Decision at Doona

If Todd were in the room, he would wrinkle his nose at her and twitch his ears – a habit which was begi

Hrriss would counter, “Well, I had to stand without talking.”

“As for myself, I was glad to be silent for I had talked myself hoarse the night before,” Hrrula said, gri

“All in a good cause,” his friend would agree.

Even as the Hrruban technicians crossed the bridge with the grid panels; Ken had sent Todd to blow the air whistle. As the Hrrubans passed him, they peered at Ken with a mixture of curiosity and interest but there was no doubt of their underlying excitement. Their leader was a tall dark-maned female who told Ken in faltering Terran that her name was Mrrim. She immediately lapsed into middle Hrruban.

Mrrim offered him a tape, printed on the watery blue plastic film which Ken later realized was used for all governmental declarations, sealed with many odd designs which were the official signatures of the various participating or endorsing Speakers. Mrrim spoke Hrruban slowly, her eyes on his, and Ken understood that the Hrrubans wished to set up a grid installation on the Common near the mess hall for a meeting to be held several hours hence – after (and Todd arrived in time to translate) very important details had been satisfactorily completed. As soon as the grid was in place, other officials and dignitaries would arrive to direct preparations. Therefore, would the noble Rrev assist her, Mrrim, to complete her assigned task speedily?

Now Hu Shih came ru

From then on, Hrrubans poured into the Common: soldiers first, carrying supplies and flags and bales, their side arms secured at the back of their belts. Shih adroitly ordered all Terran marines to do likewise.

Hrrula arrived with the first contingent and quickly separated Ken and Shih for a hurried conference. Ken noticed that Hrrula's eyes were enlarged and that he had difficulty controlling his tail. He didn't know then that Hrrula had been up all night organizing this meeting.

"The popular vote favored the resumption of the Rralan project – for the time being and subject to review," Hrrula told them, purring as he talked. He kept lapsing into Hrruban but Ken and Shih were able to follow him. "Oh, that Zodd!" he exclaimed fervently. "He did the trick with that rope tail. No one could fail to see the compliment of imitation. And his ma

"Then we shall be permitted to stay?" Shih asked, adding when Hrrula nodded, "Then our problems are over.

“Oh, no,” the others disagreed in chorus, “they've just started.” But no one appeared to object to the challenge.

“Now,” Hrrula began again, briskly, “these are the things which must be accomplished before the meeting can start, and these are the details which must be observed.” He pulled out two tapes. When he had finished them the colonists were apprehensive.

“Sumitral's not going to like that at all,” Shih remarked slowly.

“He will have to.” Hrrula replied with a shrug. “True, we never meant for Zodd to be burdened with such responsibility when we taught him high formal Hrruban. And true, it would not take long to instruct Sumitral in the proper usage, but we have no time. We must catch the interest of the people now, with yesterday's scene fresh in their minds, or suffer endless, ridiculous delays. Believe me, never has any major decision been made with such speed before. Middle Hrruban can be used among us,” Hrrula indicated the crowd of Hrrubans busy in the Common, “but not to our highest officials at such an important table. Zodd is the only one who can cope with the necessary language tonalities.”

“I think Sumitrals reconciled to Todd,” Ken said thoughtfully. “He hasn't got any choice.”

“No, he hasn't,” Hrrula agreed drily. “I have a child's ceremonial dress for Zodd to wear. It's a shame to take him out of the mda fur and the tail but it is expedient.”

“If you promise Todd Hrriss, he'll move mountains.”

“He has. He moved the High Council here. Now, do you men have more formal clothes than these?” Hrrula asked, indicating their utilitarian coveralls.

“I believe there are sufficient Alreldep uniforms for most of the men;” Sumitral remarked, joining their conference. “Will that suffice?”

“Red is an excellent choice,” Hrrula said. “Now, to save time, Admiral, may I continue? Someone can bring you up to date on the background. Now these are the things you must not do.” The list was, as Sumitral agreed readily, not inconsonant with the highly circumscribed Hrruban culture.

“But a damned bore and time-waster,” Ken added with an apologetic nod to Hrrula.

“We shall dispense with that here on Rrala, but remember, Rrev, there is much time to be passed and accounted for on Hrruba. Ceremony helps.”

“Coming directly to the nub of the matter, Hrrula,” Sumitral broke in crisply, “just what can we expect as terms of the treaty?”

Hrrula's face and tail were still. «I do not know. My people need time to think beyond themselves. We considered ourselves to be unique in the galaxy, you realize. Time is needed for them to learn to accept the startling concept of a race their equals – if not their superiors – to grow used to the sight of your bareskins, to understand that their comfortable apathy is not threatened, but enriched.»

Sumitral gazed thoughtfully around, pursing his lips slightly and rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet. If he had a tail, Ken thought irrelevantly, it'd be a-twitch.

“Do not press for any commitment that robs both our races of time to adjust. The rest will follow when the time is ripe for further change.”

Sumitral nodded slowly.

“You do realize, Admiral,” Hrrula went on gravely, “that you must speak through Zodd as he is the only one of you who can handle formal Hrruban.”

Sumitral raised his eyes skyward, shaking his head ruefully.

“Yes, I got that message loud and clear yesterday, but I somehow feel that that will improve the Treaty rather than hamper it. 'Out of the mouths of babes,' you know! By the way, that's going to be quite a strain on young Todd, Reeve. Is he up to it?”

“Just threaten him with no Hrriss,” Ken suggested and was suddenly conscious that he hadn't seen Todd lately. “Hrrula, Hrriss hasn't sneaked in, has he?”

“Probably. Anyone who understands Terran was ordered here.”

By the time Todd and Hrriss were located, in the hayloft of the barn, Ken was ready to threaten Todd with a good deal more than the lack of Hrriss's company. For the Council was all set to convene and here was Todd, filthy with hay dust. He was unceremoniously dumped in the horse trough, roughly washed clean, and jerked into the pale red robes that had been supplied. He was scared and sullen by the time Ken manhandled him to the Common in time to see the Council arrive.