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weaponry. The notion of a renegade Amplitur was never considered. One might as
well anticipate a reversal of entropy.
The Weave had been studying the Amplitur for hun-dreds of years. Had they
finally made their long-hoped-for scientific breakthrough and succeeded in
duplicating the Amplitur ability to touch minds via physical instrumenta-tion?
If so, then Amplitur counterintelligence was in worse shape than anyone had
imagined, for no inkling of any such development had recently been brought to
the atten-tion of the ever-alert servants of the Purpose.
Yet what other explanation could there be?
Crigolit and Ashregan kept watch, weapons ready to fend off any attack as they
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maintained a protective mobile barrier around the single Amplitur. The Teacher
had joined the defense of the staging area because it was the only portion of
the headquarters complex where the enemy had penetrated dangerously far. If they
could drive them out, it would unbalance and possibly signal an end to the
entire Weave assault. Hence the willingness, yea, even of a Teacher to expose
its august person to the possibility of physical harm. Particularly in such
close quarters, a little mental persuasion was worth many guns.
Sigh-moving-Fast tried without success to isolate the source of reactionary
influence. To do so effectively and quickly the presence of two additional
colleagues was de-manded. None were presently available, as they were currently
engaged in directing the installation's overall defense. Therefore, the burden
of discovering the source of the unexpected interference fell squarely upon
Sigh-moving-Fast.
Despite the concern of the mixed-species escort, the Teacher urged them onward,
that exceptional mind relent-lessly seeking, hoping by accident if not intent to
encoun-ter and confront the mystery. Substantial physical and mental differences
notwithstanding, Crigolit and Ashregan responded instantly to their leader's
orders, forming a seamless unit that gouged a distinctive salient out of the
attackers' line, advancing and retreating as though they were all of one mind.
Sigh-moving-Fast's original shock was as nothing com-pared to the emotions that
shook the cephalopodian quadruped when the source of countervaling influence was
finally located. It emanated not from some intricate apo-theosis of Weave
technology but from several of the advancing Human soldiers! A greater horror
could not be envisioned.
Alarmed but desperate for elucidating confrontation, the Amplitur bade its
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anxious escort remain behind, lest their presence induce this special quarry to
retreat before vital information could be obtained. Of all the minds working to
countermand Amplitur influence, one was noticeably more penetrating and
persuasive than the rest, and it was on those thoughts that Sigh-moving-Fast
attempted to fo-cus.
Having been slowed by determined resistance, the Weave attack fragmented. It
enabled the Teacher to ad-vance without fear of intersecting a large body of
enemy troops. By the same token its own path of retreat was far from assured. It
was a situation that called for some dar-ing. Understanding of the phenomenon
was worth more than control of Ulaluable itself, and without proof even the
least sanguine colleagues would be reluctant to be-lieve. Sigh-moving-Fast could
scarce credit its own senses.
Could the mind which was so effectively if crudely af-fecting the thinking of
hostile Massood also influence Crigolit, or Ashregan? Sigh-moving-Fast had no
way of knowing, but continued to advance quite conscious of how much was at
stake. It was vital to the Purpose that at least one such specimen be obtained.
When the disagreeable alien consciousness seemed on the verge of merging with
its own, the Amplitur gingerly extended a hesitant mental query.
Sigh-moving-Fast knew that if the target was truly Human, the biped's
ill-understood neurological defense mechanism might strike back at the probe
with paralyzing fury. But no other way could be envisioned. Dangerous or not,
this had to be attempted. Without contact there could be no enlighten-ment. The
Teacher extended.
Touched.
Contact engendered no cataclysmic response. Ravening primate insanity did not
erupt outward to overwhelm and destroy. A tense-Sigh-moving-Fast was calmly
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elated. ThisHuman and a few like it could mind-touch, but as a con-sequence of
developing that capability it seemed they could no longer instinctively strike
back at what they themselves had acquired. In that respect they were as
neurologically defenseless as the carefully bioengineered Human-Ashregan
soldiers of Cossuut.
At the light-speed of awful realization the import of unpleasant coincidence
abruptly replaced the fear in Sigh-moving-Fast's mind.
At present it was no more than a preliminary supposi-tion, but one that could
not be dismissed out of hand. It was widely known that a distressingly large
number of the special soldiers from Cossuut had been lost in the battle for
Ulaluable. It was not impossible that some had sur-vived death. Certain
implications of this line of reasoning were most unpleasant. A specimen and
answers were de-manded preferably both.
Though skills and ability of long standing were utilized, it was clear that the
Human was immune to their influence, just as it was clear that it was unable to
retaliate via the fearful reflex all its kind were supposed to possess. This
contradiction was full of threat and promise.
Emboldened by continued consciousness, the Amplitur attempted to probe further.
Surely there were limits to the depths it could push.
Ranji stiffened slightly and found himself placing his rifle on the floor. Next
to him Cossinza was doing the same. Both straightened and took several steps [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]