"Ann Maxwell - Concord 1 - The Singer Enigma" - читать интересную книгу автора (Maxwell Ann)

understood, but to admit it would be a further humiliation.
As the stranger retreated, Tarhn turned to Lyra. Looking no higher than her lips, he addressed her in
high Galactic.
“I hope that I have not offended you, your people, or your gods.”
“Kindness is rarely offensive,” responded Lyra in the same language.
Her words lacked all trace of planetary accent, but even more surprising was the quality of her voice.
It was rich with muted harmony, vibrant in a way that made all remembered music pale and flat.
Tarhn bowed and turned his hands palm up in the Galactic gesture of greeting or parting. When Lyra
made no further comment, he moved to return to his seat. Then he felt her fingers warm and light on his
palm.
“If it would please you to sit with a strange and awkward woman ....”
Tarhn’s fingers returned the pressure of hers, savored the texture of her skin.
“Stranger you may be, but awkward? To listen to your voice is to know the heart of beauty.”
Boldly Tarhn raised his glance to her eyes, only to find himself caught and held, a fly in amber.
“You are kind,” said Lyra, “and your mind is disciplined. Your presence is welcome.”
Tarhn hesitated, then regained control of his wits. His momentary tension must have relayed itself to
Lyra, for she removed her hand quickly.
That is what I meant by awkward,” she said softly. “The nuances of Galactic Courtesy often elude
me. On my birth planet a mind both kind and disciplined is ...” She paused, obviously searching for the
right word. “‘Good’ is the only word your language has, but it is a meager analogue.”
Tarhn searched Lyra’s face, but could detect no more than her words told him. He was not surprised
that she thought him kind; he’d been careful to imbue his mental camouflage with that lack of aggression
which can be construed as either harmless or kind. But how had she sensed the discipline beneath?
“I have been called many things; disciplined isn’t one of them. May I ask why you think me so?”
“You don’t invade others with your thoughts. I’ve discovered that such control is rare out here. I
have come to value discipline highly.”
Tarhn continued the conversation with just the surface of his mind; the remainder was analyzing her
words. In order to “discover” that the average person radiates thought/emotion like a star radiates
energy, Lyra must have come either from a planet of psi nulls or psi masters. He would assume the latter.
For one, it would explain Carifil interest in her. For another, he had been taught to overestimate a
potential enemy. Fewer nasty surprises that way.
Not that Lyra seemed a candidate for enmity. By now they were laughing and talking in middle
Galactic, the language of friends. They had even exchanged names. And the scent of her nearness was as
clean and heady as flowers at dawn. In spite of himself, he felt pleasure creeping through him, and not
even the sternest self-reminders diminished his growing ease with her. Lyra’s laugh alone was worth the
sudden assignment. His residual irritation with Carifil vanished. Though they had called him away from his
first freetime in years, being ordered to stay close to Lyra was ample compensation.
At last Tarhn’s conscience pricked him hard enough to get results—n’Lete and Bithe would be
hungry. Lounge rules forbade “pets,” though Tau slakes could hardly be classified in the same category
as Libern velvets or Sthian lap mice.
“I’m sorry, Lyra, but if I don’t feed n’Lete and Bithe they will gnaw through my room and come
hunting for me.”
Lyra responded with a phrase from Courtesy which showed confusion, but did not demand an
explanation if he did not wish to give one.
“According to lounge rules, they are pets. On Tau, the children of the Helix are given battle slakes to
raise. N’Lete and Bithe are more companions than pets. Would you like to meet them?”
 “Oh, yes,” said Lyra, giving him a delighted smile. “On my planet there are no animals.”
After a long moment Tarhn said neutrally, “No animals?”
“None. Many plants, marvelous plants. But that’s not the same. To have flesh live and not be
human!”