[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
The four manipulative digits at the end of one tentacle opened like a flower,
then closed with the silky softness of shy petals around his closed fist. A warm
rush of admiration and thanks filled his mind.
How wonderful it was, he thought, to have achieved his life's dream. To be
file:///F|/rah/Alan%20Dean%20Foster/Foster,%2...%20Damned%2002%20-%20The%20False%20Mirror.txt (18 of 139) [7/1/03 12:04:33 AM]
file:///F|/rah/Alan%20Dean%20Foster/Foster,%20Alan%20Dean%20-%20The%20Damned%2002%20-%20The%20False%20Mirror.txt
honored for doing what he would gladly have done in anonymity. To be alive, and
healthy, and assisting the advance of civilization. The Amplitur's digits
withdrew. Mentally and emotionally elated, Ranji pivoted smartly and returned to
his place on the dais.
One-who-Surrounds was feeling much wellness. The local weather was amenable, and
the excitement and reverence their visit had generated among the Ashregan was
gratifying to behold. Though they did not know it, the proceedings honoring the
special fighters was another graduation ceremony of sorts. It signified the
official success of the Project, in which the Amplitur had invested a
substantial amount of time and effort. It was a great day for the Purpose.
Though the weather was pleasant, One-who-Surrounds was still less than optimally
comfortable. The Ashregan preferred drier worlds than the Amplitur, and it was
something of a sacrifice for One-who-Surrounds and its companion to remain
exposed to the desiccating air for such a long period. But could they have done
any less to honor the fruits of the Project?
It had been a long time aborning, and had involved the most intense efforts of
the Amplitur and their Ashregan allies. To see those hopes so powerfully
fulfilled, and ahead of schedule, was more than sufficient justification for the
somewhat uncomfortable visit. When one served the Purpose with one's whole
being, one could not fuss at inconsequentials such as temperature and humidity.
It was touching to observe the pleasure their mere presence induced in their
allies. One-who-Surrounds was curious to see how the special fighters would
react, but it was no different for them. There was the same receptivity, the
same calm acceptance and mutual admiration one would find among any ordinary
Ashregan.
Except that this group was not ordinary. They had proven that already, on Koba,
succeeding beyond the wildest hopes of the Project's supervisors. The fighting
abilities and unique characteristics which they had been bred for would be
passed on to succeeding generations, to the betterment of the Purpose. Another
carefully chosen field test or two and the survivors would be retired with
honors, encouraged to produce as many offspring as possible. They would want to
continue fighting, of course, since that was what they had been trained to do,
but in the end all would accept their retirement gracefully. The Amplitur would
suggest that they do so.
They did not mention any of this to the individuals they honored. It would be
impolitic to refer to members of an allied species as breeding stock, just as it
would have been counterproductive to inform them that certain of the specialized
characteristics they would pass on to their offspring were not natural in origin
but rather the results of unsurpassed Amplitur efforts at nanobioengineering.
Even as One-who-Surrounds congratulated the heroes of Koba, efforts continued to
refine and expand the scope of the work which had produced them. Success could
always be improved upon. The scientists of the obstructionist Weave did not rest
in their efforts to thwart the Purpose. Those who promulgated its tenets could
do no less.
One-who-Surrounds looked forward to the results of the next test, in which the
special fighters would be asked to confront fully operational Human forces. If
they could de.-feat not merely Massood or Chirinaldo but Human soldiers in
direct combat, then the triumph of the Project would be assured. The effect on
Weave morale would be devastating.
Turning to face the audience, One-who-Surrounds raised both tentacles, spreading
all eight manipulative digits wide in a gesture of greeting and unity. A wave of
genuine warmth and appreciation flowed out to wash over those in the front rows.
The bulbous eyes, each on the end of its short stalk, swiveled independently to
survey the native crowd as it cheered softly.
Following the ceremony's conclusion, One-who-Surrounds was relieved to retire to
a room in which the humidity had been raised to meet Amplitur requirements. The
itching which had begun to torment its mottled orange skin began to fade. It was
no longer necessary to use drops to keep sensitive eyes moist. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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The four manipulative digits at the end of one tentacle opened like a flower,
then closed with the silky softness of shy petals around his closed fist. A warm
rush of admiration and thanks filled his mind.
