The Middle Kingdom (Chung Kao 3) by Wingrove David

Author:Wingrove, David [Wingrove, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780857897084
Publisher: Atlantic Books
Published: 2012-10-01T06:00:00+00:00

Han Ch’in laughed then clapped his hands, delighted by the gift. ‘But, father, they’re marvellous! Just look at them! They’re so strong, so elegant!’

The four creatures stood in a line before the royal party, their long heads bowed, their broad ox-like bodies neatly clothed in rich silks of carmine and gold. Nearby, their creator, Klaus Stefan Ebert, Head of GenSyn – Genetic Synthetics – beamed, pleased beyond words at the prince’s reaction.

‘They are the first of their kind,’ Ebert said, giving a slight bow. ‘And, if the T’ang wishes it, they shall be the last.’

Li Shai Tung looked at his old friend. Ebert had been one of his staunchest supporters over the years and, if fate decided, his son would one day be Han Ch’in’s General. He smiled and looked at the ox-men again. ‘I would not ask that of you, Klaus. This gift of yours pleases me greatly. No, such marvels should be shared by others. You shall have a patent for them.’

Ebert bowed deeply, conscious of his T’ang’s generosity. His gift to Han Ch’in was worth, perhaps, two hundred million yuan, but the T’ang’s kindness was inestimable. There was no one in the whole of City Europe’s elite who would not now want such a creature. To a more mercenary man that would have been cause for great delight, but Klaus Ebert counted such things of trivial worth. He had pleased his T’ang, and no amount of money could buy the feeling of intense pride and worthiness he felt at that moment.

‘I am deeply honoured, Chieh Hsia. My great joy at your pleasure reaches up into the heavens.’

Han Ch’in had gone closer to the beasts and now stood there, looking up into one of their long, bovine faces. He turned and looked back at Ebert. ‘They’re really beautiful, Shih Ebert. Strong, like horses, and intelligent, like men. Do they talk?’

Ebert bowed to the T’ang once more, then went across and stood beside Han Ch’in. ‘They have a form of language,’ he said, his head lowered in deference to the Prince. ‘Enough to understand basic commands and to carry trivial messages, but no more than a human three year-old would have.’

Han Ch’in laughed. ‘That depends on the three year-old. My brother Yuan could talk a counsellor to a halt at three!’

Ebert laughed. ‘So it was! I remember it only too well!’

Li Shai Tung joined their laughter, then turned to General Tolonen who was standing to his left and slightly behind him. ‘Well, Knut, are things ready within?’

The General, who had been watching the exchange with real pleasure, turned to his T’ang and was silent a moment, listening to a voice in his head. Then he bowed. ‘Major Nocenzi advises me that all the guests are now assembled and that full security measures are in operation. We can go inside.’

The ceiling of the Great Hall was festooned with broad silk banners that hung in elegant sweeps between the dragon-encircled pillars. Huge, man-sized bronze urns were set at intervals along the walls, each filled to overflowing with giant blooms.

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