Raid on Kahamba Read Online Free PDF Page A

world.  The cities were young and followed the same urban patterns , but they seemed so different at the same time.  To Jk’shth, t hey just lacked a certain presence from the home world, and felt more like the environment of a colony ship.  Perhaps it was the newness, or the air they were breathing, or the light from the sun of this new planet.   The only place that really did remind the old Grand Master of home was the replica of the Great Shrine back in the Brazilian Colony, deep in the Amazon rain forest.  She missed the shrine, but it was necessary to visit all of the colonies and keep up her people’s faith.  The place for the Shre’lor in the Great Shrine was empty, but it would eventually be recovered.  Jk’shth could sense that the mother egg still existed.  It wasn’t just faith.  She had communed deeply with it in her time and touched its presence with her mind.   
     
    Like others of her species, Jk’shth was slightly larger than a human with a more slender build reminiscent of a newt or salamander.  She moved along on her four rear limbs, walking like a centaur, her two grasping limbs held in front of her. If she needed to Jk’shth could stand higher, rising on her rear limbs so her middle two limbs could be used for lifting and holding.   When she did this her vestigial tail came into play as a counterweight. 
     
    Jk’shth’s head resembled that of a frog , its flattened snout bearing a single horizontal nasal slit.  Two large round eyes faced forward , in front of a domed cranium that contained a very intelligent brain.  Her large mouth contained rows of small , sharp carnivore teeth.  Her smooth, dark bluish skin glistened with moist ure , drinking in the warm humidity of the African night .  Descended from an amphibious ancestor , her species were at home in water or land, but did most of their daily living out of water.   Humans knew her kind as Blue Newts, but they called themselves the Sh’thimori or the People of the Water.
     
    A small reception line awaited Jk’shth and her retinue on the steps of th e Central Dome.  A larger male Sh’thimori in a differently patterned leadership draping of the military caste stood in front. His high- pitched raspy voice sounded out .  “Our apologies for interrupting your slumber.  We welcome her Holiness, The Grand Master Jk’shth.”
     
    Jk’shth stopped in front of the awaiting leader .  “It is good to see you, again, Nest Leader Kr’shl.  May the Shre’lor bring its blessing on your life and endeavors.”
     
    “Always polite, wise Jk’shth,”  Kr’shl rasped back with a hint of sarcasm. “The blessing is much appreciated.”
     
    Jk’Shth would not be provoked.  “We may oppose each other in the Grand Council of Leaders as to how we deal with humanity, but we remain united as a people, despite our different castes.  All life is one under the Shre’lor.”
     
    As if he had been waiting for this moment, Kr’shl spoke clearly.  “I may have news about the Shre’lor.”
     
    “What!  Has it been found?”  Jk’shth could not help but raise her hopes.  She had still been a little sleepy, but no longer.  Her middle limbs did a little nervous tremble that underscored her excitement.
     
    “Not yet, but we may have a good chance of recovering it.  As you know we have focused our efforts at recovery on this continent where much of the wreckage from the mothership fell.  W e have not found it yet, but it is only a matter of time.”  With a sneering shrill, he added, “ We have even used these pathetic humans.  They betray their own race for money.”
     
    “Yes, yes,” Jk’shth prodded, ignoring the other N ewt’s attitude.
     
    “We have detected a gravity wave consistent with that emitted by the Shre’lor.  It only lasted a moment, but we have a general location.  It is in human territory , in the region they refer to as Tanzania.  The humans must be examining it, the foul