“Observe the shapes of the domiciles, Eonneh,” Ghotyakh said, turning a slow circle. “Square roofs, as had that building into which we were first taken. Everything is built using flat planes, and nearly all of them above ground. Curious.”
“It is so. They do not build as we do, in echo of the natural shelters of the motherworld.” Eonneh stared at one dwelling. “I would guess they have better ventilation than our homes. Perhaps their seasonal changes are not as drastic as ours. A very pleasant place.” His tail wagged slowly. “I shall enjoy our time here.”
The gesture seemed to interest his hosts. Genhh had no caudal appendage, as Eonneh had already observed. The angry male in black, who appeared to be subordinate to the male wearing an ornate red robe, both of whom had remained behind in the ship, had long, flexible tails that switched back and forth all the time.
“What interesting creatures these are,” Ghotyakh said, glancing at the Rroobvnnns. “There is so much variation among the members of one sex. And do you notice that all the males seem to live on one side of this place and the females on the other? Look how many Ayoomnnns are coming from that direction. None live here.”
“Reh. It is most curious. Is there water about? I’m thirsty, but a swim is even more necessary.”
“I hear some running over there,” Ghotyakh said, peering in the direction from which the Ayoomnnns were coming. “There is a bridge.” Curious to see a Doonarralan river, the two ambled toward the sound.
A shout from behind reminded them that they were not alone.
“Oh, I apologize, Genhh,” Eonneh said politely, turning to the Ayomnnn female. Her thin, nearly hairless skin was reddened from the effort of running. Eonneh noted again how small and weak the creatures of this world were. The tall being showed her teeth, and spoke. The Gringg listened, catching a word here and there, but comprehending more from the accompanying gestures.
“We will follow where you go,” Eonneh said agreeably.
“They speak so quietly, Eonneh! I will be so glad when we work out what it is they are saying,” Ghotyakh said. “They give every indication that they wish to learn our words, although it is also clear they want us to learn their language. I am glad we at least are no longer being watched by Ayomnnns carrying weapons, but this is in its own way a threat.”
“I, too, still worry that they do not trust us. It is vital that they see us as harmless. Let us continue to shield our reactions and walk among them to reassure the small ones. If Grzzeearoghh commands that to speak their language is the best thing for Gringg to do, we shall do so, as we will deal with whatever else befalls us,” Eonneh replied, following Ken into the heart of the Hrruban village. “For myself it is worth the risk. I am delighted to learn an alien language. It is easy to master other Gringg dialects, for they are all based upon the one mother language. This—this is genuinely different, and challenging. I have been waiting for a chance like this all my life.”
The Gringg, gliding along in the midst of their escort, seemed fascinated by their surroundings. Ken pointed out objects, attaching names to each, but they paid scant attention to him. They did seem to be taking everything in with all their senses. Occasionally, Eonneh or Ghotyakh stopped to touch a tree or the wall of a house, feeling its substance with the sensitive pads of their handpaws.
A crowd of Hrrubans had gathered, and as word spread of the visitors’ presence, Hayumans came over the Friendship Bridge to watch—at a respectful distance, having noted the aliens’ size, teeth, and claws. The Gringg noted them placidly, and went on.
“What are these monsters? They look like giant mda!” demanded Anne Boncyk, riding up on a skittish horse. She was a dainty woman with a decided chin and large, fringed brown eyes.
“Our latest visitors,” Ken said affably. At times, one didn’t know which way Anne would jump. “They call themselves Gringg. Their ship is in orbit around Doonarrala.”
The horse stretched out its neck to sniff at the Gringg. It sneezed once, but didn’t shy away. Anne looked surprised.
“What about that? I’d’ve thought he’d be off across the compound,” she said. “They don’t scare him. Good lad!” And she gave her mount an affectionate slap on the neck.
“I find,” Jilamey said mischievously, “that horses do not tend to judge by appearances.”
