Stargate SG-1: Sacrifice Moon Read Online Free Page B

Athens really showed a
very high level of sophistication in manufacturing techniques, not to
mention style. The sand here must have a completely different composition - most glass from this period on Earth is green, maybe yellow, but this is more iridescent... of course you get iridescence with
age and oxidation, but °"
    "Kids," Jack said. "Take it outside if you're gonna geek out. Teal'c
and I are trying to maintain our dignity."
    He could have sworn the Jaffa smiled. Or quivered a lip, at least.
    Daniel looked offended. "Geek out? Jack, we're here to observe,
record, learn - "
    "Like I said. Geek out." He didn't mean it; it was part of their
established patter, and it helped keep everybody from tensing up.
Including Daniel.
    Daniel probably would have continued the verbal duel, but he was
interrupted by the approach of a large band of well-dressed, wellscrubbed men in long robes.
    "So, they're not togas?" Jack muttered. "Look kinda like togas."
    "Tunics. Actually, they're chitons, Jack. Oh, or peplos, and that
guy with a cloak, that's a himation,"
    "Chitons. Isn't that insect skin...?"
    "That's chitinous."
    "Oh, sure, and there isn't a connection... T'
    Daniel just stared back, thrown. Jack gave him a thin smile and
stood up to greet the newcomers.

    Daniel recovered and blurted out the standard universal translator
greeting, we come in peace or peaceful explorers or take me to your
leader. He needn't have bothered. It was pretty obvious that the guy
Jack was facing was the leader, or at least high level enough to make
decisions.
    He was tall, broad-shouldered, a little older than Jack's age, apparently; thick silver-gray hair, worn in long curls, fastened here and
there with gold pins and clips. Dark eyes. Jack didn't normally meet
a lot of men in eye makeup, but he'd hit a run of them recently...
Apophis, Teal'c, now this guy, who had dramatic sweeps of eye liner
and something shiny on his lids.
    He was wearing that summer-weight wool, like some of the others out there waiting in line; apparently, he wanted to be a man of the
people. Only his wool was high quality, the clasp pins on his tunic
were intricately worked gold with ram's heads, and he had that sleek,
tailored look of somebody accustomed to the finer things in life.
    His name, Daniel supplied, was Acton.
    "Pleased to meet you," Jack said, and extended his hand. Acton
reached out and did a wrist-to-wrist grip. The guy had an orator's
deep, plummy voice, as well as the authoritative body language, but
it was just noise to Jack. He sent Daniel an inquiring look.
    "He says they're honored to have us as guests."
    "So this is going well."
    "Seems to be."
    Jack extricated himself from the man's grip, smiled and nodded.
Heads bobbed in the delegation behind Acton. Everybody looked
cautiously pleased.
    Daniel listened to another fast burst of syllables, then offered,
"They want to give us hospitality at - I'm guessing the word means
lodge. Or maybe hotel."
    "So long as it's not prison, hey, not turning it down."
    Daniel didn't need to translate the after you gestures the delegation was making. They were all trying their damndest to look
friendly about it, too, except for Acton, who stayed dignified, and two
extremely cold-eyed guys in the back that Jack had pegged for some
kind of internal security. Or maybe their breakfast had been served up
by a really bad mess line, too.

    Outside of the tavern, Jack slid on his sunglasses against the fierce
glare, much to Acton's interest; he handed them over at Acton's curious gesture, and watched the guy slide them on and look around.
There was a great deal of outcry from the lackeys that Jack hardly
needed Daniel to translate - he knew the sound of sucking up when
he heard it. Oh, sir, those are you! They make you look so august
and imposing! Acton brushed it off, well accustomed to having his
butt kissed, and handed the glasses back to Jack with an appreciative
smile. Jack silently gestured