They do not try to beyond their abilities extend themselves and attempt nothing unless they are confident of accomplishing what they set out to do.” “Vatoloi a ranking Lepar is, if truly it were he,” said Third-of-Study. The one who intercepted me in the water when I was trying to swim away from Caldaq and his escort.” “He was the first Lepar I ever saw, years ago. That is not a criticism, merely part of my answer to your query. “Not only are they the only truly amphibious sentients, they are also among the least intelligent. “They prefer to themselves to keep, to out of the way of others stay.” Third-of-Study’s eyeshades darkened to maximum to shield the sensitive organs from the tropical sun.
Someone had said something about dual sets of vocal cords. The only other aliens he saw speaking Hivistahm were the Wais, who seemed able to master any tongue. He had acquired a knowledge of Massood, and some select phrases in S’van, but Hivistahm with its whistles and clicks utterly defeated him. “That’s so, but you hardly ever see a Lepar,” he said into his translator. “You have among us a great deal of time spent.” “Truly I suspect there is little you do not know.” Third-of-Study joined him, delighting in the sunshine and glad of the chance to relax. Will watched it go, then lay down in the shallows, resting his back against the warm wet sand. Bulging eyes regarded Human and Hivistahm solemnly for a moment before the Lepar disappeared with a quick twist of its torso and a flick of its tail. Third-of-Study explained that he was in the water by choice and that everything was well under control. The Lepar expressed its concern via the omnipresent translator. He was doing his best close inshore when a slick, bulbous face appeared nearby. Since the delicate front arms and fingers provided little in the way of motive power he had to kick constantly to keep his narrow skull above water.
Third-of-Study had to work much harder than a Human in order to stay afloat. The actual equation was simple enough: 5h(u) = v?, wherein five or more Humans acting in concert in the presence of uncertainty resulted in violence of unpredictable dimensions, the degree of violence being a function of the number of Humans. Will Dulac he did not fear, having already decided that Humans acted like utterly different creatures when alone than when assembled in groups. Third-of-Study was game to try, however, confident that the more he knew about Humankind the better the arguments he could make for leaving the species alone. This made the Hivistahm’s dislike of the water immediately understandable. For one thing, the Hivistahm’s lungs were small in proportion to its physique, resulting in poor buoyancy and a concurrent tendency to sink rapidly as he exhaled.
#A CALL TO ARMS BY ALAN DEAN FOSTER HOW TO#
Will was trying to teach Third-of-Study how to swim, a task more difficult than he’d imagined. Such suspicions and fears only emphasized what a miracle it was that the Weave had survived for as long as it had, Caldaq mused as he turned down a corridor. It would not do for other members of the Weave to perceive an intimate relationship between the S’van and these rabid Humans, especially when none such existed. For their part the S’van were careful to keep their distance. They joked and chatted with the S’van, but the S’van got along with everyone. Nor did Humans evince any particular affection for the Hivistahm, or the O’o’yan, or any of the other Weave species they came in contact with. The Massood responded with admiration if not genuine camaraderie.Īs for the other races, they had little reason to interact with these new fighters. If the reports were to be believed, they truly liked their Massood comrades. Human soldiers insisted on leading assaults on enemy positions. Massood troops clamored to fight alongside their new allies, believing that with their help breakthroughs might be made in sectors which had been stalemated for years. By now the third and largest was starting to make a real impact on the Vasarihan conflict. So far three groups of Humans had received Weave combat training. Their arguments and occasional impassioned pleas were offset by the reports that filtered halfway back across the galaxy. They thought Earth a dead end, a place for the Weave to leave and leave alone. Second-of-Medicine and Third-of-Study had their own reasons for siding with Will Dulac.
0 kommentar(er)
