Decision at Doona

Ken watched Lawrence, taking his place for the day, awkwardly hunching in the unaccustomed saddle, bouncing ignominiously as the mare's gait accelerated. For Lee's sake, he hoped the horses were adjusted to the sight of urfa today.

Unfortunately, the other cattle and Socks, who remained in the corral, were not downwind of the snakes. And Socks had had enough experience with that scent to become hysterical. She raced round and round the high corral, communicating her terror to the cows and the bull, the pigs and the people. The neighing and lowing brought out the rest of the colonists. That was fortunate because Ken immediately suggested reinforcing the corral which Socks was trying to kick down. They couldn't get near enough to her to get her back into the barn where, presumably, her panic might lessen.

By noon she was foam-covered and so exhausted she could barely stagger. So Ben led her into her stall, tying her tightly just as the other horses took up where she left off.

By late afternoon, the men called a hasty conference.

“My wife's scared stiff,” Macy admitted. “She's got visions of us either being swallowed by the snakes, beds and all, or yanked aboard a transport for a quick trip to the mines.”

“The stench is terrible,” Gaynor said, rubbing his nose in a piece of toweling, sniffling uselessly. “God, it's everywhere; even makes the food taste snake. Ugh.”

“Look, that pass is narrow and it's the only entrance to our valley,” Eckerd suggested. “Let's just blast it closed and be done with it.”

''The Hrrubans might not want us to alter the landscape," Ken protested.

"Look, Reeve, I'm all for peaceful coexistence while Earth plays pass-the-buck,'' Lawrence said, "but I'm not anxious to be eaten by a snake as an interim project."

“And how in hell do we know those Hrrubans are coming back?” Gaynor demanded, then blinked as he noticed Reeve's tense look. “Yes, I know they've got your kid, Ken, but you'd better face the alternative.”

“I am firmly of the opinion,” Hu Shih stated, rising to his feet, “that the Hrrubans will return. The alternative is not consonant with the ethical standards they have exhibited, nor with our logical extrapolation of their future course. Had they not wished to continue to associate with us, they would have remained away the first time.”

«Have you logically extrapolated why they disappeared at all?» Gaynor inquired. «Let's face it – the traffic in and out of Doona's atmosphere has been congested. If they are so scientifically advanced that they can leave as they choose, maybe they have left for good this time. Maybe we've already failed those tests of theirs.»

«Yes, we may have,» Reeve agreed slowly, aware that his throat was dry. He had stubbornly refused to consider that the Hrrubans might not return – this time. «It boils down to a question of faith. Nothing in our relations with the Hrrubans so far can make me believe that they won't return – if only to bring Toddy back.»

“Do you think they know of the reptiles?” Ben asked.

Ken swore volubly. "I know damned well they do because I was watching Hrrula. Then that farting Codep ship homed in and he left.''

“You don't suppose their policy of peaceful coexistence extends to the snakes, do you?” Lawrence asked.

“They did settle across the river here, away from the reptiles' accustomed trek” Dautrish remarked. “And if these creatures follow the pattern of reptilian life on Terra, they would most certainly have territorial imperatives. My studies of the mdas prove that that species does. One can assume it applies to the reptiles as well.”

“Yes, but we are now in the snakes' back yard, and we've got to do something. Those things are too big for any weapons we have here.”

“I would prefer not to ask the Hrrubans' good opinion,” Hu Shih began.

“Let's not carry that Principle too damned far,” Gaynor growled.

“However,” Hu Shih went on, “as the Hrrubans are not loth to protect themselves from mda, as proved by Hrrula's slaying of the one that attacked Todd, we may take that as precedent. Eckerd, survey the pass with blasting in mind. How many men will you need? Ken, would you please go to the village in case the Hrrubans have returned?”

Ken was bitterly aware of Sam Gaynor's skeptical expression as he left the mess hall.

Goddammit, why had Gaynor brought up the alternative – 'if the Hrrubans return'? And what about the more unsettling corollary – 'if we're still here when they return'? Everyone had ignored Landreau's threat. Spacedep had precedence over both Codep and Alreldep. Yet Spacedep had turned Doona over to Alreldep which had cleared it for Codep – and the colony.

Ken gave a mirthless bark of laughter as he pounded across the bridge, grateful for the physical exertion as a release from the frustration, doubt and anger boiling up inside him. Christ, could they pull anything out of this fiasco besides the misery and anguish?

If the Terrans had failed the Hrrubans' test and they never returned, then the Terran colony could stay – if they could eliminate Landreau's threat. And if they could re-establish cordial relations with Chaminade and if – what if Todd . . .

Ken resolutely jogged up the slope of Saddle Ridge, unable to dwell on anymore if's.

The Hrrubans had not returned. The forest clearing was empty of any trace of them. Ken hadn't really expected anything else. He was used to hope deferred. He considered hanging around the site until it occurred to him that his very presence might possibly be inhibiting their return. He got as far as the edge of the forest before a second notion struck him so forcibly that he raced back to the clearing. It was not outside the realm of possibility that they had some kind of monitor system rigged in the clearing.

«If anyone is listening,» he called out, carefully pitching the Hrruban accents, «please tell Hrrula or Hrrestan that the colony may be taken from Rrala at any time. We are also in danger from the giant reptiles and must take steps to protect ourselves.» He paused, turning in a slow circle, willing his eyes to find some evidence of Hrruban reception. «Tell Todd – tell Todd we'll stay as long as we can. If you could just send him back – no, Todd's better off with you,» and Ken broke off, ru

He reached the mess hall in time to see the women helping Buzz Eckerd load the copter with the plastic explosive.

“We've got to seal that pass tight,” Eckerd told him, all the while swallowing nervously. “I did a sweep down that plain and snakes are all of a sudden everywhere.”

Pat came out of the stores shed and raced up to her husband, her face mutely appealing. He shook his head slowly and hugged her tight when she burrowed into his arms for comfort.

"Ken, what if – " she mumbled.

Ken gave her a little shake. “Look, hon, what if isn't doing us any good. Let's start thinking in terms of and when. If we trust the Hrrubans, we trust them; up to and including Todd.” She turned tear-filled eyes up to him.

“Pat,” he said sternly, “you let Todd go to Mrrva, right here on Rrala, didn't you? Because you liked her and trusted her, right?”

“Yesss.”

“Then continue to trust her. She hasn't changed just because she's removed from the village.”

“Well, if you put it that way,” Pat conceded, straightening.

The homing beacon lit up.

“Who could be coming now?” Pat wondered.

“Well,” Ken drawled, scratching his head, “we've got quite a choice: Hrrubans, Alreldep, Codep, Spacedep and who knows who all else is interested in Rrala-Doona?”

“Whoever it is is not going to be comfortable with snakes in their laps,” Buzz said. “I'm going to get the plastic out to the pass, Ken. You make like a welcoming committee until I can bring Hu Shih back.”

The copter had long since dwindled to a speck by the time the incoming ship was visible. It was a much larger vessel than the previous visitors; in fact too large to comfort the watching women.