Silent Songs by A. C. Crispin, Kathleen O'Malley Read Free Book Online

problem," Meg reassured him. To the Simiu, she made the traditional greeting. Then, in barely acceptable Simiu, she growled, "We are honored to greet you, K'heera of the Harkk'ett. I am Margaritka Tretiak, and this is Dr.
    Bruce Carpenter."
    Bruce carefully imitated the greeting. Tesa had helped them work out the wording, since no honor could be given to K'heera herself because of her family's lost status.
    The four-legged alien never met Meg's or Bruce's eyes, but returned their gestures. "I am privileged," she replied.
    So far, so good! thought Meg. She turned to the New Zealander, shaking his hand heartily. "Tesa's said so much about you, I really don't feel the need for introductions."
    "'Ope she didn't say too much. I don't want to have to live anything down!"
    Thank God we'll be signing on Trinity, Meg thought, I can barely understand a word he's saying! It occurred to her they were probably sharing that thought, since Bruce always insisted her own Slavic accent bordered on parody.
    Bruce shook the young man's hand. Meg could see the Maori's open smile softening him already.
    "Do either of you need to stop for anything--bathroom, snack, change of clothes?" Meg asked, knowing the Simiu's voder would translate. One sentence in Simiu was all she could handle.
    Jib glanced at K'heera, who said something to him. "K'heera wants to know,"
    he finally said, "when we'll meet the Grus."
    Just like Tesa, Meg thought suddenly. Would Bruce remember that? She smiled. "About two thirds of the way down."
    The Simiu looked up at her, plainly startled, then her violet eyes hooded over with some dark emotion.
    30

    * * *
Tesa held up the last life mat so Weaver could attach it to the shelter's framework with her fingers and bill. Her grandmother, Nadine Lewis, attached the other end. In a few minutes it was secure and the three stepped away from the wall of the small A-framed structure to admire their work.
    "Oh, it's perfect, Weaver!" Tesa signed to the avian.
    "I'm glad you like it," the Grus replied. "These story-walls are so different from ours it's hard for me to judge."
    The White Wind people wove images into their shelter walls primarily in the ultraviolet range, so that much of it was invisible to humans. Tesa's shelter was a smaller version of Taller and Weaver's, built beside theirs on the same platform. But these walls showed stories any Terran could see--artistic renditions of her own adventures.
    "The colors Teacher used are very striking," Weaver agreed.
    Tesa hugged her grandmother. "I loved the way you wove my quilt's pattern into the walls. Your design is great!"
    "Only young bones like yours could sleep here night after night, takoja,"
    Nadine signed with a wry expression.
    Weaver's head swiveled just as Tesa felt the vibration that meant the flock was calling. Her grandmother touched the nullifiers in her ears as powerful sound waves washed over them.
    "It's the shuttle!" Tesa realized excitedly. "If I don't hurry, I'll miss my place in line!"
    "Be careful!" her grandmother ordered, as the Interrelator grabbed her parked sled and dashed outside. Tesa slapped the controls, and the machine leaped into the air, even as she pulled herself across it on her stomach. Taller, who'd been fishing in the marsh, lifted from the water to quickly overtake her.
    Where's Lightning? she wondered, glancing around. The cinnamon-colored head pulled up on her right with Thunder flying near, pumping her huge wings to keep up. The raptor never could maintain her interest in proper formation and usually just floated somewhere around the periphery of the escort. The other Grus had long ago learned to ignore her.
    Flies-Too-Fast moved ahead of Tesa, behind Taller. The big, bold male, Hurricane, mirrored him on the right. She glanced behind and saw Snowberry's gleaming crown jockeying around near the young female Winter Bloom as they got into their positions. In the rear, the tiny None-SoPretty, the gray-tailed Scorched, and the young male Frost