Flinx Transcendent_ A Pip & Flinx Adventure - Alan Dean Foster [75]
It was not the response Eiipul had been expecting. He felt an unexpected and entirely deviant surge of sympathy for the human. “I ssensse that you are obliged to deal not only with demonic forcess on the outsskirtss of the galaxy but alsso within yoursself.”
Flinx started to nod, remembered to gesture second-degree concurrence. “There are times when I don't know which troubles me more.” He resumed advancing toward the rapidly improving Emperor.
By the time the two of them had approached to within speaking distance of Navvur, the ruler of all the AAnn had recovered to the point where he took note of their presence. Bodyguards, this time with weapons drawn, moved to intercept the noble and the softskin. Unmistakably shaken by the experience he had just undergone but with his innate perspicacity unimpaired, Navvur W gestured his sentinels aside.
Stopping just out of arm and tail reach, Flinx stared placidly back at the Emperor of all the AAnn. As it often did at the most inopportune moments, his inborn sarcasm chose that moment to reassert itself. “Tssant, venerable Navvur. Did you find my ramblings entertaining?”
To his credit, the Emperor ignored the gibe. As he had stated earlier, he had little time to waste. “What jusst happened here, and how did you do it?”
Flinx sighed. “I did what I promised I would do. I showed you the threat of which I spoke. That's all I can do. How I did so doesn't matter. What matters is your response. Are you going to believe me or are you going to kill me?” He paused only a moment. “It really doesn't matter, because in the long run if I'm not allowed the opportunity to try and find a way of stopping what's coming, everyone and everything is going to die anyway.”
“You sspeak too much of death,” Navvur hissed softly in reply. “Sspeak to me of life.”
“Let me go. Let me rendezvous with my ship.”
The Emperor hesitated. “You will return to the Commonwealth, sspeak of your experiencess here, and tell them we are weak.”
Flinx gestured first-degree demurral. “I will return, yes, but only to pursue a defense against what you just experienced. I have little interest whatsoever in the unending historical squabbles that divide the Empire and the Commonwealth.”
“Ah.” Navvur looked pleased. “You guard firsst of all your own interesstss. How very like a nye. In that event, why sshould you care what happenss to anyone elsse, far less everyone elsse?”
Flinx looked away. “There are those I do care about. Friends. A certain member of my species of the other gender in particular. We will not be impacted by what is coming this way, but our grandchildren might be.”
The Emperor of the AAnn gestured first-degree comprehension underscored by second-degree bemusement. “Ssoftsskinss,” was all he hissed, as if that explained everything.
Lowering his gaze, Flinx did not blink as he focused on the slitted pupils of the venerated AAnn standing opposite. “Do you believe me? Do you believe what you experienced?”
Navvur turned to judge those around him. The usual spiral of eager supplicants and prattling advisers currently resembled a scene after a battle. Medical personnel were everywhere. After studying the sight for a long minute he turned back. Not to Flinx, but to the AAnn noble standing beside him.
“Lord Eiipul IX, you believed the expossition of thiss ssoftsskin from the beginning. How doess what we all jusst experienced differ from what you went through before?”
“It wass very much identical, essteemed Navvur. The only difference I am aware of iss that thiss time I had more company.”
The Emperor gestured absently to himself. “Confirmation of intergalactic horrorss unimaginable iss not ssomething to be wisshed for, but at the ssame time cannot be denied. Truth iss truth.” He turned back to the silently waiting Flinx. “By the ssand that sshelterss life, ssoftsskin, and againsst all logic, I find that I musst believe you.” His