Founding of the Commonwealth 03 - Diuturnity's Dawn by Alan Dean Foster

Author:Alan Dean Foster [Foster, Alan Dean]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-11-30T01:55:31+00:00

12

A breathless Therese Holoness led Cullen Karasi and Pilwondepat out of camp and

down the walking track that led to the primary excavation. Along the way they

passed the location of several other smaller digs begun in the hopes of finding

something interred in the hard-packed earth of the escarpment. Every one of

these was deserted; tools powered down, water bottles set aside, laser grids

shining unimpeded in the morning sun. When Pilwondepat remarked on the absence

of workers, Holoness pointed ahead.

“They’re all down at the main site. Everyone’s gathering there.” She hopped over

a narrow ravine. Cullen followed easily, while Pilwondepat had to pick his way.

He did not fall behind, but neither did he hop. Thranx were not very good

jumpers.

The truth of her words became clear as they neared the site. A large crowd had

assembled. As they drew nearer, Cullen saw that not only the exoarcheological

crew but a goodly portion of the camp’s nonscientific staff was also

congregating around the open pit. As he approached, he was recognized, and

murmuring onlookers moved aside to make room for him and Holoness. A few

less-than-friendly looks greeted the presence of the thranx in their midst, but

he was granted passage, as well, and no one said anything. At least, nothing

that could be overheard.

A number of Cullen’s people were clustered around something at the bottom of the

excavation, blocking it with their assembled bodies. Pilwondepat was

inordinately displeased to see Riimadu among them. The AAnn was standing

slightly to one side, tail switching back and forth in as transparent an

indication of excitement as if he had been hissing wildly and throwing his arms

in the air. Holoness led the way to the earthen staircase and then downward into

the depths. Around the rim of the hole in the ground, the crowd continued to

enlarge until it seemed to Pilwondepat that every worker on the site was

present.

Descending the steps cut into the hard-packed earth more slowly than his human

companions, he waited for the cluster of diggers to part. He thought Riimadu

might have glared once in his direction, but he could not be sure. In any event,

it didn’t matter, since he was soon as dumbstruck as everyone else by what the

excavators had uncovered.

It was a vitreous dark brown surface with a meter-wide dimple in the center.

That in itself was not especially striking, nor was the fact that they had

certainly uncovered an artifact. What was of far greater import was the

realization that the object was not made of stone, like the grand statues that

dominated the far side of the valley opposite the escarpment.

“It’s not metal.” Holoness started talking before anyone asked. “Or plastic. As

best we’ve been able to determine without knocking off a chunk for analysis,

it’s some kind of bonded ceramic.” Crouching over the depression, she used one

palm to brush at the sensuous alien curve. “See how it shines?”

Stepping forward, both Pilwondepat and Cullen made their own cursory examination

of the phenomenon. The thranx did not have to bend to do so. The unusual

material was slick to the touch and unexpectedly warm. He would have expected

something that had been buried at the top of the escarpment for untold eons to

be much colder, the temperature of the ground notwithstanding.

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