“One for water, the other for garbage. And for night soil, unless they spread that on the fields. Better pay attention to which one is which, city boy.” Unconsciously, Schuur looked up. “Rains are coming. Monsoon season's almost here.”
Gordimer jerked Schuur by the arm. “Hush! listen!”
From the slope behind them they could hear voices like the chirping of birds. Gordimer turned on the video camera without focusing it to capture the sounds on tape. Then he cautiously adjusted his mirror to look through the hide's rear peephole.
Schuur propped himself up on one elbow and ran his hands over his submachine gun, checking the magazine and the safety. “Five, maybe six of them.” he whispered.
“Too small for adults. Kids. Just kids,” Gordimer replied.
As they watched, a child scampered into view with a cloth wrapped around its loins and a baggy cap on its rounded head. The blue down covering the child's skin, long spindly arms, and large, luminescent eyes gave it a curiously angelic appearance. It ran with its knees flexed and pointed backward, which made Gordimer think of a boy with a bird's legs.
It paused to watch the glittering mothlike creatures buzzing around a rotting branch. As Schuur and Gordimer waited with drawn breath, the child carefully uncoiled a pink rope from around its waist and began moving it gently. Suddenly, the child snapped the thong at one of the moths. The elastic line stretched, and the moth found itself stuck to the end. Reeling its capture in, the child peeled away the wings and ate it with obvious relish.
As the child refastened the line around its waist, it stopped and began looking directly at the hide, swaying its head from side to side in apparent indecision. Although the hide had been skillfully crafted, with the extra dirt carefully scattered in the ra vine below, some minor alteration in the contour had betrayed them. A long moment passed. Then voices from farther down the hill attracted the child's attention. Without a backward glance it ran down to rejoin its companions.
Schuur exhaled. “That felt too close.” He flipped on the safety; somehow he had released it without thinking.
The plan was to capture anyone who discovered the hide and try to arrange for a night pickup, but the two of them both knew bow difficult that would be; the odds that this world's inhabitants would recognize a submachine gun for what it was and react accordingly were not especially good.
Schuur rolled from his side to his back. “You think he noticed anything?”
The child's sex was indeterminate, but somehow Schuur knew it was a boy.
“We'll know if he comes back with his father.” Gordimer turned his head “If we don't see anybody before nightfall. I'd say we're all right”
Schuur nodded. “We'd best tell the Variag to tell everyone to be extra careful; the kid knew something wasn't quite right, he just couldn't put it together. Did you see the legs on him? I wonder if we can teach them to play football?”
Gordimer giggled. “You see the way he gobbled up that bug?”
“What of it? Eating bugs got you into recon, didn't it?”
L-Day plus 17 [3-rain Rain 13]
AN HOUR BEFORE DAWN, KEKKONEN AND DE KANTZOW VENTURED out from the campsite they had set up in a rocky cleft to check the wire snares they had laid along small animal trails.
Moving slowly downhill toward the sounds of running water, Kekkonen, the point man, suddenly held up his hand “Recon point one-two-one. Break. Kalle here. I hear something, DeKe,” he murmured into his radio.
Next to him, Dolly, acclimated to Neighbor’s sights and smells, whimpered.
De Kantzow moved up to join him in slow, patient steps.
Kekkonen listened for a minute. “It sounds like a bunch of monkeys.” Ahead of him, one of the bushes moved. “Whatever they are, they've got to be better than the blue mouse deer Salchow saw.”
“Don't let Simon kiss you if we catch one,” The Deacon advised gruffly.
In Orbit, HIMS Zuiho [4-rain Rain 13]
SIMON BEETJE, MARIA BEETJE, AND A THIRD BIOLOGIST, KANTARO OZAWA, assessed the photographic images Kekkonen and de Kantzow transmitted from the planet’s surface. Ozawa ran the film backward and froze it. Although his specialty was plant succession, he had spent two years studying rhesus monkey groups on Earth. “It is astonishing that they were able to get this close.”
