"Alan Dean Foster - Drowning World" - читать интересную книгу автора (Foster Alan Dean)

had tongues. When among the Deyzara, the Sakuntala had to content themselves with touching tongue tip
to the end of the Deyzara’s eating trunk. It was a matter of some debate as to whether it would be more
proper to touch tongue to speaking trunk or eating trunk. For their part, the Deyzara did not care. They
tolerated the Sakuntala gesture only because they had to.

“I am called Jemunu-jah.”

“I know your status.” Matthias fought against the urge to pick up a dehydrating towelette and wipe her
face. Most of the time, the Sakuntala tongue didn’t leave behind much moisture. But she squirmed
internally all the same. “You come highly recommended.”

Both flexible ears dipped briefly toward her. “I thank you for themulat . I say openly to you I would
prefer another go in my stead.”

Well, it would be too much to expect enthusiasm, she knew. Alotl was bumping up against the back
window, trying to get in. Looking for a nesting place, she suspected. Someone unaware and lumpish to
lay its eggs within. Fortunately, the football-sizelotl were almost comically slow-moving. If one flew too
near, a single swipe with the back of a hand was usually enough to drive it away. If it persisted, a quick
jab with any sharp object would puncture its air sac and send the parasite spinning helplessly into the
water below. Unless it caught you when you were asleep. On Fluva, nobody slept unprotected, either
inside a building or out in the Viisiiviisii. Not if they valued their bodily integrity.

“You were the one recommended,” she reiterated. “We need the best for this, and you’ll be well paid.”

“Why not send one of you own people?” As he crouched before the human chief, Jemunu-jah chewed
idly on the lump of the khopo sap stored in his right cheek pouch. The activity did not unsettle humans, he
knew, because some of them engaged in similar food-related behavior. A few had even tried khopo sap
and liked it, especially when it came with added flavorings. When not being masticated or sucked, he had
been told, it was excellent for making temporary repairs to all kinds of machinery.

“Several reasons.” She leaned toward him. With the desk between them, it was not perceived as a
hostile gesture. One had to be ever conscious of Sakuntala protocol, because they never traveled outside
their homes without at least one weapon. Jemunu-jah’s was politely concealed, probably somewhere
under his waist straps.
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“The human who has gone missing is called Shadrach Hasselemoga.” Seeing her visitor struggle with the
syllables, she added, “I am informed that he is often called Hasa, for short. He’s an independent
bioprospector working on a loan-and-consignment basis. I haven’t met him myself, but I’m told that he’s
at least as competent as most of his kind. He arrived here only six months ago from one of our colony
worlds. His documents are all in order.”

Jemunu-jah bobbed his head. “Apparently, he’s not quite as competent as all his kind.”

She nodded back, meeting the incredibly sharp, penetrating Sakuntala eyes without flinching. “There’s
been no word from him since he went south nearly a seven-day ago. No communication, no emergency
beacon transmission. Nothing. We know what course he took because he filed a flight plan, but he could