01 Taxilas Children

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TAXILA'S CHILDREN to complete the journey. Danyk's steps were unerring. The comparison to the Old Earth pussycat came into his mind. Danyk exploded into a hoot of laughter. "My eyesight is good, but I'm not that well endowed!" "I hadn't paid much attention to whether you were well endowed - although, I suppose you'll do!" He rode a well aimed thump in the ribs. Danyk raced ahead, obviously happy to be home again. Steve slowed a little, it wasn't his home. At best, he was a tolerated guest. He thought about the High Thane. He sounded formidable and from all accounts, his word outweighed all others. It was the time of the evening gathering. They made their way to the communal room. Two places were vacant at the head of the table. Those who had gathered knew of their coming, Danyk would have been broadcasting it with increasing clarity. The greetings were friendly but restrained - Laoni was her normal, ice cold, distant self. Steve felt her disapproval - he corrected himself, it was more than disapproval, she detested him! Maia was friendly enough but concentrated her welcome on brother Danyk. It was irrational, but Steve felt a stab of envy. Lyot eyed him critically. "We've followed your adventures with a great deal of interest, Steve Holt. So, it would seem has our Lord, the High Thane." Steve answered carefully. "It will be a singular honour to meet him." Lyot grunted and continued eating. The Lady Hepha intervened. "The girl, Hara, is quite well." It was a distinct thawing of restraint. "I thank you, my lady, for your kindness to her." He thought she was pleased but she wasn't the type to broadcast her emotions. She would make a formidable mother-in-law! Next to him, Danyk choked on his food and planted a large elbow in his ribs. Steve gave his an enquiring look and would have sworn he was crying. The Lady Hepha gave no sign that she had picked up the thought - perhaps, it was as well. Krin was anxious for a blow by blow description of everything that had happened. Steve obliged as concisely as he could but glossed over the discovery of the second Pentacle and his sudden aptitude to make openings in solid walls. The rest were quietly listening. Lyot rumbled. "I see more than you are telling us - and still more which remains a mystery - even to you." There was an audible murmur from the others at the table. They dispersed to go to their beds. Danyk followed him. "Steve, I must apologise for my father and the others. They simply do not understand what's happening." "Do you?" He hesitated for a moment and then nodded. "Brother Steve, I have to believe you, because I have started to share your experiences. I can't disbelieve what I see with my own eyes. After the episode at the wall, I think you have the power within you to make anything happen!" Steve grinned. "Now, who's well endowed?" "I add a warning. When you opened the wall, your power was fuelled by rage and frustration. Take my advice and watch very carefully the emotion you use to exercise your authority." Steve's smile faded. The use of 'brother Steve' had jolted him. Danyk watched his thoughts. 106
TAXILA'S CHILDREN "Did it trouble you?" He asked softly and looked as if he had been repulsed. Steve shook his head emphatically. "Don't feel rejected, Danyk. It raised many memories and ghosts." "Let me see." He showed him some of the hidden things of a planet which was now dead to him and one to which he could not return. He showed him war and rebellion and the brother who had stood between him and a lethal laser shot. He showed him the guilt he carried. "I can't tell you not to be guilty, Steve. You are the only one who can cancel that feeling. Zayez has told us we are bound together. I told you that we shall be as one person in two skins. I cannot replace your dead brother. He was Ivan - I am Danyk." Steve stared into the grey-green cat eyes. "Surely, no stranger alliance can be imagined than that which we are making. If it is your wish, then also it is mine - Brother Danyk." He nodded and grinned, the formality and the tension ebbed away. "I want to check something with the Bole." "I will go." Danyk didn't like the Bole. "Love me, love my Bole! I'd like you to stay, it might have something very interesting to tell us!" Danyk sat down again but kept his distance. "Status?" "Integrity." Danyk was wide eyed and curious. "What does that mean?" "It is my way of checking that no one has been meddling where their fingers could be burned." "I doubt if anyone would be so unwise - Word of your box's capabilities is well circulated in the Thanehold." "I'm pleased to hear it." "Bole. Institute a general search for theories concerning the racial origins of man, which were still current at the time of the Evacuation." There was a slight pause. "Information is retrieved." "Aren't you a bloody little marvel?" "I am considered to be the most superior model of Bole developed." "You're a conceited, bloody trash can! Remember, there's nothing more obsolete than last year's model!" "Your comment is noted." "What have you discovered? Or do you intend to hug it to your little tin chest?" "A menu of retrieved information follows: The Epic of Gilgamesh - " "Skip - " "The Vedic scriptures - " "Skip - " "Ancient Egyptian - " "Skip - " "Chinese - " "Skip - " "Greek mythology - " "Skip - " 107
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TAXILA'S CHILDREN “"Give your ass
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TAXILA'S CHILDREN "Your concern is
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TAXILA'S CHILDREN identify the mate
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TAXILA'S CHILDREN He screamed in sh
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TAXILA'S CHILDREN on desperation? H
