Treaty at Doona

by Anne McCaffrey

  “Second Speaker, you honor us by your presence!” Landreau said, bowing with hand on heart. His warm brown eyes held a twinkle. “Why, good morning, Commander Greene! You’re looking well.”

  The Hayuman commander offered a meaningless pleasantry and swung immediately back to the Spacedep admiral. Landreau slouched into the seat between the scarlet-haired banker and Todd Reeve, and began a cheerful conversation.

  More totally unknown Hrrubans arrived, bowing sharply to Hrrto from the doorway. Then Prrid emerged from the group and proceeded to his side of the table.

  “I must be here to welcome the Gringg captain,” Prrid murmured in High Hrruban in Hrrto’s ear. “Then I will join you in the spaceport discussions. Mrrunda attends it now.”

  Hrrto approved with a nod, and Prrid seated himself. The Space Arm commandant, too, would be facing Gringg. Hrrto mulled over Prrid’s probable reactions to Captain Grizz. Quite likely it would only reinforce Prrid’s doubts about the Gringg’s real purpose in approaching Rraladoona.

  There was a stir and a hubbub of voices in the corridor outside. Todd Reeve observed it, too. Hrrto tilted his ears toward the door and rolled them back again as he felt an uncomfortable sensation at the back of his neck.

  “I think our third party has arrived,” said Reeve, rising.

  Hastily, Hrrin, as co-host, sprang to his feet. Into the chamber swung Grizz, looking even larger than before. Hrrto had to restrain an impulse to lean back, away from her. She was truly overwhelming as she strode into the room. The floor seemed to bounce with the weight of her and her four companions.

  Someone, thought Hrrto, ought to tell her to keep her lips over her fangs, despite the fact that an open mouth was for her species, like his, a sign of friendliness. Then Hrrto noticed that the stripe fur of every single Hrruban bristled with an instinctive reaction. Except for his, he was excessively pleased to note. He could also hear the faint whistle of lashing tails as Grizz’s head brushed the top of the doorway. The resounding roar she used for a voice filled the room, overpowering the efforts of the small translator at her throat to compensate. Hrrto’s heart pounded. So bizarre for the female of a species to be larger than the male. She quite dwarfed the males in her entourage.

  “Hold it, hold it there, Grizz,” a narrow, dark-skinned Hayuman said, running up to the giant beast with a small tool. “We’re getting harmonics here, lady bear.”

  Lady bear? Hrrto was taken aback by such familiarity, such lack of basic decorum. Beside him, he could sense Mllaba’s tension. He gave her a warning glance to settle the fur on her nape, but when he turned to Prrid, the naval commandant had already smoothed himself. Good Stripe, that Prrid.

  With five Gringg, the room became suddenly as crowded as a package of fish, and he could see more in the corridor. They were so imposing that just a few of them looked like an invading army. Perhaps calling the Space Arm had not been such a bad idea. The Hayuman made adjustments to the captain’s speech device and stepped away.

  “That . . . good, gggrrr, better, best,” said the Gringg, swinging a huge paw to touch the male gently on the shoulder. Her voder had modified her speech to a much more pleasing pitch.

  Without the subsonics exacerbating his nerves, Hrrto relaxed. Strange that just sound could produce such effects. But others looked very much on their guard. Merely the presence of the immense Gringg held an aura of threat. Did they count on that?

  “Wrrrfgruh . . . I grrreet you all,” Grizz said, turning her head to include all the occupants of the table. “Hayumans and Hrrubans both.”

  “On behalf of Doonarrala,” Todd Reeve said, “I greet you, Captain Grzzeearoghh, and welcome you to the first in a series of talks which, we deeply hope, will benefit us all.”

  The device at his throat translated his words from good Middle Hrruban into inarticulate growls and coughs. Hrrto laid back his ears. Some of the growling fell below his range of hearing, and sound shocks flew up and down his spine.

  The great captain inclined her head. Todd swept his hand around the room to include the cushions on the unoccupied side of the table. “I hope these will be adequate.”

  The captain nodded absently in approval as she asked, “Two peoples are you Hayumans and Hrrubans?”

  “That is corrrect, Madam Captain,” Hrrin replied, courteously. “Here on Rraladoona we proudly sharrre a world, but we are of separate origins and species. If you and your prrrty will be seated, we shall begin.”

