Survival (Species Imperative, 1) by Julie E. Czerneda

Author:Julie E. Czerneda [Czerneda, Julie]
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Science fiction, General, Fiction, Fiction - Science Fiction, Science Fiction - General, Adventure, Fantasy, Science Fiction - Adventure, Human-alien encounters, Life on other planets
ISBN: 9780756401801
Publisher: Daw books
Published: 2004-05-02T19:30:00+00:00

Unless, Mac blinked ferociously to clear her sight, unless Emily Mamani had wanted to keep her in ignorance.

If she’d asked where Emily had been these past weeks—why she’d been late—would Emily have told her, or would there have been more lies?

Mac shuddered. She’d been flirting with someone who thought such terrible things for a living. “Don’t get close.” Had Nik been warning her, or merely revealing his own survival strategy?

Whichever it was, Mac didn’t like it. Any of it. She planned to give Emily Mamani a piece of her mind the next time she saw her. After they hugged to be sure each was whole. A tear hit the back of her hand. Mac wiped it off hastily.

A pair of hands gripped her shoulders from behind, thumbs digging gently into exactly the right spots.

“Hey, Mac. You okay?” a familiar voice asked anxiously.

She sniffed, detecting the distinct odor of old salmon and new soap, then found a smile, reaching up to pat Seung’s hand on her shoulder. “I will be. Tired. Waiting for answers. Just like everyone else here.”

Seung gave her a final squeeze, then slid into the chair beside Mac. He moved like the animals he loved so much, the great orcas and sharks, possessing a rare combination of grace and impulsive speed. His worshipful students regularly arranged athletic competitions with other research groups, counting on Seung to win the prize, whether pizza, beer, or mainland transport on a weekend. Unfortunately for their hopes, as often as not he’d be called away seconds before the finish, leaving the Preds to gaze wistfully after their defaulted winnings before following their professor back to work. Years outdoors and both on and in the water had mottled Seung’s naturally tan skin with mahogany. Against its rich color, his eyes were a startling blue. The eyes of a hawk, Mac had always thought, full of bold curiosity and challenge. Even now, when he was obviously concerned for her, she recognized both and smiled again. “You want to know why I asked for the pulse,” she guessed. His grin crinkled the skin around eyes, mouth, and nose. “It wasn’t your everyday request, Mac. Sooo?”

“So. I was testing an idea. Could our non-Human guest hear infrasound?”

“Ah,” a pleased sound. “I thought it might be something like that. And can he?”

It was hardly a secret. “Yes. Perhaps well below ten Hz.”

“The AudioCell would love to get their mikes on him—he must emit in that range too, right? Wonder if he’d like to listen to some of our buddies out there.” “Out there” for Seung being the white-capped Pacific showing through the gallery windows.

Mac warmed to the enthusiasm in his voice. This was why they were here, to ask questions and puzzle out answers. “He might. We’ve no time now—scheduled to head for the mainland tonight—but if you could send me a recording, I’d be happy to play it to him and let you know what he says about it.”

“That’d be great. I’ll get on it—” He got up.

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