Harvester 7 Read Free Page B

word?"
    "How long
before we jump?" demanded the Colonel refusing to rise to Maulik's
comment.
    "we're on the
five minute countdown now." replied Relik.
    "Then your
questions will all be answered in six minutes time." replied the
Colonel with a grin, "And now Harvester Master Maulik, if you don't
mind you will accompany me to the accommodation level where you
will receive a private mission briefing."
    As they
stepped onto the grav-lift the Colonel relaxed and requested a
private link.
    "I thought
this was not allowed." scoffed Maulik as he accepted.
    "I'm not the
enemy," replied the Colonel, "Just trust me that it will all become
clear very soon, and I'm truly sorry that you couldn't be briefed
before now. But trust me, in a few minutes time you will understand
why all the secrecy." Maulik wasn’t convinced or pacified but
masked the thoughts and merely shrugged non-committally.
    Red lights
pulsed as they stepped from the lift, "Thirty second countdown."
indicated Maulik, "Then you can start talking, oh, and Colonel, I
suggest you hang onto that rail... right about... Now!" he chuckled
as Balak lost his footing as the inertial dampeners kicked in to
offset the massive acceleration to light speed.
    "Thanks for
the heads-up." glowered Balak as he staggered back to his feet.
    "Hey, it's the
very least I could do, you guys have given me just as much
warning."
    "As I have
already told you, I'm not the enemy, perhaps you will begin to
understand soon and maybe we can get on a better footing."
    Doubtful replied Maulik but blocked
the comment, "So... we've officially jumped, start
talking!"
    "First I want
you to meet another guest." replied the Colonel and swiftly
transmitted the code to open the accommodation deck, the hatch
swished open and a guard of marines saluted smartly as they walked
through to the large suite reserved for meetings and special
guests.
    "Master
Maulik, I would like you to meet Vice Chancellor Go'an of the Watu
High Council."
    Maulik felt
his skin crawl which constricted his respiration pores catching his
breath for a moment.
    "A Watu...
here on my ship?" his response was private and directed at the
Colonel, but his expression to the Watu Vice Chancellor remained
neutral.
    Go'an was
exactly as the pictures he had seen. Primitive. Thick with hair and
the smell was sickening, he barely reached Maulik's waist but under
the coating of thick brown hair a heavily muscled physique rippled,
his shoulders were broad and looked solid, even more solid than the
strongest "manual" he had aboard. Maulik tried to avoid eye contact
but couldn't help himself glancing, the Watu had no membrane, just
yellow orbs with rapidly expanding and contracting black pupils, he
felt that those strange eyes were burning deep into his flesh. The
face was hairless and the skin creased and dark brown, it reminded
Maulik of harvested flesh that was only part dried, that also
wrinkled and creased in a similar fashion. Around his short and
wide neck he wore a heavy chain of office and in one meaty five
fingered hand he held a ceremonial staff of polished black bone
with what looked like a horned serpents head glaring at him with
flaming red gem stone eyes.
    It was true
what he had heard, the Watu did wear the skins of lower animals,
the cloak draped across the broad shoulders had come from some
heavy black haired creature and his lower body was wrapped in a
similar heavy skin.
    "Again... a
Watu on my ship?" he signalled the Colonel, "I think there is a lot
of explaining to do here!"
    "Vice
Chancellor Go'an is also a telepath." indicated Balak, as the
stocky Watu grinned displaying a full set of dagger-like teeth.
    "Master
Maulik, it is an honour to be a guest aboard your fine ship." the
Watu replied and bowed low.
    "You will have
to excuse my initial reaction," replied a stunned Maulik, "I really
didn't expect to meet a member of the Watu High Council today."
    Go'an
chuckled, "Well covered. But what you meant to say is you expected
to fight the