  “No. Two rooms are needed,” the Gringg said, and folded her paws over her chest with a gesture of finality. “I have brought two pairs of Gringg, to speak to you separately.”

  “But why?” Todd asked, surprised.

  “Here are two peoples. We honor your individuality. It is possible you each need different things from us, that you supply us with different items or units. It is only courteous to give individual attention to each of you. Therefore, two separate negotiations shall be held.” The translator punctuated the Hrruban phrases with growls and hums, but Grizz’s meaning was clear.

  Hrrto felt his ears lean backward. This was not proceeding according to plan. And yet, without the Hayumans in the room, the subject of purralinium could be brought up without fear that the Hayumans would understand its importance to the Hrruban economy.

  Be that as it may, Hrrto did not entirely trust this new development. These aliens were dangerous. Did they intend to divide and conquer, to promise vital goods and services to the Hayumans in private, cheating the Hrrubans of equal opportunities? Purralinium was not the only raw material Hrruba lacked. Depressed, Hrrto could see complications looming.

  Admiral Barnstable seemed no happier with the Gringg captain’s proposal, for he leaned across the table toward Reeve.

  “Conference, Rrev,” he ordered in High Hrruban. Quickly, Reeve turned to the towering Gringg and made a deep bow.

  “A moment’s pause, Captain,” Reeve said through the translator and beckoned urgently to Hrrin. “We had not expected a division.”

  The Gringg lifted a paw in acceptance and sat down on the cushions, waiting with cheerful patience.

  Second Speaker, Hrrin, and Mllaba joined the Admiral, Greene, Captain Hrrrv, Castleton, the two Reeves, and Hrrin and Kiachif in the furthest corner from the Gringg. Mllaba’s nape hair stuck straight out in agitation. Greene looked grim; Castleton, curious.

  “This will not do, Reeve,” the Admiral muttered as they assembled. “I insist that we establish a single round table for any trade agreements. Each of our two races must have absolutely identical treatment and consideration. No covert clauses.”

  “Nonsense, nails, and nuts,” Captain Kiachif said, scoffing at the red-faced Spacedep official. “That’d be the end of free enterprise—see if it isn’t. Why not let it be their way? What’s the harm of it? If we don’t like what they have to offer, we insist on a joint parley tomorrow, if you follow me. Nothing’s to stop us from convening, comparing, and combining.”

  “Nor am I comfortable with zis,” Hrrto said, covering his voder with one hand. “I prefer open confrrrnce.”

  “But isn’t zis preferable, Second Speaker?” Hrrin asked. “Hrruba’s individuality maintained, and ze same for Amalgamated Wrrlds.”

  Hrrto glared, but he could detect no note of sarcasm in the Rraladoonan’s voice. Those born on this colony planet really did lack many of the basic courtesies and tact which he felt his due.

  “It is a dangrrrous ploy,” agreed Captain Hrrrv, eyes gleaming.

  Reeve dismissed that remark. “If we want the Gringg to feel comfortable among us, we should do our best to accommodate a reasonable request. I concur with Captain Kiachif. Let’s go along with the Gringg’s wishes today. We can use, uh—” he glanced around for a view of the hall— “the conference room in the research library as the other chamber. It’s just down the hall and around the corner from the spaceport business.”

 
“This is not as planned,” Second said, reverting again to High Hrruban in his dismay. “Hrruba and Terra must take the lead here, not these strangers.”

  “It would seem, Honored sir,” Ken Reeve said, replying in the same language, “that we must oblige our guests—today, at least.”

  Only because the privacy suited Hrrto’s needs did he give consent. Graciously leaving the Hrrubans in possession of the Treaty Chamber, Todd led the Hayumans, the Gringg captain, and one of the pairs of males out of the door and away to the right.

  Hrrto watched them leave. Could he trust anyone of the Hayumans to give him an accurate account of what transpired in their session? Possibly his erstwhile allies in Spacedep would not dissemble too much. Still, if he could get the purralinium, he might just win the election on that score. He caught Nrrena staring at him. His direct and haughty glance made her look away again, her chin lowered in momentary embarrassment. How dare Fifth’s representative look askance in his direction! He nodded just once at Hurrhee, who gave the barest of nods in understanding.

