A trigger-happy marine attempted to turn in the act of dropping his rifle. Ken dropped him with a bolt through his leg and no one else tried to turn.
Okay, Landreau, let me see you order those snakes herded away from the barn. Now!
Ken could imagine the expression on the spaceman's face, but at that moment one of the guards let out a startled howl, jabbing his hand frantically toward the barn.
The main door had been flung wide and from the barn charged every head of the stock-horses, cattle, pigs. Leading them on the bull, a pitchfork carried like an archaic lance, was Ben Adjei, his wife clinging to him on the back of their improbable mount. The guards were overrun by this unlikely cavalry before they could recover their rifles.
Ben leapt from his bull, pulling down the spaceman. Even before Ken could reach the scene, Ben was ordering the launch to turn back the reptiles or hear a laser bolt sear through their commander's skull.
In the subsequent confusion, no one immediately noticed that the homing beacon was lit; everyone was too busy helping the wounded and recapturing the stock. By the time someone did notice the beacon, an uneasy truce existed between the colonists holding hostages and the remaining crews aboard the two spaceships.
Hey, Kate Moody cried out, returning from a trip to her cabin for more medical supplies, the beacon's lit and you can already see the ship.
It had better be Alreldep, Ken growled and suddenly remembered the Hrruban bug in his pocket.
See this, Landreau, he held the metal object right under the spaceman's nose, although the man was still groggy from Ben's stunning leap on him. Here's proof of the Hrrubans' existence. And watch what you say, because the whole thing's being transmitted back to them. In fact, everything, since we made first contact, has been relayed to Hrruba. And, man, just think how that makes you look.
As the spaceman thrust it away, Chaminade intercepted the object.
Truthfully, I would like to see your allegations substantiated.
Is that why you were so eager to agree to Landreau's scheme of having the snakes destroy us? Lee Lawrence demanded. His head was bandaged but the arm that cradled a laser rifle was steady on the hostages.
An extraordinary situation requires extraordinary measures, Chaminade replied in a bland voice.
"The appropriate measures were laid down close to two centuries ago," Hu Shih remarked in a crisp stern voice, cutting through Lawrence's outraged roar. "We followed them when we asked for transport which was denied us. We filed reports which were disbelieved.
You," and he pointed at Chaminade, "and you," he swung on Landreau, "have complicated a very simple incident and you shall not escape its consequences."
It's an Alreldep ship, someone yelled from the porch.
Ken activated the com-unit.
Doona colony calling Alreldep ship. Come in.
Sumitral speaking. What has been happening there? What's that armed launch doing? Where is Shih? Why are Codep and Spacedep ships reporting a state of siege? They have no jurisdiction here.
This is Shih, Admiral Sumitral. An unusual situation has developed . . .
You're damned right it has. Any of the aliens in hearing distance?
I only wish they were, sir, Hu Shih replied fervently and then saw Ken gesturing wildly to the bug Chaminade still held. I mean . . .
If you've driven them from Doona, we've lost the chance of a lifetime. Sumitral's voice, charged with angry frustration, was cut off by the fury of retro-blasts.
Ken reached over and flipped off the unit to lessen the echoed roar. He took the little recorder button from Chaminade's hand.
"You got here too late, Sumitral,' he murmured. "Too late."
What do you mean? Lee asked.
All the sound and fury is what I mean, Ken replied, waving at the sullen marines. When I tried my delaying tactics earlier today, I got to the village just as Hrrula appeared. He started to tell me what was delaying their return; they've got troubles with their own government. He managed to warn me about avoiding violence of any kind, then he started to get yanked back and told me about the bugs in the mess hall.
Yanked back? How? demanded Landreau, suddenly alert. Where'd you say he was? In that village of yours?
They use matter transmitters, Ken told him.
Matter transmitters? Landreau turned pale under his tan. Then they are much more advanced than we are, he groaned.
You're damned right they are, a new voice agreed. A tall thin man, elegantly attired in deep maroon coveralls with the diamond-sand stripes of an admiral, stood in the doorway an instant before striding purposefully across to them. Landreau! Chaminade, he jerked his head with scant courtesy at the two men, his keen brown eyes falling at last on Shih. Hu Shih? Now, where are those Hrrubans?
Well, it sure is a relief to hear someone admit they exist," Ken remarked sardonically.
Of course they exist. Who're you? Reeve? We've found traces of their explorations on half a dozen planets. Just missed them on 87-SN-24C. You remember that incident, Landreau, yours was the Phase I Ship.
Again Landreau blanched, sinking back against the table.
But there were burn-off marks, traces of chemical deeply imbedded in the soil. No matter transmitters . . .
You got to get to a place to install a receiver, Ken said and was rewarded by Landreau's groan as the spaceman buried his head in his hands. What I don't understand, Admiral, is why, if you knew the Hrrubans existed, you wasted such a helluva long time getting here?
Sumitral blinked at such open criticism.
A confrontation of such importance to the future of our Amalgamated Worlds is not made without thoughtful preparation, he answered. I've spent hours in a sleep tank, learning Hrruban. Those tapes you people sent were excellent, by the way. My compliments. Now, and steely authority entered his voice, kindly take me to the Hrrubans.
I wish I could, Ken replied sadly, tossing the bug button to Sumitral. Our-friends here, he gestured at Landreau and Chaminade, never took our reports seriously because we couldn't show them any proof. In their efforts to change our minds for us, things got a little rough. I have it on good authority the Hrrubans don't take kindly to shows of violence so I don't think we'll be seeing much of . . .
HEY, DAD! The volume as well as the cry was heart-stoppingly familiar.
Ken whirled. There was a rapid thud of racing feet and then Todd, improbably dressed in mda fur, rope tail jerking behind him, came charging into the hall.
TODD! Pat shrieked, racing for her child.
Hey, mom. Hey! Lemme go. DAD, I brought someone who wants to see you!
Ken had taken one step forward in Todd's direction before he halted, staring at the imposing figure framed in the doorway.
Face-fur grizzled to white, mane hair long and very dark, the Hrruban appeared to tower above the tallest man in the hall. His brilliant green eyes, slowly moving from face to face, were oddly gentle and very searching, as if they had long since penetrated life's ironies and weird humors. The glowing ivory of his robes which fell in ornate folds to his booted feet, were dappled with the flashing colors of the brilliant green and red stones in his jeweled harness. It was the Hrruban's inner majesty, rather than the sumptuous richness of his dress, that evoked the reverent bows which acknowledged his entrance. As he approached Ken, Todd's small hand tugged at his father's.
Dad, that's Hrruna. Todd's idea of a whisper penetrated to the hushed spectators on the porch. He's First Speaker and that's as high as you can get on Hrruba. He brought me home so I wouldn't have to break my promise to Hrrula. That means we don't have to leave Rrala I mean, Doona! And Todd smiled trustingly up at his father.
Ken swallowed hard as he realized the First Speaker's gaze had settled on him.