The Abulon Dance Read Online Free PDF Page A

head, he found himself face to face with a large, dog-like creature who stared at him expectantly with three clear, green eyes. Its coat was mottled grey and brown, its hide smooth and shiny like patent leather. Two ears stood up straight on top of its head like twin flags and a long thin tail undulated, snakelike, from side to side. It was enormous!
    Beny sat up slowly, clutching the covers against him as if for protection. “Nice dog?” he said questioningly.
    It moved closer.
    Beny shrank back against the wall in terror. Cautiously he reached for the small communication device lying on a recessed shelf beside the bed, his eyes fastened on the creature.
    “Von? Are you there? Quick! I need you!” Thar-von had grown up surrounded by all sorts of strange creatures. His mother was the Serpian authority on animal behavior.
    “I’m on my way!”
    Beny wilted with relief. The dog hadn’t moved. Neither had Beny. They stared at each other unblinkingly. The dog sat down.
    A moment later the door flew open and Thar-von strode in, a Serpian blaster in one hand.
    “I don’t think it’s quite that drastic,” said Beny in a small voice. “I panicked. It’s awfully big.” Thar-von suppressed his amusement into a sort of coughing snort. He sat down on the bed and held out a hand for the animal to sniff. “Look, Ben, it’s just a dog. A little unusual and large, but basically just a dog. Didn’t you see them last night at the banquet?”
    “No, I did not.” Beny was hurt by the lack of sympathy. “I’m sorry if you think I overreacted but I’m not more than six feet tall and I’m not used to animals and…he terrifies me.”
    Thar-von patted the animal’s smooth, broad head. “I wasn’t laughing at you. I was relieved that nothing really serious had happened.”
    “It must be difficult for you, having a friend like me,” said Beny thoughtfully. Thar-von began to look uncomfortable as he always did when things threatened to get personal and Beny didn’t pursue the subject. He suspected his Serpian friend might not understand his fear.
    “Would you give me that robe, Von?”
    Thar-von handed it to him and carefully turned his back as Beny slid out of bed. Even though he had been Beny’s roommate at the I.P.A. Academy for a year, he found even the thought of Merculian nakedness very disturbing.
    Beny shrugged into the robe and fastened it around his trim waist with the wide sash. The deep pleats fell to the floor in graceful folds, accentuating the swell of his hips. He touched his hair uncertainly.
    “What are we going to do with the brute, Von?”
    “I’ve got one, too. It arrived while I was out on my early morning run. Met me at the door wagging its scrawny tail. I gather from the servants they’re some sort of watch dogs, meant to keep us safe. They’re called a ‘friendship gift’ and every one of us has one. I suspect they would not be pleased if we gave them back.”
    “Marvelous,” said Beny, eying the beast uneasily. “Bloody marvelous!” He edged cautiously past it and hitched himself up onto a chair. The creature padded over at once and laid its huge head on his lap.
    “I think you’ve made a conquest,” said Thar-von with a smile. “And speaking of conquests, the Chief’s son is waiting in the other room to have breakfast with you.”
    Beny burst out laughing. “Oh, Von! Do you suppose he thinks it’s an ancient Merculian custom for the Ambassador to be awakened by a man with a drawn gun?”
    “Possibly,” said Thar-von. “I didn’t stop to explain.” Beny gingerly dislodged the dog’s head, climbed down from the chair and went to the door. Young Luan was standing at the window, one shoulder leaning against the wall, one hand on his hip. The sad, dark eyes were dreaming. Although not tall for an Abulonian, he was nearly six feet. He wore a loose-fitting white shirt, embroidered with multicolored flowers. The gold amulet on a thong around his neck matched his earring. The dark