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

"They are meant to be faithful, Undersecretary. I understand that they cannot be altered to suit another
once they have been given to … someone …" he ended awkwardly.

"Are you suggesting that I take this with me when I leave? With all that's being said about me?" He had
taken the precaution of speaking Janif rather than his approximation of Papi. "Really, Lesh. This is an
animal, no more. I have it to amuse me and stave off the unutterable boredom of this place. When I
leave, it will return to its people. You're wrong, you know, to think that creatures like this one really care
about their masters. It's sham, Lesh. Just cunning and sham."

"You're not to harm it," Ambassador Lesh cried recklessly.

"Would it make your position here embarrassing?" Navbe looked at Lesh until the Ambassador was
forced to look away. "I can't adapt my wants merely to suit you, Lesh. You know that, don't you?" He
put his primary arm under the status badge on the front of his robe. "You do know that."
"If Nara-Lim were to discover—"

"Discover what?"

"Certain things," Lesh said petulantly.

"Lesh, you forget who you are." This was harshly said, and to emphasize the harshness Navbe put both
auxiliary arms outside of his robe, thumbs twitching.

"You will do as you wish," Ambassador Lesh allowed, in a defeated tone. "You will be shown to your
Terrace House."

"Oh, you may lead the way," Navbe said maliciously. It pleased him to take vengeance on Lesh by
making him do servant's work, lower status servant's work.

"As you say," Lesh said tightly.




·····


"I have not pleased you?" the companion asked anxiously.
"Does it matter?"

"I have tried to do as you wish. What more do you want of me?" The great sad eyes hovered over him.

"What are you doing off your mat?" Navbe asked, entirely out of patience.

"You are not pleased with me. What must I do?" Even the downy antlers quivered with emotion.

"Do not fret. You were all compliance. Return to your mat." But even as he said it he was annoyed
afresh. The children had not wanted him; they had fought him with their hands and new antlers as well as
struggling and crying out when he assaulted them. This creature had accepted him, making no more than