by Matt
"I have already said," put in Lyt Ahn, "that it is only the rare beast that can be taught to speak with such adequate clearness. The evidence for this is in the efforts I mentioned, to which I was put in staffing this particular corps of beast translators and couriers, to which you refer and of which the beast now present is an example."
"It seems to me we lose nothing by trying," said Laa Ehon.
"We stand to lose something by trying," said Lyt Ahn, "if what we are trying is foredoomed to a failure that may make us look ridiculous in the eyes of our beasts."
"Of course," said Laa Ehon, "but at the same time I find it hard to believe that what this handful you use as translators can do, others of their kind can't also be brought to do. The idea flies in the face of logic and reason. What is hypothesized to be missing from those who, according to your experience, are incapable of being taught to use the true language clearly?"
"Exactly what the blocking factor is, we've never been able to discover," answered Lyt Ahn. "Would you care to question the beast we have present?"
"Ask a beast?" said Laa Ehon; and experience made Shane perceptive enough to catch the evidence of shock and surprise, not only in Laa Ehon, but in the others about the table.
"As you have said," replied Lyt Ahn, "it'll do no harm to explore any and all possibilities; and this beast might, indeed, be able to provide you with some information or insight."
"The suggestion is a—" Laa Ehon hesitated, obviously searching for a way of putting what he wanted to say in words that would not fall into the category of insult to his First Captain, but would still express his reaction to such a suggestion. "—far-fetched idea."
"What have you to lose?" said Lyt Ahn; and a murmur of agreement ran around the table. Laa Ehon's expression showed no change, but Shane guessed that the Milanese Commander was seething with anger. He turned and his eyes met Shane's.
"Beast," he said, "can you offer any information as to why a majority of your species cannot be taught to speak the true language as well as you, yourself, have come to speak it?"
"Immaculate sirs and dames—" Shane's voice sounded high-pitched and strange in his own ears after the deep tones of those around the table, "it is a characteristic of our species that during our first few years of life, at a time when our pups are learning how to speak, that their capability for so learning is very great. In the years just before the untarnished race came among us, it had been established that our young could learn as many as four or five different variants of our tongue, simultaneously, but that this facility was lost for most beasts by the time these young were five to eight years of age. Only a fortunate few of us keep that ability; and it's been from such fortunate few that the First Captain's corps of courier-translators has been drawn."
There was a moment of silence—a long moment.
"I don't think I'm completely ready to believe this without independent substantiation," said Laa Ehon. "It's well known that, unlike ourselves, these subject races use the lie quite commonly. Moreover, even when they do not consciously lie, they can be ignorant or subject to superstitions. The point this beast has just made, that the language-learning ability of his race is largely lost after the first five to eight years of their life may be a lie, the result of ignorance, or simply belief in a superstition that has no real basis in fact."
"I," said Lyt Ahn heavily from the far end of the table, "am inclined to believe this Shane-beast—such being its name. I've had much contact with it over the last two years and always found it truthful, as well as remarkably lacking in ignorance for one of its species, and not superstitious... even in the meaning of that term as understood by our own race."
"If what the beast says is true, however," put in Maa Alyn, "there'd be no point in trying your experiment, Laa Ehon."
Laa Ehon turned toward her.
"When were the plans of the untarnished race ever made or changed upon the basis of input from one of the subject species?" he said. "I mean no disrespect to the First Captain; but the fact remains the beast here may be mistaken, or may not know what we are talking about. We should hardly make any decision here on an unsupported faith in its possible correctness."
"True enough," murmured another female, who had not spoken before. 'True enough."
"What's been said here does suggest one thing, however," said Laa Ehon, "and that's that we should begin immediately, on the chance that the beast is correct, to expose some of the young beasts to the true language. Then, if this one is correct, we may breed up a generation which takes advantage of this early language ability of theirs, if such actually exists. Certainly, nothing can be lost by trying."
A mutter of agreement sounded around the table, interrupted once more by the heavy voice of Lyt Ahn.
"Am I correct then?" the First Captain said, looking around the table. "At least a number of you are agreeable to taking young beasts into your households and keeping them continually with you?"
There was a silence.
"A nurse-beast, of course," said Laa Ehon, "could be detailed to take care of each young creature. The young one would no more be in the way, then, under such circumstances, than the adult beasts are when we use them for various duties. The only requirement would be that the nurse-beast keep the infant creature in position to overhear as much of our speech as possible."
"I think Laa Ehon may have the answer," Maa Alyn said. "I can't see any flaws in his reasoning."
"Nor can I—but I am a member of the true race," said Lyt Ahn. "However, perhaps it would be wise for the untarnished and immaculate individuals here assembled to check first with the representative of the beasts we have with us at the moment—in case there might be some unseen flaw in this course. It's always possible that there are pitfalls in it perceptible to one of the species, but which none of us have observed."
