So we do not stay on a world which already has its own people. Ken found that he could not continue. It was a pain in his chest, this wanting to stay on Doona, all the time knowing that he had to go.
But you do not want anything in our village, Hrrula was saying, as he absently stroked Todd's arm. Every day we learn to understand each other better. We have eaten bread together, worked shoulder to shoulder on a bridge. Our women have met and liked your women. We both raise our young to respect traditions. Why then should you have to leave? It is not our wish that you go.
No! We must go! and Ken forced the words out. Today I killed a mda with this, and he brandished the rifle. Tomorrow, or a hundred tomorrow's from now, something might happen to make me kill you. I prefer to leave before such an occasion arises.
Hrrula's jaw dropped. Forgive me, Rrev, but the mda was already struck to the heart by my spear.
There was a certain cockiness in the Hrruban's humorous assertion that drew a chuckle from Ken. Well, these Hrrubans had more than once demonstrated a ready humor.
You have said to me what is in your heart, Rrev, Hrrula went on, his voice little more than a purr. He didn't look at the colonist, apparently more interested in the pattern he was drawing with one claw in the dust, a series of lines and circles. I will keep your words in my heart for it is honorable not to covet what belongs to another. Rules are made to protect, not restrict. Hrrula looked up from his pattern, saw that Ken was watching him. He let the design stay for another long moment and then erased it with a decisive sweep. There are many things to be considered.
He rose abruptly, hitching Todd to a more comfortable position. He struck out down the hill, leaving Reeve no option but to follow.
Pat had obviously been watching, for as they came down the last rise to the bridge, she raced across to meet them. Dutifully she tried to relieve Hrrula of Todd but the Hrruban backed away from her, and Todd clung tightly to his neck. She stepped back, blinking, uncertain what to do.
What has he done now? she asked in a sad, soft voice.
He wanted to see Hrriss, Ken replied laconically. What's all that about? and he indicated the waiting groups.
Pat caught at her lip and leaned into Ken for comfort. He readily embraced her, taking delight in the feel of her body against his. Hrrula passed them, striding across the bridge.
The message capsule came in and Hu Shih and Lee are closeted with it. They want you to join them.
When did the ship leave? Did the message . . .
Pat flushed and grinned. No, the ship left just before the approach alarm went off.
What's funny?
"Well, the captain was trying to pry more of the local leaf out of Abe Dautrish's stores when a crewman rushed in and garbled off a series of numbers. Kiachif got the crew rounded up and into that ship before you could say 'acceleration.' " Pat stifled a giggle. "The ship's radar has a longer reach than the alarm." She giggled again. "I believe the captain's last words to Abe Dautrish were to the effect that cold sober he couldn't take another ninety days of that child."
You mean Todd? Reeve spluttered, caught between indignation and amusement.
Pat nodded as solemnly as she could, trying to conquer the desire to laugh aloud at the look on her husband's face.
"The capsule came five minutes after their exhaust trail dissipated." Pat gave up the effort and grinned broadly as she added, "Macy said the captain cut it awful fine.
Pat's laugh had a contagious quality and Ken found himself unable to resist joining in.
I never thought I'd be grateful to Todd for anything, Pat sighed, her face abruptly twisted with perplexity. You'd better get along to the office.
They had crossed the bridge by then and she gave him a loving kiss and a gentle shove toward the building.
Hu Shih and Lee Lawrence were sitting at the metropologist's desk when Ken entered. They were looking at each other in a dazed stare, the microfilm reader on the table in front of them.
Thank God, Ken, maybe you can make some sense out of this, Lee said, jumping to his feet and shoving the reader to him.
The message film was from Codep and Ken scanned it quickly. Then he reread it slowly, word for word.
Are they serious? he demanded.
"You see?" Lawrence crowed triumphantly. "He's confused, too.
Hu Shih shook his head slowly,
"They say," Lawrence began in a mocking singsong, "this planet cannot possibly be populated. They say, the most thorough search was carried out according to strict Spacedep and Alreldep exploratory techniques. They say, see appendix." Lee paced up and down the room, swatting a closed fist into the palm of the other hand. "They say, make no effort to communicate with natives until trained personnel can be transported to the affected area. I love that, 'affected area.' What does he think natives are? A disease?
Oh, and do you appreciate the next paragraph in this epitome of departmentalese? Lawrence asked sarcastically, leaning his hands on the desk and rocking back and forth. They say, compile language tapes for semanticizing. How'n'ell can you do that without contacting natives whom they insist cannot be here in the first place?
Ken ran the message a third time and came to the final, thoroughly ridiculous section.
I also notice that they wish us to retain the colony ship when it arrives and depart, bag, baggage and live-stock, to avoid premature culture penetration with these same non-existent natives.
Oh, how how shall I explain? What can I say to justify our actions? murmured Hu Shih. What we have done seemed so logical considering our position.
Shih, and Lawrence gave the conscience stricken metropologist a gentle shake on the shoulder, you did what any sensible man would do. And you can't tell me that the men if they are thinking men who wrote this contradictory garbage are sensible. They sound like dithering idiots, scared silly and looking for somewhere to hide. No, and Lawrence stalked around the room again. We have made an impact on a sentient species, but in all my studies of cultures, e.t. and Terran, I have never heard of a race that absorbed that impact with less outward effect. They have met us as equals, and they had succeeded in counting coup if I may inject an old Amerind simile on us several times for all our culturally advanced level. No, Doctor, put away the sack cloth and ashes. Don't beat your breast or commit ceremonial suicide with remorse. The fault lies with Space-dep, or Alreldep or Codep; not with us. And I'll be damned if I'll take the blame for it or if I will try to act on orders filmed on such a screw-up, illogical, inconsistent wisp of mylar. Besides, he said in an abrupt change, the fat's already in the fire. We've done everything they said not to do and not done practically everything they said to do.
Captain Kiachif should have waited, Hu Shih said to himself in an anxious tone. I knew he should have waited.
Lawrence shot a glance at Ken.
I doubt any of us could have persuaded him, short of physical restraint, once his radar screen showed the approach of the capsule.
A low hum filled the room, emanating from the equipment which controlled the homing device of the message capsules.
Another one? Lawrence demanded and leaned out the door, shading his eyes to watch the homing tower at the center of the landing field. Reeve joined him, scanning the sky with his binoculars until he caught the flash of metal in the sun.
Sure is!
This message was from the Alien Relations Department. It was more coherent than Codep's burble, but it too warned against the heinous crime of too premature an introduction of Terran culture to a less advanced race, with a list of the penalties attached to such illegal intercourse. It also demanded in official requestese that a detailed report on the 'observed' natives be forwarded by return capsule.
In other words, we should never have so much as exposed a fingernail within their sight which is long range, Lawrence snapped. I'm not an alien relations expert but I am a sociologist and these people well they're people, he ended lamely. Say, did we ever mention that we saw them first? he asked.