Simon Beetje nodded. “DeKe and Kalle are both very good.” For the biologists, Neighbor’s first surprise was the discovery that most of Neighbor’s trees had lacelike internal skeletons of calcium carbonate, which presumably better protected them from predation and the planet’s fierce winds. The second was the apelike creatures Kekkonen and de Kantzow had found.
“The animals are wary, but they have no reason for identifying humans as predators,” Maria Beetje pointed out
“They'll learn,” Simon commented, tapping his front teeth with the end of a light pencil.
The lemur-apes were blue-gray. The chloroplasts in Neighbor’s vegetation reflected far more blue light than their Earth counterparts, and Beetje's team had already noticed that the larger fauna tended to patterns in shades of blue, gray, and black.
“My first thought was that the creatures are gibbon analogues, from their generally slender build,” Ozawa said judiciously, “but they are not arboreal at all.”
“Walkers--look at the structure of the hips and feet. Tailless lemurs,” Maria commented brusquely. “We'll need to assess their social interaction to detennine how advanced they are.”
”We should call them lemur-apes for now,” Ozawa temporized.
Simon smiled. “We'd better, before Filthy DeKe thinks of something else. Pia Szuba has been pushing me for an analysis of the water potato, which appears to be the only intensely cultivated food crop other than that thing that looks like a purple yam. Did we get that done?”
Ozawa nodded. “The plant is quite interesting. It has an extensive system of air passages from the leaves to the roots, which allow it to grow well in saturated, anaerobic soils-under such conditions, the plant respirates aerobically-and both the biological value, indexing the absorbable nitrogen, and the protein content appear to be exceptionally high. Field flooding avoids leaching of nutrients through the subsoil and frees soluble phosphorus and trace elements such as iron, aluminum, manganese, and calcium for the plant to utilize, so a flooded cultivation system would appear to be well suited to very intensive, very sustained production, but that would be Dr. Szuba's specialty more than mine.”
Ozawa's elfin face grew serious. “'The closer the lemur-apes are to the naturales in evolutionary terms, the more I think we should learn from them. I recommend that we draft a written request for Sergeant Kekkonen's team to continue studying them.”
Simon froze the record again to study one particular individual. “Anton agreed to that at dinner.”
L-Day plus 23 [9-rain Rain 13]
EVEN ASLEEP, DEKE DE KANTZOW FELT THE KICK BEFORE IT LANDED AND ROLLED TO AVOID IT.
Kalle Kekkonen grinned. “You're slowing down, DeKe.” He pointed. “It’s almost dawn.” The lemur-apes were crepuscular, most active at dawn and dusk to avoid the sun's fierce heat, and
the troop was beginning to stir.
De Kantzow began folding the space blanket he had wrapped around himself against the evening chill.
The troop they were studying numbered thirty individuals: five adult males, thirteen adult females, and a dozen juveniles. The four subordinate males, a third again as large as the females, oc cupied individual nests of tree boughs in a loose perimeter around the central nest Invariably, they were the first to awaken. The two reconnaissance men bad sensibly shortened the name the scientists
had chosen to “lemps.”
If the troop held to its pattern, it would move out in formation at first light to forage.
“Five rand says they go play in the frosting creek again.” De Kantzow murmured
“You're on, grandfather,” Kekkonen replied as he methodically filmed the
troop, “and I'll go you one better: the loser has to scrape up the dung samples for the rest of the week.”
Picking up food and fecal samples was part of the team's job, but not necessarily a favored part.
“Did Simon say wben he wants us to take the net and give the little frosters a ride?”
“Not yet.” Kekkonen admitted, “That’s the part that bothers me. They're almost like people, women and kids, you know?”
“Too much like people, if you ask me,” de Kantzow agreed, “the big bastards are frosting mean, and the little ones aren't much better.” The previous day, the alpha male had nearly jerked the arm off a female who had been a little slow to let him climb her back.
De Kantzow squeezed water into a ration, expanding the plastic membrane wrapped around it. A few seconds later, the ration began cooking itself.
The Japanese were smart little buggers, de Kantzow observed sourly to himself. On the new rations, the only thing you couldn't eat was the wrapper. Unfortunately, diced squid was still diced squid.
