"I would guess that the climate there approximates what is average around your Mediterranean Sea. So you see, we could greatly benefit each other by trading off such territories: Development of these regions could proceed easily, since they are located not on new worlds but on highly developed ones. All would benefit."
"We are hardly empowered " Rijseen began apologetically.
The female took over for him. "You must understand, Ryo, that we are simply scientists, observers. We are here to study and learn and to teach. We do not set policy, though we may make recommendations.
"I am not a bureaucrat, but I think I can say with confidence that your proposal is more than simply premature. There has not been even preliminary formal contact initiated between our species. Yet you sit there and calmly propose not a mere alliance or expression of friendship, but an actual exchange of territory and colonists."
"Let me try and put it more graphically," the younger man said, "and excuse me if I use terminology that seems indelicate. The idea of perhaps a million of your own kind, a million giant, armor plated, glow eyed bugs, actually settling down on Earth, is one that would be very hard for its general population to accept."
"No more so," Ryo responded, having anticipated the objection, "than it would be for the people of the Hive of Chitteranx, who dwell directly below the plateau I told you of, to gaze every day up its cliffs knowing that hundreds of thousands of giant, fleshy, flexible aliens were building machines and lives up there."
"Then you are as subject to the racial paranoia your psychtechs accused us of as we may be," said Kibwezi.
"Not at all. We are discussing now deeply ingrained cultural fears and ancestral emotions. You may loathe my appearance, my people may loathe yours, but unlike you, we do not loathe each other's. We have not fought among ourselves for thousands of years. Your history, which I have studied, is full of devastating internal conflicts of appallingly recent date."
"We're getting away from your proposal," Rijseen. Put in. "I don't see how "
Ryo risked censure by interrupting, though, he reminded himself, that did not carry the disapproval here that it would have among his own people. "Think of the knowledge to be gained by both sides, the advances that would surely be made, not to mention the necessity of striking a military alliance against the AAnn."
"That may not be as vital as you seem to believe," Bhadravati noted. "You insist it was an AAnn vessel that attacked the Seeker, but we have no way of confirming that. You could be trying to smooth over a mistake by your own government."
"The AAnn exist. They attacked your ship and killed your people and are every bit as dangerous as I've told you.
"You've told us that these AAnn once attacked your own home town," Kibwezi said softly. "That they killed your friends and relatives."
"That is also truth."
"Then your own personal not to mention racial bias against the AAnn would naturally induce you to seek an alliance against them. Even if they did attack the Seeker, it may have been in error. They might, for example, have thought it a new design of your own. Why should we ally ourselves with you against them when we might befriends with them as well as with the Thranx?"
"A neat trick," Ryo replied, controlling his temper. "There is one difficulty. The AAnn believe they are a chosen species, designated to rule the entire galaxy. Other, inferior races are to be exterminated or enslaved. They are very patient and careful to conceal such feelings in the presence of diplomats. This patience makes them all the more dangerous."
"So you say," Bhadravati responded.
.
Ryo's composure slipped just a little. "What reason would I have to lie to you?"
"I just enumerated," began the woman, but Ryo hardly heard her now.
He had innocently thought his carefully prepared proposal would be accepted instantly and approved. Its logic was unassailable. Instead, it had been casually brushed aside as unworkable and premature. Another aspect of human behavior to be filed for later dissection.
"They might indeed offer you apologies and alliance," he told them. "Deceit is their refined weapon, deception their most prized characteristic. These attributes are supported by an advanced technology and militaristic society."
"So you say," the younger man repeated with infuriating self assurance.
"We digress again," Rijseen pointed out. He tried to reestablish the atmosphere of cordiality with which they'd begun the questioning.
"As you've heard, we are only researchers. We can only pass your proposal along as we do all information to others better positioned to act on it."
"You will do that for me?" Ryo asked.
"Of course. We are collectors of information, not interpreters. Now tell us again," he said eagerly, "about the higher implications of the filian ceremony."
Ryo sighed inwardly, determined to raise the issue again and again at future meetings until he received some kind of positive response.
Chapter Thirteen
A quarter month later Ryo had an informal visit from Bonnie and Loo. Like the rest of the Seeker's crew, they were still sequestered at the station, subject to medical as well as mental study. They were answering nearly as many questions as was Ryo.
Neither human was as uncomfortable as Ryo's questioners. They were more accustomed to the climate of his burrow. The low ceiling and rounded corners did not trouble them at all. They had endured such surroundings for months on Hivehom.
Conversation consisted largely of pleasantries and reminiscences. Eventually the matter that had troubled Ryo for some days could be ignored no longer. He escorted them to the wall where his private terminal had been installed.
Since the meeting with Rijseen and his two companions he'd found that tighter blocks had been placed on certain channels of inquiry. Nothing had been said about it and the computer had been programmed to be evasive rather than specific, but he recognized the establishment of channel locks.