“All ze children are still here,” Hrrestan noted, sorting out the whirlwind of small bodies that whisked back and forth across his front garden. “Our sons’ mates are waiting together.” The older Hrruban paused. “You are certain that Zodd and Hrriss are safe?”
“Have you ever known a situation where they were at a loss?” Ken said lightly. “Except for that dratted spaceport issue. Seriously, old friend, I wouldn’t have left them if I felt them to be endangered. I have a gut-strong reaction that these fellows are peaceful. Otherwise, they wouldn’t send the captain’s own archivist with us, and that’s what I judge Eonneh here to be.” Then he grinned, poking Hrrestan in the ribs. “Let’s see what the grandkids think of our new friends! If I remember rightly, Todd trusted you on sight and he’s never been righter.”
“You’rrre not inzending to let zese strangers near childrrren, are you?” Hirro, Hrrestan’s nearest neighbor, was shocked.
“The advantage is on the kids’ side, Hirro,” Ken said patiently. “This is open ground, and you must know how fast Hayuman children can move if they have to.”
“Who are zey?” Hrrula, one of Ken’s oldest friends, shouldered his way up to walk beside Ken. The Hrruban’s big green eyes were shining.
“Gringg,” Ken said, grinning.
“ ‘We arrre not alone,’ ” Hrrula quoted, dropping his jaw so far it nearly dislocated. “Mrrrvelous!”
The Gringg, largely ignoring their escort, caught sight of the cluster of children. Eonneh’s ears seemed to perk up when Hrrana let out a shriek of mock fear, and ran away from her brother, who was stretching out a hand to tag her. Her tail, streaming out behind, whisked out of the way just as he was about to grab it. Fascinated, Eonneh and Ghotyakh moved closer to watch.
“Beep-beep!” shrieked Hrrunival, poking his sister in the belly when she twisted around to avoid running into a rosebush. “Now you have to say that!”
The other children dodged away from the Hrruban female, who finally caught Alec up against the pillar supporting Hrrestan’ s porch.
“Beep-beep!” she cried, and changed the symbol by tugging Alec’s ear lobe. “Mrow!”
“Uh-oh!” Alec yelled, and ran around trying to catch someone else to be It.
“Uh-uh!” Alison cried, as Alec made a dive for Hrrunival. “No fair grabbing tails!” The pudgy Hrruban boy rolled away just in time and ran behind Alison.
The Gringg stood entranced by the children, ignoring the adults’ efforts to move them along. Eonneh let out pleased little mutters at seeing younglings at play.
Suddenly Alec caught sight of the Gringg. “Look at them!” he shouted, standing stock-still and pointing. “Are they bears, Granddad?”
“What are bears?” Hrrana asked, swivelling and then standing as rigid as her friend.
“Earth animals, and these are not really bears,” Ken explained, “but close.”
All the children had paused in their noisy game of symbol tag and turned to look. They stared wide-eyed at the Gringg, who stared back. Shock held the children immobile for a moment. Hrrunival was the first to recover. Nose a-twitch and tail straight out in defiance of his own uncertainty, he squared his small shoulders.
“Who are you?” he demanded, walking up to Eonneh. The child wasn’t quite as high as the Gringg’s hip, but size wasn’t going to deter him. The Alley Cats and Hrrana, holding Ourrh firmly by the hand, followed in close support. The baby’s tail wrapped and unwrapped around one hind leg and his yellow-green eyes were huge, the pupils outspread across the irises.
“Totally unafraid,” Frill muttere
d, watching this exchange. “What do you think of that?”
“Amazing,” said Jilamey. “Unless you know Ken’s family.”
“Doonan children,” Ken said, shaking his head. “They don’t even know they’re supposed to be afraid.”
* * *
“Mrrva, hurry! Where’s that rifle?” Kelly shouted again, as the children, aware of the beasts staring at them, stopped their play.
“Why?” Hrriss’ mother came running, her tail lashing. “Where’s the peril?”
The baby woke, crying. Nrrna snatched her up, holding her protectively to her chest.
