01 Taxilas Children

TAXILA'S CHILDREN
Steve shook his head, the conversation was getting out of his depth. Danyk nodded in
grudging approval.
"Very good! Very clever! This is the best I have ever seen. You even believe the history
they have planted in you and somehow, they have wiped out all concepts of our Lynxe ways.
I will have to congratulate Zayez, when he comes - and he will come now that you are where
he wished to place you."
Steve stared at him helplessly.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
Danyk nodded emphatically.
"I know! This is incredibly clever - My father will be fascinated!"
"I'm glad I haven't lost my touch - to fascinate, that is."
Danyk laughed softly.
"You have had your moments recently, I can see. Never mind, I'm broad minded!"
"Is there no privacy?"
"None! You are an open book!"
Steve sat down slowly on the side of the couch and eyed his host critically. There could be
no doubt that he was the man in the Pentacle. Tall, tawny haired, grey-green eyes, a stub nose
a little wider and flatter than the average human, and a rakish moustache. Steve knew that the
assessment was being viewed and noted.
"So, you think you have seen me on something called a Pentacle. I can even see you
standing in some strange setting, clad in a totally alien garment. Quite remarkable!"
Steve knew he was a prisoner with no independence of thought. Danyk nodded.
"You are quite right, I can read every move you plan and every thought you try to hide. It
would be as well if you remembered that. You will be treated with courtesy but eventually,
we will have to decide what to do with you. A lot will depend on your master, Zayez."
"I have no master and I have never met this Zayez. You are very cocksure about what you
think you know. I will tell you something! You know nothing! Events will overtake your
suppositions, then you might be inclined to listen to me instead of forming half baked
opinions!"
Danyk laughed softly.
"They've given you a biting tongue, be careful that it doesn't nip your own arse!"
"I'm not a contortionist! At the moment, I couldn't care less what you think I am. I'm more
concerned about a girl named Hara. She was close to me when Jabez was about to alter my
anatomy and my mode of living. Did you see anything of her?"
"Ah! yes, the girl - You've been very busy, haven't you? I can tell you that she is alive and
reasonably safe. Jabez is so concerned about putting a plausible story together to tell my
father, that he wouldn't consider doing anything drastic to the delectable Hara."
Steve had to be content with that. If it could have been managed in the privacy of his own
thoughts, he would have considered making a run for it and retracing his journey to the
community. Despite Danyk's assurances, he wasn't so sure that Hara wouldn't suffer at the
hands of Jabez. The old fanatic's moods swung dangerously and there was no guarantee that
after putting together his story, that he wouldn't contemplate so sort of revenge.
Danyk nodded as if in agreement and led the way back to the main room of his quarters. A
Scarn was placing food on the table. It had been trained in some of the household tasks and
was dressed in an ill fitting tunic. The sight was depressing, it looked like a dressed up
chimpanzee that had been trained to perform at a circus, that is, if you could imagine a
chimpanzee built on the lines of a gorilla
"The Scarn trouble you. Don't tell me that you have feelings of affinity with them?"
The question was softly voiced, this time not in thought.
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