Alien Eyes Read Online Free PDF Page B

meeting,” Mel said. “What’s with the bellybrains?”
    David looked at String. The fluidity of the Elaki’s movements went stiff. String glided to the opposite side of the room, stopping behind the podium Mel had swiped from downstairs. Della and Pete, oddly quiet, looked to David. He shrugged.
    Captain Halliday walked into a silent conference room.
    â€œGood morning,” he said. His tie was unknotted and slid sideways on his wrinkled shirt. He sat down, leaned forward, and laid his palms on the table. “My friends.” He lifted his chin. “The department has been reorganized.”
    No one said a word. The closed set of Halliday’s face, the uncompromising tone of his voice, deceptively mild, stilled their reactions.
    â€œWe will no longer report to Richer. Our chain of command now goes through Commander F. Angelo Ogden.”
    â€œShit,” Mel said.
    Halliday gave him a look. “We’re still Homicide Task Force. But we’re adding three new members. I’d like to introduce—”
    â€œI am Walker,” one of the Elaki said, her voice youthful. She waved a fin at the other two Elaki. “Thinker.”
    One Elaki bowed slightly.
    â€œAnd—”
    â€œStinker,” Mel said under his breath.
    â€œAsh.”
    Mel put a foot up on the table. “Now all we need’s Grumpy, Dopey, and Doc.” He looked at the captain. “You saying these belly—” He glanced at String. “Sorry, Gumby. These guys are part of our homicide team?”
    â€œThat’s right.”
    â€œSays who?”
    â€œCommander Ogden, Mayor Bianchi, and the Elaki proconsul.”
    â€œOh, la,” Mel said.
    â€œIt is, at present, a temporary assignment,” Halliday said carefully. “It was felt—”
    â€œBy whom?” David said.
    â€œIt was felt ,” Halliday said, “that in light of the publicity we’re getting over the cho invasions—”
    â€œThese not cho invasions,” String said, voice high and hissy. A patch of scales slid from beneath his fins and landed on the table. “Is idea planted in media by anarchists, who make the advantage of a bad situation. Is nonsense perpetrated by Angel Eyes.”
    The Elaki named Walker made a noise. “Angel Eyes is old and harmless. Guest lecturer at School of Diplomacy. Must prove not cho invasions. Our job.”
    â€œ Our job,” David said.
    â€œAll our jobs,” Halliday said. “We’re one team. One Homicide Task Force, and—”
    â€œDream on,” Mel said.
    â€œThe next person who interrupts me is out on his ass.”
    â€œPlease to explain an ass,” Walker asked.
    â€œGive her a mirror.”
    â€œLet me show you something, folks.” Halliday looked at Pete. “You got the tape?”
    Pete nodded.
    â€œRun it.”
    Pete slid a tape into a slot beneath the television. “Play.”
    Halliday waved a hand. “This was taped at three this morning. It will hit the air at noon, and six o’clock tonight.”
    The screen filled with static.
    â€œNice job,” Mel said.
    The static blipped away, showing the WKBC news set, and the avid face of Enid West. Beside her desk, curled forward, was an Elaki.
    â€œAngel,” one of the Elaki said softly.
    David frowned. He had never seen an Elaki sit before. Was it crouched behind the desk? Having it on eye level with Enid West made the Elaki seem more personable. Friendly.
    So this was Angel Eyes.
    She had emigrated to Earth two years ago, amid a flurry of bureaucratic disapproval and mainstream support—Elaki, as well as human. Like all Elaki, the breathing slits on her belly formed a happy face pattern. But scars—torture scars from the bad old days of Izicho repression—made the almond shape of beautiful, long-lashed eyes. Angel Eyes.
    A figure of mystery, legend, and wild speculation, she embraced Earth, human philosophy, and