Once more, Shane found the eyes of all the Aalaag there turned upon him.
"Beast," said Maa Alyn, "we have been discussing the possibilities of raising some of your young with early exposure to the true language, assuming this theory of yours for early aptitude for the learning of it is a fact—"
"You need not recap, Maa Alyn," interrupted Lyt Ahn. "I can assure you that this Shane-beast has heard and understood all we've been saying."
There was a strange, almost startled silence around the table. Almost as if it had been suggested that there was a spy in their midst. Shane realized that, with the exception of Lyt Ahn, all those there had until that moment not really made the connection between his knowledge of their language and the fact that he would be able not only to follow but to understand all that they had been saying to each other. Comprehension of that fact clashed violently with their habit of ignoring the underraces.
"Well then, Shane-beast, since the First Captain assures us that's your name," said Laa Ehon after a second, "have you any comment on our plan to raise some young of your species where they can overhear the true language being spoken, during their receptive years of growth?"
"Only," answered Shane, "if the immaculate sir pleases, that I believe if you follow the plan as you have outlined it, the result will be that these young of my species will understand Aalaag, but not necessarily be able to speak it."
He hesitated. He had been given no order to volunteer information. To do so would be greatly daring. But that lack was almost immediately remedied.
"Go on, Shane-beast," said Lyt Ahn from the head of the table. "If you have any suggestions to make, make them."
"Yes, make them," said Laa Ehon, his black eyes glittering on Shane. "The most immaculate First Captain seems to feel there may be a flaw in our reasoning which you might have discerned."
"I might merely suggest," said Shane, picking his way as carefully through the alien vocabulary as through a mine field, in search of words which would at once be absolutely truthful but at the same time carry his meaning without implying any pretense to equality, or possible offense, "a danger could lie in the fact that you have the young of my species merel
y listening to the true language as it's correctly spoken. As I say, it might be that the young referred to would learn to understand, but not to speak, the true language, since they would have no opportunity to speak it."
He hesitated. There was a dangerous silence around the table.
"What I am trying to say," he said, "is that perhaps the untarnished or immaculate individuals dealing with these young beasts should consider speaking to and allowing themselves to be answered by these young ones in the true tongue. It would have to be understood that, being so young still, the small beasts would not yet have acquired a knowledge of polite response, and might inadvertently fail to show the proper respect...."
The shock around the table this time was a palpable thing, and the pause was longer than at any time since Shane had entered the room.
"You are suggesting," said Maa Alyn finally, "almost that we treat these young of your species as if they were young of the true race."
"I am afraid that is my meaning, immaculate dame," said Shane.
There was a further silence, broken at last by Maa Alyn.
"The suggestion is disgusting," she said. "Moreover, even more than any other suggestion put forward here today, this flies in the face of all the rules evolved from the experience of the true race with their underspecies over many worlds and many centuries. There must be some other way."
There was a general noise of concurrence from those gathered around the table.
7
For a moment, Shane was sure that while Laa Ehon had lost his point about introducing humans into Aalaag inner households, he had come dangerously close to gathering the leadership of the Council to him. He saw that all eyes had now turned sharply to the First Captain, as if waiting for some magical, alternate solution from him.
Then he spoke; and with the first words, Shane realized his master had seized the most propitious moment for forestalling Laa Ehon's bid for power and regaining his own position of Alpha leader in the Council.
"I fully realize the distastefulness of the suggestion," said Lyt Ahn. "Nonetheless, I'm going to ask all those around this table to take this matter of bringing human young into their households into consideration, and think about it seriously between now and our next meeting. It is true that we're at variance with the prognosis and the estimates originally made for our settling of this particular world; and recently there has been an outbreak of what can only be regarded as an attitude inimical to the true race in these drawings that appear in the cities from time to time—and, I believe, more frequently lately."
"Clearly they are of a beast, wearing what they call 'pilgrim' clothing," said Maa Alyn. She stumbled badly in her attempt to pronounce the English word. "Has the First Captain considered ordering that no such clothing be wom in the future?"
"It's hard to see what that would accomplish at this date, immaculate dame," answered Lyt Ahn. "The symbol has already been established. In fact, we would be dignifying it by paying that much attention to it. The beasts might consider that we actually saw the drawing as a threat—which is what those who put them up undoubtedly want."
'True enough." Maa Alyn nodded.
"On the other hand, something undoubtedly must be done; and the immaculate sir who is our Commander in Milan has at least come up with a proposal, which is more than anyone else has done. I suggest in addition to considering the taking of beast children into our households, we put Laa Ehon's other suggestion to trial. I therefore authorize him—hopefully, Maa Alyn will not object—to set up a trial Governor Unit in the British Isles Area, with whatever beast-staff is necessary; and I will temporarily lend to the Project one of my translators to ensure communication between Governor and the true race to commence with."
