[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
somehow his movements were jerky and with little grace. He immediately
dropped to one knee, seized her hand, and blurted I am deeply honored, my
lady. I pray I see you well!
She was astonished. Such formality would have been a little much even back
home, but here it was outlandish. Still, it couldn t be ignored without insult.
With her hand clamped between his, she could only reply, The honor is mine,
Bennec Vianogh. Blessings upon you, honored sir.
He arose, still clasping her hand and staring at her in wonder, as if she had two
heads. She broke the spell by withdrawing her hand and giving him a pro forma
hug and the two air kisses required in a fully formal greeting (which this wasn t),
noting over his shoulder the smiles on the faces of her uncle and sister.
I& I never dreamed to meet you, honored lady!
Nor I you, sir! she smiled. May I call you Bennec?
Oh! My lady& please! I, I would be& .
Please call me Anneyn, won t you? Now, she looked around, is anybody
hungry?
But of course! said Uncle Rothan. Let us adjourn to the dining table, shall
we?
It was another Thoman custom: visitors must be offered food, and the visitors
must bring food, even if both parties did so only with tokens.
Al Past
342
The compartment they were in appeared to be just behind the bridge of the
vessel, which was probably behind the closed door to her left. Elegantly
appointed, the room seemed the size of a barn compared to her tiny pod. Ianthe
opened the door on the right and led the way to a table in the center of what was
practically a dining room. Darcy was thunderstruck.
This is beautiful! There must have been a revolution in escape pod design!
In a manner of speaking, dear niece, replied Rothan. This vessel can indeed
function as an escape pod if necessary, but its main function is to be a ferry
between the moon base and earth. For that reason the entire after third is the pro-
pulsion system, which delivers sufficient thrust to escape Earth s gravity.
Amazing, she said. And providential! That meant that the visitors early
arrival might be undone! She hadn t expected that might be a possibility. They
could return to the moon to await a more favorable, prepared time for a formal
arrival. They wouldn t want to wait, she was sure, and it might require great
maneuvering on her part to bring it about, but at least it was theoretically possi-
ble. Tomorrow she would deal with that. Right now she was starving.
Yes, truly amazing, Rothan replied. This is a wonderful machine. Just aft is
a head on one side and a galley on the other, and beyond those are the sleeping
compartments and freight bays. All the way aft are the propulsion spaces. After
we eat, you may have a tour. Please, your ladyship, be seated! He indicated a
chair at the round table, as Ianthe stepped back to the galley.
Hardly were they seated before she reemerged bearing a tray which she set in
front of Rothan.
Shlepa! she exclaimed, upon seeing the loaves. Oh, how I ve dreamed of
real shlepa!
As Rothan sliced, Ianthe returned again and again bearing drinks and more
traditional dishes which, like the bread, Darcy had not realized how much she
had missed. Everyone partook, but she soon realized she was eating three times as
much as anyone else. Under the circumstances it would be taken for enthusiasm
and good manners, which was true enough, but it also came from hunger. She
restrained herself out of embarrassment, but the bread was heavenly. It settled her
uneasy stomach like a miracle medicine.
After everyone was well started, she patted her mouth with her napkin and
looked around the table. It was the visitor s turn in the sequence.
This is so delicious! Your hospitality overwhelms me. I am in your debt. I am
ashamed that the escape pod did not allow me to bring comparable fare with
which to reciprocate. Still, I have brought several samples of food which is popu-
lar here that you might find of interest.
Al Past
343
She set two cellophane bags on the table. This one, she said, indicating the
first, contains a type of grain enjoyed by nearly everyone, in many, many differ-
ent forms. The grain is called corn. Each kernel of this particular type is fried
and salted and eaten as an appetizer.
She picked up the bag of corn nuts, cut it open and poured the contents in a
bowl, and passed it to her right.
And this one I think you will find extraordinarily interesting. It contains thin
fried slices of a tuber that grows underground, and is a main staple in many coun-
tries, though it is not always fried like this. It can be steamed, mashed into a
paste, and even fermented to make an alcoholic drink called vodka. I think the
word may be related to our word wolkha. The tuber is called potato. But the
interesting thing about this appetizer is not the tuber but the spices dusted onto
the slices: chili powder. You will find it an entirely novel taste, and quite a reveal-
ing sensation in the mouth. I suggest you begin with only a small piece. You may
or may not like it, but I promise you have never tasted anything like it before. I
happen to love it. Chili powder can be used in many, many dishes, always pro-
ducing the same interesting sensation. Enjoy!
The corn nuts occasioned great approval and disappeared quickly. The chili
potato chips caused universally raised eyebrows, but otherwise received a varying
reception. Ianthe didn t care for them. Rothan did. Herecyn had two, and then
stopped for a drink. Bennec ate three, coughed, ate one more, and passed the dish
to Rothan, who finished them.
Per custom, as everyone relaxed Darcy moved to matters of family.
