"Frank & Brian Herbert - Man of two worlds" - читать интересную книгу автора (Herbert Brian & Frank)

legs and two arms with six-fingered hands extruded only when needed?

Even Habiba, Supreme Tax Collector of Dreenor and the oldest Dreen, could not explain this
peculiarity. She said the reasons for Dreen shape and powers were lost in prehistory. Dreens,
Habiba explained, were similar to other life forms in this limited knowledge about themselves.

An intrusive buzzing and clanking sound interrupted these reflections.

Odd sounds. Patricia at work?

What a strange name for a semisentient spaceship: Patricia. That had been his first reaction.
It was not a name a Dreen spoke easily even after creating the requisite vocal system in his
malleable body.

Patricia?




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He recalled his initial shock at the ship's odd behavior.

"My name is Ryll."

He had said this in a patronizing tone, the one taught for use with Excursion Ships. The response
was unexpected:

"Don't take that tone with me!"

He remembered sitting in the control room, shocked by the ship's commanding tone. Did it suspect
he was adventuring? He thought of his intentions as adventure, not as stealing.

I was escaping Dreenor's boredom.

Ryll had been extremely tired of all the talk about his gifts and potential. What did they expect
from a son of Jongleur, the Chief Storyteller? He thought the Elders would call his taking the
ship a schoolboy prank if they caught him.

So I took the ship. And I am Dreen but far away from Dreenor.

He had no idea how he knew these things nor why it was important to reflect on being Dreen.

Why don't I think of myself as graceful?

Was it that he could completely alter his appearance but could not make piecemeal changes? A
Dreen's floppy ear covers draped like small brown blankets down each side of his body. Very
impractical, as was the large horn-tool nose that dominated his face from the widow's peak of pink
hair atop a neckless and shoulderless body to the concealed mouth that revealed itself only when