Decision at Doona

Why, the old showman, Ken thought, he wants his people to stay on Rrala.

“Rrala is good for things from Terra too,” Todd remarked, suddenly peering excitedly outside.

“Indeed?”

“See? Hrrses!” and Todd pointed just as Ben, leading the black stallion, disappeared around the corner of the hall.

“Gracious First Speaker,” Hrrestan interjected, bowing deeply, “you once expressed a deep interest in the animals which the Terrans brought with them.”

“They are perhaps nearby?”

“They await your inspection at the door, gracious noble sir.”

Hruna rose with an alacrity that displayed his keen interest.

Hrrula quickly stepped to one side, gesturing Todd to fall directly in behind the old Hrruban.

“Every time I try to talk, either Todd or the other old one shuts me up,” Sumitral complained in a low voice. “Why?”

Thank God for a reasonable man, Ken thought gratefully. «He's been taught their formal speech. You've already insulted Hrruna by using vulgar Hrruban – not your fault, just their crazy customs. Hrrula says everything's being beamed back and their whole world is watching.»

Sumitral paled, swallowed hard.

“Then I can't get him to talk any treaty?”

“Uhuh. This whole thing is completely unexpected, unprecedented and incredible. Hrruna wants an alliance and he took this tremendous chance to force publicity. We've got to make sure it's all good!”

Sumitral's mouth formed an 'o' of surprised shock but he had recovered himself as they stepped out onto the porch and watched Ben and Hrrula display the horses' paces. Hrrula, on the stallion. was gri

By the time the exhibition was over, the sun was lowering in the west. The First Speaker gestured to one of the Hrruban guards who nodded solemnly and barked orders in a staccato howl. Hrruna turned to the Terrans, inclining his head in an expression of deep regret.

“I have too long absented myself from the duties of my office, gentle friends. I must take my leave. My thanks for the courtesies of refreshment, and entertainment, and for this beautiful product of a lovely world.” He held up the sapphire which scintillated in the afternoon sun. Politely his eyes lingered briefly on each face. Ken was sure the man was amused and pleased with the outcome of his outrageous visit. But he was already sweeping down the Common with Todd his obedient shadow. Hrrestan signaled Hrrula peremptorily to leave the stallion. Ken hurried after them, but before he could catch up, the Hrruban guards cut him off politely but firmly.

“What's going to happen now?” Sumitral exclaimed, joining him.

“Maybe Todd will know.”

They watched, frustrated at the enforced passivity, as Todd stepped out of the procession at the bridge. The First Speaker and his guards crossed over. They saw him step onto a metallic grid that had been placed on the far side of the river at some point in the afternoon. A misty envelope hid him and then dispersed, leaving the bare grid.

“So that's their matter transmitter,” Sumitral murmured.

“And that's how they removed the village so quickly. I'll bet their whole site is laid out on a huge grid.”

“Think of the economy of such a system, let alone the convenience.”

Four guards removed corner posts and rolled up the grid. Then the whole column, Hrrestan and Hrrula in its van, marched off into the forest, Toddy waving sadly after the disappearing backs.

Chapter XXV. VIGIL

“AND STILL WE don't know to go or stay,” Lee Lawrence remarked with a wry grin.

The weary, confused colonists had asked the three departmental representatives to a meeting on the Common. It had been decided not to remove any of the Hrruban devices although most had been located. It seemed wiser, however, to hold the meeting on a 'blind' spot.

“The Hrrubans are technically the owners of this planet,” Sumitral pointed out, “until we can assume, by their continued absence, that they have abdicated their rights. In either case, an apology is owed these fine people,” and he gestured to the colonists, “for the discourtesies, inconveniences and insults they have suffered.” He glared at Landreau and Chaminade. “They have earned their right to remain on Rrala.”

“Yes, indeed,” Chaminade agreed easily, staring pointedly at Landreau.

The spaceman rose, his ma

“Indubitably. According to Hrrestan, they are deep-sea creatures,” Dautrish put in. “They were quiescent at the time of the two surveys. And we know now that the Hrrubans are only in residence during the warmer seasons.”

Landreau shrugged and sat down again but Ken hoped they would never require favors of Spacedep.

“However, if the Hrrubans release Doona,” Chaminade clung stubbornly to Terran nomenclature, “to my colonists, they are under Codep authority,” and he had the gall to smile.

Sumitral's objection was indignant. «On the contrary. These people have made a fine, favorable contract with a highly civilized, technically advanced species. They have learned not only the language but its rigid and complex protocol.» He glanced briefly at Ken. «There is every chance that although the Hrrubans withdraw from Rrala now, events may bring them back at a later date. We have overlapped too often in our mutual space explorations. Some agreement, now or later, will eventually come to pass. Therefore Rrala, by edict of the Congress of the Amalgamated Worlds – check it if you must, Chaminade is under Alreldep aegis.»

“Now wait a moment, Sumitral,” Landreau began belligerently. “Alreldep handles alien relations, but Spacedep handles defense and . . .”

“Shut up, Landreau,” Ken snapped, rising. “We'd've been at a treaty stage if you hadn't acted like a horse's ass with your snake drive . . .”

“See here, Reeve,” and Landreau advanced menacingly.

“That's enough,” Sumitral bellowed, staring the spaceman down. “And frankly, Landreau, if I thought we weren't in danger of being observed, I'd let Reeve take you apart. But get this: defense is not indicated, a difficult distinction for your space boys to make. The Hrrubans aren't the cotopoids of Lyrae or the plague carriers of Zeta Algeiba. And they're not Siwa

Sumitral looked a little startled when the colonists, led by Ken, began to cheer him.

"My chief informed me – before he went to bed," Sumitral continued with dry good humor, "that we'll know tomorrow. That boy's remarkable, Reeve, and I regret I had to monopolize him when he's been away from you so long, but he was able to give me some valuable insight into Hrruban thinking. However, since their civilization makes full use of mass communications, we can assume that a popular vote can be computed overnight. If a popular vote was forced by the First Speaker's superb strategy of this afternoon.

“Now I'm for bed. I'm an optimist by nature and I want to be ready for tomorrow's demands.”

He departed, adroitly taking Landreau and Chaminade with him back to their respective ships.

"How'd we ever turn up lucky with Sumitral?'' Lawrence asked.

“Third time?” Ken tendered.

"No," Hu Shih answered. "I know his reputation. He is a shrewd man but an opportunist. Our circumstances give him an unparalleled chance for promotion into the Executive Echelons – if he can bring off a treaty with the Hrrubans. He may not like the expedients but he is clever enough to use them. However," and Hu Shih's unexpected cynicism dissolved into a more characteristic smile, "he is forced to be as candid as a child and that is to our advantage – and Hrruba's.''