by neetha Napew
“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 on 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 conference.”
“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.
Rrev 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 Gringgs’ 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 space port 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, honoured 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 any one of the Hayumans to give him an accurate account of what transpired in their session?
Possibly his erstwhile allies of 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 them 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 pow-wow 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 troupe of bears down the corridor towards the landing field. “You can raise me on 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, and 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 grey fur, “I trust to make best trade speech for us types.
“Of course,’ Todd said, urprised 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 grided up to First Village. My wife Kelly, and Nrrna, Hrriss’s 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,’ 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, don’t let me keep you from your duties.
The space port conference is just down the hall, you know.” Then Todd 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 I 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 grided 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 on to ze platform, 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 pading on the walls would baffle some of the more annoying overtones of Gringg speech.
The ch
airs, upholstered in the same handsome colour, were set around a polished table of a 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 on which the two Gringg were seated on one side of the large square table.
Ken Reeve, the merchant captains, Sumitral and Jilamey and some Hayumans Todd didn’t know were occupying the chairs on the opposing side. Todd was annoyed to find Commander Greene also present: Barnstable having his cake in the space port discussions and eating 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 may call him Coypu - easier to say.
Todd had to restrain a broad smile. He recalled, and cherished, the memory of the Gringgs being assigned “bear’ names by his twins and Hrriss’s 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 the rapid footsteps on the marble floors as late comers hurried to the new venue.
As he recited their 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. Not only was Todd sure the aide had been responsible for initiating the intruder probe, but defied all reason by carrying an explosive device on to a vessel assumed to be peaceful.
Todd had pointed out that either act could have compromised matters beyond recall. He had insisted that Greene be left behind on the flagship whenever Barnstable came groundside. The Admiral refused, demanding his right 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 the Amalgamated Worlds Council to keep Spacedep from causing more trouble.
During the weeks of reearch on the voder, Greene had been around and about on Doonarrala, always maintaining his distance from Todd, but always there, like an annoying itch Todd couldn’t get rid of. Since none of the ursine guests had mentioned Greene, Todd decided that they hadn’t noticed the burly commander, or were choosing to ignore his surveillance. The Spacedep officers hadn’t been subtle when following the Gringg, as if they’d hoped for some kind of incident which would allow them to step in and take command.
Nothing had happened and Todd hoped Greene and his spies had got bored stiff.
Honey seemed to be in good spirits. He had visited Doonarrala nearly every other day, touring schools, factories and farms, and spending much time in the villages.
He was easily the most recognizable of the Gringg. His companion, who moved with a ponderousness dilatory even for a Gringg, seemed to be older than Honey, with a majestic, slow, bass voice that was so low it rumbled through Todd’s very bones. Both of them had small computer devices with sculpted depressions which were probably operated by the rhythmic manipulation of claws, something like the device used by an old-time court reporter. As usual, Honey held his ubiquitous tile-like tablet. Jilamey, at Honey’s elbow, was keeping a close eye on the Gringg, waiting for him to draw or write something with the double-looped pen that lay atop it on the table.
By then, the tardy had arrived, slightly breathless, and more time was taken up by introductions.
Of the seven newcomers, five were clearly alarmed by the size of the Gringg and, although they were wearing voders, only one had practised with his device. And Todd instantly marked Emil Markudian, a swarthy faced man with a prominent, hooked nose and black eyes, as trouble.
His companion, for the man seemed unwilling to move away from Markudian’s side, was Boris Iskoffski and he was not only plainly terrified by the aliens but also his eyes had the glitter of the xenophobe.
When he noticed them darting quick glances at Greene, he decided they bore close scrutiny. Well, he should have expected something like this after Barnstable’s little confrontation of assorted blow-ins at Kate Moody’s office.
The others who had arrived in the wake of Markudian seemed to be legitimate since each carried portfolios with the logos of major diversified Terran or Colonial companies. Two found Jilamey’s presence distinctly unsettling. Remembering how chuffed Jilamey had been about his coup, Todd grinned to himself and then turned the meeting over to Admiral Sumitral, seated directly opposite the Gringg envoys.
Once introductions of the new arrivals had been made, there was a perceptible pause. Todd sensed an electrical tension rising among them, veiled excitement. 1 feel as if we’re about to start a high-stakes poker game, he thought.
Who’s going to bluff whom?
“We begin from ignorance,’ Admiral Sumitral said, rising to address the Gringg. “You have been among us for many days now and seen us going about our work and play. We know nothing about your world and desire similar information.”
“Ah,’ said Coypu, resting his paws on his large belly, “very kind of you to ask. Our world is much like this, gravity heavier and more water in many big pools. We are four ships to explore. Long, long, long,’ and he nodded his head to emphasize the span, “looking. It is good, great news to find two at once!” He dropped his jaw and looked about him, his eyes twinkling.
“You say your objective is to trade, yet you admit that you are very far from your home world. How can you possibly trade profitably over long distances?” Commander Greene wanted to know.
“Big ship,’ replied Coypu succinctly. “We come prepared with offerings. Trading is good with peaceful people. You have much here which will be tradable.”
“Such as?” Greene demanded sarcastically.
“You are out of order, Commander,’ Sumitral said, turning slightly so that his body shielded him from the Gringg. He had covered his voder and spoke in a low but carrying tone, somehow managing not to move his lips very much. “As Spacedep personnel, you are present only to observe!”
“We have seen much here on Doonarrala that will be very appreciated on our world,’ Honey added. “We are peaceful traders.” “It’s very easy to say that you come in peace,’ Markudian spoke up, his deep voice smooth but holding an edge.
That statement elicited quiet gasps around the table.
Todd had seen no signal from Greene but that didn’t keep him from suspecting the two might be acting in concert.
Sumitral regarded Markudian with an expression of mild surprise and astonishment but it was Coypu who answer
ed.
“It is easy to say what is true,’ Coypu said, either not offended or
deliberately not understanding Markudian 5
implication. Now he lifted his paws. “We come far from our home world, seeking new worlds, hopefully new peoples.”
“You are peaceful types, also,’ Honey said, looking around the table and nodding his appreciation of that fact.
“It is very good for Gringg to see that two different species can live in peace without acchggt-spppput - “He turned to Coypu as his voder could not give a suitable translation of the Gringg word.
Without tearing the collar?” Coypu suggested.
“Tearing the collar?” Sumitral asked, pointedly asking for an explanation.
Coypu touched his ornate neckpiece with one delicate claw. “Yes, to tear off the collar of a Gringg is to start fight, but only if there is no other honour choice.”
“Oh, similar to throwing down a gauntlet .
. . a glove - - - a hand protector,’ Sumitral said, ignoring the mutters from some of those nervous about this discussion. “Of course, duels with lethal weapons have long been considered against the law as well as against common sense.” Coypu seemed oddly pleased to hear that.
“With us, too, the custom has declined. There are nearly always other choices. We enjoy peace. Gringg do not like to exert themselves.
Peace takes much less energy than combat, do you not agree?” Todd laughed at the beautiful simplicity of the statement. “War is too much trouble?”
“War?” Coypu asked, for the word had been carefully omitted from the voder’s lexicon.
“War,’ Greene said, jumping at the opportunity, “is when many tear the collar and join a fight: the winners take all. A great exertion,’ he added sarcastically.
“War is a thing of the past for both species. It was always a useless exertion,’ Sumitral said in such an icy voice and with such an icy stare directed at Greene that the commander subsided, more in surprise at the AIreldep Admiral’s intensity.