Chaos Space - Marianne de Pierres [86]
The artist’s skin changed colour with pleasure. ‘Thank you, skin-pretty-hung-with-ugly-danglings.’
Shock and embarrassment burned in Thales’s face and the Baronessa averted her head, biting at her lip.
‘Now, Fenralia, do not tease the young ones. Not all are as liberated as you,’ said Farr. He pointed to a deepening queue beyond the dais. ‘Your fans are waiting for a chance to imprint themselves with your juices. Perhaps it is time to bestow reward on them.’
A guard rolled a small trolley over to the couch. Fenralia undulated onto it with practised ease.
‘What in Scolar is that?’ Thales whispered as the artist was transported across the dais.
‘An uuli-skierin hybrid. They are quite rare and not long-lived. Most have brilliant creative minds,’ replied Mira.
‘You have met one before?’
‘I have studied species genera at the Araldis Studium. The skierin culture was one of my preferred choices.’
‘Wet, sticky place, Skiera,’ said Josef Rasterovich. He had left his seat and was standing behind Mira Fedor. His eyes were fixed on her face with a hungry expression that made Thales want to look away. The Baronessa, however, did not seem to notice.
‘I should be interested to hear of your impressions, Mr Rasterovich. If time will allow us,’ she said.
‘The time would seem perfect for that,’ said Lasper Farr. ‘Mr Rasterovich, could you entertain the Baronessa while Msr Berniere and I. . . discuss some things?’
Rasterovich paled, then frantically scanned the crowd. He was unable to hide his relief when he saw Farr’s sister, Bethany.
‘Beth,’ he called out. ‘Here!’
Not an invitation but a demand, thought Thales. The God-Discoverer did not wish to be left alone with Baronessa Fedor.
‘Msr Berniere?’ Farr was standing waiting for Thales.
‘What is it that you wish to discuss with me, Commander Farr?’ said Thales nervously.
Farr took his arm. ‘A matter of some delicacy,’ he murmured in Thales’s ear, ‘that would be best served up in private.’
Thales hesitated. It seemed impolite to refuse and yet he did not entirely trust the man. Gutnee Paraburd had been a liar. Was Lasper Farr any different?
‘Please,’ Farr said. ‘I will be brief.’
Thales allowed Farr to steer him through the crowd to a private but plain room some distance from the main chamber. It was pleasantly quiet after the cacophony of the Trade Fest but Farr did not invite him to sit.
‘I am not a man to waste time, Msr Berniere, so I will come straight to my point. Why do you have a barrier substance in your blood?’
‘P-pardon?’ Thales stuttered.
Farr lost some of his mild demeanour. ‘We have scanned your biologies. Your blood contains a barrier substance commonly used by bio-carriers. We cannot detect the DNA itself so we assume you are on your way to receive it, or have just delivered it. DNA warfare is still one of the most dangerous threats to sentient species, Msr Berniere. I do not like carriers on my world—unless they belong to me.’
‘I do not have to put up with an interrogation, Commander Farr. I mean you no harm. I am here on your planet through no fault of my own but because of a conspiracy of circumstance.’ Thales raised his chin stubbornly.
‘Do all philosophers have such a shallow grasp of life?’
‘I may not be worldly, sir, but I am intelligent.’
‘Intelligence is admirable. But can you handle yourself?’
‘Handle?’
Without warning Farr tucked his head under Thales’s arm and spun. With the weight of his shoulder he threw Thales against the wall.
Pain radiated across Thales’s skull and down his spine. Dazed, he took some moments to climb to his feet.
The Commander faced him, arms dangling loose against his sides, his expression quite relaxed.
Thales glanced at the door but a balol guard was still there, its neck frill stiff with aggression.
‘H-h .. . d-d.’ Thales couldn’t make the words come unstuck.
Farr lunged at him and struck him again with a series of harsh blows to the soft parts of his body.
Thales retaliated, as he had aboard the OLOSS ship, lashing out with all his energy and strength. But this man was very different from a scant-trained