"Chelsea Quinn Yarbro - Un Bel Di" - читать интересную книгу автора (Yarbro Chelsea Quinn)

Un Bel Di

by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro


As his terrifying smile widened, the Janif Undersecretary watched the procession of Papi wind its way up
the far side of the valley. "They're like fine children, perfect children, every one of them." The
Undersecretary licked his outer lips; it was a furtive darting movement. "So sad they aren't truly
intelligent. If they were …" He broke off. If they were …

His companion almost put a hasty hand on the Undersecretary's auxiliary arm. "We are still in doubt
about that here. We have not run many tests yet. They might have greater potential than we know." The
Ambassador made a weak gesture of apology.

Undersecretary Navbe waved him away in an offended manner. "Certainly, certainly. Keep your
ambassadorial pride. I myself look for signs of genius in my pets. You are free to do the same."

Instead of the accepted answer, the Ambassador raised a primary arm slowly and remained rigidly silent.
He then bowed with maddening propriety to the lengthening shadows.

The Undersecretary closed the screen, stepping back with a gesture of regret. It was a great pity that he
had to be so very isolated. And the Ambassador was just as bad as the others of his status. He would be
tolerant to absurdity of the locals, then become unyielding and moralistic with the others of his kind.
Navbe had seen it often in his post and bitterly rued having to deal with such perversity.

But the Ambassador was speaking. "… for the Papi, in this instance. You will want to observe them
while you are here, Undersecretary."

Privately the Janif Undersecretary thought this a lamentable state of affairs. "Of course. I look forward to
it," he said.

"This is quite a unique place," continued the Ambassador, warming to his subject.

They all are, thought Navbe.

"We've found not only that the Papi have a highly developed social order, but that they surgically alter
their young to fulfill specific cultural functions." Here the Ambassador hesitated.

"Oh?" Navbe managed the illusion of polite interest.

"Yes. They can make truly amazing changes. Each of the modifications has a definite place in the culture,
although a couple are odd, dependent creatures."

"They can actually do this?" Navbe asked lazily.

"It appears so," answered the Ambassador cautiously.

"Before or after birth. How?" Under his meticulous exterior, Navbe felt a deep elation. Perhaps his
temporary exile would not be as terrible as he had feared it might be. There could be great solace here
after a few special arrangements.