Desert Planet (THE RIM CONFEDERACY Book 6) by Rudnick Jim

Author:Rudnick, Jim [Rudnick, Jim]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: RUDNICK PRESS
Published: 2016-01-30T05:00:00+00:00

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"First, I would very much like to thank Stonecraw Qew for his help in arranging the transport for today," Resources head Iabisha Qed said, and he smiled at the Militia man who was seated in the Enkian shuttle back a few rows from the front. For some reason, Tanner noted, while he and Kondo had been given front row seats, there were four more rows behind them that were full of Resources members. His friend Qed was on-board at least but back several rows, and he smiled at Tanner and waved.

"We have arranged, via the ambassador's secretary, to show Captain Scott and Commander Lazaro some of what the Resources section does here on Enki, so there will be a few stops along the way. First up today is a trip to a Youngling Center for you to see how Enki handles our new citizens, from hatching through to muse engagements. We are close, yes, pilot?" he asked over his shoulder and received a "Roger that" from the pilot, as the shuttle banked to port, and the brown desert below grew closer.

As the shuttle settled and Tanner looked at the big view-screen, he saw a large pyramid ahead with its telltale blue levels every so often all the way up to the summit. Unlike all the other pyramids though, he could not see an access ramp on the sands around the single pyramid. Instead, it appeared that at grade level, right off the sands, there was a large, very long doorway that was now closed.

Grade level access, he thought, which is good because the dang steps were hard on these old knees.

Moments later, the visitors group of more than thirty moved off the shuttle and followed the tour leaders toward that long, wide door. As they approached, it slid up in its entirety, and the noise level from within was loud. While Tanner had had little experience with children of any species, he knew that unsupervised kids got loud quickly, remembering what he'd seen back on the Hospital Ship just a few months back. But this was louder—much louder.

The Resources leaders waved them inside, and they were immediately recognized by the hundreds of younglings inside—and the noise stopped instantly.

Amazed, Tanner looked out at the young Enkians and noted they had all stopped their play of whatever they were doing and were forming up into lines and rows. Not a word was being spoken to them or by them; it was as if this was a standard practice that occurred at times, this being one of them.

At the end of the side wall of the large rotunda area, there was a small raised dais or stage and a single Enkian stood on it. He appeared to be in charge of the hundreds of younglings in front of him, and that was a surprise at least to Tanner. One adult for hundreds of youngsters was a ratio that would mean disaster, he thought, but obviously here on Enki, it worked.

As the visitors all arrived at the dais, the Resources leader, Qed, smiled up at the Enkian on the stage.

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