Another one? Lawrence demanded, rushing to the window.
Awh, for the love of little apples, Reeve groaned in exasperation, whose finger's in the pie now?
"The Royal Egyptian Society for the Preservation of " Aurie Gaynor began.
Aurie! Kate Moody exclaimed, reminding her of Hrrula's presence.
Aurie was not the least bit abashed and handed her husband a couple of pieces of toast. C'mon, Lightfoot. This'll give you energy, O Mercury, and she pushed him out the door.
I'll wager it's Spacedep, Eckerd said to McKee.
Naw, the Organization for the Prevention of the Suppression of Sentient Species, McKee countered.
"I told you it's the Royal Egyptian " Aurie began, undaunted, until she caught Hu Shih's stern look. She giggled but subsided.
Gaynor, panting from the round-trip run, deposited the message capsule and the reader in front of Hu Shih. He stood there, both feet firmly planted, while Hu Shih broke open the container and held up the space-blue, star-marked tube.
My bet, Eckerd said with considerable malice in his voice.
Shih scanned the film, motioned to Lawrence and waited until the sociologist had read it.
C'mon, Lee, forget the stupid protocol and read the stinking thing out loud, McKee urged. We can take anything at this point.
Laughing softly, Lee lowered the reader.
"I was rather accurate when I suggested there'd be an interdepartmental wrangle over this. Spacedep's joined." He turned back to the reader and quoted in a stentorian voice: ''Soonest make survey determine alien landing site.'" He shrugged expressively. "That's a new way to evade blame, make our 'natives' 'aliens.' Ha!" and Lawrence bowed ceremoniously to Hrrula whose face was inscrutable.
Hey, should he be allowed to listen to all this? wheezed Gaynor, jerking a thumb at Hrrula.
Why not? It concerns his future as much as ours, Lawrence replied. And I doubt if his command of Terran is sufficient to follow all this.
As Lawrence continued to read the new message, Reeve watched the Hrruban surreptitiously. How much does he understand, Ken wondered. There was no tell-tale flicker of comprehension on Hrrula's calm face. He sat in polite silence, Todd nestled against him companionably. But, thought Ken, he is listening very hard.
''They forget, I guess," Lawrence was saying, "that we have only the one copter and not much fuel for an around-the-globe search. How long would you reckon, Eckerd, it would take to check on all continental masses for landing traces?"
Eckerd made a rude noise. In a copter with an air speed of 150 miles top? Hmm, and he laughed. Months. Assuming, of course, that the craft these so-called aliens used leaves a burn-off.
What else would they use? queried Ramasan.
Hell, they could use magic for all of me, Eckerd retorted derisively, looking sideways at the imperturbable Hrruban.
A broomstick? suggested Pat with a giggle. For a clean sweep.
We're supposed, Lawrence went on, raising his voice over the ripple that followed Pat's remark, to institute a search, soonest, until such time as a ship can be detached to aid the 'indigenous personnel.' Now, which personnel shall be considered to be the 'indigenous' one?
Lee put the reader down carefully and looked around the hall until he came to Hu Shih. With a little bow, he gave the floor to the metropologist.
We are causing quite a stir, Hu Shih remarked with a disparaging smile. We certainly have had no clear orders from any of the departments interested in us. While we do know we must leave and Codep has so directed us, the only available transport refused to wait. Alreldep says stay and observe and now Spacedep tells us to beware of aliens. Hu Shih smiled benignly toward Hrrula, who gave no suggestion of hostility as he grinned down at Todd beside him.
All right, so what do we do now? Gaynor demanded bluntly.
I want to move into the house you built me and start enjoying apartness, his wife said decisively.
Her feeling was unanimously seconded by all the women.
I would like to know if there are more of these berries from which to make this jam, Phyllis Hu remarked when she could be heard.
The Hrrubans know where to get 'em, Ramasan told her.
Yeah, what do we do about them? Gaynor demanded loudly.
Why, we continue as we started, Hu Shih replied, in honest friendship. Always keeping in mind that we are visitors and cannot abuse their hospitality.
Ben rose to his feet.
Shih, we do have to make some provision for the animals. After all, there is a distinct possibility that we'll have to leave them here, which wouldn't be too bad a thing. It will keep their species from being extinct everywhere. And the Hrrubans may profit by it call it a payment in kind for the rent of the colony estate. Hrrula has shown a keen interest in the horses and I'd say he would make a good stockman. I'd like to teach him what I can.
I see no harm in that at all, Ben. What about you, Lee?
Hell, I can't see any harm. They've already domesticated the urfa and they milk them. They could sure use the cows. Why not? We can't do any more harm than we've done already!
I'll need more than just Hrrula to help with the stock, Ben announced, his deep voice filling the quiet room. You, Ken, and Macy have just volunteered.
And I'll need volunteers for the KP details. These dishes aren't disposable, Phyllis piped up in her clear light voice.
Chapter XV. INTERLUDE
AS KEN ROSE to follow Ben, Pat caught his arm, smiling up at him with an expression he knew all too well.
Aren't you forgetting something? she asked very sweetly.
Ken looked puzzled.
Your son, she reminded him, indicating Todd with a dramatic gesture.
He can help with the dishes, Ken replied firmly.
"Don't duck out, mister," Kate Moody said, sternly reinforcing Pat. Kate punctuated her remarks with her index finger jabbing at his breastbone. "He is now your responsibility, my friend. That boy needs a father's loving care.
Hrrula and Todd watched this exchange. Silently the two rose and joined Ken. Ken, who wanted nothing more than to have Todd out of his sight after the morning's antics, glowered down at the small serious face. There was nothing of apology in Todd's expression; no remorse for scaring his father or for putting Hrrula's life in danger, not to mention their relations with the Hrrubans.
To a child only the present and immediate future are relevant, Ken reminded himself.
Beyond them, other youngsters were clearing tables, their voices, as usual, subdued. Years of training in whispers held strong in a place where a shout died unheard. Even their walk, the mincing steps of those who learned the skill in small spaces and crowded sideways, reflected their earth-bound conditioning.
It occurred to Ken that Todd had never recognized such restrictions. His voice last night had been audible throughout the festivities. His clear requests at the breakfast table had stopped other conversation. On the walk back from the Hrruban village until Hrrula had taken him pickaback his stride had matched his father's when he wasn't dancing ahead or jumping over obstacles. He had not unlearned earthways overnight, Ken realized, he had never had them. And Reeve shuddered to think of Todd caroming off bodies and on toes on the city sidewalks, of his voice echoing through an entire level of Aisle flats, of Pat's desperate measures to control the rebel they had released on the world and to minimize the penalties exacted for such social misdemeanors.
Sighing, Ken held out his hand for Todd's. The boy's face lit up with a tentative smile and the small grubby hand curled into Ken's. The other hand, Ken noticed, was firmly gripping Hrrula's.
The three started for the barn.
Of the colonists only McKee and Ben had much experience with live animals. Once ticketed for Doona, McKee had been given extensive practical animal husbandry as the livestock allotted to Doona would have been partly in his charge. He would also have been responsible for the domestication of the urfa, the deerlike species of Doona. Samples of urfa milk proved rich in butterfat and calcium, and was not unpalatable; the Hrrubans used it to make cheese as well as for beverage. The short-coupled body of the urfa suggested that it would be uncomfortable as a riding animal rather like the now extinct Terran zebra.