We haven't lost it yet, the First Speaker reminded him gently. I believe the Eighth Speaker has a computer analysis of the situation?
Eighth rose and bowed with composure to the assembled before he unfolded the tapes in his hand. He scanned them quickly and, with the slightest smile on his features, placed them carefully down on the table.
The data is insufficient for a prognosis, he said and sat down.
Insufficient? Third protested above the polite murmurs of the others. How can that be?
Eight rose slightly from his chair and passed the tapes across to Third. He looked at them nonplussed, his jaw dropping with astonishment.
Yes, the data is indeed insufficient, First remarked.
Privately the Chief was twitching with delight. He would never have guessed that the Eighth Speaker might be on their side, willingly or unwillingly guided by the infallible tapes of his computer banks.
Common sense, First was saying, deep meditation and and these tapes point out the inadvisability of rash moves. Therefore, let us hear from Eight what additional data must be collected before probability curves can be plotted.
And you'll abide by that? Third leaped on the compromise.
Of course, the First Speaker agreed easily and indicated that the floor was now Eighth's.
We shall need to know, first of all, the language. I understand strides are being made in that direction already. It would be helpful to know their cultural level, scientific abilities, some indication of their moral values as regards family life, goals, customs . . .
Nonsense, sputtered Third, looking directly at Second who had been remarkably quiet throughout this meeting. What we need to know is the strength of their weapons, their space fleet, the position of their home worlds, the . . .
That is quite enough, Third! You are interrupting Eighth.
But you aren't dealing with the core of the matter at all, First. You know you aren't. Third's voice rang with an angry note in which the Chief detected a ring of fear. We've got to be able to destroy them before they can . . .
And who has prated most of the Prime Rule, Third Speaker? The anger in First's tone was not fear-based; it was the indignation of a patient, overtried man. Destruction has not been our operational aim in thousands of years. Let us not retrogress to it in this crisis. Let us, instead, learn as much as we can of our new friends yes, friends, Third, not enemies! For it would be race suicide for us in our present decadence to consider them anything else until we have good cause to do so. And I, for one, do not believe we shall have cause.
We must protect our people, Third insisted, pounding the table with his fist. We cannot permit them to be slaughtered as our team on . . .
Withdrawal can be effected instantly, Second remarked calmly.
The Chief longed to speak but could not even catch First's eye.
"Can you imagine the effect on our new friends," First continued, all our people just disappeared? They are not unintelligent, for they already have space travel, and our disappearance can only precipitate more speculation than we wish. Indeed, I believe it will be only a matter of time before one of them adds up the anomalies we have already presented them. It is far better for us to preserve the facade of low-culture post-nomadic . . ."
A ridiculous notion; degrading, a spurious protection . . . Third muttered audibly.
Are any of your stripe there? First asked with mild concern.
Of course not. More sense than to participate in such an outlandish idea
Considering the volume of space separating us from this planet, how high is the probability of their race finding our home world? Fifth asked Eighth.
Fifth was another unknown quantity, the Chief knew, for it was only in the past year that Fifth had shown an interest in the botanical, pharmaceutical and mineral resources of the world. Specimens had been quickly procured for his research laboratories but Fifth had issued no reports on his findings.
I have run that probability through the computer, Eighth replied slowly, but again, the data is insufficient. We know nothing of the tenacity and aggressiveness of this race.
Which brings us right back to the point under discussion, First remarked smoothly. We must know more about our new friends. We must learn to communicate with them so that we can assess their basic psychological reactions . . .
Such as their ability to build bridges? Third snapped. I insist, by virtue of my prerogative as Third Speaker for Internal Affairs, that our people be protected from those those bareskinned beasts. By forceful means if necessary. Place a defensive screen around that planet . . .
A moment, Third, First intervened in a steely voice. Let us examine the matter calmly.
Third spluttered a moment longer until it finally bore through to him that his vehemence was jeopardizing his cause.
I have been hasty, he apologized, but my concern is all for those valiant pioneers, defenseless against the unimaginable machinations of these unknown bipeds.
Your concern does you credit, First murmured and then beckoned to Eighth who had been patiently waiting to continue.
I propose a compromise until we have amassed sufficient data to plot a probability curve. Am I correct in understanding from the translation of the tapes that the families of these bareskins are due to arrive shortly? Eighth received a confirmation. I assume that they also must have informed their home world of our presence? The Chief nodded. Then let us permit the family transport to land, for to prevent that would be heartless and would also hamper one facet of our investigations. However, since we do not yet know the psychology of the bareskins, let us agree that our people be instantly transported back to their base as soon as any other vehicle is detected approaching the planet.
The instant approval of this concession was so over-whelming that First, who foresaw the problems inherent in the compromise, felt it wiser not to protest.
Chapter IX. ARRIVAL
SINCE ITS COMPLETION three days ago, the bridge had had heavy traffic. The mornings visiting Hrrubans were already crossing it. Solinari and McKee passed them midway, pausing to say hello, then hurrying on to meet their own guides. They were off to the groves the Hrrubans cultivated for a rich nut which they ground for meal. Solinari and McKee had an idea about importing seed pods, speculating that the trees might be grown hydroponically. They hoped to get a Food Resources Grant and thus avoid a reduced status when they returned to Earth.
Reeve pulled on his coverall, aware that his private ruminations would make him late for his own appointment.
Hrrestan and two unfamiliar Hrrubans were expecting him at the mess hall. He had got used to distinguishing the natives by the variations and shadings of their velvety fur and eye markings. Gaynor might grumble that he couldn't tell one cat from another, but there were differences in the color of the backbone stripe and eye markings almost as distinct as the onetime differences in Terran skin shades. Lawrence suggested that this might be due to dietary differences rather than tribal or ethnic variations.
Ken hurried out of his cabin, down the trail to the mess hall, where the Hrrubans were awaiting him on the porch. He managed to growl out a respectable Hrruban apology to which Hrrestan replied with courteous denials. Reeve was delighted to be able to understand every word Hrrestan spoke. Progress in one direction, at least.
Hrrestan introduced the older of the two men as Hrral and the other Hrrto. Hrral was older than Hrrestan, his body fur so deep a brown it blended with the backbone stripe. His face fur was flecked with white, yet there was no other indication of approaching debility in the straight, strong body.