Read Silent Songs for Free Online

Mizari asked.
    "This voder's power pack is well protected," K'heera explained, warming to her subject. "And here's your problem--there's a bad cell." She rummaged around in a pocket. "I may have a spare that will fit." Pulling out a packet of random-sized cells, she sorted through them, then installed the new one, finishing the work with a confidence she rarely enjoyed anymore.
    "You've got real talent there, K'heera," Jib said quietly. Casually, he picked up his plate and speared the Pp'hhh'tttkkk.
    K'heera flushed with confusion as she handed the now- functional voder back to the Mizari. Whether she warned him or let him experience the pain, her dishonor would be the same.
    'Tell me I did not see what I just saw!" barked a deep Simiu voice, startling Jib so much he almost dropped the fork.
    Can things really get worse? K'heera wondered. The handsomest male from the dancing troupe swaggered up to her-- her --his glistening, luxurious mane swinging with the force of his graceful step, the rest of his companions close behind. K'heera glanced around, desperately wanting to slip away.
    The male's face held amused shock. "Did I really see this lovely young female repair a voder?"
    "You most certainly did," hissed the Mizari, admiringly. The dance troupe all wore voder earcuffs just like K'heera's, so they'd understood the serpent being. K'heera lowered her gaze.
    "And what if she did?" asked Jib in excellent Simiu.
    Yes, she realized, things certainly can get worse.
    The Simiu's laughing bark felt like teeth fastening around her heart. "Any simpleminded boy can play with voders. A female's work is world matters, galactic concerns."
    "In a world as wide and diverse as Hurrreeah," Jib said quietly, "there must be room for a female to work mechanically and a male to be a leader--if that's where their talents lie."
    The five males laughed uproariously as K'heera cringed.
    25
    "You humans certainly have interesting ideas," the handsome male proclaimed. "But we already know where our females' talents lie." He turned the full force of his charm onto K'heera, moving so she couldn't miss the vivid honor scar that ran from ear to cheek. "We will be going into hibernation in the morning, young beauty, but tonight we're setting up the drums. Come dance with us! We have not had a female dancer since my sister went to the university. But, fortunately, you are no sister of mine!"
    The males all laughed riotously at this, while Jib seemed confused. K'heera blushed again. He'd just asked her, none too subtly, that if she was nearing estrus to consider him a potential mate. No doubt they'd been drinking fermented beverages. If he remembered it in the morning, he'd be embarrassed. But dancers were like that.
    K'heera squatted onto her haunches, her face burning. "No, no, I don't dance, I wouldn't know . . ."
    "Look!" one of the others exclaimed. He was smaller than the leader, but still a striking male, who wore his mane trimmed in such a way that it displayed a missing ear. "She's got more tools stuffed in that vest than the ship's engineer."
    "Surely, Ahrakk'," the handsome leader rumbled, "she's just holding them for her brother. Isn't that right, young beauty?" He loomed even closer.
    K'heera wanted to shrink into the luxurious carpet.
    "Honorable Dancers," Jib said softly, trying to turn their attention to him.
    "Perhaps if you started your performance . . ."
    Suddenly Ahrakk' squinted at the fork Jib was using to punctuate his words.
    "Human, you've been at StarBridge too long if you think you can eat a whole bite of Pp'hhh'tttkkk. That stuff will burn a hole straight down that upright body of yours and sear its way right through the deck plates!" The group found this funnier than anything they had said before.
    As casually as she could, K'heera glanced at Jib's face. He masked his surprise and anger, but not completely. She'd never make him understand now; there was no use in even trying.
    "Is everything all right?" an evenly modulated female