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

Lesh's primary arms twitched. "I can." He thought for a moment. "We can move you and your
companion into the Terrace House." Ordinarily such a thing would be unthinkable, but Lesh no longer
wanted to be involved in the affairs of the Undersecretary any more than protocol made necessary.

"That should be satisfactory. I rely on you to arrange it for me in time for my companion's arrival." And
with that he went past the Ambassador into the house, his robes hissing derisively.
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The companion looked up at Navbe with huge, adoring eyes. It was specially dressed for the occasion,
wrapped in innumerable layers of tissue-fine cloth. It regarded Navbe with awe and a little ill-concealed
fear.
"This is most kind of you, Nara-Lim," Navbe said without looking at him. "I will treasure this, you may be
sure." He reached out to touch the slender sprouting antlers. "Remarkable."

Nara-Lim looked pleased and murmured some words that Navbe didn't hear.

"Yes, I will certainly treasure this." Inwardly he was still reeling from the first sight of the companion. Of
all the Papi he had seen, this was the most childlike; a small figure without any of the grosser features of
most of the natives. He had been told that they were made so, but did not realize until now that the
change would be so impressive. Formed like a Janif child, with limpid eyes and soft antlers that were
downy to the touch. He would have to be careful at first, make no moves to reveal his intent.

"You are pleased, then. This is satisfactory?" Nara-Lim asked quietly.

"Are you pleased?" The companion asked with a becoming urgency.

"Yes. Yes, I am pleased." He dragged his eyes from the companion and turned to Nara-Lim. "You have
done me great honor, and I am beholden."

The old Papi turned almost double. "It is we who are honored. No Janif has ever before been so
generous of his interest; no Janif has even bothered to learn from us. You have been most kind."

"Really," he said. "What more is there for me to do? Are there rituals, or documents …?"

"A brief ritual," Nara-Lim said diffidently. "It is to assure your care of your companion, since it is wholly
dependent on you. They are made for one individual and may not be changed. We feel it is essential to
have a ceremony to establish this."

"Commendable," Navbe said, hoping that the ritual would be short. He was anxious to return to the
Terrace House. The companion would be his then, for whatever purposes he chose. His auxiliary arms
drew his robes more closely about him so that the Papi could not see the agitation he was feeling.

"Then, if you will come this way?" Nara-Lim held open the door to the garden. "I arranged for the proper
setting earlier. I hope this does not distress you. Ordinarily it would be for you to do, but I thought that
you would forgive me this liberty."

"Your behavior is excellent, Nara-Lim." How he hated exchanging these useless formalities with this race
of precious animals. Only the promise that was held in the companion's body kept him reasonable and