“There are two absolutely gigantic mda out there looming over the children!” Kelly exclaimed. “They might attack at any minute. The kids are just standing there, frozen. Oh, my babies!” She followed Mrrva’s pointing finger toward a closet, and was on her knees loading shells into the chambers of Hrrestan’ s powerful snake gun. “Call my brother at the animal hospital. Call the colony buildings. See if there’s anyone in Animal Control!”
Nrrna ran for the commlink.
There was a rap on the door behind them. “Anyone home?” Ken called, then pushed the door open, aware of agitated movement within. “Oh no, Kelly! No, wait!”
She looked up at the sudden appearance of her father-in-law, her hands moving as if of their own volition. “Ken! Where’s Todd? There are two huge mda out there! They never come so close to villages. These must be killers. I have to protect the children.” She snapped the gun shut.
“They’re not mda! They’re our new friends. They’re from the strange ship.” He put one hand on the rifle barrel and deftly relieved her of it.
“From the ship? The one that came in out of nowhere?” Kelly swallowed hard, trying to grasp his statement as he unloaded the heavy-bore rifle. Behind him, Nrrna, green eyes huge, still clutched her baby.
“These fellows are peaceful. Their ship isn’t even armed.” Ken grinned reassuringly. Had all Kelly’s training in Alreldep gone down the drain since her marriage? He smiled more broadly before he said, “Todd and Hrriss are staying aboard their ship. In exchange, we’ve got a couple of visitors. They really are friends, Kelly, Nrrna.”
“Friends?” Kelly repeated, her voice sounding unsteady even to her. Her hands were shaking, and she didn’t seem able to focus. “And you left Todd and Hrriss on board that immense ship?”
“They volunteered, but I wouldn’t have agreed, dear, if I didn’t truly believe it’s the right way to deal with this unexpected situation. After all”—he winked at her as he helped her to her feet “—your father-in-law’s had some practice in this sort of ‘unexpected’ encounter.” Not quite certain, Kelly gave him a shallow grin. “So come on out and meet the Gringg. Even mda’d stay away from something that sizable!”
* * *
“Are you bears?” Alec wanted to know, confronting Eonneh, not too close, but close enough so that he could see the Gringg’s furry features. “Why are you wearing belts? That’s a very beautiful belt. I didn’t think bears wore belts like Hrrubans. They have pockets in their belts, too. What have you got in your belt pockets?”
Eonneh was delighted that this red-topped Ayoomnnn seemed unafraid of him. It appeared to be asking about his belt, for the slender little finger was pointing at his chest. But courtesy came first. “Eonneh,” he said, pointing at himself.
“Honey?” Alison asked, joining her brother in a semiprotective fashion. “Is that your name? Honey?”
“Reh. Ghotyakh,” Eonneh said, indicating his companion.
“I can’t say that!” Alec said. “It sounds like gargling.”
“Don’t be stupid, Alley, it sounds like Kodiak,” Alison said. “That’s a kind of bear. I guess they must be bears.”
“But what are bears?” Hrrunival wanted to know.
“They’re an Earth animal,” Alec said, somewhat pompously. “Mommy read us about them in a storybook.”
“I thought there were only Hayumans on Earrth,” Hrrunival said. “Hrruba has no ozzer animals.”
“Well, Earth did and does,” Alec informed him condescendingly. “You’ve seen the pictures in the book.”
“They’re Gringg,” Jilamey said, coming over to kneel beside the children. Following his example, Eonneh, renamed Honey, rolled back on his mighty haunches, bringing him closer to their level. “They’ve come to Doonarrala from their own world to meet us.”
“You do not have any assurrrance of zese fine senziments,” an older Hrruban male snapped. Ken recognized him as Trrengo, a relative newcomer to Rrala.
“I think we do,” Alec said, suddenly turning an incredibly adult expression on Trrengo. “Uncle Jilamey says we shouldn’t be afraid. He doesn’t lie to us. You’re friendly, aren’t you?” He held out a hand to Ghotyakh, who engulfed it completely in his vast paw.
