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[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] it's the right way to deal with this unexpected situation. After all,' and he winked at her as he helped her to her feet, "your father-in-law's had some practice in this sort of "unexpected" encounter." Not quite certain, Kelly gave him a shallow grin. "So come on out and meet the Gringg. Even mda'd stay away from something that sizeable!" "Are you bears?" Alec wanted to know, confronting Eonneh but standing far enough back so that she could still see his furry features. "Why are you wearing belts? That's a very beautiful belt. I didn't think bears wore belts like Hrrubans. They have pockets in their belts, too. What have you got in your belt pockets?" Eonneh seemed delighted that this red-topped Ayoomnnn seemed unafraid of him. It appeared to be asking about his belt, for the slender little finger was pointing at his chest. But courtesy came first. "Eonneh,' he said, pointing at himself. "Honey?" Alison asked, joining her brother in a semiprotective fashion. "Is that your name? Honey?" "Reh. Ghotyakh,' Eonneh said, indicating his companion. "I can't say that!" Alec said. "It sounds like gargling." "Don't be stupid, Alley, it sounds like Kodiak,' Alison said. "That's a kind of bear. I guess they must be bears." "But what are bears?" Hrrunival wanted to know. "They're an Earth animal,' Alec said, somewhat pompously. "Mama read us about them in a story book." "I thought there were only Havumans on Earrth, Hrrunival said. "Hrruba has no ozzer animals." "Well, Earth did and does,' Alec informed him condescendingly. "You've seen the pictures in the book." "They're Gringg,' Jilamey said, coming over to kneel beside the children. Page 53 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html Following his example, Eonneh, renamed Honey, rolled back on his mighty haunches, bringing him closer to their level. "They've come to Doonarrala from their own world to meet us." "You do not have any assurrrance of zese fine seriziments,' an older Hrruban male snapped. Ken recognized him as Trrengo, a relative newcomer to Rrala. "I think we do,' Alec said, suddenly turning an incredibly adult expression on Trrengo. "Uncle Jilamey says we shouldn't be afraid. He doesn't lie to us. You're friendly, aren't you?" He held out a hand to Ghotyakh, who engulfed it completely in his vast paw. "Wait, don't let him touch you!" cried one of the Human colonists, Bob Lawrence. "He's OK,' Alec said, shaking hands solemnly. Alison followed suit, putting her hand into Ghotyakh's other paw. "Just like their father,' mumbled Macy McKee, patting his wife's hand on his arm. "I remember the first time Todd brought us a passel of Hrrubans to meet-' He broke off and looked about in surprise. "And hey, these fellows don't make me sneeze!" "By analogy that should prove that these fellows are dangerous,' Lawrence said sardonically. "What a bizarre way to distinguish friend from foe,' said Dr Kate Moody in her caustic way as she pushed her way through her neighbour. "Allergies apart, they're sure not acting hostile. And the Alley Cats aren't the least bit skeered. Nor young Hrrunival. Look at them hunkering down to get level with your kids. Evening, Ken,' she said cheerfully as he approached. "Back to your old habits, huh, finding aliens. Well, a man has to keep his skills honed or lose "em. By any chance, are these the patients I was told to examine? I don't see any wounded lying about. Of course, the fellow on the Spacedep cruiser wasn't sure if they were a job for Ben Adjei, as veterinarian, or for me, so we both came. And I'm glad we did! The size of "em! Well grown lads!" Ken had brought Kelly, Mrrva, and Nrrna, still clutching her baby, all three women somewhat hesitant. "Come on, ladies, let me make you known to the Gringg. This is Eonneh. Go on! Introduce yourself. Tell him your name. I need more recordings of his responses to get more of their inflections." Kelly glanced at Ken to make sure he was serious. With one hand he urged her forward, showing the recording device in the palm of the other. "Kelly,' she turned her thumb to her chest, "I'm Kelly." Then she turned her thumb to the smaller of the two and raised her eyebrows quizzically. "Your name?" "Gelli,' Eonneh repeated carefully, thumping his furry chest with his immense big fist. "Eonneh. Eonneh." "Honey!' the children chorused, delighted with such a name. Ken made the rest of the introductions, laying his hand on each child's head and repeating the name. Then he turned to see which of the neighbours were willing. Most of those who were, he noted with amusement, were members of the original Doonan colony or those who had arrived just after the Decision. Hrrula was delighted by the Gringg, especially the way they sniffed, very politely, at each person they met. The others, mostly recent arrivals, watched cautiously from a discreet distance. The children had none of their parents' reserve. They were eager to meet Honey and Kodiak, as they'd been renamed. The Gringg tried to pronounce each new name, causing some of the kids to muffle their giggles in their hands. Made bolder by their curiosity, more children came out of the surrounding houses and came timidly forward to see the visitors, then retreated, loud with relief, having experienced nothing more terrifying than a handshake. "Come on, Nrrna,' Ken said, urging the shy Hrruban girl forward. Page 54 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html "They're really very friendly." Still clasping Hrrunna, Nrrna slowly approached Honey and Kodiak. When she got close enough, she stood on tiptoe, her tail balancing out behind her, and looked deeply into their dark-red eyes. Both Gringg saw the sleeping cub and exchanged wide-eyed glances. Kodiak urged Honey forward, almost prodding him towards Nrrna. Very cautiously, as if afraid to frighten her or disturb the sleeper, Honey crept forward, eyes always on the curled infant. He hunched his shoulders and extended his neck, twisting his head from side to side, all attention focused on little Hrrunna. Then, ever so slowly, Honey held out his huge paws and gave a single gentle, soft interrogative grunt. As one in a trance, Nrrna held the sleeping cub towards him and slipped her into his great furry paws where the little Hrruban was cradled with tender care. Nrrna ignored the gasps around them. Hirro even went so far as to leap forward, as if to snatch the cub from Honey but, as if she hadn't even seen his movement, Nrrna stepped in his path. "I trust you,' she told the Gringg in the Middle Hrruban most of the onlookers would understand, her voice clear and strong in the sudden silence. "There is no harm in you that I can sense. You do come as friends." The aliens were obviously entranced with Hrrunna and ignored everything else. Ken could barely contain his delight in Nrrna's actions and words. In the hush that fell on the crowd, he could plainly hear the tiny whirr that meant someone was recording this on film, too, for which he was very grateful. He'd been so concerned with getting Gringg sounds down, he'd forgot to attend to a visual account. Now Honey let out a tiny coo, the softest sound Ken had heard a Gringg make. The baby opened her eyes and briefly stared up at him, then stretched her pliant body across Honey's broad palms. The coo seemed to soothe her eyes shut. She let out a little sigh, and went back to sleep, curling her tiny tail about her. Honey's coo turned into soft melodic sounds, hovering just above audible level. Ken turned up the gain on his recorder, hoping to get every note. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] |