  As soon as the Hayumans and the three Gringg had gone, Hrrin gestured for the others to be seated. With only two Gringg in the room, everyone seemed to breathe more freely.

  “As long as we are now together,” he said in Middle Hrruban, dropping his jaw in a pleasant smile, “perhaps we should begin by introducing ourselves.”

  * * *

  To Todd’s surprise, the engineer Koala was waiting a little way down from the Treaty Chamber with Commander Frill, Lieutenant Cardiff, and a few other Gringg males whom Todd hadn’t met before.

  “Afternoon, Mr. Reeve,” the burly xenotech said, grinning. “Didn’t think you’d be free.”

  “Frill and I are going to show Koala the sights,” Cardiff explained. “These are a few of her assistants. We’ve got a powwow later with a consortium of scientists from your colony and both cruisers. Nothing sensitive, of course, just general stuff, like that resonator of theirs. Good luck!” He escorted the troop of Gringg down the corridor toward the landing field. “You can raise me by belt radio if you need to!” he called over his shoulder.

  “Thanks, Lieutenant,” Todd replied. Weddeerogh waddled shyly up to Todd and touched his hand with a wet, black nose, then turned to bestow the same greeting on Ken.

  “Hello, little guy,” Todd said, pausing to ruffle the cub’s pate hairs. “Welcome to Doonarrala.” Then he turned to Grizz, and turned his voder on again. “The other room is just down here, Captain.”

  “Morra,” Grizz said, looking down on them fondly from her great height. “I do not discuss trading matters. I seek to visit your home village. Much has been told me that I wish to see with my own eyes,” she said in slow Hrruban. The translator produced remarkably accurate pronunciation. “These two”—she pointed a claw at Eonneh and another Gringg, a male with silky gray fur— “I trust to make best trade speech for us types.”

  “Of course,” Todd said, surprised on the one hand but pleased on the other. He’d wanted Grizz to see for herself what her emissaries had. “I’ll see you’re gridded up to First Village. My wife, Kelly, and Nrrna, Hrriss’ mate, will be delighted to host you in our homes. Allow me to send a message for them to meet you.”

  “You are most very kind,” Grizz said, pausing between words to remember what was appropriate to say.

  “Are you sure that is wise, Reeve?” Greene demanded, hand over his voder input. “Sending a . . . a being of her stature to a civilian habitation unescorted?”

  Todd understood exactly what the commander really meant, and refused to acknowledge it.

  “I admit it might be considered rude to ship the highest-ranking official of a delegation somewhere without the correct entourage, but perhaps,” he said, with a bow and a smile to Grizz, “under the circumstances she will forgive me. She will be met on arrival, of course, by my wife, who is, by the way, an Alreldep representative, and quite capable of handling our new friends.”

  Barnstable shot both of them a look of annoyance, and Todd understood that the criticism must actually have come from him. Spacedep’s paranoia was beginning to wear upon Todd. Grizz, who had followed only part of the swift, low-pitched conversation, showed her fangs amiably. The gesture made most of the Human delegates shiver, and Todd grinned back at her.

  “I forgive without reserve, Todd Reeve,” Grizz said. “I and my son look forward to seeing the beauties of your home which these others have described to me. And this one”—she patted her son’s shoulder— “is eager to swim in Doonarralan waters.”

  “Well, Admiral, Commander,” Todd said, “don’t let me keep you from your duties. The spaceport conference is just down the hall, you know.” Then he turned to Sumitral, Ali, and Jilamey. “You all know the place we’re to use. Why don’t you show our Gringg negotiators the way? I’ll join you soon as l can.”

  After he had called Kelly to tell her to meet her guests, he conducted Grizz and her cub out of the Treaty Building and to the grid facility. As there seemed to be no limit to the weight a grid could shift, he did not worry about the mass of a female Gringg.

  But the mass of the personage to be gridded quite shattered the composure of the bored grid operator. The slim female Hrruban on duty froze, her neck hair bristling, and gaped in shock at the pair to be transported to First Village.

  “Zis grid is only for small shipments,” she protested, anxiously glancing over Todd’s shoulder at Grizz.

