Starship Winter (David Conway 03) Read Online Free

arrogant, but creepy.”
    I raised my glass. “I’ll second that, Hannah.”
    “He got into an argument with Matt Sommers ten minutes ago about the validity of his artwork – and particularly this exhibition. Dortmund claimed it transgressed art and strayed onto the territory of cultural profanity.”
    “What did Matt say?”
    “He was brilliant. He said all art was about broadening human – and alien – understanding of experience, and as such his current artwork was doing that. He cited the compliance of the Elan themselves in the project. Dortmund started to object, but that’s when Director Chandranath suggested we go outside to watch the spindizzies.”
    “What did you think of them?”
    She shook her head. “I can safely say I’ve never ever seen anything quite so beautiful.”
    “Have you ventured out of Mackinley since your arrival?”
    She shook her head. “Too busy with work.”
    “The coast, especially north of here, is spectacular. I live up at Magenta Bay.”
    She nodded. “I’ve read about your ship, the Mantis .”
    “You should come up some time. I’ll show you around. The foothills have a series of incredible waterfalls…” I stumbled to a halt, blushing like a schoolboy.
    She reached out, gripped my hand, and tipped her head to one side. “I’d like that,” she said.
    She released my hand just as there was another commotion among those gathered behind us. Heart racing, I turned to see a tiny, blue-green figure step daintily through the crowd towards us.
    He was perhaps three feet tall, and thin, with long spindly legs which had two sets of knees. His torso seemed disproportionately compacted, and his arms – again with double joints – too long. His facial features were almost reassuringly normal, in that he had two large eyes and a long mouth. I found myself thinking the alien’s head resembled some kind of bushbaby or lemur.
    He paused before our group, bobbing slightly on the suspension of his bi-jointed legs.
    Matt made the introductions. “This is Heanor, Ambassador of the Elan. Heanor, I’d like to introduce you to my good friends.”
    As Matt spoke our names, the alien Ambassador looked at us each in turn, shaping a graceful gesture in the air before his chest. “I am pleased to meet you,” he said in a high, reedy voice, then looked up at Matt and went on, “I am happy with the conjunction of events, Mr Sommers. I am happy to see the exhibition commence. I would be pleased if you might commence the opening ceremony.”
    Matt nodded graciously, cleared his throat and said, “Ladies and gentlemen…” A hush settled over the assembled guests. “I’m not going to make a big speech. My art speaks for itself, I hope. I will say, however, that this piece marks a radical departure in my work, as you will shortly appreciate. Also, I would like to thank the kindness and understanding of the Elan people in affording me the opportunity to bring from their homeworld the Epiphany Stones that comprise this installation, entitled Concordance .” He bowed his head to Heanor, and murmured something I took to be in the Elan language, and then, “My eternal gratitude.”
    I happened to glance at Dortmund, then. He was watching the artist with an expression which mixed annoyance and disgust.
    Matt raised his arms. “Please, if you would care to make your way to the main hall…”
    Hannah caught my eye, tipped her head and gave a quick smile. “Shall we?”
    We moved with the crowd towards the entrance.
    * * *
    The exhibition centre was a big, low-slung dome, perhaps a hundred metres in diameter. Usually it was divided into sections for exhibitions and shows, but tonight the entire floor space was given over to Concordance .
    The interior of the dome was dimly lit, to begin with. Then, as the guests entered the exhibition, a centrally mounted ceiling light, like some kind of giant pendant ruby, began to glow. As we watched, perhaps fifty individual beams of crimson light spoked