How wonderful it was, he thought, to have achieved his life's dream. To be
file:///F|/rah/Alan%20Dean%20Foster/Foster,%2...%20Damned%2002%20-%20The%20False%20Mirror.txt (18 of 139) [7/1/03 12:04:33 AM]
file:///F|/rah/Alan%20Dean%20Foster/Foster,%20Alan%20Dean%20-%20The%20Damned%2002%20-%20The%20False%20Mirror.txt
honored for doing what he would gladly have done in anonymity. To be alive, and
healthy, and assisting the advance of civilization. The Amplitur's digits
withdrew. Mentally and emotionally elated, Ranji pivoted smartly and returned to
his place on the dais.
One-who-Surrounds was feeling much wellness. The local weather was amenable, and
the excitement and reverence their visit had generated among the Ashregan was
gratifying to behold. Though they did not know it, the proceedings honoring the
special fighters was another graduation ceremony of sorts. It signified the
official success of the Project, in which the Amplitur had invested a
substantial amount of time and effort. It was a great day for the Purpose.
Though the weather was pleasant, One-who-Surrounds was still less than optimally
comfortable. The Ashregan preferred drier worlds than the Amplitur, and it was
something of a sacrifice for One-who-Surrounds and its companion to remain
exposed to the desiccating air for such a long period. But could they have done
any less to honor the fruits of the Project?
It had been a long time aborning, and had involved the most intense efforts of
the Amplitur and their Ashregan allies. To see those hopes so powerfully
fulfilled, and ahead of schedule, was more than sufficient justification for the
somewhat uncomfortable visit. When one served the Purpose with one's whole
being, one could not fuss at inconsequentials such as temperature and humidity.
It was touching to observe the pleasure their mere presence induced in their
allies. One-who-Surrounds was curious to see how the special fighters would
react, but it was no different for them. There was the same receptivity, the
same calm acceptance and mutual admiration one would find among any ordinary
Ashregan.
Except that this group was not ordinary. They had proven that already, on Koba,
succeeding beyond the wildest hopes of the Project's supervisors. The fighting
abilities and unique characteristics which they had been bred for would be
passed on to succeeding generations, to the betterment of the Purpose. Another
carefully chosen field test or two and the survivors would be retired with
honors, encouraged to produce as many offspring as possible. They would want to
continue fighting, of course, since that was what they had been trained to do,
but in the end all would accept their retirement gracefully. The Amplitur would
suggest that they do so.
They did not mention any of this to the individuals they honored. It would be
impolitic to refer to members of an allied species as breeding stock, just as it
would have been counterproductive to inform them that certain of the specialized
characteristics they would pass on to their offspring were not natural in origin
but rather the results of unsurpassed Amplitur efforts at nanobioengineering.
Even as One-who-Surrounds congratulated the heroes of Koba, efforts continued to
refine and expand the scope of the work which had produced them. Success could
always be improved upon. The scientists of the obstructionist Weave did not rest
in their efforts to thwart the Purpose. Those who promulgated its tenets could
do no less.
One-who-Surrounds looked forward to the results of the next test, in which the
special fighters would be asked to confront fully operational Human forces. If
they could de.-feat not merely Massood or Chirinaldo but Human soldiers in
direct combat, then the triumph of the Project would be assured. The effect on
Weave morale would be devastating.
Turning to face the audience, One-who-Surrounds raised both tentacles, spreading
all eight manipulative digits wide in a gesture of greeting and unity. A wave of
genuine warmth and appreciation flowed out to wash over those in the front rows.
The bulbous eyes, each on the end of its short stalk, swiveled independently to
survey the native crowd as it cheered softly.
Following the ceremony's conclusion, One-who-Surrounds was relieved to retire to
a room in which the humidity had been raised to meet Amplitur requirements. The
itching which had begun to torment its mottled orange skin began to fade. It was
no longer necessary to use drops to keep sensitive eyes moist. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]