Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke Page B
Authors: Arthur C. Clarke
Tags: Fiction, General, Science-Fiction, Fiction - Science Fiction, Space Opera, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Science Fiction, Space Opera
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Coming from a totally alien evolutionary tree, the Overlords were neither m~mmnIs, insects, nor reptiles. It was not even certain that they were vertebrates: their hard, external armour might well be their only supporting framework.
70
Rashaverak's wings were folded so that George could not see them dearly, but his tail, looking like a piece of armoured hose-pipe, lay neatly curled under him. The famous barb was not so much an arrowhead as a large, flat diamond. Its purpose, it was now generally accepted, was to give stability in flight, like the tail-feathers of a bird. From scanty facts and suppositions such as these, scientists had concluded that the Overlords came from a world of low gravity and very dense atmosphere.
Rupert's voice suddenly bellowed from a concealed speaker.
"Jean! George! Where the hell are you hiding? Come down and join the party. People are beginning to talk."
"Perhaps I'd better go too," said Rashaverak, putting his book back on the shelf~ He did that quite easily, without moving from the floor, and George noticed for the first time that he had two opposed thumbs, with five fingers between them. I'd hate to do arithmetic, George thought to himself, in a system based on fourteen.
Rashaverak getting to his feet was an impressive sight, and as the Overlord bent to avoid the ceiling it became obvious that, even if they were anxious to mix with human beings, the practical difficulties would be considerable.
Several more cargoes of guests had arrived in the last half hour, and the room was now quite crowded. Rashaverak's arrival made matters a good deal worse, because everyone in the adjacent rooms came running in to see him. Rupert was obviously very pleased with the sensation. Jean and George were much less gratified, as no-one took any notice of them. Indeed, few people could see them, because they were standing behind the Overlord.
"Come over here, Rashy, and meet some of the folks," shouted Rupert. "Sit on the divan-then you can stop scraping the ceiling."
Rashaverak, his tail draped over his shoulder, moved across the room like an icebreaker worrying its way through a pack. As he sat down beside Rupert, the room seemed to become much larger again and George let out a sigh of relief.
"It gave me claustrophobia when he was standing. I wonder how Rupert got hold of him-this looks like being an interesting party."
"Fancy Rupert addressing him like that, in public too. But he didn't seem to mind. It's all very peculiar."
71
"I bet you he did mind. The trouble with Rupert Is that he likes to show oft; and he's got no tact. And that reminds me- some of those questions you asked!"
"Such as?"
"Well-'How long have you been here?' 'How do you get on with Supervisor Karellen?' 'Do you like it on Earth?'
Really, darling! You just don't talk to Overlords that way!"
"I don't see why not. It is about time someone did."
Before the discussion could get acrimonious, they were accosted by the Shoenbergers and fission rapidly occurred. The girls went off in one direction to discuss Mrs. Boyce: the men went in another and did exactly the same thing, though from a different viewpoint. Benny Shoenberger, who was one of George's oldest friends, had a good deal of information on the subject.
"For heaven's sake don't tell anyone," he said. "Ruth doesn't know this, but I introduced her to Rupert."
"I think," George remarked enviously, "that she's much too good for Rupert. However, it can't possibly last. She'll soon get fed up with him." This thought seemed to cheer him considerably.
"Don't you believe it! Besides being a beauty, she's a really nice person. It's high time someone took charge of Rupert, and she's just the girl to do it."
Both Rupert and Maia were now sitting beside Rashaverak, receiving their guests in state. Ruperf S parties seldom had any focal point, but usually consisted of half a dozen independent groups intent on their own affairs. This time, however, the whole gathering was polarized
70
Rashaverak's wings were folded so that George could not see them dearly, but his tail, looking like a piece of armoured hose-pipe, lay neatly curled under him. The famous barb was not so much an arrowhead as a large, flat diamond. Its purpose, it was now generally accepted, was to give stability in flight, like the tail-feathers of a bird. From scanty facts and suppositions such as these, scientists had concluded that the Overlords came from a world of low gravity and very dense atmosphere.
Rupert's voice suddenly bellowed from a concealed speaker.
"Jean! George! Where the hell are you hiding? Come down and join the party. People are beginning to talk."
"Perhaps I'd better go too," said Rashaverak, putting his book back on the shelf~ He did that quite easily, without moving from the floor, and George noticed for the first time that he had two opposed thumbs, with five fingers between them. I'd hate to do arithmetic, George thought to himself, in a system based on fourteen.
Rashaverak getting to his feet was an impressive sight, and as the Overlord bent to avoid the ceiling it became obvious that, even if they were anxious to mix with human beings, the practical difficulties would be considerable.
Several more cargoes of guests had arrived in the last half hour, and the room was now quite crowded. Rashaverak's arrival made matters a good deal worse, because everyone in the adjacent rooms came running in to see him. Rupert was obviously very pleased with the sensation. Jean and George were much less gratified, as no-one took any notice of them. Indeed, few people could see them, because they were standing behind the Overlord.
"Come over here, Rashy, and meet some of the folks," shouted Rupert. "Sit on the divan-then you can stop scraping the ceiling."
Rashaverak, his tail draped over his shoulder, moved across the room like an icebreaker worrying its way through a pack. As he sat down beside Rupert, the room seemed to become much larger again and George let out a sigh of relief.
"It gave me claustrophobia when he was standing. I wonder how Rupert got hold of him-this looks like being an interesting party."
"Fancy Rupert addressing him like that, in public too. But he didn't seem to mind. It's all very peculiar."
71
"I bet you he did mind. The trouble with Rupert Is that he likes to show oft; and he's got no tact. And that reminds me- some of those questions you asked!"
"Such as?"
"Well-'How long have you been here?' 'How do you get on with Supervisor Karellen?' 'Do you like it on Earth?'
Really, darling! You just don't talk to Overlords that way!"
"I don't see why not. It is about time someone did."
Before the discussion could get acrimonious, they were accosted by the Shoenbergers and fission rapidly occurred. The girls went off in one direction to discuss Mrs. Boyce: the men went in another and did exactly the same thing, though from a different viewpoint. Benny Shoenberger, who was one of George's oldest friends, had a good deal of information on the subject.
"For heaven's sake don't tell anyone," he said. "Ruth doesn't know this, but I introduced her to Rupert."
"I think," George remarked enviously, "that she's much too good for Rupert. However, it can't possibly last. She'll soon get fed up with him." This thought seemed to cheer him considerably.
"Don't you believe it! Besides being a beauty, she's a really nice person. It's high time someone took charge of Rupert, and she's just the girl to do it."
Both Rupert and Maia were now sitting beside Rashaverak, receiving their guests in state. Ruperf S parties seldom had any focal point, but usually consisted of half a dozen independent groups intent on their own affairs. This time, however, the whole gathering was polarized
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