Lord of Janissaries Read Online Free PDF Page B

no idea of what would offend either the human or the alien. Obviously he should avoid terms like “this critter” or “stretchy here”, but what could he call the creature?
    “His name translates as ‘Goldsmith,’ ” Agzaral said. “Many Shalnuksi names derive from ancient occupations. That seems a nearly universal cultural trait among industrializing peoples. If you prefer his own language, it is ‘Karreeel.’ ” The last was said with a twitter that Rick couldn’t possibly pronounce.
    “Pleased to meet you,” Rick said. “An expression that we don’t always mean, but given the way we met, I certainly do. Only—”
    “Only you would like to know why he made the effort,” Agzaral said. “I listened to part of your conversation with the other officer.” He switched to the twitter-and-snarl language again and spoke briefly.
    “We have need of you,” Karreeel said. His facial slits flared briefly. “We have need of human soldiers, and we went to great expense and difficulty to locate you.”
    “But why us?” Rick demanded.
    “Because you would not be missed,” Agzaral said. “And you could be taken aboard his ship without anyone seeing it. There are severe regulations against allowing the ships to be seen.”
    “Flying saucers,” Rick said. “But you have been seen—”
    “ Some have,” Agzaral corrected. “Not Karreeel. The ships that have been seen were employed by students. Fortunately, none of those sightings can be proved.” He sighed. It seemed to Rick a very human sigh. “It is my unpleasant task to investigate every instance in which a ship had been seen and reported.”
    “I see,” Rick said. “And then what?”
    “We have agents on Earth,” Agzaral said. “They discredit the sighting reports.”
    “They’ve done a good job,” Rick said. He remembered what he had thought of UFO stories, and the people who “believed in flying saucers.” Brass-plated nuts. “The”—he hesitated at the unfamiliar word— “ Shalnuksis —are studying us?”
    Agzaral’s lips curled in what Rick thought might be a thin smile. “No. Others study Earth. Including other humans. But the—” He paused. “I will not in future stop myself when I require a term that you will not quite understand. I will simply use the nearest equivalent. There is a High Commission which regulates trade with primitive worlds, particularly with Earth, and protects primitive peoples from crude exploitation. The Commission forbids trade or other intercourse with your planet.”
    “But why?” Rick demanded. He was surprised at how calm he felt. One part of his mind wanted him to scream and run in circles, flapping his arms, but instead he found it easy enough to sit calmly and politely conversing with a human who was not from Earth and an alien who resembled a stretched-out chimpanzee with a single nostril and no neck. It was all so completely ordinary; the conversational tones, the gestures—
    “Your planet is in an interesting stage of development,” Agzaral said. “Trade will not be allowed until it is decided what—until the studies are completed.”
    “What the hell do you want with me , then?” Rick demanded.
    “I want nothing,” Agzaral said. “You are, for me, a great annoyance. Karreeel has an offer which I believe you should consider.”
    “Shoot—uh, go ahead. What’s the offer?”
    “My—colleagues—and I are merchants. More correct would be ‘merchant-adventurers,’ ” Karreeel said. When he spoke, he paused frequently, and Rick wondered if he had some kind of translating machine, so that he could think of what he wanted to say and get the English. There was no sign of wires or a hearing aid, but that wasn’t decisive.
    “‘Merchant-adventurers,’” Rick repeated. He couldn’t help remembering that the Gentleman Adventurers of the Honourable East India Company had gone out and conquered India for England, and he wondered if the aliens had a similar fate in mind for