“Wait, don’t let him touch you!” cried one of the Human colonists, Bob Lawrence.
“He’s okay,” Alec said, shaking hands solemnly. Alison followed suit, putting her hand into Ghotyakh’s other paw.
“Just like their father,” mumbled Macy McKee, patting his wife’s hand where it rested on his arm. “I remember the first time Todd brought us a passel of Hrrubans to meet—” He broke off and looked about in surprise. “And hey, these fellows don’t make me sneeze!”
“By analogy that should prove that these fellows are dangerous,” Lawrence said sardonically.
“What a bizarre way to distinguish friend from foe,” said Dr. Kate Moody in her caustic way as she pushed past her neighbors. “Allergies apart, they’re sure not acting hostile. And the Alley Cats aren’t the least bit skeered. Nor young Hrrunival. Look at them hunkering down to get level with your kids. Evening, Ken,” she said cheerfully as he approached. “Back to your old habits, huh, finding aliens. Well, a man has to keep his skills honed or lose ’em. By any chance, are these the patients I was told to examine? I don’t see any wounded lying about. Of course, the fellow on the Spacedep cruiser wasn’t sure if they were a job for Ben Adjei, as head veterinarian, or for me, so we both came. And I’m glad we did! The size of ’em! Well-grown lads!”
Ken had brought Kelly, Mrrva, and Nrrna, still clutching her baby, all three women somewhat hesitant. “Come on, ladies, let me make you known to the Gringg. This is Eonneh. Go on! Introduce yourself. Tell him your name. I need more recordings of his responses to get more of their inflections.”
Kelly glanced at Ken to make sure he was serious. With one hand he urged her forward, showing the recording device in the palm of the other.
“Kelly,” she said, turning her thumb to her chest. “I’m Kelly.” Then she turned her thumb to the smaller of the two Gringg and raised her eyebrows quizzically. “Your name?”
“Gelli,” Eonneh repeated carefully, thumping his furry chest with an immense fist. “Eonneh. Eonneh.”
“Honey!” the children chorused, delighted with such a name.
Ken made the rest of the introductions, laying his hand on each child’s head and saying the name. Then he turned to see which of the neighbors were willing. Most of those who were, he noted with amusement, were members of the original Doonan colony or those who had arrived just after the Decision. Hrrula was delighted by the Gringg, especially the way they sniffed, very politely, at each person they met. The others, mostly recent arrivals, watched cautiously from a discreet distance.
The children had none of their parents’ reserve. They were eager to meet Honey and Kodiak, as they’d been renamed. The Gringg tried to pronounce each new name, causing some of the kids to muffle their giggles in their hands. Made bold by their curiosity, more children came out of the surrounding houses and came forward timidly to see the visitors, then retreated, loud with relief, having experienced nothing more terrifying than a handshake.
“Come on, Nrrna,” Ken said, urging the shy Hrruban forward. “They’re really very friendly.”
Hirro even went so far as to leap forward, as if to snatch the cub from Honey, but, as if she hadn’t even seen his movement, Nrrna stepped in his path.
“I trust you,” she told the Gringg in the Middle Hrruban most of the onlookers would understand, her voice clear and strong in the sudden silence. “There is no harm in you that I can sense. You do come as friends.”
The aliens were obviously entranced with Hrrunna, and ignored everything else. Ken could barely contain his delight in Nrrna’s actions and words. In the hush that fell on the crowd, he could plainly hear the tiny whirr that meant someone was recording this on film, too, for which he was very grateful. He’d been so concerned with getting Gringg sounds down, he’d forgot to attend to a visual account.
Now Honey let out a tiny coo, the softest sound Ken had heard a Gringg make. The baby opened her eyes and briefly stared up at him, then stretched her pliant body across Honey’s broad palms. The coo seemed to soothe her eyes shut. She let out a little sigh, and went back to sleep, curling her tiny tail about her. Honey’s coo turned into soft melodic sounds, hovering just above audible level.
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