Beholder's Eye by Julie E. Czerneda Read Free Book Online

and more oval than the Kraosian’s. The rainbow hues within Ethrem’s eyes were locked upon the startling black, gray, and white of the Human’s; this was the most striking difference between them, though Kraosian eyes varied to both these extremes.
    Ethrem’s commanding officer, the one he had called his friend, held a hand weapon ready, but pointed deliberately at the floor. There was no mistaking the direction of Ethrem’s aim. The Protark and the remaining Humans were standing. No one moved. “Am I worth your fear?” I heard the specialist say very gently.
    Ethrem flinched as though conversation was the last thing he had expected from the alien being. He tightened his grip on his own pistol. I swallowed, aware, as were the others helpless here, that Ethrem was beyond reason. Yet the Human remained still, calm, serene, his voice compelling: “I am as you see me, Kraosian. Nothing more than a man, and nothing less.” He didn’t quite smile, but the corners of his mouth lifted. “And a rather thirsty man. Join me for a glass of beer?”
    It was masterfully done. Ethrem seemed puzzled, confused by so ordinary an enemy. He glanced about for help, his aim losing its rigidity as the weapon’s deadly tip dropped slightly. Another moment, and I believe that the Human might have had him calmed and rational again. But I had forgotten that calm rationality was hardly part of the Protark’s plans for this day.
    “Kill the alien! He’s bewitching you!” came a harsh command from someone unseen. Ethrem flinched, then moved faster than even the troops to either side of him. But the Human had been ready, and dropped, rolling, seeking the shelter of a table. Ethrem, thwarted, wheeled.
    I howled in terror, leaping out to try and stop him. I was a step away when he fired at a new target. Launching myself into the air, I hit him in the torso before he fired again, but it was too little and much too late.
    Captain Simpson and the other Human female were dead before they hit the floor.
    Out There
    THE dome glittered from within, the sun of this system too distant to be more than a navigation hazard. The Tly mining consortium did its best to counter the lack of a true day for its miners, knowing the importance of a diurnal rhythm to productivity.
    So, day cycle, the dome shone with its own radiance like one of the fabled gems from its shafts. A promise of welcome and wealth to travelers.
    There were lights, but no life, to welcome the next supply ship. She arrived and docked, automatics receiving the grapples and connecting lines. The bewildered, then anxious, visitors walked the empty domes and shafts; they found no sign of the two dozen who should be there.
    Fortunately for the searchers, Death had already left.

5:
    Moon Afternoon
    BOTH wind and memories had taken turns whirling me about, but eventually I cycled from web-form into Lanivarian and went to find Ersh. Her home was actually a cave deep in the rock of this mountainside; Ersh liked to be thought of as living a Spartan life, though her cave contained every modern convenience including a state-of-the-art replicator. I found her with Lesy and Skalet, all three trying the Kraosian form.
    Ersh was older than any Kraosian I’d seen on that planet, but her form had good teeth and looked fit, if well-used. She had already ordered clothing from the replicator, and was dressed in the style appropriate to the scholar caste. Skalet could have stepped off a farm truck. Lesy, as usual, looked adorably plump. She was holding up one of a selection of festival dresses. I lifted a lip over one tooth, but didn’t comment.
    “Don’t snarl at Lesy,” Ersh said without a glance at me that I caught. “You know she likes clothes; it’s her artistic nature. Skalet will return to Kraos and complete your work—including a report on the impact to their culture by your actions.”
    I winced.
    “Despite this, you made a respectable beginning in the time you had, Esen. I’m proud of