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Honcho regarded him. No doubt of the sneer now. And yet Blade could sense that
Honcho was not altogether sure of himself. Not 100 percent convinced about
Blade. Something was lacking.
Honcho pointed to Blade's kilt-like nether garment. "Pull it up. I would see."
Blade obeyed. He bared his genitals. The neuter gasped and took a step
backward. For a moment
Blade thought it was going to fall on its knees and make slaveface as Moyna
had done. But no.
The green eyes had narrowed still more, until they were mere slits now. Honcho
nodded and nodded and stroked its chin with the tapering fingers. Blade
covered himself, adjusting the kilt, sensing that he was losing this round-
Honcho walked around Blade. Around and around, studying the big man from every
angle. At last the neuter spoke.
"You are no Lordsman! That I know. Yet you are homid, one of THEY. I do not
understand it. And I
should understand it. My birthplate lies-I am far above 14th level, although
THEY do not know that and
I should understand it." Honcho ran a finger over his close-clipped skull.
"There is a great mystery here
-a mystery that I will understand, I swear it-and perhaps a mystery that I can
use in my own plans."
Blade had to keep reminding himself that this was only a simlu, not the real
Honcho. It was hard to do.
The neuter confronting him now was real in everything but substance.
Blade said: "All right, Honcho. I am no Lordsman. I may be homid, but I don't
know exactly what that is. I lied. I did not strike my head. I am a stranger
in your land. You appear to be an intelligent being-so let us sit down and
reason together. Let us talk. You can find out about me and I can find out
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about you.
We will be friends, not enemies."
Blade smiled at the neuter. It was his best smile and he took great pains with
it. "I am sorry that I lost my temper and tried to kill you, Honcho. Shall we
be friends?"
Honcho fingered its chin. "It is most strange. You speak our language. We
understand each other. Yet you use words I have never heard before. Friends?
What are friends?"
Blade kept his smile firm. "It means that we will not try to harm each other.
That perhaps we can help each other, work together, so that each of us gets
what he wants."
The neuter nodded slowly. "Yes. I understand that. Not that you could harm me
with weapons as crude as these." It gestured around the large chamber. "These
are arfactis, from the time of a million kronos, kept as curiosities or as
playthings for the beast-soldiers."
Blade did not answer. He sensed that the neuter image was only talking to
cover deep thought. It was trying to come to a decision.
The decision was made. Honcho put a finger to its lips and shook its head
slightly at Blade. When it spoke it was not to Blade, but to the listening
walls. Blade knew that this was only simlu, not the real flesh
and blood creature, yet his skin crawled and the hairs prickled on his neck.
Honcho said: "All spiscreens in Provo of North Gorge to be shuttered. I am He
who commands. There will be no memspeak of those past minikronos. I repeat-no
memspeak! All to be erased. Do so on command of He."
Honcho raised his hands and clapped them sharply. Blade sensed that now the
unseen listeners and watchers were gone. Honcho wanted privacy for some
reasons of his own.
The neuter image stared at him. "Come," said Honcho. "We will go to my real
where we can talk. In secret." He stepped toward the circular pad. Blade
hesitated.
Honcho smiled at him. "You are afraid, then? Of what happened to Moyna? Do not
be. It is only to teleport, not destruct. Come. No harm. As you have said, we
are friends. For now. It is really very simple. A simple disestablishment of
quarks."
Blade stepped onto the pad. He was very close to Honcho now, and could not
resist the temptation to sweep a hand through the image. He felt nothing and
the image was not disturbed. It was like passing his hand through a solid
vapor. Blade did not even question the contradiction in terms. He was thinking
ahead. Thinking furiously.
Honcho was staring at Blade. He laughed softly. "You do not really understand
at all, do you? Such a simple thing. So now I know who you are not." [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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