`She appears to prefer a higher temperature than we humans like, though `Dinis would be comfortable enough in 32 degrees Celsius. We have increased the ambient temperature in the base. Blrg, the `Dini specialist, hypothesized two days ago that she won’t make a move until the pod’s oxygen is exhausted. I kinda go along with that.’ Roddie smiled modestly.
`The pod would have had only so much oxygen even in that generous-sized lifeboat, for some of the cubic volume must be occupied by food and other necessities. At that you may be very lucky indeed.
Three estimates for her to come out have already been passed: the experts favour her supply being exhausted some time today. Can you hang around?’ `We have time to hand,’ Afra said, to Rojer’s intense delight.
It’d be awful, Rojer thought, to have had the chance to hang about and see her emerge and not be able to do so.
Not that your timing’s been off at all this past week, Rojer.
Except for hunting, his father added privately.
Rojer `pathed a repentant grimace. His cousin then showed them the amenities and facilities of the installation: they were sparse enough for the twenty men and three officers assigned here.
`A larger ready room’s being `ported in this week, more sanitary units, a larger kitchen though we get fresh stuff `ported in daily.
I’d put in a special order for breakfast buns. Sorry you’ve no appetite,’ and there were traces of the young Roddie in the patronizing grin he gave Rojer.
`Maybe later, if there are any left. Wouldn’t want to deprive you,’ and Rojer managed to keep his tone light and pleasant.
They returned to the viewing room where more technicians were on duty, analysing tapes and discussing printout.
`Lieutenant, we’ve a party of twelve asking permission for an hour’s viewing about-‘ The corporal broke off abruptly as a loud clatter issued from the speakers. His eyes went wide, his mouth worked and he pointed frantically to the window.
Rojer and his father had been turned towards the speaker but they looked back and, as one, recoiled slightly from the view on the magnified plasglas.
The pod hatch had blown out and rattled about on the plascrete surface. First, one long spiny, oddly jointed limb appeared, slender pointed digits closed about the frame on one side, then another. The limb was a burnished deep coppery red, covered with fine hairs that Rojer thought might be sensitive: maybe he just thought they moved.
Four more arms came forward to support the body slowly emerging.
Then a `fobt’ appeared on the sill. Someone had the presence of mind to alter a spotlight and catch the form framed just inside the hatch.
Rojer took firm hold of his nerves and his over-full stomach as, slowly, the tall, segmented creature emerged: its nether region a swollen tear-drop, nipping into a narrow joining to a long thin upper torso. Three sets of arms were spaced along this torso, and two sets of `legs’, one pair moving forward while the other supported the immense bulge of the lower body. A triangle with bulging eye sockets at the top of the thin upper torso had to be the head, and from the top of that multiple antennae waved furiously.
Its coloration, more than its form, captured eye, mind and attention, for the Queen was the most beautiful shades of shimmering deep coppery, burgundy red, blues and greens, like the blossom sheath of the Siberian iris his mother grew in the garden at Aurigae. The spotlight caressed undertones from her body parts, from the flat surfaces of the oddly jointed limbs, from what appeared to be the vestigial wings joined to the upper torso at what would be shoulder-height, running down to the nipped-in waist and half-opened over the bulging lower body.
`A praying mantis, that’s what she’s like,’ his father said softly as the creature remained in the hatchway `Like an actress waiting for her cue,’ was Roddie’s unexpected comment.
`She’s afraid!’ Rojer blurted out, surprising himself and everyone mesmerized by her appearance.
IT SHOULD BE DESTROYED, Gil said with such fervour that Rojer had formed a sharp reprimand before he caught his father’s quick head shake. IT HAS DESTROYED MANY MRDINI.