The Demons at Rainbow Bridge by Jack L. Chalker

Author:Jack L. Chalker [Chalker, Jack L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9780671878870
Publisher: Baen Books

It took three days for him to reach the starbase and pick up the last of the Arm. Morok the Holy Ladue came aboard with his usual brusque manner, barely nodding to the captain and the Arm. Birdlike and hollow-boned, with long, clawed hands at the end of great rubbery gray-black wings that, folded, appeared like some kind of demonic cloak, his bullet-shaped head appearing to be all mouth and sharp teeth so that you missed the tiny but penetrating red eyes, the Stargin was at once fierce-looking and frail on his long spindly legs, one of which bore the metallic blue and gold bands that marked him as a hypno.

Nor was Morok ever particularly happy to be back aboard ship, or in most places other than in regions of low or zero gravity. Stargin were not one of the more common races, and Chin’s occupation had never taken him to one of their few worlds, but he knew that on those worlds the Stargin used their wings to fly and enjoyed such freedom, it was a living hell for Morok to spend most of his time under conditions more comfortable to bipedal creatures. He was earning his place in a high Heaven by more than his mere position as High Priest and Arm Commander. He never complained, but his discomfort could be sublimated only so far, and the situation always made him a bit nasty.

Morok stopped, reached into a case he carried with him, pulled out a module with the most holy of seals and handed it to the captain. “Cast off quickly, Gunny. All speed,” the Stargin said in that raspy, artificial voice of his that was the only way one of his race could form the sounds of common speech. “As soon as we make the jump to null-space I will want a conference of the Arm in the wardroom.”

Chin took the module and bowed slightly. “As you command, Holy One,” he responded, and turned and made his way swiftly back to the bridge.

Kumazon Klee had already disengaged from the starbase anchorage and was now taking the ship out and away, awaiting course and speed. The mute Lebur saw Chin come on the bridge through the bank of monitors in front of him, turned, and waited expectantly.

The captain wasted no time beyond a cursory check of the status screens to assure himself that all was correct—a habit, since the ship’s computers really did the flying and Klee’s job as helmsman was mostly to ensure that all was well and monitor ship’s functions for possible mechanical problems. Then the module was inserted, seal intact, in the special input port to the right side of the bridge command chair. The port broke the seal, made the connection with the module, and then it was the module’s turn to make certain that the ship was the correct one, the input port was the correct one, and through contact with the ship’s computers to verify that only the personnel aboard were actually there and that all was well.

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