Crossing The Line by Karen Traviss

Author:Karen Traviss [Traviss, Karen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science fiction; English, Environmentalists, Interplanetary voyages, General, Science Fiction, Human-alien encounters, Adventure, Life on other planets, Space colonies, Fiction
ISBN: 9780060541705
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2004-10-04T23:00:00+00:00

Eddie and Aras were still on the terrace when Shan and Mestin joined them. Eddie seemed completely absorbed by the view of the city. The sun was setting and the pearl coating had taken on a peach luminescence that was exquisite. Shan was getting used to that too.

“Great toilet, Shan,” Eddie grinned. There were empty cups standing around: Aras had clearly attempted to placate Eddie with the same substance that he knew worked wonders on her. Eddie’s eyes were on Mestin, which wasn’t surprising for someone who had never seen a matriarch close up before. She obviously beat the lights in Shan’s hands for novelty appeal. “This is just breathtaking.”

“Make the most of the lavatory,” Shan said. “You won’t enjoy the local version.” She held her hand out to indicate Mestin. “This is a civic leader of F’nar, Mestin Tliat Jasil.” The indefinite article still sounded odd: Shan was used to a fixed hierarchy, the leader, the chief, the Guv’nor. “I thought it might help if she heard what you had to say.”

Eddie held out his hand and Mestin actually took it, although she had never seen a handshake and so just gripped his fingers with an intensity that showed on his face. Shan bit back a smile. It was rather sweet. It was just sad that they had to meet under such desperate circumstances.

“I have made a meal,” said Aras, with a sigh in his voice that suggested he had been waiting longer than he liked. “Shall we eat now?”

They sat at the table. Aras, familiar with human digestion, had made two sets of dishes, one with ingredients imported from Constantine and one for wess’har tastes. Shan peered at the bowls and plates, pleased to be able to eat both with impunity. Aras leaned across her to place a bowl in front of her and sniffed audibly.

“You have been in a fight,” he said stiffly.

“Yeah, and I won,” she said, and grinned up at him. Then she realized Eddie was watching her, and killed the smile in case he thought she was going girly.

“I’d like to wash my hands first,” Eddie said, and went to the washroom. The assault of cup after cup of tea was having its impact.

As soon as the sound of running water smothered their voices, they talked in low tones.

“Have you been talking to him, Aras?” asked Shan.

“You told me not to engage in current conversation. So I told him about Mjat. That’s long past and has no information he could use.”

“Anything else?”

Aras stared at her, and she could have sworn he was hurt. “You told me not to reveal anything current to him, isan, and I followed your orders completely.”

“That’s okay.” Isan. She’d let it go. “Just asking.”

Mestin was watching the flow of conversation between Shan and Aras like a tennis umpire. “Ah, you cuffed him, then,” she said.

“No, and I never will,” Shan said sharply. Aras didn’t break his gaze. “He’s my oppo. It’s not like that at all.”

There was no reason why

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