Zelerod's Doom by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Fantasy
ISBN: 9780886771454
Goodreads: 1448046
Publisher: DAW
Published: 1986-08-04T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Which Invasion?

Drawing himself in to keep from disturbing Sergi and Muryin with his nageric turbulence, Valleroy was surprised to see Klyd take Risa into transfer position.

A moment later, he forgot his own throbbing guilt when Risa lit into Klyd, screaming abuse. Klyd, heavily into recovery, backed toward the protection of Valleroy’s field.

All the thwarted instincts of a Companion wakened, he focused on protecting Klyd’s sensitized systems, missing Sergi’s attempt to gain his feet until the other Companion went down and Muryin screamed.

Valleroy shifted his attention to Muryin, shielding her from the turbulence Sergi had introduced, leaving Klyd and Risa to handle Sergi’s problem. He took Muryin’s hands, her new tentacles waving unsteadily as she forgot to control them.

“What did I do to Sergi? Dad!”

“Shh,” cautioned Valleroy, challenged to hold his own calm. If. Muryin had seriously injured the First Companion in Keon— “Let them work on him.”

“He’s fine,” said Klyd. “Just mild transfer shock.” Muryin snatched a hand back and jammed it into her mouth. Valleroy felt her groping toward duoconsciousness and, knowing she had to learn that skill, supported her.

Klyd relinquished Sergi to Risa and came to Muryin, stroking her face with a tentacle. “Don’t zlin him now. A Companion’s entitled to his privacy.”

Muryin asked, “Did—am I conditioned to want Gen pain?”

Valleroy chorused with Klyd. “No!” Klyd let Valleroy speak for the Gen point of view. “A Companion considers such things all in a day’s work.”

Klyd added, “You didn’t feel any pain, did you?”

“I—I don’t think so.

“I know you didn’t,” asserted Klyd. To the Keon pair, he added, “I had every confidence Sergi would be that good.”

Sergi tossed and muttered to consciousness, remembered, and struggled to sit up just in time to hear Klyd add to Muryin, “You’ve nothing to worry about. I’ll select your next transfer to make up the slack in your development.”

Sergi fell back, but managed to say to Muryin, giving her the title of a channel, “I’m sorry, Hajene. Your Sectuib was right. I had no business trying that.”

“It was close,” agreed Klyd. “But it worked, Muryin, because you conserved enough selyn so Sergi just matched your capacity. The only problem was the speed match, and Sergi—” He turned to him, “—you amazed me. You started too slowly, but then—” Klyd stared into space.

Sergi didn’t notice. “I couldn’t believe her draw, but I remembered my first transfer, when Nedd Qualified me a Companion on my first donation. So, I just went with it. Shuven! I haven’t felt anything so marvelous since—” He saw the storm in Risa’s eyes, and finished, “—since our first transfer. It only hurt when it stopped!”

Klyd said, “From such a Companion, I’d have expected the good sense not to stand up after a scorching like that!”

Risa drew breath, offended, but Klyd ordered, “Hugh, get the fosebine. They both require hefty doses. And you, Hajene Muryin Farris, are going to get some sleep—Sectuib’s orders!”

Valleroy helped Risa get Sergi to their room, leaving Klyd to persuade Muryin to sleep, when she wanted to play with her tentacles and learn to interpret fields.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.