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this unpleasant task. I put myself forward to do it: it was I, after all, who
started us on this journey. Or choose another if you prefer, but spare
yourself, for she was your daughter.
 What do you plan? Lesni asked. Her own body language was carefully
indeterminate, though her purple exoskeleton was far less glossy than usual
from shock and stress.
 I plan to imprison her, Tewsee said.  And I plan to claim this station for
Nrgun until such time as we can find a new queen for this system.
The other queens froze while they considered this. Clearly they couldn t leave
the station deprived of its lady. Not least because it would be dangerous to
leave so many rudderless males bound to Deshes and Syaris and the other
sub-queens at their rear. The child, Sheek, was far too young to be left in
charge, despite her apparent competence, so obviously one of the queens would
have to claim both the station and the males.
 Should we consider now who we will ultimately place in charge of this
sector? Cembe asked. The orange queen s whole manner was elaborately
disinterested, a response to the tension her fellow queens were undoubtedly
feeling.
 Certainly we should be considering candidates, Tewsee said impatiently.
 Though I do not think that we can allow anyone from Clan Snargx to go
unclaimed or unpunished. From what we ve learned most of them are very young
or still children, and all of them have been raised in a most perverted
fashion. I advise that we bring them home, some to each clan, thus dissipating
the strength of the evil that has been done to them. Let us reseed this sector
with new colonists.
 Yes, Saras said immediately.  This is a good plan. Punish the leaders, the
malefactors
reeducate their victims. The green queen bowed her head.  I salute you for
your wisdom, Tewsee. Go to the station, do what needs to be done.
 Let us not reseed this sector until we have determined that it is safe,
Cesat spoke up.
 Perhaps there is something here that has caused this insanity.
The others indicated their agreement with the yellow queen. There wasn t one
of them that didn t hope that this whole mess had to do with some external
factor.
 I shall have Deshes imprisoned on one of my ships, Tewsee said.  And I will
leave my third assistant in charge of the station. While I am about this work,
think about what we should do with Syaris and her rather too numerous ladies.
I shouldn t be gone long.
With that she broke off communication and rose, suppressing a sigh. No, this
shouldn t take long at all.
 No, Sheek, you may not meet me at the lock. I wish our time together to be
undisturbed and when I first come aboard I will have pressing business with
your mother.
 I can show you to her quarters, the young lady said eagerly.
Tewsee was both oddly charmed and disconcerted by her eagerness. Her mother
was fairly young and it was possible that the budding daughter instinctively
reacted to Deshes more as a rival than as a parent.
 You may send me a guide who can escort me to your mother s chambers, my dear.
But I
am relying on you to begin indoctrinating Suv-aus, my third assistant in the
running of the station. Both you and your mother will accompany us on our
journey and there will be little enough time for you to teach him.
Sheek abandoned her unnatural maturity and actually wriggled with excitement
at that.
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 I shall teach him very well, your majesty! the child assured her.  I shall
have one guide for you and one for him waiting to welcome you.
The screen went blank and Tewsee stared broodingly into it for a few moments.
 Poor child, Suv-aus said, watching his queen to see how she reacted.
 Yes, she agreed.  Poor child. I suspect she s been given far too many duties
for one so young. But I think she is also very clever, Third Assistant. I
think she shall keep you very busy indeed.
Deshes watched the slightly larger male vanquish his rival and gloried in the
carnage. The males had both released their own pheromones and the rich male
scent that filled the room exhilarated her to the point of intoxication. She
was delighted with this experiment and couldn t wait to share the idea with
the queen. Syaris would be most amused.
The winner of the combat staggered towards her, and Deshes toyed with the idea
of letting this one succeed in depositing his seed with her. Then laughed at
herself. It wouldn t do to let her excitement carry her away. Though the idea [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]