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It watched with mounting apprehension as Fagor skimmed along the corridor
towards it and noted in alarm that two of its fellow surgical units were
obediently following Fagor at a discreet distance.
Fagor stopped near the surgical android and glared down at it. "You will
help Fagor control the ship."
The surgical android agreed that it would help Fagor control the ship.
The guardian angels observed the unlikely quartet moving through the
corridors to the main control room but remained silent, having learned that
Fagor did not like the sound of their voices. They decided that they would
have to evolve another method of dealing with the fearsome black android.
* * * *
Darv nearly choked on the barbecued rib that Lenart was holding for him
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to chew. He sat up and laughingly pushed the girl's hands away. "No, Lenart,
please- I can feed myself."
Lenart pulled his head back on to her lap. "Don't you like me feeding
you?" she pouted. "Fresh meat specially for you."
Darv grinned up at her. "It's the most delicious thing I've ever tasted,"
he admitted as she carefully wiped the rich sauce from around his mouth with a
napkin. He turned his head and looked sheepishly at his companions who were
seated on cushions around the huge banquet that had been spread out on the
floor of the garden. "What can I do with her?" he appealed.
Astra pointedly ignored him. She was sitting apart from the rest and had
steadfastly refused all offers of food from the dark, smiling girls who
periodically helped themselves to selections from the glistening mountains of
fruit before rejoining their companions clustered laughing and chattering
around the small, heated swimming pool. Some of the partygoers were dancing
some were listening to the music, and some were waiting in an orderly if
gossipy line at the barbecue where ribs were spitting and hissing over an
induction grill.
"God, they're good," said Sharna appreciatively, tearing meat off the
bone with her teeth and licking her fingers. She and Telson had their backs
propped against each other having discovered that it was the most comfortable
way of eating.
"What's the matter with Astra?" asked Telson.
"Oh really, Telson. Can't you guess?"
Telson glanced across at Darv who was trying to push a ripe fruit into
Lenart's mouth. Then Lenart was giggling and squirming as Darv used his tongue
to catch the rivulets of juice that were trickling down her neck.
"You ought to speak to him, Telson," said Sharna. "It's not right that he
should carry on like that in front of Astra."
Telson didn't want to get involved, nor did he consider that Darv and
Lenart were misbehaving. If Astra wanted to sulk at nothing, that was her
affair. Instead he remarked: "Have you noticed that there are no men here?"
Sharna gave a sudden laugh. "You're impossible, Telson. I wondered when
you'd notice."
"I noticed right away," said Telson defensively. "I thought that maybe
they had a custom in which the girls get the party going and the men join
later."
"We haven't seen one male among the underpeople." Sharna pointed out,
sinking her teeth into her rib.
"Another rib?" offered a girl, holding out a plate to Sharna and Telson.
"As our guests of honour, you're entitled to two each."
"I didn't know the food was rationed," said Telson, accepting the offer.
The girl's cheeks dimpled as she smiled. "Only the ribs."
"What are they?" Sharna asked.
"Ribs," the girl replied simply.
"Real ribs? You mean we're not eating artificial meat?"
"Real ribs," the girl affirmed. She looked at Telson and giggled at a
private joke.
There was a disturbance at the far end of the garden when Tandor swept
in. She was wearing a flowing dress that moved like smoke.
Sharna watched the leader of the underpeople as she moved among the
girls, exchanging kisses and greetings. "She is very beautiful, isn't she?"
Telson's reply was a non-committal grunt.
Tandor spotted her guests and moved towards them, arms outstretched and
smiling. "Hallo, everyone. I see they've been looking after you. I'm so glad.
No. No. Please don't get up. This is a very special occasion and I want you
all to enjoy yourselves."
She saw Astra sitting apart and went to her side. "Astra. It is Astra,
isn't it? Why aren't you eating?"
"I'm not hungry."
"But, my child, we've gone to so much trouble. I even authorised the-'
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"I said, I'm not hungry!" Astra cut in.
"Tandor!" said Lenart excitedly, pulling Darv to his feet. "Please can I
leave the party for a few minutes with Darv?"
Tandor frowned. "Now you know that's out of the quest--'
"Please, Tandor," Lenart pleaded. "Nothing can happen -- I haven't been
licenced yet. It was me that found them. And Darv wants to. It's his idea."
"Well. . ." said Tandor doubtfully. "It doesn't look as if Astra likes
the idea. . . but then she'll soon have to get used to it."
"I don't give a damn what they do!" Astra declared vehemently, her eyes
spitting hatred at Lenart.
"Darv," said Sharna casually. "I think you should stay with us, don't
you?"
"Oh let them have their fun," said Tandor, smiling around at everyone in
turn. "On your way, Lenart, but no longer than thirty minutes."
Lenart gave a whoop of triumph and hauled Darv across the garden to the
entrance.
Astra bowed her head so that her long hair hid her tears.
* * * *
Darv closed the gap and bought Lenart down in a flying tackle that ended
on the floor of the corridor in a tangle of naked limbs.
"Universe!" Lenart laughingly protested as she tried to get up. "I can't
breathe!"
"So who's the fastest runner?" Darv panted as he grinned down at his
captured quarry.
Lenart giggled. "I didn't know that men were so fast." Her eyes became
serious. "We'd better be getting back now."
Darv shook his head. "There's no hurry," he said, no longer smiling.
"We've another ten minutes."
"It'll take us that to walk back to the party."
"But there's so much that I want to find out."
"Well, let me get up then."
Darv caught hold of Lenart's wrist and lifted her to her feet, shifting
his grip to her forearm as he did so.
"Well," Lenart began. "I was born twenty years--'
"About why there aren't any men among the underpeople," said Darv
quietly.
Lenart stared at him and laughed. "Universe -- you do ask funny
questions. Of course there are men. We've got a collection of at least fifty.
. ." She smiled and touched his face with her free hand.
"None of them are like you though, Darv." She felt his grip on her arm
tighten and saw that the laughter had gone from his eyes,
"I'd like to meet them, Lenart."
"We must get back. . . Please, Darv you're hurting my arm."
"I said I'd like to meet them."
"Well, you can't."
Darv thrust Lenart's face against the wall and twisted her arm up into
the small of her back. She gave a cry of pain and struggled to break loose.
When that failed she screamed. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]