Decision at Doona

“And that makes everything A-okay?” Lawrence demanded cynically.

"No, but the contacts we have already made with the Hrrubans and our grasp of their language gives us a bargaining point with Alreldep for better status,'' Reeve pointed out.

''Bu if the Hrrubans are aliens, then we have not offended the Principle of Non-Cohabitation!'' Hu Shih exclaimed, his face lighting with a joyous relief.

“Oh, for Christ's sake.” Gaynor threw up his hands in complete exasperation. “We're right back where we started!”

"If the Hrrubans are alien – " Hu Shih looked keenly at Ken. "Are you sure, Ken?"

“Hu Shih, I'm not sure of a damned thing. But if the Hrrubans are alien to Doona, it'll explain a helluva lot of inconsistencies,” and Ken ticked them off on his fingers; “Their intricate language with pitch inflections; their sophisticated attitudes, the whole bit about the bridge from their forcing the idea through over our protests to its design and construction. The whole damned situation falls into focus if the Hrrubans are alien.”

“Except this nature-loving bit,” growled Gaynor in the thoughtful silence that followed.

“And what kind of a colony did we plan to start?” Ken asked.

“A very good point,” Lawrence agreed softly, “but it leads directly to another unsettling question. How much more advanced are they?”

Ken started to chuckle, he couldn't help himself. In the light of Lawrence's remark, the irony of the past weeks of association with the Hrrubans struck him as enormously fu

“You know,” he said, suppressing his amusement as a more important consideration occurred to him, “it might just be possible that they are advanced enough, ethical enough, sophisticated enough not to feel the need to absorb, dominate or manipulate us.” Ken caught the dawning comprehension in Hu Shih's startled eyes. The metropologist seemed to expand as he grasped at the implication. “Wouldn't it be a relief to know that we,” and Ken included all the colonists jammed into his living room, “that we can also be big enough, intelligent enough, maybe even wise enough to accept them for what they are without trying to question or change or pose our values on them? Can't we have learned enough from the terrible tragedies of history, from the Siwa

“And I'm supposed to be the socio-psychologist,” Lawrence remarked in quiet awe.

Hu Shih embraced Ken, his dark eyes brimming, unable to speak. His action released the others from their stu

“You believe that this is what the Hrrubans have in mind?” asked Ben Adjei, his deep voice cutting through the chaos. “They want peaceful coexistence with us?”

“I don't know what they have in mind, Ben,” Reeve answered honestly.

«Oh, but it is now obvious to me that they do,» Hu Shih interjected excitedly. «They have shown us no hostility, although our presence on Rrala was undoubtedly a shock to them. Immediately they began to help us; even against our better judgment, as witness the bridge. They insisted that we learn their language even as they willingly learned ours. Even when they offered to – excuse my bluntness, Ken – help with the care and protection of Todd And the fact that they would not abandon him, alone, and frightened, far from his own people in a dangerous forest simply adds further weight to this theory.» Hu paused for a split second and then rushed on. «In fact, I shouldn't be the least bit surprised if the Hrrubans have not been testing us in adroit ways to judge our cultural ethics and maturity. Truly, Ken, your hypothesis is valid.»

Ken looked startled. “For Christ's sake, peaceful coexistence is not new!”

“Yes, but never was it more applicable,” Hu Shih beamed.

The night was cut by the crackling roar of a take-off ignition. A moment later the sound was augmented. The tail flames of two ships punctuated the dark spring evening and the colonists watched until the fiery columns had dwindled to a star spark in the sky.

“Ah, but will we be allowed time enough to find out if this is what the Hrrubans had in mind?” Lawrence asked softly.

“God, I hope so,” Ken murmured, thinking of Todd.

Chapter XXII. DELAYING TACTICS

KEN AWOKE the next morning, sore and stiff. Gradually he became aware of the unusual silence at a time when Pat should be bustling about. He slid carefully out of bed and padded quietly down the short hall to the kitchen. Pat was sitting at the kitchen table, her shoulders sagging in an attitude of hopelessness.

Suddenly he regretted yesterday's rebellion and the bright hope of coexistence. He wondered how many others were uncertain in the clear light of day. Then he pulled his shoulders back. Damn it, he'd've been a coward to knuckle under either to Landreau or Chaminade. If he'd believed in himself – and the Hrrubans – last night, he had better not vacillate today.

He cleared his throat to give Pat a chance to collect herself.

She turned with a smile of determined cheerfulness. Ken bent to kiss her and her responsiveness communicated her pride in him.

As he straightened up, he caught sight of a familiar figure racing up the path.

“Oho, here comes our little harbinger of bad news,” he declared as Bill Moody skidded to a stop at the door. “You'll make a long distance ru

“Mr. Reeve,” Bill gasped, trying to grin, trying to grab enough breath to get his message out. “Snakes!”

“Oh, Christ, not before coffee,” Ken groaned. “Where?”

Pat was already galvanizing into action, handing him her full coffee cup, sliding a dish of bread his way.

“You're going to eat something first,” she scolded as she picked up the dish of brna eggs and made for the stove.

“Mr. Eckerd spotted giant snakes on the plain beyond the valley,” Bill panted out, slipping into the empty seat.

“On the plain? Then the snakes aren't close enough to stampede the urfa?”

“Mr. Adjei wants to herd the urfa across the bridge to the other side of the . . .”

Bill broke off, gawking at Ken's black expression.

«Across the river? Christ!» Ken swore savagely. «Ben ought to know better!» Even if he had to straddle a horse – Ken shuddered at the thought – and herd the urfa himself, they were not going across that river!

Bread in one hand, coffee cup in the other, Ken stormed down to the barn, his rapid strides jolting sore flesh and muscle.

“Ben, what's this about crossing the river?”

Ben turned, eyes wide with surprise.

“We can't have the urfa stampeding through the grain. The horses'll need it next winter.”

“And we can't encroach on the Hrruban's domain. Not one jot or tittle. Particularly now!”

«What's the matter?» asked Gaynor, appearing from inside the barn. «Why can't we move the herd across the river? It's mutual defense against a common enemy – those snakes.»

Ken groaned but the veterinary nodded slowly with comprehension.

“I understand. We will move the herd far down the valley. The prevailing wind sweeps away from there and they will be unable to smell the snakes.”

“Well, I don't get it,” Sam replied sourly.

Ben put a restraining hand on Reeve's arm as he began to answer Gaynor hotly.

“Sam, it has been understood that across the river is Hrruban territory. Ken is right when he believes that it is an act of aggression for us to cross the river with our possessions.”

“Hell, we don't own the urfa.”

“It's the principle of the thing,” Ken exploded, slopping half the coffee out of his cup with his emphatic gesturing.

“Not another goddam principle to foul things up?”

“The urfa stay on this side of the river,” Ben said in a flat non-arguable voice. “Besides, the grass is better on our side.” The big veterinary waved his team out of the stable yard.