You can't prepare enough to make its importation valid, Ezra replied. And can we protect it and Earth from a possible cross-infection? We have to be sure what we bring in can be adequately sterilized, you know, or it will be jettisoned.
True, true, Dautrish agreed, his enthusiasm waning abruptly.
Can you sterilize feathers? Sam Gaynor asked in alarm.
Yes, indeed. Ultra-violet'll do it. We can put them through an insecticide to remove the quill parasites.
Parasites? Sam Gaynor regarded the plastic bagsful of vivid feathers with obvious suspicion.
Hey, which weighs more? A pound of feathers or a pound of rocks? Lawrence asked with an all too sober face.
Huh? Gaynor was startled afresh. Oh, knock it off, Lawrence; he said when the sociologist began to laugh. He picked up his colorful treasure and left the mess hall, muttering under his breath.
Take it easy, Lawrence, Ken suggested. You know he's got a low boiling point and we don't need to fight among ourselves.
He may just find there isn't room for fine feathers on the Codep ship, Lee Lawrence replied, no trace of his recent amusement on his face. Mart's rings, Vic's plasticized towers, even Macy's stones make more sense than feathers!
Yes, but feathers don't have much mass and it's mass that a ship moves, Vic Solinari pointed out.
Yes but! Yes but! Lee cut in, his eyes restlessly darting from one face to another, his mouth distorted suddenly with his inner conflict. Yes, but why?
The anguished question hung unanswered in the tense silence that followed the sociologist's outburst. Each man must have been wrestling with conscience and conditioning, Reeve realized. Wrestling against the inexorable departure from Doona. They had accepted it, at least to the point of collecting items now unobtainable on Earth and therefore valuable; extraterrestrial products with which to buy a decent status. But the emotional shock was seeping past rationalization, past obedience, past all civilized compromise, and every man in the room was fighting to maintain mental balance in the face of this embittering disappointment.
Why? Ken heard himself saying. Because history has shown that two civilizations cannot coexist on the same planet without competing to the point of aggression and destruction. God knows I don't want to leave Doona either, but I goddam well couldn't live with myself if I stayed and the Hrrubans got wiped out like the Siwannese.
"One can suddenly understand why our ancestors found genocide to be the easiest solution to their own problems in dealing with minority groups," Ben remarked in his imperturbable fashion. "It was Columbus wasn't it, who eliminated the Carib tribes completely? Of course, they had only spears, and swords, not rifles and " his voice dropped to a velvety whisper.
Are you mad, Adjei? Lawrence shouted, his eyes wide with horror at the big vet's soft intimation.
Not from you, Ben? Moody was stunned.
You're sick Adjei!
What's the matter with you?
Ben smiled as he leaned back in his chair. I just thought I'd say it and it would be said and could be forgotten.
There was no doubt, judging by the expressions in the room, that the thought had occurred to everyone; nasty, niggling, treacherous thought that it was. Ben was right. It was a relief to hear it spoken, to be able to discard it with honest revulsion.
But it rather forcefully points up why we have a Principle of Non-Cohabitation, doesn't it? he went on quietly. However, we have progressed. Your reaction proved that. So we will have the dubious pleasure of being recorded as the heroes of the Decision at Doona.
Ken put down his empty cup. He hadn't had enough coffee but he couldn't stay in the charged uneasy atmosphere of the mess hall.
Doc, spring me out some stay-awake, will you? he asked.
Why beat your wits out over that crazy purr, Ken? What good'll it do you now? Lawrence asked.
I don't know, Reeve answered honestly as he waited for Ezra to locate the stimulant, but it occupies my mind and gets me from today to tomorrow.
Knowledge is never useless. Dautrish said, riffling the pages of his careful botanical drawings. I think I'd like to have a list of those Hrruban equivalents of all these. For my records, you know, and, he favored Ken with a wry smile, my own personal satisfaction.
Say, is Hrrula going back to his village tomorrow? asked Solinari. I mean, I'd kinda like to look around it.
Ken scrubbed wearily at his face, waiting for the pep pill to take effect. Hrrula didn't indicate any length of stay. I'd like to get one more good session with him on the tape before he goes.
You know, Lee mused, an trace of his previous disgruntlement gone, I rather like that we learn his language.
I, too, approve, Ben concurred. For once, the native gets the linguistic upperhand. Unusual too, probably unique in contact history. Hmmm. When you've got the glossary, Ken, I'll learn it with you.
The giant veterinary rose languidly, stretched until his joints cracked and, with a step unusually noiseless for one of his physical bulk, walked out of the hall.
Well! Dautrish exclaimed, looked around until he saw Reeve grinning at him. An astonishing man. One never knows what to make of him. Anyone else want to grasp the golden opportunity of learning a real live alien language?
Fleeting opportunity, you mean, Lawrence said, then added, I'd give my sociological left arm to know what's been happening tonight at Hrrula's village.
Chapter VI. REACTION
WHEN THE FILMS and tapes reached Exploration, the Chief, trusting no one else, personally brought them to the First Speaker in the Executive Cube. To his intense gratification, he was asked to remain as the First Speaker ran through the records of that initial contact with another intelligent species.
After the last scene faded, the Chief watched the First Speaker meditate until the silence was unbearable.
"Sir," he all but stuttered in guilty uncertainty, "the Prime Rule is in jeopardy. We will withdraw our people.
The First Speaker regarded him with a deceptively blank expression.
On the contrary, Chief, we must remain and observe.
"Observe?'' The Chief was surprised-and relieved. One of the few pleasures he had in his position was the opportunity to visit that planet.
Of course we must observe. Surely, Chief, you of all our people have realized that a contact of this sort was only a matter of time. You know how often your Scouts have discovered traces of other space explorations.
"Indeed I do, sir. But considering our wretched history " he hesitated, arrested by a minute change in the calm face.
Chief, it is time we stopped making that 'wretched history' an excuse for racial cowardice. The gentle voice in no way lessened the shock of the statement.
Ssssir?
That planet is ideal for a confrontation. It is also obvious that this species intends ours no harm. Indeed, the film is witness to their very earnest attempt to meet us with friendship. Notice, also, the willingness to learn our language surely no easy task for them. No, Chief, I regard this incident as extremely providential. Extremely.
The First Speaker rose and walked to the windowed wall, turned off the opacity in order to look out at the endless panorama of structures.
All those people and so few interested in more than the fare on the view and food panels. Something must snap them out of this crushing lethargy. What they need is a good fright! Yes, a blood-stirring fright!
Gone was the gentle-voiced Speaker. The Chief sucked in his breath at the vibrant ring as he felt his heartbeat accelerate.
Nothing gets a man more than a threat to his very existence!
Sir, the Chief began tentatively, it will provoke another wave of suicides and our young adults . . .
A growl deep in the First Speaker's chest paralyzed the Chief completely.
"A suitable end for those unable to face any sort of challenge. No, Chief," and the First Speaker paced energetically, his eyes gleaming with excitement, ''this crisis will be the making of us or the end. And if it's the end, then good riddance to a species that has outlived its purpose. Now, here are my orders for . . ."