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reminded herself then that in spite of his appearance he might be barely older
than she could, not much more than a year ago, have been an Otessan moving
about among the people of the Hub in something like Sparan disguise.
"Yes, it's true," she said carefully.
There was muttering among the others. Apparently more than a few knew
translingue.
"The Alatta further says," Telzey's Sattaram resumed, "that it was you who
turned Stiltik's dagen on her in the headquarters, that you also stole her
omnipacks and made yourself mind master of her chief
Tolant as well as of Korm Nyokee, the disgraced one. And that it was you and
your slaves who drew
Boragost's patrol into ambush and killed them. Finally, that you chose to
restore to Korm Nyokee the
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honor he'd lost by letting him seek combat death. Are all these things true?"
"Yes."
"Ho!" His tangled eyebrows lifted. "You then joined the Alatta agents to help
them against us?"
"Yes."
"Ho-ho!" The broad ogre face split in a slow grin. He dug at his chin with a
thumbnail, staring down at her. Grunts came from the group where one of them
was speaking, apparently repeating what had been said for nonlinguists. Telzey
collected more stares. Her guard clamped a crushing hand on her shoulder.
"I've told them before this," he remarked, "that there are humans who must be
called codeworthy!" His face darkened. "More so certainly than Boragost and
Lishon! No one believes now that was the first treachery committed by those
two." He shook his great head glumly. "These are sorry times!"
The general discussion had resumed meanwhile, soon grew as heated as before.
One of the Sattarams abruptly left the room. Telzey's giant told her, "He's to
find out what Stiltik wants, since she alone is now Suan Uwin. But whatever
she wants, we are the chiefs who will determine what the codes demand."
The Elaigar who'd left came back shortly, made his report. More talk, Kolki
Ming joining in. The guard said to Telzey, "Stiltik claims it's her right to
have the Alatta who was of her command face her in the
Kaht Chasm. It's agreed this is proper under the codes, and Kolki Ming has
accepted. Stiltik also says, however, that you should be returned to her at
once as her prisoner. I think she feels you've brought ridicule on her, as you
have. This is now being discussed."
Telzey didn't reply. She felt chilled. The talk went on. Her Sattaram broke in
several times, presently began to grin. One of the giants in the group
addressed her in translingue.
"Is it your choice," he asked, "to face Stiltik in the Kaht Chasm beside the
Alatta Kolki Ming?"
Telzey didn't hesitate. "Yes, it is."
He translated. Nods from the group. Telzey's Sattaram said something in their
language. A few of them laughed. He said to Telzey, holding out his huge hand,
"Give me your belt!"
She looked up at him, took off her jacket belt and gave it to him. He reached
inside his vest-like upper garment, brought out a knife in a narrow metal
Page 175
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
sheath, fastened the sheath on the belt, handed the belt back. "You were
Stiltik's prisoner and freed yourself fairly!" he rumbled. "I say you're
codeworthy and have told them so. You won't face Stiltik in the Kaht Chasm
unarmed!" His toothy grin reappeared.
"Who knows? You may claim Suan Uwin rank among us before you're done!"
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He translated that for the group. There was a roar of laughter. Telzey's giant
laughed with the others, but then looked down at her and shook his head.
"No," he said. "Stiltik will eat your heart and that of Kolki Ming. But if we
find then that you were able to redden your knife before it happened, I shall
be pleased!"
Back Next
|
Framed
Title:
Telzey Amberdon
Author:
James H. Schmitz, edited by Eric Flint & co-editor Guy
Gordon
ISBN:
0-671-57851-0
Copyright:
� 1926 by James H. Schmitz, edited by Eric Flint
Publisher:
Baen Books
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ey%20Amberdon/0671578510_23.htm (5 of 5)10-1-2007 15:03:49
- Chapter 24
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Chapter 13
The portal to which Kolki Ming and Telzey were taken let them out into a
sloping mountain area. When
Telzey glanced back, a sheer cliff towered behind them. Tinokti's sun shone
through invisible circuit barriers overhead.
Kolki Ming turned toward a small building a hundred yards away. "Come quickly!
Stiltik may not wait long before following."
Telzey hurried after her. Behind the building, the rock-studded slope curved
down out of sight. Perhaps half a mile away was another steep cliff face. Dark
narrow lines of trees climbed along it; some sections were covered by tangles
of vines. The great wall curved in to left and right until it nearly met the
mountain front out of which they'd stepped. On the right, at the point where
the two rock masses came closest, water streamed through, dropping in long [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]