An hour passed. “I wonder what’s keeping them?” Kekkonen asked, puzzled.
A chorus of shrieks from the lemur-apes punctuated the silence of the forest
“I'll be frosted.” De Kantzow looked at Kekkonen. “We're going to need to think up another frosting name. Tmy little bugger, isn't it?”
A moment later, Kekkonen grinned. “Looks like twins at least. Keep thinking up names, Deacon.” He nudged de Kantzow. “You ready to pay up?”
“We'd frosting better let the Variag know,” de Kantzow growled.
An hour later, the female gave birth to two more. Around local midnight, a second female went into labor.
L-Day plus 25 [2-hexagon Rain 13]
VERESHCHAGIN PACED THE LENGTH OF HIS CUBICLE WITH A CUP OF TEA IN HIS HAND. lost in thought. Coldewe and Kolomeitsev waited for a question to bubble to the surface.
The Iceman cleared his throat to break the spell.
Vereshchagin's eyes refocused, and be turned to look at Coldewe, wedged into the far corner. “How are we doing with communications intercepts?”
“Oh, we've got tons of stuff--mostly audio, but a fair amount of visual--now that Esko's crew bas tbe knack of distinguishing goodies from background noise. The problem is that we don't have the slightest idea what any of it means. Our scientists all have theories, of course. In the words of the great Samuel Clemens, 'There is something fascinating about science. One gets such wholesale returns of conjecture out of such a trifling investment of fact.’ “ Coldewe saw Vereshchagin surreptitiously look down at the time display on his wrist mount “Is it that time, already?”
“Two minutes and counting.”
A moment later, they heard a knock on the door. Coldewe grinned. “He's early.”
Esko Poikolainnen stuck his head inside. “Sir, Dr. Seki is here.”
Vereshchagin nodded, and Seki awkwardly followed Poikolainnen through the doorway.
“Good morning. Doctor. What may I do for you?” Vereshchagin inquired politely.
“On behalf of the scientific community, I respectfully request that you consider dispatching the initial-contact team,” Seki said stiffly, as be had on each of the previous three mornings.
Vereshchagin looked up at Seki. “I have considered it. Doctor. We will dispatch the team, today.”
“It is the considered opinion of each of my subject-matter experts that continued delay is purposeless and that we have reached a point of diminishing returns. . . ” Puzzlement formed in Seki's eyes. “Excuse me, what did you say, honored ViceCommissioner?”
“I said that we will dispatch the initial-contact team, today. Please advise the individual team members,” Vereshchagin said without turning a hair.
Seki bowed. “Thank you, Vereshchagin-sama.” He cocked one eyebrow. “As a further matter, the physical scientists respectfully request---“
“The recon teams to take core samples.” Vereshchagin folded his hands. “No.”
Seki bowed again. After he left, Hans Coldewe said admiringly, “You are truly evil Anton. When did you decide?”
“Last night. Everyone concerned will be better for having had a full night’s sleep. Especially Dr. Seki.”
“This is it, isn't it?”
“Yes, we will put our tents down, and see who passes within. The welcome tape gave us a few weeks grace, but it is time to establish a dialogue. Before somebody there becomes impatient and initiates a dialogue with missiles.”
AS COMPANY SERGEANT ISAAC WANJAU FLOATED TO THE GROUND, WEARING COVERALLS over an outlandish uniform largely of his own devising--khaki, with a maroon beret and a silver aiguillette over his left shoulder--he looked up to assess the progress of the civilians, most of whom were making their first parachute jump. For once, Kokovtsov, piloting the shuttle, wasn't concerned about being seen or wasting fuel, which made this particular jump unusually easy. Food and equipment would follow on Kokovtsov's second pass.
The initial-contact team consisted of three scientists and two soldiers. If all went well, more would follow.
In the fields below, startled Blues stared upwardl with their mouths open.
By the time Wanjau reached the ground, they were gone. Unperturbed, he grabbed Corporal Kobus Nicodemus to help him set up the team's tents and get the equipment unpacked as halfton supply pallets gently impacted the ground.