  “Oh, come now, the captain masses no more than some of those ‘visitors’ you’ve been bringing in all week,” Todd said, cocking an eyebrow at her. Then he pointed to the schedule hung above her control board. “You’ve got an opening of almost ten minutes before you receive the next pallets. Captain Grzzeearoghh is a person of importance. She shouldn’t have to hang about here with you, now should she?”

  “No, sirrrr, no!” the Hrruban gasped. “Step up onto ze platfrrm, most honrrrred guests, please!” She gestured the Gringg between the slim transmission pillars and fumbled to key in the coordinates.

  “I know you’ll enjoy your visit, Captain,” Todd said, waving. “Kelly will be waiting for you!”

  “G’bye!” Weddeerogh said, waving both his paws energetically. As the mist rose and began to swallow him up, he squealed on such a note that the grid operator laid back her ears.

  * * *

  The conference room which Todd entered on his return was providentially carpeted, floor and walls, in a warm, burnt orange that complemented the golden woods of the furniture frames. The padding on the walls would baffle some of the more annoying overtones of Gringg speech. The chairs, upholstered in the same handsome orange, were set around a well-polished table of golden hardwood. Several computer monitors on swivel boards occupied positions on the tabletop and could be turned to face any direction.

  Someone had brought in the cushions which the Gringg preferred and placed them on one side of the large square table. Ken Reeve, the merchant captains, Sumitral and Jilamey, and some Humans Todd didn’t know were occupying the chairs on the opposing side. Todd was annoyed to find Commander Greene also present. Barnstable was eating his cake in the spaceport discussions and having it, too, with Greene here to listen to trade talks. Todd did recognize several Doonarralan representatives of the craft- and farm-collectives. These men and women were trying not to appear awed by the company in which they found themselves.

  “Are you comfortable now?” Sumitral was asking. “I would be happy to sit on the floor. We could move the table.”

  “Eye to eye, please, is Gringg way,” Eonneh said politely. “Sofas are fine for Gringg, chairs for you, thank you.” The translator had picked up the unfamiliar word “cushions,” and given the Gringg the closest equivalent it had. “New friends, I am Eonneh, named Honey by a child of this world. I approve the name, as I consider it the first step to close links with your people. This is Krrpuh. You call him Coypu—easier to say.”


  Todd had to restrain a broad smile. He recalled, and cherished, the memory of the Gringg being assigned “bear” names by his twins and Hrriss’ two eldest. The youngsters took the naming responsibility very seriously, having made a list of every synonym or cognate for “bear” that could be found in Terran philology. He remembered Hrrunival being peeved that his planet had no corollary creature. They matched names as closely as they could to the Gringg sounds, delighting the recipients.

  “We welcome you, Honey and Coypu,” Todd said formally and started introducing those present. He could hear rapid footsteps on the marble floors as latecomers hurried to the new venue.

  As Todd recited the Humans’ names, the Gringg sniffed subtly in the appropriate direction, obviously pairing scent with face. Sumitral raised the corner of his mouth in a wry smile as he realized what they were doing. Horstmann was the only one who seemed slightly uneasy. Jilamey, seated at the far corner beside Honey, winked as Todd named him. The tool-and-die maker from Rompiel was frowning abstractedly, trying not to stare at the two Gringg. Commander Greene spoke in low, urgent tones to Horstmann, who turned a shoulder on him; then the navy man stared piercingly at Todd. Todd tried to ignore Greene. The man’s blatant Human chauvinism grated on him.

  Todd had had a furious discussion about Greene with Barnstable after returning to the Hamilton, concerning Greene’s near-disastrous antics on the Gringg ship. That the aide had been responsible for initiating the intruder probe was bad enough, but carrying an explosive device onto a vessel assumed to be peaceful defied all reason. Todd had made it clear to Barnstable that either act could have compromised matters beyond recall, and he insisted that Greene be left behind on the flagship whenever Barnstable came groundside. The Admiral refused, demanding his rights to such escort as he required. He resented Todd’s criticism of a member of his staff, and pointed out again that Doonarrala’s priorities and Spacedep’s were not identical. Todd hoped he wouldn’t have to go all the way to Amalgamated Worlds Council to keep Spacedep from causing more trouble.