Flinx Transcendent_ A Pip & Flinx Adventure - Alan Dean Foster [53]
How much had he withheld?
“The name was given to me,” Flinx explained, “when I was adopted into their Tier by the applicable family. This occurred not long ago on a world that lies between the Empire and the Commonwealth. A neutral world called Jast.”
“I know of it,” Lord Eiipul acknowledged. “Jusst as I know of the Ssaiinn. Your claim iss—quite asstounding.”
Eiipul IXb stepped forward, his tone deferential. “We had no idea! The creature deceivess uss! Until thiss very moment we did not …”
“Lock your teeth!” Lord Eiipul hissed sharply. The young male retreated immediately and lapsed into silence. “Have ssome resspect for your ssuperior.” Turning back to Flinx, his tone was solemn. “Your remarkable assertion sstandss unverified. What iss undeniable iss that you are a remarkable sspecimen of your kind, in wayss that are sstill to be learned. Along with how you ssucceeded in coming to Krrassin. Would I be correct in assuming that the informality and ssurprisse attendant on thiss particular encounter leadss me to believe that your pressence on Blasussarr iss not authorized by your government?”
“Wherever I find myself, I authorize my own presence,” Flinx informed his host quietly. “Since nobody else seems to want to do so.”
“Ah, chizzent. With every word you sspeak you mark yoursself as different from the resst of your kind. Will you drink with me before you die?”
Wary but willing, Flinx moved closer. “I'll drink with you even in the absence of death.”
Careful not to strike the human with his tail as he turned, Lord Eiipul led Flinx to the far end of the room. Kiijeem and the twins followed at a distance. The tapering terminus of the top floor was dominated by a curving transparent wall many meters in height. It wrapped around the narrowing end of the artificial butte like a port on a small ship. Through the sweeping transparency Flinx could make out other costly residences illuminated by their internal lights and the glow of a moon.
Calling forth two fresh containers of liquid from a concealed dispenser, Lord Eiipul took one metal cone and passed the other to his guest. Flinx had no trouble using it properly. He had been drinking from similar utensils ever since he had arrived in Krrassin.
“Sso—you are a member of a Tier and of a family. I have never before heard of or encountered ssuch a contradiction, not even in the fanciess of playwrightss.”
Flinx lowered the cold container from his lips. “I believe I may be the first of my kind to be so honored.”
That penetrating, experienced gaze fixed him in its predatory sights. “You conssider it an honor, then?”
Flinx further astounded his host by making the correct gesture to signify first-degree assent. “I consider it an honor to be accounted a member of any family, of any species, that would have me as a member of its Tier.”
“And are you an artisst? Iss that how you gained thiss remarkable admission?”
“I can draw, a little. I can do many things, a little. In a time of serious personal need, the Ssaiinn showed me great compassion.”
Lord Eiipul executed a gesture indicative of second-degree incredulity. “All artisstss are by definition more than a little unssound in their reassoning. A Tier of artissanss …,” he hissed softly to himself. “If one sshiftss one'ss mind away from normal reassoning, I ssupposse there iss a certain sskewed ssensse to ssuch a thing.” Raising his drinking utensil, he saluted the visitor. “Iss that why you have worked to evade every imaginable ssecurity meassure and put your life at grave rissk to come here to the capital of the Empire? To practisse ssome bizarre variant of human-AAnn ‘art’?”
In a way, the Lord nye was perhaps not so very far wrong, a startled Flinx found himself thinking. He plunged onward with his explanation.
“Lord Eiipul, there exists a threat to the entire galaxy: Empire and Commonwealth and all else alike. Thus far its existence