（外文电子版资料）Chelsea Quinn Yarbro - Un Bel Di.pdf

Un Bel Di by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro As his terrifying smile widened, the Janif Undersecretary watched the procession of Papi wind its way up the far side of the valley. Theyre like fine children, perfect children, every one of them. The Undersecretary licked his outer lips; it was a furtive darting movement. So sad they arent truly intelligent. If they were … He broke off. If they were … His companion almost put a hasty hand on the Undersecretarys auxiliary arm. We are still in doubt about that here. We have not run many tests yet. They might have greater potential than we know. The Ambassador made a weak gesture of apology. Undersecretary Navbe waved him away in an offended manner. Certainly, certainly. Keep your ambassadorial pride. I myself look for signs of genius in my pets. You are free to do the same. Instead of the accepted answer, the Ambassador raised a primary arm slowly and remained rigidly silent. He then bowed with maddening propriety to the lengthening shadows. The Undersecretary closed the screen, stepping back with a gesture of regret. It was a great pity that he had to be so very isolated. And the Ambassador was just as bad as the others of his status. He would be tolerant to absurdity of the locals, then become unyielding and moralistic with the others of his kind. Navbe had seen it often in his post and bitterly rued having to deal with such perversity. But the Ambassador was speaking. … for the Papi, in this instance. You will want to observe them while you are here, Undersecretary. Privately the Janif Undersecretary thought this a lamentable state of affairs. Of course. I look forward to it, he said. This is quite a unique place, continued the Ambassador, warming to his subject. They all are, thought Navbe. Weve found not only that the Papi have a highly developed social order, but that they surgical