Джулия Чернеда - Changing vision

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CHANGING VISION

Webshifters 2

By

Julie E. Czerned

Contents

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Chapter 1: Office Morning;

Chapter 2: Office Afternoon

Chapter 3: Cliff's Edge Night

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Chapter 4: Cliff's Edge Night;

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Chapter 5: Restaurant Morning

Chapter 6: Conservatory Afternoon

Chapter 7: Starship Night

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Chapter 8: Starship Afternoon;

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Chapter 9 : School Morning;

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Chapter 10: School Afternoon

Chapter 11: School Night;

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Chapter 12: School Morning;

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Chapter 13: School Afternoon

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Chapter 14: School Night;

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Chapter 15: Freighter Night;

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Chapter 16: Starship Morning;

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Chapter 17: Warship Morning

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Chapter 18: Galley Morning

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Chapter 19: Galley Afternoon;

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Chapter 20: Warship Night

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Chapter 21: Flight Deck Night

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Chapter 22: Chartroom Night

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Chapter 23: Brig Night;

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Chapter 24: Flight Deck Morning; Shuttle Afternoon

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Chapter 25: Freighter Morning

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Chapter 26: Hold Night;

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Chapter 27: Tank Afternoon

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Chapter 28: Tank Night

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Chapter 29: Hydroponics Morning

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Chapter 30: Hydroponics Afternoon

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Chapter 31: Hold Morning;

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Chapter 32: Station Afternoon

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Chapter 33: Festival Afternoon;

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Chapter 34: Gallery Night

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Chapter 35: Subbasement Night

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Chapter 36: 'Digger Night

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Chapter 37: Shipcity Morning

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Chapter 38: Seaside Afternoon;

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Chapter 39: Shuttle Night;

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Chapter 40: Lounge Morning

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Chapter 41: Asteroid Afternoon

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Chapter 42: Asteroid Afternoon

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Chapter 43: Asteroid Night

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Chapter 44: Asteroid Midnight

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Chapter 45: Asteroid Morning

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Chapter 46: Asteroid Afternoon

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Chapter 47: Med Room Afternoon

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Chapter 48: Storeroom Afternoon;

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Chapter 49: Hydroponics Afternoon

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Chapter 50: Office Morning;

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Chapter 51: Warehouse Afternoon

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Chapter 52: Cliff's Edge Night

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Julie E. Czerneda

CHANGING VISION

Web Shifters 2

One human knew what she truly was—but those who suspected were determined to destroy her!

***

CAUGHT IN A WEB OF HER OWN MAKING—

Esen-alit-Quar had violated the First Rule of her species when she revealed her existence to a human named Paul Ragem. And though both Paul and Esen had survived, others of Esen's Web had not been so fortunate. Es could hardly believe that fifty years had passed since the terrifying events which had nearly cost her her life and which had forced Paul to give up everything a human treasured—family, friends, even his own identity—to protect the secret of her continued survival. In that time they had built a new life together out on the Fringe. They had a successful export company, friends and associates.

Esen, now known as Esolesy Ki and wearing the form of a Lishcyn—a species rare enough in the Commonwealth and never seen in the Fringe—was perfectly content to remain on the world of Minas XII, leaving it to Paul to travel the starways on company business. Meanwhile she used their vast information resources to search for any signs that others of her kind had found their galaxy.

What neither Es nor Paul could foresee was that a simple "vacation" trip would plunge the two of them into the heart of a diplomatic nightmare—and threaten to expose both Es and Paul to the hunters who had never been convinced of their destruction…

ISBN 0-88677-904-9

The Finest in DAW Science Fiction

from JULIE E. CZERNEDA:

Web Shifters:

BEHOLDER'S EYE (#1)

CHANGING VISION (#2)

The Trade Pact Universe:

A THOUSAND WORDS FOR STRANGER (#1)

TIES OF POWER (#2)

http://www.czerneda.com

Julie E. Czerneda

CHANGING VISION

DAW BOOKS, INC.

DONALD A. WOLLHEIM, FOUNDER

375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014

ELIZABETH R. WOLLHEIM

SHEILA E. GILBERT

PUBLISHERS

Copyright © 2000 by Julie E. Czerneda.

All Rights Reserved.

Cover art by Luis Royo.

DAW Book Collectors No. 1160.

DAW Books are distributed by Penguin Putnam Inc.

All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

First Printing, August 2000

DAW TRADEMARK REGISTERED

U.S. PAT. OFF. AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES

—MARCA REGISTRADA.

HECHO EN U.S.A

PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.

For Jennifer Lynn Czerneda

This has been the hardest one yet to write, which seems only fair. It was an impossible task from the start. I can't possibly distill the love and pride I feel for you into mere words. I've tried several times and failed. Perhaps if I had an immense and lovely lake into which I could toss diamonds… or some way to coat the near side of the Moon with sapphires… or… you can see my problem. The canvas isn't remotely big enough.

So I'll just tell you this, Princess: your Dad and I knew you were something special from the moment you opened your wise blue eyes. You've grown into a spectacular woman: bright, loving, and marvelously brave. May you have joy and adventures as well as warm, comfy moments—and remember, the way home is through our hearts.

Mom

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Book four. The most fun yet! I'd need a lot more room to respond to all the kindnesses done to me this year, but I'll do my best.

Thank you, Sheila Gilbert, for your extraordinary efforts to read manuscript during the millennium rollover, despite house construction and visitors. You caught all my lazy and shy spots, improving this story immensely. A special thanks to my alpha reader, Roxanne BB Hubbard, for thoughtful edits and thumping at the right moments.

I'd like to thank the original Lefebvre, Chase, and Sandner for kindly letting me use their names, brave souls. I promised no maiming, but, for the record, your fictional characters have nothing to do with the real you (except any nice bits).

I must single out a particular bunch for their wonderful support and encouragement this past year: my newsgroup. If I'd known all these talented and interesting folks would be there, I'd have jumped in sooner. While I can't possibly fit you all, I'd like to thank Janet BF Chase, Annette Griessman, Jason FFTS Simcoe, Kim McLean, Beverley Meincke, Matt & Karen Cecile, Nicole Hare, Ruth Stuart, Samuel Paik, Iris Peace, David Brukman, Lara Herrera, Liz Bennefeld, Michael Picray, Tim Bowie, Don Bassie, and Alan Mietlowski. And Anne Bishop, who drops