Two hours later, the contact team's camp consisted of four tents erected side by side with breakaway pallets for flooring. The flags of Imperial Japan and the Republic of Suid-Afrika
flew from improvised flagstaffs, and from Wanjau's point of view, although a lot of important work remained, the store was open for business.
L-Day plus 26 [3-hexagon Rain 13]
PRECARIOUSLY SEATED ON A FIELD CHAIR, SEKI WATCHED ISAAC WANJAU AND KOBUS NICODEMUS erect a shower stall with help from Dr. Connie Marais, whose fair skin was already reddening.
Solar panels on the slanted roofs of the contact team's tents provided power to run the generator that pumped water from a nearby irrigation canal to supply the campsite. Of the four tents, two housed personnel, another the kitchen. and a fourth the generator and supplies.
The aroma of rehydrated meat and vegetables sizzling in a wok wafted through the still air as the team's second linguist, Dr. Keiji Katakura, worked at preparing dinner.
Dictating data on the campsite vicinity, Seki became aware that he was being watched. Turning his head, he saw two beings standing beside the open tent flap.
The aliens were tall, a little over two meters, and heavily muscled around the shoulders and thighs. They wore multicol ored kilts belted at the waist, and brown cloaks fastened with green clasps at the left shoulder. They stood tilted slightly forward with knees bent, their lower legs strikingly slender. A fine bluish brown down covered the visible parts of their bodies, thickening on top of the head and around the shoulders and rather long necks, and disappearing around the delicately inhuman faces. Their ears were small, down free, and cupped.
“Hello, I am Dr. Seki,” Seki said, fumbling through signs.
Seki read astonishment in the eyes of the nearer being. He was couscious of a slightly sweetish odor. A second later, both of them were gone.
Hours later, an official delegation arrived. dressed in cloaks of a fiery red.
In Orbit, HIMS Aoba [4-reed Rain 13]
LEADING CREWMAN MAEDA SHOOK ENSIGN ARITA'S SHOULDER LIGHTLY.
Arita stirred. ..What?” He lifted his head.
“Sir?” Maeda said with a worried look in his eyes. “Are you all right? Did the statistical analysis run?”
Arita sat up straight. “Unfortunately, it would appear that we will again need to readjust our programming.”
“Sir?”
“The analysis for estimated population fails to accord with the analyses for food production and transportation links. I would be remiss in sending our inadequate efforts on to the flagship.”
&
nbsp; “But sir, it is possible-”
Arita smiled, touched by Maeda's concern. “All things are possible under heaven, Maeda. Yet our analyses indicate that the population level of upland areas is exceptionally low, and that estimated food production and the transportation network are clearly inadequate to maintain the observed level of culture. This would appear to be due to flaws in our methodology. No other theory would appear to account for the discrepancies.”
Arita closed his eyes and laid his head back down for a moment. “I will, of course, report our continued failure to achieve acceptable progress to Captain Kobayashi and accept responsibility.”
L-Day plus 38 [6-reed Rain 13]
THE EARLY MORNING MIST HUNG IN STRIPS. MOISTENED BY THE VAPOR IN THE AIR, the mossy filaments clung to the trees like great, gray cobwebs, and rubbery vines hung beneath them almost to the ground.
Dolly whimpered softly, and Kekkonen elbowed de Kantzow awake. “They're coming.”
De Kantzow rolled over, growled, and checked the time. “Greedy little bastards are coming earlier every day.”
As bait for the ambush,. as de Kantzow liked to call it, for the fourth day running, Kekkonen had filled small containers near the edge of the clearing with a variety of choice arthropods.
“Colonel Hans said he wanted a male and a female,” Kekkonen repeated.
De Kantzow nodded.
In advance of the rest of the lemp troop, a male outrider and a lower-ranking female galloped toward the pails to grab morsels before their social superiors snatched them away. “Perfect,” de Kantzow whispered. Seconds later, he sprung the trap, and bent saplings vaulted upright
As the two netted lemps writhed in the meshes, the rest of the troop raced off in panic.
De Kantzow and Kekkonen went forward carrying cages.
Dolly trotted obediently at their heels.
Cain's Land Page 23