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

"Searcher Thrr-gilag," the Prime said, those deep eyes boring into him. "As designated speaker of
the alien specialist group on Base World Twelve, you bear the ultimate responsibility for the events
of four fullarcs ago. Events that resulted in the escape of the Human prisoner of war, the evacuation
of an importantly placed Zhirrzh base, and the raising of eight Zhirrzh to Eldership. We have read
your reports, along with the comments and opinions of your communicators and those Elders who
were assisting in your studies. Now we wish to hear your thoughts."

And my excuses? Thrr-gilag wondered. But again the Prime's face gave him no clue as to what the
other might be thinking. "You have heard the facts of the incident," he said, forcing himself to look
out at the rows and rows of clan Speakers gazing back at him. The Speakers, and the hazy cloud of
silent Elders that filled the domed ceiling above the couches. "The Human prisoner was able to block
the sensors of his obedience suit with mud," he continued, "and was able to seize both myself and
one of my technics before we could move away. He held us as shields against the warriors and
demanded entry to the newly arrived alien spacecraft."

"And did you so fear Eldership that you called off the warriors?" a voice growled from the first row
of couches.

Thrr-gilag focused on him. It was a very well-known face: Cvv-panav, Speaker of the powerful
Dhaa'rr clan. "I did not fear Eldership, Speaker," he said. "Indeed, I'd already risked that result by
ordering the warriors to use flashblind weapons against the Human. They proved ineffective."

"Then you should have ordered them to use lasers," Cvv-panav insisted.

"Perhaps," Thrr-gilag said. "I agree, the situation was potentially dangerous. But I also saw in it a
way to gain valuable information."

Cvv-panav sniffed. "We were already gaining valuable informationтАФ"

"The Speaker for Dhaa'rr will be silent," the Prime interrupted mildly. "What information do you
refer to, Searcher Thrr-gilag?"

"The alien spacecraft had been damaged during its capture," Thrr-gilag said. "Zhirrzh observers had
watched as its crew brought it to a landing, but that crew had been severely injured, and it was not
known how long they would survive. It occurred to me that if we allowed the Human aboard the
craft, our Elders would be able to see how the flight sequence was initiated. I therefore gave the
order to allow him access to the craft."

"A dangerous risk," one of the other Speakers said. "And for so slight a gain. Our warrior searchers
would surely have been able to learn the craft's secrets."

"Besides, the aliens have survived," Cvv-panav added. "Which means that the risk was for nothing at

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all."

"Perhaps," Thrr-gilag said. "But I didn't know that then. As for the aliens, their survival is still
greatly in doubt."