Parallel Read Online Free Page B

a portion of focus to restructuring parts of her chemical makeup to reduce the toxicity of the air.
    From the analysis she’d done prior to arrival, she knew there would not be many changes in that regard. Lenora and this planet were similar in the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the air. The main adjustment she made was to accommodate the higher levels of nitrogen now entering her body.
    With that complete she directed the remainder of her attention towards language acquisition. Ryol had spent significant portions of energy studying what she’d seen of the planet during temporal viewing, but sound could not be transmitted through the viewer, and so she’d arrived without a clue as to this people’s language. Now, with eighty percent of her brain, and Aurora, now concentrated on communication, it wouldn’t take more than a few hours until she could speak with this new species.
    The creature across from her lifted its arms and grunted. Ryol had made first contact with hundreds of alien worlds, and the odd noises some species made upon meeting no longer surprised her. She assumed the noise blurted by the creature was gibberish born out of his surprise, but not wanting to appear rude, or possibly hostile, Ryol raised a hand in a similar fashion to the motionless individual across the room, and replied, “Gaeurgh?”
    The creature diverted its attention to a larger individual pressing itself flat against the wall. They shared a look that Ryol could not interpret. She suspected it was an expression of bewilderment, as was often the case during these sorts of encounters.
    The aliens spoke to one another. Ryol traced a finger in the air to make a recording. The portion of her brain concerned with language tore into the file, learning everything possible from the phrase, “Is she mocking me?”

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER SEVEN
    Hari
     
    “Mocking you? No, I’m sure she’d nev—” Gerald pointed a trembling finger at the alien woman. “Is that sign language?”
    Hari turned and ogled like a child in front of a television as she made shapes in the air with her hand. “Perhaps she’s a little…slow?”
    “Why would they send a slow ambassador?” Gerald asked.
    “Maybe she’s not an ambassador at all. Maybe she accidentally fell through whatever wormhole we created.”
    “You created,” Gerald said, duly assigning blame. “And I might point out that she doesn’t seem particularly alarmed for an accident of that magnitude.”
    “True.” Hari scratched his chin. “So, we’re back to her being a slow ambassador?”
    “Again, why would they send a slow ambassador?”
    Hari shrugged. His bony shoulders touched his ears, giving him many visual similarities to a hat rack. “It’s possible they don’t think very highly of us.”
    “With deductive reasoning like this it’s no surprise.”
    Hari did not respond. Dealing with Gerald required too much energy. Instead, he stepped gingerly towards the alien, who he assumed would be easier to communicate with than his colleague.
    He watched the woman for signs that she might be startled, but she stared through him impassively with glazed eyes.
    Hari scrounged for any sign language that might be lying dormant in his brain. Of course there was none. He had taken French in high school. He cursed himself now, because even if this were a French alien, communication beyond asking “Where is the bathroom?” would be impossible.
    With a swoop and angling of the arm, Hari did his best to create, on the spot, his own form of sign language.
    “What the hell are you doing?” Gerald maintained his vigil across the room.
    “I’m trying to let her know we’re peaceful.”
    “Oh, well she’s a hell of a charades player if she figures that out.”
    “I don’t see you helping.”
    “I’m not sure you are, either.”
    “Well, why don’t you try something?”
    “You don’t need me. I’m sure you’re doing a fine job of