He'd discovered the other almost on a whim, in a moment of boredom. It presented a challenge and he attacked it more for the entertainment it offered than out of any desire or need to know its contents. They had turned out to be something other than entertaining, however.
"I was working here several days ago," he explained to them, sliding into the saddle, "trying to research your contacts with other life."
"I thought you were an agricultural specialist," Bonnie said, staring over his shoulder as the screen ran information.
"So I am, but the question of other intelligences has intrigued me since larvahood. If it were not for that I doubt we three would ever have met."
"That would have been a loss," Loo said with a smile.
"Yes." Ryo worked the keyboard with two hands. In addition to the central screen the two peripherals on its right promptly winked to life. Patterns flashed across the glass. "It was while hunting for evidence of such contacts that I stumbled into a block. I'm used to that now. Normally I file their location and ignore them. That is the polite thing to do, since your superiors evidently feel there is certain material I should not have access to."
Both humans looked a little uncomfortable despite Ryo's admission that such blocks did not bother him.
"We have no control over such matters," .Bonnie said finally.
"I am aware of that. I was not accusing you. This block, however, tempted me to try to circumvent it, since it concealed information of particular relevance to me. I have come to believe the block was placed not specifically against me but to prevent general access by the majority of the staff at this station.
"In my years as member of my Company's local council I have had ample opportunity to make use of informationretrieval technology. Though your system differs from ours, I have applied myself both on the Seeker and while here, and have succeeded in learning a great deal. Also, Thranx are naturally proficient at logic and aesthetic inference.
"Briefly then, I managed to bypass the block that had bee
n placed on this particular line of questioning. I was in fact surprised that a stronger block had not been placed on it. Sometimes in their eagerness to conceal vital information bureaucrats may overlook the trivial."
He returned to the console and his fingers moved across the keys. The flow of information on the three screens slowed, stabilized. The words MAXECRET ALIEN CONTACT and THRANX appeared. Demand was made for a second input, which Ryo supplied.
The words vanished, were replaced by a computer generated diagram of Ryo's body. On the peripheral screens information began to unroll, accompanied by smaller diagrams and appropriate commentary.
"That's your file!" Loo blurted in surprise.
"Indeed," Ryo replied. Behind him the two humans leaned closer. Evidently neither had seen the information now appearing on the screens.
Ryo let it unspool at its own leisurely pace for a while, then touched a control. The text and graphics became a multicolored blur on the screens. A beep sounded from somewhere inside the console and the information slowed to a near crawl.
"This is the section I would like you to pay attention to," he said drily. "I found it mast interesting."
Bonnie's eyes traveled through the paragraphs, slowed at a particular line. "... and it is therefore concluded, that additional questioning beyond the prescribed date can generate only minimal new information. Urgent requests continue outstanding from Xenophysiology and other bureaus for further material on internal construction and in particular cerebral makeup and capability of the specimen in question."
Behind Ryo, Bonnie flinched at the last phrase. The information continued to roll up the screen.
"The military branches in particular are interested in all aspects of the aforementioned with view toward future methodology for confusing such functions as vision and feel. Particular inquiry is desired into the physiology of the faz sense, which is not duplicated in humans and which presents unique military difficulties of its own.
"It has therefore been decided by a vote of twelve to ten by the senior planners of Project Thranx that, since the specimen in question appears to occupy only a minimal status among his own hierarchy and that since his whereabouts are in any case unknown to them, postmortem internal studies should commence on the date indicated.
"Psych Staff sees no problem in creating suitable excuse to explain the specimen's demise should the need arise. This also supported by a vote of 12 10 by the senior planners.
"Note is made of the closeness of the decision and the vehemence of those voting in opposition. Revote reconfirms the decision to proceed with the aforementioned. Euthanasia will be performed the evening prior to the announced date and dissection and study will commence following. Sig.Per.Proc. See tables MEDICAL, THRANX PROJ."
Fresh information continued to appear. Neither Bonnie nor Loo paid any attention to it. Their single lenses seemed slightly glazed. While he recognized the phenomenon, Ryo could not interpret it sufficiently to correlate it with his companions' feelings.
"Did I not tell you it was most interesting?" he finally said into the silence. "Apparently your superiors are so busy keeping knowledge of my presence here unknown to the station personnel, they neglected to guard it sufficiently from me."
"It's monstrous," Loo muttered. "They want to cut you up to see what makes you tick."
"They have no grounds, no reason …" Bonnie began, so angry she could hardly speak.
Ryo's reply was couched in philosophical tones. "There is no more knowledge they feel they can gain from my aliveness, and much from my death. I have already made my peace with eternity. I am prepared to accept the inevitable."
"It's not inevitable," Loo objected.
"Is it not?" Ryo turned the saddle and stared up at him. His ommatidia sparkled in the light from the console. "Among my people such a situation calls for resignation. I can sympathize with the desires of your superiors. They wish only to further their knowledge."
"There are some things more important than furthering knowledge," Bonnie countered.