Honored Uncle, if I may ask, how did you leave my father and second sis-
ter? [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl rafalstec.xlx.pl
somehow his movements were jerky and with little grace. He immediately
dropped to one knee, seized her hand, and blurted I am deeply honored, my
lady. I pray I see you well!
She was astonished. Such formality would have been a little much even back
home, but here it was outlandish. Still, it couldn t be ignored without insult.
With her hand clamped between his, she could only reply, The honor is mine,
Bennec Vianogh. Blessings upon you, honored sir.
He arose, still clasping her hand and staring at her in wonder, as if she had two
heads. She broke the spell by withdrawing her hand and giving him a pro forma
hug and the two air kisses required in a fully formal greeting (which this wasn t),
noting over his shoulder the smiles on the faces of her uncle and sister.
I& I never dreamed to meet you, honored lady!
Nor I you, sir! she smiled. May I call you Bennec?
Oh! My lady& please! I, I would be& .
Please call me Anneyn, won t you? Now, she looked around, is anybody
hungry?
But of course! said Uncle Rothan. Let us adjourn to the dining table, shall
we?
It was another Thoman custom: visitors must be offered food, and the visitors
must bring food, even if both parties did so only with tokens.
Al Past
342
The compartment they were in appeared to be just behind the bridge of the
vessel, which was probably behind the closed door to her left. Elegantly
appointed, the room seemed the size of a barn compared to her tiny pod. Ianthe
opened the door on the right and led the way to a table in the center of what was
practically a dining room. Darcy was thunderstruck.
This is beautiful! There must have been a revolution in escape pod design!
In a manner of speaking, dear niece, replied Rothan. This vessel can indeed
function as an escape pod if necessary, but its main function is to be a ferry
between the moon base and earth. For that reason the entire after third is the pro-
pulsion system, which delivers sufficient thrust to escape Earth s gravity.
Amazing, she said. And providential! That meant that the visitors early
arrival might be undone! She hadn t expected that might be a possibility. They
could return to the moon to await a more favorable, prepared time for a formal
arrival. They wouldn t want to wait, she was sure, and it might require great
maneuvering on her part to bring it about, but at least it was theoretically possi-
ble. Tomorrow she would deal with that. Right now she was starving.
Yes, truly amazing, Rothan replied. This is a wonderful machine. Just aft is
a head on one side and a galley on the other, and beyond those are the sleeping
compartments and freight bays. All the way aft are the propulsion spaces. After
we eat, you may have a tour. Please, your ladyship, be seated! He indicated a
chair at the round table, as Ianthe stepped back to the galley.
Hardly were they seated before she reemerged bearing a tray which she set in
front of Rothan.
Shlepa! she exclaimed, upon seeing the loaves. Oh, how I ve dreamed of
real shlepa!
As Rothan sliced, Ianthe returned again and again bearing drinks and more
traditional dishes which, like the bread, Darcy had not realized how much she
had missed. Everyone partook, but she soon realized she was eating three times as
much as anyone else. Under the circumstances it would be taken for enthusiasm
and good manners, which was true enough, but it also came from hunger. She
restrained herself out of embarrassment, but the bread was heavenly. It settled her
uneasy stomach like a miracle medicine.
After everyone was well started, she patted her mouth with her napkin and
looked around the table. It was the visitor s turn in the sequence.
This is so delicious! Your hospitality overwhelms me. I am in your debt. I am
ashamed that the escape pod did not allow me to bring comparable fare with
which to reciprocate. Still, I have brought several samples of food which is popu-
lar here that you might find of interest.
Al Past
343
She set two cellophane bags on the table. This one, she said, indicating the
first, contains a type of grain enjoyed by nearly everyone, in many, many differ-
ent forms. The grain is called corn. Each kernel of this particular type is fried
and salted and eaten as an appetizer.
She picked up the bag of corn nuts, cut it open and poured the contents in a
bowl, and passed it to her right.
And this one I think you will find extraordinarily interesting. It contains thin
fried slices of a tuber that grows underground, and is a main staple in many coun-
tries, though it is not always fried like this. It can be steamed, mashed into a
paste, and even fermented to make an alcoholic drink called vodka. I think the
word may be related to our word wolkha. The tuber is called potato. But the
interesting thing about this appetizer is not the tuber but the spices dusted onto
the slices: chili powder. You will find it an entirely novel taste, and quite a reveal-
ing sensation in the mouth. I suggest you begin with only a small piece. You may
or may not like it, but I promise you have never tasted anything like it before. I
happen to love it. Chili powder can be used in many, many dishes, always pro-
ducing the same interesting sensation. Enjoy!
The corn nuts occasioned great approval and disappeared quickly. The chili
potato chips caused universally raised eyebrows, but otherwise received a varying
reception. Ianthe didn t care for them. Rothan did. Herecyn had two, and then
stopped for a drink. Bennec ate three, coughed, ate one more, and passed the dish
to Rothan, who finished them.
Per custom, as everyone relaxed Darcy moved to matters of family.
Honored Uncle, if I may ask, how did you leave my father and second sis-
ter? [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]