For Ravna, it was the start of a new battle. She glared across the deck at Blueshell. The Skroderider dithered,
复件 (73) air max2, its fronds twisting on themselves in a way she had not seen before. "See here, my lady Bergsndot, High Point is a lovely civilization, with some bipedal participants. It is safe. It is nearby. You could adapt." He paused. Reading my expression is he? "But -- but if that is not acceptable,
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复件 (41) air max2, we will take you further. Give us a chance to contract the proper cargo, and -- and we'll take you all the way back to Sjandra Kei. How about that?" "No. You already have a contract, Blueshell. With Vrinimi Organization. The three of us --" and whatever has become of Pham Nuwen "-- are going to the Bottom of the Beyond." "I am shaking my head in disbelief! We received a preliminary retainer, true. But now that Vrinimi Org is dead,
复件 (76) air max, there is no one to make good on the rest of the agreement. Hence we are free of it also." "Vrinimi is not dead. You heard Grondr 'Kalir. The Org had -- has -- branch offices all across the Beyond. The obligation stands." "On a technicality. We both know that those branches could never make the final payment." Ravna didn't have a good answer to that. "You have an obligation," she said, but without the proper forcefulness. She had never been good at bluster. "My lady, are you truly speaking from Org ethics, or from simple humanity?" "I-- " In fact, Ravna had never completely understood Org ethics. That was one reason why she had intended to return to Sjandra Kei after her 'prenticeship, and one reason the Org had dealt cautiously with the human race. "It doesn't matter which I speak from! There is a contract. You were happy to honor it when things looked safe. Well, things turned deadly -- but that possibility was part of the deal." Ravna glanced at Greenstalk. She had been silent so far, not even rustling at her mate. Her fronds were tightly held against her central stalk. Maybe -- "Listen, there are other reasons besides contract obligation. The Perversion is more powerful than anyone thought. It killed a Power today. And it's operating in the Middle Beyond.... The Riders have a long history,
复件 (12) air max2, Blueshell, longer than most races' entire existence. The Perversion may be strong enough to put an end to all of that." Greenstalk rolled toward her and opened slightly. "You -- you really think we might find something on that ship at the Bottom, something that could harm a Power among Powers?" Ravna paused. "Yes. And Old One himself thought so, just before he died." Blueshell wrapped even tighter around himself, twisting. In anguish? "My Lady, we are traders. We have lived long and traveled far ... and survived by minding our own business. No matter what romantics may think, traders do not go on quests. What you ask ... is impossible, mere Beyonders seeking to subvert a Power." Yet that was a risk you signed for. But Ravna didn't say it aloud. Perhaps Greenstalk did: her fronds rustled, and Blueshell scrinched even more. Greenstalk was silent for a second, then she did something funny with her axles, bumping free of the stickem. Her wheels spun on nothing as she floated through a slow arc,
复件 (58) air max1, till she was upside down, her fronds reaching down to brush Blueshell's. They rattled back and forth for almost five minutes. Blueshell slowly untwisted, the fronds relaxing and patting back at his mate. Finally he said. "Very well.... One quest. But mark you! Never another." .Delete this paragraph to shift page flush PART II CHAPTER 17 Spring came wet and cold, and excruciatingly slow. It had been raining the last eight days. How Johanna wished for something else, even the dark of winter back again.
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