Star Wars by Timothy Zahn

Author:Timothy Zahn [Zahn, Timothy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2021-04-27T00:00:00+00:00

The Grand Migration on Shihon was a confluence of a dozen or more bird species, each crossing migration paths with the others in a large area of fields, ponds, and rolling hills. Most of the birds stayed for a while, eating and resting until the next wave of incoming travelers pushed them out. The whole event took a full month, turning the place into a wonderland for serious bird-watchers.

As Haplif had predicted, they arrived a day late for the event, shortly after the first vanguard scouts from the incoming flocks arrived, but well before the flocks themselves were due to make their appearance. Hopefully, Yomie would be content with that.

The Agbui ship was assigned a spot on one of the landing fields a few kilometers from the edge of the migration assembly site. An hour later, attendance chits and maps in hand, Yoponek and Yomie joined the other bird enthusiasts on the railcar system that would take everyone within walking distance of the event.

With the two Chiss finally gone, it was time for Haplif’s meeting with Jixtus.

No one was standing guard at the freighter’s entrance when Haplif arrived. The hatch opened at a twist of the release handle, and he took a couple of steps into the air lock to get out of view from outside. There he paused and pulled back his hood. “Haplif of the Agbui, reporting as ordered,” he announced to the empty room.

In response, the inner hatch slid open, revealing a long corridor heading forward. As Haplif started walking, another hatch a few meters ahead also slid open, soft light from the room behind it spilling out into the corridor. Bracing himself, he walked to the hatchway and stepped through it.

He’d expected to find himself in an office. Instead, the room was a meditation center, with colored drift tendrils intertwining around floating light globes over thick tactile carpet and self-contouring anatomic chairs. Jixtus was nestled into one of the chairs, hidden beneath his usual robe, hood, and veil. One of his gloved hands was making small movements in time with the quiet music playing in the background. “Haplif of the Agbui,” he said in greeting, the waving hand interrupting its rhythm long enough to point to one of the other chairs. “Sit.”

“Thank you, my lord,” Haplif said, easing down into the indicated chair. Like all anatomic chairs, this one looked like it would be easier to get into than out of.

“Tell me, do you find this Grand Migration fascinating?” Jixtus asked.

“We only came here because our Chiss guides wanted to,” he said, trying not to sound too defensive. “We have to accommodate them or they might not—”

“Yes, so Shimkif informed me,” Jixtus said. “But that’s not what I asked. I asked if you found the confluence fascinating.” He cocked his head, that side of the hood opening slightly to show more of the veil behind it. “I certainly do.”

Haplif stared. “You do?”

“Without a doubt,” Jixtus said. “Did you know that, while most of the birds

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