"Ken Rand - Here There Be Humans" - читать интересную книгу автора (Rand Ken)

Many had mates and birth-kin afield, A’com knew.

“Then there’ll be a ransom demand,” Admin Second, now Acting Admin
First, Julas D’fif said, “will there not, milord?” His throat pouch quivered and he
drummed inner thumbs on the table. An annoying habit, that drumming, A’com
thought.

“If so, shouldn’t we—” D’fif stammered to a halt.

A’com glared and puffed his throat pouch in mute threat and D’fif plopped
back in his seat, blinking, drumming, quivering. D’fif’s neckfins had extended,
dissipating nervous body heat.

Base atmosphere conditioning seemed normal. A’com’s neckfins lay flaccid
on his shoulders and he breathed the filtered air easily. Alarm gauges read colorless
and the cooled air was toxin-free.

He felt comfortable, despite having just arrived from orbital with his team, but
the dozen others in the room, all downwell vets, seemed tense. A’com saw furtive
glances exchanged among the twitchy bunch.

What in L’hoc’s name is going on? Are they just nervous about the potential
threat to them, or am I seeing conspiracy?

“Security’s being puffed up.” A’com hoped his smile and full color might
ease tensions. “There’s no cause for alarm.”

A’com could have cut the tension with a dull bondknife.

Curiosity piqued, he shifted color, adopted a different tact. He sat still, face
neutral, pouch slack, and waited for somebody to break the heavy silence. After a
moment, a female began to weep in muted sobs, saggy pouch a livid purple. Her
comrades studied the walls, the floors, their thumbs. Neckfins sprouted and the
conditioner whined.

What’s going on?

A’com sighed, stood, and ended the meeting. “My people will interview each
of you, and your techs. Separately.”

****
 “They’re worried about outlaws, Sula,” tech Dor K’rou said. He waved a
hand slate, his enhancer-probe interview transcripts, just finished.

A’com nodded as he sipped a bulb of fresh ground thusea, savoring the bitter
tang. He sat in the Admin First’s private office, at the First’s desk in his cushy,
high-backed chair. Search headquarters now. With him sat or stood his team chiefs
making their first report and conducting their first strategy session since planetfall.