"We're going to take some important precautions after our first contact with our hosts," Martin said. "We don't know what they can learn about us at a distance, but we can be pretty sure that once they've actually touched this ship, secrecy may be impossible. We're going to have to be circumspect. We're reasonably sure the noach chamber can't be breached. If we have anything to say to each other that we don't want our hosts to hear, we say it there.
"But if we allow anybody or anything into the Double Seed, we'll have to assume no place is safe."
"Micro-scale listeners," George Dempsey said. "They could even be in our bodies."
"Right. We'll assume they can't be detected. That means no written messages, no winks or nods, nothing suspicious… or out of character."
Humans murmured and nodded, Brothers undulated slightly.
"The play's the thing," Martin said. "From now on, we're actors."
Double Seedentered orbit ten thousand kilometers above Sleep, and the bishop vulture appeared again. There was no discernible delay in communications now. "We have asked you to orbit this fourth planet because it is the safest. Your ship would not be safe near any other planet in our gathering, for there is much activity—exchange of forces, coming and going of other ships. But the fourth planet is not especially comfortable for your kind. We ask that you give us samples of your atmosphere and tissues and nutritional requirements, that we may prepare vehicles and implements for your use."
Martin had already drawn blood from himself and Ariel with the Double Seed'smedical kit. Silken Parts took tissue samples from one of his cords.
On the screen, the bishop vulture lifted its long nose, revealing breathing and speech orifices beneath. Its chest expanded and it hissed slightly while saying, "We are very interested in your aggregate species. We have no such intelligent beings in our gathering. You will be very valuable and respected among us, and you will teach us much."
Erin glanced at the ceiling. Martin stared fixedly at the camera, face blank.
"A ship will attach to your ship in a few minutes," the bishop vulture said. "The samples will be collected by a sterilized machine within your ship."
"Maybe we should introduce ourselves and exchange names. We prefer to use names," Martin said.
"We have no need for names, but names can be assumed for your convenience."
"My name is Martin."
"I can be called Amphibian, since I seem to most resemble, in my biology, that class of animals you call amphibians."
"A better name might be Frog," Martin suggested.
"Then I will be called Frog. You will meet other representatives, and assign them names and categories, as you wish."
"Ship is approaching," Sharp Seeing announced.
With a gentle scraping sound, the ship attached to Double Seed, a thick extrusion surrounding the mechanical airlock like lips. Martin took a deep breath. Here it was—intrusion, and all the dangers that might bring. He wondered, too late, if they should have resisted direct contact—decided that would have been impossible.
Eye on Sky opened the exterior door. A gray cylinder with rounded ends entered. Then he closed the exterior door and opened the interior. The cylinder propelled itself into the bridge area with quiet spurts of air drawn through small slits in its middle, and expelled in similar slits arranged around its length.
Paola opened a small refrigerator and passed the samples in their transparent plastic container to Silken Parts, who swung around to release the container in front of the cylinder.
An arm extruded from the cylinder and took the container. The cylinder propelled itself softly to the airlock, and the door closed behind.
On the screen, the bishop vulture— Frog, Martin corrected himself—turned away for a moment, head cocked, then turned back. "We have several possibilities open to us. You may come to the surface of our fourth planet, to meet directly with our representatives, or you may remain within your ship. If you choose to visit the surface, you may use equipment we supply to make your stay comfortable; this is recommended, as testing of your samples tells us you would soon grow tired under this planet's gravity."
They've analyzed the samples already… Martin's neck and shoulders tensed and he shivered.
"You may also choose your mode of conveyance. These decisions may be made at your leisure. I will remain available to you at any time."
The screen blanked.
"Are we still sending?" Martin asked.
"I cut off when they did," Hakim said.
"It's a little abrupt," Martin said, "but it seems clear. We're going to spend some time getting used to them. If they're as smart as they seem, maybe we should expect them to get used to us." He made this speech in complete expectation of being overheard. He stumbled over the next few words, trying to say and do what they might be expected to say and do by the unimaginable minds that might be listening. "We've adapted to each other, but we were nearly equal when we fought our wars… How much harder to understand species much more advanced?"
He visualized tiny machines in the cylinder's exhalation, hiding in the ship like dust motes, transmitting by noach. Nothing at all compared to what we've already seen.
"It took us centuries to grow together," Silken Parts said, with no discernible unease. "We we hope for no atrocious deals here."
High-school students emoting before master critics. How long could it last?
The most important moment arrived: the first meeting, face to face, between the crew of Double Seedand some of the beings who seemed to control the Leviathan system.
Donna Emerald Sea had devised fancy uniforms for the humans to wear, and decorative sashes and ribbons for the Brothers. She adjusted Martin's particularly resplendent garb, winked at him briefly, stood before him with hands on hips, and said, "You look perfectly barbaric, Captain."
"Thank you," Martin said, and turned to Eye on Sky, who resembled a young girl's braided pony tail done up with ribbons, brought to life perhaps by Godpapa Drosselmeier for a joke. The Brothers and humans did look splendid—and naive; he hoped Frog and the others would find the display amusing, whatever passed for amusement among them—and convincing.
Donna went among the others, pinning, fidgeting. Martin remembered her adjusting the projected world-wedding gown on Theresa and became acutely aware once more of human limitations—and human beauties. He closed his eyes and swallowed.
Paola helped Donna with her uniform, black and red with gold sash, crew style.
Hakim wore his outfit stiffly. He reached up as Martin approached and stuck his finger between neck and high collar, Adam's apple bobbing in his thin throat. "Many years since we have worn these," he said. Hakim might be the least convincing of them.
The Brothers seemed natural actors. Not once had they broken character or showed the strain of their roles.
"We're ready, Captain," Donna said.
Six—three humans and three Brothers—would leave Double Seedand descend to Sleep's surface: Silken Parts, Strong Cord, and Eye on Sky; Martin, Paola, and Ariel. Martin appointed Erin Eire to replace him. Sharp Seeing would replace Eye on Sky.
They caught a glimpse of a white sphere in the screen, heard it scrape midships and seal itself around the airlock. The inner airlock door opened. Single file, they entered the smooth green interior of the transfer ship. Beyond a transparent panel, visible only as they turned a corner, stood another bishop vulture, not—Martin guessed—Frog itself.