"I would disagree with you, Bonnie."
"Don't," she snapped. "You may be willing to go calmly to your death, but I'll be damned if I'm willing to let you do it." Precipitation oozed from the corners of her eyes, another human phenomenon Ryo found fascinating. It was astonishing that any creature could generate precipitation in so many different ways and for so many different reasons.
"What could you do?" Ryo murmured. "The decision has been made."
"Only on a local level," Loo noted. "The order could be countermanded by higher scientific bodies on Earth. I'm sure that's why they've set the date so soon, so they can commence their little vivisection party before any response could be returned. Oh, they know what they're about, all right. They're very clever." He seemed to slump in on himself.
"We can bloody well go to the council and offer our own objections," Bonnie said.
"Yes, and you know how much weight they'll give to that."
"They have to listen to us," she objected. "Contact and follow up is our profession."
Loo was nodding. "They'll tell us we did a marvelous job. That our work is finished. We'll all be promoted and given hugs bonuses." The irony in his tone was clear even to Ryo.
"We've got to try." Loo's relentless reasoning had reduced her initial angry determination to a hopeful whisper.
"I cannot say that I do not wish you luck," Ryo admitted, adding a gesture of mild amusement. "You did find the information interesting, as I thought you would. Don't worry about me. I am content.
"I have learned that intelligence exists in yet another corner of this stellar forest we call our galaxy. That is sufficient revelation to die for. I shall return my component elements to Nature, with dissolution already begun." The attempt at humor evidently failed; neither human responded as he'd hoped.
Something soft and pulpy was caressing his neck. The burrow was eerily silent. At the same time his antennae twitched at the presence of a malignant, musky odor close by.
He awoke with a start, terribly frightened, wondering where Fal was and if the monster that was gazing down at him had already devoured her.
"Be quiet," urged the monster in a quiet, familiar voice. "I don't think we've set off any alarms yet. There may not be any to set off. After all, there's nowhere for you to escape to, is there?"
Slowly his sleepy mind cleared, recognized the fragmented shape of Bonnie standing over him. He lifted his head and looked past her. Several other human silhouettes stood in his burrow. Others were outlined by the light of the distant corridor, visible through the open entryway.
"What's wrong?" he muttered. "What's the trouble?" He was still too sleep drenched to think in Terranglo.
Bonnie's Low Thranx answered him. "Some of us retain fragments of civilization." Her tone was bitter. "We owe allegiance to standards not incorporated in official manuals."
"I believe I understand what you are saying." He slid off the lounge and fumbled for his neck pouch and vest.
"What I am saying is that a good friend is not a candidate for the butcher block."
"It's not at all like that," Ryo protested. "As a question of scientific expansion of knowledge "
"As a question of scientific expansion of knowledge," she interrupted in Terranglo, "it sucks. Have you got all your things?"
He closed the last snap on his neck pouch. "I think so."
"Then let's go." She started for the doorway. He followed automatically, still drowsy and increasingly bewildered.
"Where are we going? This is not a planet. You cannot hide me on this station for more than a short time."
"We have no intention of trying to hide you on the station."
They were out in the corridor. Ryo dimmed his perception to compensate for the bright human lighting. Loo was waiting for them, and Elvirasanchez. With them were the cocontroller Taourit, the engineer Alexis, and someone Ryo didn't recognize as a member of the Seeker's crew. Six i
n all. Greetings were exchanged quietly and in haste.
"We're all committed to this," Sanchez informed him solemnly. "You risked your life for something you believed in, believed in enough to risk condemnation from your entire people. Well, there are a few of us who are capable of equally strong beliefs."
"The shortsighted will always be among us," Ryo replied philosophically. "Those who try to reach out with their minds are more often restrained from behind than from ahead."
"I know." The captain gestured around her. "These are the only ones who agreed."
"Will the others not betray you?"
Sanchez smiled. "They're convinced we're all talk and no action." She looked past him. "I think you know Dr. Bhadravati."
Ryo turned, was surprised to find the young scientist who had questioned him so many times. He had considered him the least friendly of the three and confessed his astonishment at seeing him now.
"I'm not here because I think this is reasoningly or legally the right thing to do," the young human said, "but morally I don't see how I can do anything else. I believe that you are one of God's creatures, that you have a soul, and that what they intend doing to you is wrong both in the eyes of man and of God. I don't know if the term is one you've learned, but prior to my matriculation as a xenologist I was a theology student. I draw support for these actions tonight from the Bible, the Rig Veda, and the teachings of Buddha. What I do here now is part of my journey down the noble Eightfold Path."
"I do not understand all of what you say," Ryo replied, "but I welcome the result of your reasoning. I believe you would consider me a Theravadist."
"That is impossible to reconcile with belief in "
Sanchez stepped between them, spoke to Bhadravati. "You can try converting him later. Our searches turned up no monitors, but sooner or later someone's going to make a personal check of our guest's condition."
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