A Darkling Sea Read Online Free PDF

charges him. Broadtail doesn’t want the other Bitterwater scholars to see him flee, so he splays his legs and braces himself, ready to grapple with this unknown monster.
    But just before it hits him, the thing veers off and disappears into the silent distance. Listening carefully lest it return, Broadtail backs toward the rest of the group and they resume their journey to Longpincer’s house.
    Everyone agrees that this expedition is stranger than anything any of them remember. Longpincer seems pleased.
    ROB stopped his impeller and let the drones catch up. He couldn’t think of anything else to do. The Ilmatarans wouldn’t be scared off, and there was no way Rob could attack them. Whatever happened to Henri, Rob did not want to be the first human to harm an alien.
    The link with Henri was still open. The video showed him looking quite calm, almost serene.
    “Henri?” he said. “I tried everything I could think of. I can’t get you out. There are too many of them.”
    “It is all right, Robert,” said Henri, sounding surprisingly cheerful. “I do not think they will harm me. Otherwise why go to all the trouble to capture me alive? Listen: I think they have realized I am an intelligent being like themselves. This is our first contact with the Ilmatarans. I will be humanity’s ambassador.”
    “You think so?” For once Rob found himself hoping Henri was right.
    “I am certain of it. Keep the link open. The video will show history being made.”
    Rob sent in one drone to act as a relay as the Ilmatarans carried Henri into a large rambling building near the Maury 3a vent. As he disappeared inside, Henri managed a grin for the camera.
    LONGPINCER approaches the strange creature, laid out on the floor of his study. The others are all gathered around to help and watch. Broadtail has a fresh reel of cord and is making a record of the proceeding. Longpincer begins. “The hide is thick, but flexible, and is a nearly perfect sound absorber. The loudest of pings barely produce any echo at all. There are four limbs. The forward pair appear to be for feeding, while the rear limbs apparently function as both walking legs and what one might call a double tail for swimming. Roundhead, do you know of any such creature recorded elsewhere?”
    “I certainly do not recall reading of such a thing. It seems absolutely unique.”
    “Please note as much, Broadtail. My first incision is along the underside. Cutting the hide releases a great many bubbles.
    The creature reacts very vigorously—make sure the ropes are secure. The hide peels away very easily; there is no connective tissue at all. I feel what seems to be another layer underneath.
    The creature’s interior is remarkably warm.”
    “The poor thing,” says Raggedclaw. “I do hate causing it pain.”
    “As do we all, I’m sure,” says Longpincer. “I am cutting through the under-layer. It is extremely tough and fibrous. I hear more bubbles. The warmth is extraordinary—like pipewater a cable or so from the vent.”
    “How can it survive such heat?” asks Roundhead. “Can you taste any blood, Longpincer?” adds Sharpfrill. “No blood that I can taste. Some odd flavors in the water, but I judge that to be from the tissues and space between. I am peeling back the under-layer now. Amazing! Yet another layer beneath it. This one has a very different texture—fleshy rather than fibrous. It is very warm. I can feel a trembling sensation and spasmodic movements.”
    “Does anyone remember hearing sounds like that before?” says Smoothshell. “It sounds like no creature I know of.”
    “I recall that other thing making similar sounds,” says Broadtail.
    “I now cut through this layer. Ah—now we come to viscera.
    The blood tastes very odd. Come, everyone, and feel how hot this thing is. And feel this! Some kind of rigid structures within the flesh.”
    “It is not moving,” says Roundhead.
    “Now let us examine the head. Someone help me pull off the shell