' "

"We saw only five fighter warcraft," Thrr-gilag said. "Though there might have been others outside
our detection range. Why? Is the number important?"

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Conquerors' Heritage


" 'It could be,' " the answer came back. " 'If we had some idea of how many warcraft the Humans
had committed to their search, it might give us an idea of the size of their overall force. Unless they