Sarai, стр. 25
To hissurprise, Alekyn also agreed to allow Jamie to begin studying.Apparently his desire to study medicine had prompted Healer Tiff toinvestigate tutoring options for Jamie. Every second day, Bram orEled or Tig took Jamie to a small school near the main library inAltas where curious Naferi and Halatian teachers vied to help himattain qualifications that would enable him to enter the Naferiequivalent of university. Jamie had to admit, those two or threehours of intensive training were amazing and the educationaltechniques used were enabling him to absorb practical knowledge atan incredible rate.
He waslearning all sorts of things, including a few things not on hisstudy course. Avionics, for instance, or at least interstellarnavigation …
The only flyin the ointment, so to speak, was that even his shortest tripoutside the den attracted attention. It was disturbing and a bitfreaky to attract so much attention. The Naferi and the Halatianshe met at the school were bad enough, but on the street peoplestopped and stared if he forgot to keep his cloak and hood on. Itjust felt so weird, a bit like the goldfish bowl attention thathuman celebrities and members of royal families had to livewith.
He said asmuch now to one of his teachers, a Naferi who, like all the Naferihe’d met, looked way too young to be teaching anything, let aloneadvanced medical bioengineering.
“Yourepresent hope for us, Jamie,” Asfer informed him with a smile.“Our birthrates are declining. Not just ours, but the Halatians,the Elusians and the Keinyn — all the Foretimer races are hopingthat Earthans —
“Humans,”Jamie reminded him, and Asfer nodded.
“Humans willbe able to help us restore our populations.”
“But thereare billions of you,” Jamie said. “Surely you don’t need to worryabout birthrates.”
Asfer lookedat him oddly. “Jamie, there are billions of us, but there are alsobillions of worlds and other species, some of which are like theZill and want to destroy us simply because we live. The multiverseis full of predators. Without adding to our populations, we willbecome the victims of time and opportunity. Your people can help ussurvive.”
“I see.”Jamie said, “Because were a sort of universal genetic donor, likeblood type O positive on Earth?”
Asfergrinned. “Yes…your male, your female, your transgender sexes — allthese can give us new life. Humans are a great gift to us from theGoddess.”
Jamiesnorted. “Sure we are.”
He found ithard to think of his own kind as the saviors of anyone, but theNaferi and the other species he’d meet seemed to have some prettyrosy views of mankind, even allowing for what they were learning ofhumans through the internet — something he knew was the subject ofa great deal of study by Naferi and other PanGalresearchers.
He sighedaudibly. He still hadn’t convinced any of them that only womencould carry children. It just seemed so downright stubborn of themnot to accept that human males couldn’t carry children. They eitherignored him or looked at him very oddly.
While it wastrue, as Eled had tactlessly remarked one night, that he wasputting on a little bit of weight, it was only because the pardrefused to let him do more than a little light exercise, a gentlewalk here or there. They wouldn’t even take him flying on theirmaffen, which to his delight he’d found were gigantic horse-likecreatures with wings. And fangs, great big fangs…
They rocked badass wicked sick.
And hewasn’t allowed anywhere near them.
He was sobusy brooding about this that he missed Asfer’s next comment andraised his eyebrows inquiringly.
“You’ve madegreat progress with this, Jamie,” Asfer repeated. “Some of mystudents are gathering at my house tomorrow to celebrate the end ofthe academic term. Would you like to come along? If your Saratapproves, of course.”
He reallywasn’t interested, but that last little comment tweaked his pride.As if he cared whether Alekyn approved or not…anyway, his arseholemaster was away, been called to a meeting with his commandingofficer on a lunar battlestation.
“Sure,” he said brightly, ignoringthe twinge somewhere in the region of his heart when he thought ofAlekyn. “What time and where?”
_______________________________________
THE STREETS NEAR THE ADDRESS Jamie had beengiven seemed unusually busy and full of people.
“Looks likesome sort of festival,” he remarked as they were jostled by thecrowd. He glanced up at Eled, who looked distinctly ill at ease.“Something wrong?”
“I’mnot sure.” He nodded towards a banner. “That’s asymbol of Nemta, the moon goddess. I didn’t realise this part ofthe city was so…religious.”
Jamiestudied a couple of Naferi who were laughing. He had a feeling theywere laughing at him but he had no idea why. “How much further isit to Asfer’s place?”
“We shouldalmost be there,” the puzzlement on Eled’s face grew. “The guide onmy communicator says it should be just around thiscorner.”
“Okay then,let’s — ”
A suddenloud noise obliterated his words. Eled jumped, his hand reachingfor his stunner. “What the hells! Jamie, I don’t likethis!”
“Chill, it’sjust firecrackers…maybe it’s something to do with thefestival.”
“Thedevotees of Nemta aren’t renowned for exuberant expressions offervor, Jamie. They’re more, you know, brooding anddark.”
“Seriously?” Jamie looked up athim incredulously. “These people can’t be Nemta’s followers then“cos they look pretty happy to me …”
Eled startedto say something, but a peculiar expression spread across his face.His eyes suddenly rolled back in their sockets and as Jamie gapedat him he crumpled up, collapsing onto his knees. Jamieinstinctively reached for him, but the crowd surged around them,separating them. Jamie’s arm was grasped in a vice-like grip and hewas pulled around and completely away from Eled. At the same timesomeone let off a cracker near them and smoke filled the air.Jamie’s eyes began watering and he started coughing; more bodiesblocked his way.
“What thehell!” He wrestled vigorously against the iron-hard hands holdinghim and lashed out with a roundhouse kick. Someone yelped and thena gag was pushed into his mouth and a bag of some sort was droppedover his face and pulled tight from behind. At the same time, twolarge bodies pressed against him on either side, lifting him offhis