Close Encounters Read Online Free PDF

and I to talk without anyone else being the wiser.
    Still emoting, I took another two steps, hands lifted to show I was holding no weapon. This time I got a reaction. The youngster’s lips curled back to uncover strong, white teeth, and a low warning sound emerged from between his lips. Taking a tighter two-handed grip on his spear, he shifted it across the front of his body in a defensive stance.
    Pausing, I studied the spearhead. There was something familiar about it, as if I’d seen it or another like it before. It was a flat black metal with odd markings etched into its surface.
    My musing triggered the memory of a picture I’d once run across of a spear belonging to a giant species called the Ashwani, which had been extinct long before their planet was discovered. “Max, can you get a clear image of his spear?” I subvocalized.
    “Yes. I’ve taken a holo of it.”
    “Good. See if you’ve got anything on a race called the Ashwani and compare the spear’s markings to any written language we have for them.”
    Junior was still grimacing at me, so I took a deep breath and walked closer, hoping I wouldn’t have to hurt him. His body tensed, and a growling sound rumbled from his throat.
    Staying loose and keeping my weight balanced on the balls of my feet, I took another step. I was only fifty feet from him now, and apparently I crossed some imperceptible barrier. Without further warning, he charged.
    On the trip from ZT Twelve to Orpheus, Max and I had run the vids almost constantly, searching for consistencies in the grunts and growls that made up the Buri’s language. The first time I’d mimicked the sounds, Crigo had fallen out of the antigrav chair and hissed at me. When I laughed, he stuck his nose in the air and vanished into another part of the ship.
    There was only one sound I was reasonably sure about, and only because I’d seen the results when the big guy used it. When Junior charged, I stopped and let out a roar that had the fauna chittering in the trees.
    The effect on the youngster was electric. He reacted as though he’d slammed into an invisible wall, staring at me with eyes the size of Max’s portholes. I could feel waves of surprise and uncertainty pouring from him.
    The bushes at the edge of the jungle rustled, and Junior looked over his shoulder as two more males stepped into sight. One was the big guy from the vids, the obvious leader of the tribe. The other was one I hadn’t seen before. He was somewhere between the youngster and the big guy in size, and his hair and eyes were a deep brown. He didn’t look happy. A scowl marred his features as he barked at Junior.
    When the youngster answered, his tone was low and apologetic. The two new arrivals listened, and then refocused their attention on me. A deep anger and defiance emanated from Brownie, but all I got from the big guy was a vague sense of curiosity and interest as his black eyes moved over me. He stood with his long legs braced apart, arms crossed over his broad chest, while Brownie gestured toward me and grunted ferocious-sounding epithets.
    With a distinct air of resignation, the big guy growled a response. Brownie, radiating satisfaction, handed his spear to Junior and started toward me.
    Damn. I was hoping to avoid this. But since I couldn’t, I was glad it was Brownie. His attitude got on my nerves.
    I held my ground until he lunged, then moved to one side. With my faster reflexes, I could have circled him three times, filed my nails, and had lunch before he touched me, but I didn’t want to show off. Yet, from his perspective, it must have seemed like I’d vanished. He staggered to a halt and gazed around.
    I tapped him on the back. “Looking for me?”
    With a roar of fury, he spun and grabbed. This time I didn’t dodge. Instead, I bent at the waist and twisted my lower torso into the air. My feet hit his jaw in rapid succession as I spun into the air. His head rocked back, but he didn’t go down. His eyes narrowed,