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TAXILA'S CHILDREN Lyot nodded accep
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TAXILA'S CHILDREN CHAPTER 3 Someone
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TAXILA'S CHILDREN "Now, we're makin
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TAXILA'S CHILDREN Steve began to fe
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TAXILA'S CHILDREN CHAPTER 4 Jabez c
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TAXILA'S CHILDREN The problem was t
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TAXILA'S CHILDREN whether it had su
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TAXILA'S CHILDREN CHAPTER 5 "I need
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TAXILA'S CHILDREN "If my Lord would
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TAXILA'S CHILDREN crouched - like h
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TAXILA'S CHILDREN Jabez brought up
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TAXILA'S CHILDREN "When?" "If my Lo
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TAXILA'S CHILDREN more distant. The
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TAXILA'S CHILDREN The hilltop was a
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TAXILA'S CHILDREN They stared at ea
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TAXILA'S CHILDREN He lay there for
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TAXILA'S CHILDREN A cry rose from t
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TAXILA'S CHILDREN "It is not the ti
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TAXILA'S CHILDREN With an invitatio
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TAXILA'S CHILDREN scanty the coveri
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TAXILA'S CHILDREN Whatever was to h
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TAXILA'S CHILDREN The cat man's hea
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Page 57 and 58: TAXILA'S CHILDREN "Don't be petulan
Page 59 and 60: TAXILA'S CHILDREN Jabez hesitated a
Page 61 and 62: TAXILA'S CHILDREN born. He didn't h
Page 63 and 64: TAXILA'S CHILDREN "It is my servant
Page 65 and 66: TAXILA'S CHILDREN There was no conv
Page 67 and 68: TAXILA'S CHILDREN punished or train
Page 69 and 70: TAXILA'S CHILDREN It sounded foolis
Page 71 and 72: TAXILA'S CHILDREN superstition and
Page 73 and 74: TAXILA'S CHILDREN the planet, despi
Page 75 and 76: TAXILA'S CHILDREN If they had been
Page 77 and 78: TAXILA'S CHILDREN "It has an evil a
Page 79 and 80: TAXILA'S CHILDREN "Do you realise t
Page 81 and 82: TAXILA'S CHILDREN "You are talking
Page 83 and 84: TAXILA'S CHILDREN There was one of
Page 85 and 86: TAXILA'S CHILDREN Lyot's estate see
Page 87 and 88: TAXILA'S CHILDREN Steve stopped and
Page 89 and 90: TAXILA'S CHILDREN They dropped thei
Page 91 and 92: TAXILA'S CHILDREN They walked in si
Page 93 and 94: TAXILA'S CHILDREN Steve felt an ill
Page 95 and 96: TAXILA'S CHILDREN It had been said
Page 97 and 98: TAXILA'S CHILDREN "This isn't the o
Page 99 and 100: TAXILA'S CHILDREN that his image co
Page 101 and 102: TAXILA'S CHILDREN Steve shrugged an
Page 103 and 104: TAXILA'S CHILDREN "Restrict your mo
Page 105: TAXILA'S CHILDREN frank curiosity,
Page 109 and 110: TAXILA'S CHILDREN Hans-Jurgen Haupt
Page 111 and 112: TAXILA'S CHILDREN CHAPTER 19 Danyk
Page 113 and 114: TAXILA'S CHILDREN "Hara may allow t
Page 115 and 116: TAXILA'S CHILDREN crept the rest of
Page 117 and 118: TAXILA'S CHILDREN CHAPTER 20 On the
Page 119 and 120: TAXILA'S CHILDREN for him - perhaps
Page 121 and 122: TAXILA'S CHILDREN Danyk marched fro
Page 123 and 124: TAXILA'S CHILDREN CHAPTER 21 Rho Or
Page 125 and 126: TAXILA'S CHILDREN the Council Chamb
Page 127 and 128: TAXILA'S CHILDREN "I am aware of th
Page 129 and 130: TAXILA'S CHILDREN CHAPTER 22 Steve
Page 131 and 132: TAXILA'S CHILDREN man within him ha
Page 133 and 134: TAXILA'S CHILDREN Steve sighed, it
Page 135 and 136: TAXILA'S CHILDREN There was no resp
Page 137 and 138: TAXILA'S CHILDREN He walked round a
Page 139 and 140: TAXILA'S CHILDREN "Do the Adepts co
Page 141 and 142: TAXILA'S CHILDREN situation which h
Page 143 and 144: TAXILA'S CHILDREN Holt had fought h
Page 145 and 146: TAXILA'S CHILDREN "Ask Taxila!" "I
Page 147 and 148: TAXILA'S CHILDREN He felt Zayez soo
Page 149 and 150: TAXILA'S CHILDREN "Taxila is one of
Page 151 and 152: TAXILA'S CHILDREN "The Race Masters
Page 153 and 154: TAXILA'S CHILDREN Steve roared in f
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TAXILA'S CHILDREN "Perhaps, you are
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TAXILA'S CHILDREN Lyot raised his e
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TAXILA'S CHILDREN qualities he can
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TAXILA'S CHILDREN "You have not bee
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TAXILA'S CHILDREN Once again, he wa
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TAXILA'S CHILDREN The conversation
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TAXILA'S CHILDREN emergence of the
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TAXILA'S CHILDREN "In the mythology
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TAXILA'S CHILDREN ever - and we can
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TAXILA'S CHILDREN It was a precipit
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TAXILA'S CHILDREN off because of in
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TAXILA'S CHILDREN himself to Steve
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TAXILA'S CHILDREN "Shaita likes to
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TAXILA'S CHILDREN "Deactivate." The
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