Silent Songs Read Online Free PDF

uncomfortable pause and finally K'heera averted her own eyes, her crest drooping. "You spoke the truth, after I goaded you. It was dishonorable of me. The apology is mine."
    "Let's forget it," Jib said, good-naturedly. "That's what I've been trying to tell you. Too much studying makes people cranky. Besides, I'm hungry. Let's go to Captain's Night now and study later. The food will be terrific." He stood up, reaching for his black StarBridge jacket.
    "I bow to your greater experience," the Simiu agreed. The young human handed her a halterlike vest. Black like his jacket, it gave K'heera pockets for her computer pens and voders. The StarBridge logo--two colorful planets joined by a rainbow bridge set against a background of stars--was emblazoned across the back.
    K'heera donned it, then padded on all fours to her doorway. Her bold, jaunty stride, and the way she held her short, top-knotted tail told Jib she'd forgotten the incident.
    At least she'd stopped sulking. Maybe he could accomplish something with her. after all. It was the only reason he'd left StarBridge, the one thing that could make him leave Anzia. Dr. Gable could talk all he wanted about TSS, but Jib didn't believe in that. He had a knack for telepathic reception, that's all. A real talent. A talent he missed exercising. Being dependent on clumsy verbal languages was a strain after the free flow of ideas he'd experienced with Anzi and the Shadgui.
    But he hadn't seen Tesa in almost two years. She had saved a world--Jib couldn't have her think he didn't have enough ability to improve relations with one irritable Simiu.
    K'heera strode along jauntily beside Jib through the ship's corridors, the leathery palms of her hands and feet slap-slapping against the deck quickly, efficiently, the plume of her tail swaying in perfect rhythm with her strong, sleek hips. Her brisk pace belied her inner turmoil as she scolded herself for her poor behavior. Lately, she was always irascible, unreasonable, aching to humiliate these awkward, two-legged beings.
    Especially this one. But all he ever did was endure her rudeness. Anything to insult me, she thought bitterly. Captain's Night! The only reason humans have these gatherings is to find sexual partners. He'll be hunting for a female from the moment we get there. It's disgusting. With an effort, she squelched her anger. You're being unfair.
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    Whatever was happening to her, none of it was Jib's fault. What he had said was true. Simiu money--her own family's-- had purchased weapons, weapons that had killed innocent humans and Trinity's own people. It made her sick. How could she face those beautiful avians when her own hands were coated with their blood? How could Ambassador Dhurrrkk' think that this foolish "assignment" could do anything to erase such dishonor?
    Her own great-uncle-cousin twice removed, Kkrraahhkk', whom she'd once loved and admired, had masterminded the entire thing. He would spend the rest of his miserable life as a criminal, hiding in Sorrow Sector, with humans hunting him.
    Because of him, K'heera was forced to be what the humans called a
    "sacrificial lamb." No one had cared about the disruption of her own plans and ambitions--in fact, her family had happily shuffled her off Hurrreeah.
    She had been too involved, they thought, with the students from the public technical school. Her mating prospects were dismal. She'd been grateful to leave before her first estrus.
    "Here we are," Jib announced, ushering her into the lavish salon. Wonderful smells wafted from mounds of artistically arranged food. This ship, the S.V.
    Norton, was a human vessel, but all the tables holding traditional Simiu fare and human fruits and vegetable dishes were low enough for the quadrupeds. The courtesy both irritated and flattered her. Meats and the artificial protein concentrate Mizari consumed were on higher tables at the other end of the room.
    'This is much more elaborate than I expected," K'heera said, surprised.
    She'd never