"I do not object." It was very nearly a growl from Maa Alyn.
"If I might have this Shane-beast as translator, then—," Laa Ehon was beginning, and Shane chilled. But Lyt Ahn interrupted the other.
"Shane-beast, I have special uses of my own for," said the First Captain. "I will, however, provide you with a beast adequate to your needs. I will permit this much—that Shane-beast be available to you as liaison on this project to keep me informed of its progress and such special advices as you wish to pass on to me by courier."
"If you wish, and as you wish, of course, First Captain," said Laa Ehon smoothly, but his eyes flashed for a moment on Shane with something cold in them.
"That being settled," said Lyt Ahn, "shall we close this meeting?"
There were sounds of agreement in which the Milanese Commander joined. A moment later, Shane found himself outside the room, in the corridor, hurrying to match Lyt Ahn's long-legged strides back toward the First Captain's private offices. Shane had been given no orders to follow. On the other hand he had not been dismissed, so he hurried along, half a pace behind his master, waiting for orders.
These were not forthcoming even after they had passed into the office. Perhaps the orders would have come, but when Lyt Ahn and Shane stepped inside the heavy doors, they found Adtha Or Ain. She was standing once more before the large screen, which was again showing the figure of their son in whatever it was that encased him. She turned as they entered, and spoke to Lyt Ahn.
"It went well—the meeting?"
The First Captain looked at her soberly.
"Not well," he said. "I have broken slightly with custom to allow Laa Ehon to make a trial of interposing native Governors between ourselves and the cattle, using the British Isles as an experimental area."
He turned to Shane.
"I will lend him a translator to help. Shane-beast here, however, will act as my liaison with the Project, and as my own private eyes and ears upon its progress."
His eyes were steady on Shane.
"You understand, Shane-beast?" he said. "You will observe everything carefully, and I will question you equally carefully each time you return from there."
"So, it did not go well," repeated Adtha Or Ain, as much to herself as to the First Captain.
"No, how could you expect it to?" said Lyt Ahn. He seemed to become suddenly conscious of the image in the large screen. "Put that away."
"I need to look at it," responded Adtha Or Ain.
"You mean you need it to use as a club against me," said Lyt Ahn. He made no visible gesture that Shane could see, except a small jerk of the head; but the image disappeared from the screen, leaving it pearly gray, flat and blank.
"It doesn't matter if you take it from me," said Adtha Or Ain. "I can see it just as well with the screen off. I see it night and day. Now, more than ever."
"Why, now more than ever?"
"Because I can't avoid seeing what's coming."
Adtha Or Ain turned from the empty screen to face Lyt Ahn.
"What do you mean?" There was a note of demand in Lyt Ahn's voice.
"No expedition will go to look for my son."
"Why do you say that? I've promised you—," began Lyt Ahn.
"Your promise is only as good as your authority," said Adtha Or Ain, "and your authority..."
She did not finish.
"I was elected by the senior officers of this Expedition. I hold my rank by that authority, which remains with me," answered Lyt Ahn in a steady voice, "and that rank can only be taken from me by popular vote of those same officers—which will never happen."
"No," said Adtha Or Ain. "But you could resign it on your own decision, as other First Captains on other New World Expeditions have occasionally done before you."
"I have no intention of resigning."
"What does that matter? You will resign," said Adtha Or Ain. "It's as much a certainty as that screen on the wall before us—the screen you do not want me to use; and once you are no longer First Captain, whoever holds that rank will have no interest in sending an expedition to find out what happened to my son."
"You talk in impossibilities," said Lyt Ahn. "Even if I could spare the officers and materiel for such an expedition now, who would lead it?"
"I would, o
f course," said Adtha Or Ain. "I'm of fourth rank—or had you forgotten that?"
"I can't spare you," retorted Lyt Ahn. "The consort of the First Captain belongs with the First Captain."
"Particularly when the position of that First Captain may become questionable," said Adtha Or Ain.
"There is no may. My position is not questionable, and it is not going to become questionable."
The attitude of Adtha Or Ain changed subtly, although the signs of that change were so slight that only Shane's long experience with her allowed him to note them. But some of the tension went out of her. She seemed to soften and went to Lyt Ahn, close enough to touch him, standing to one side of him and looking very slightly down into his eyes.
"In all things I am your consort," she said in a lower voice. "Also, in all things I am the mother of your son. I must see clearly, even if you refuse to. Laa Ehon intends to replace you as First Captain. Let that, at least, be out in the open between us."