Yes? It was Paskutti.
Didn't you hear, Paskutti? A massive find of pitchblende. Lunzie's distilled a beverage from the fruit. We're going to sample it by way of celebration.
A huge hand waved and the iris closed.
They being aloof again? asked Kai, pausing in his progress to the large dome.
They do have different enthusiams, it's true . . . And abruptly Varian remembered the glimpse she'd had of Paskutti's intense reaction to the predator's attack on the herbivore.
All work, no play . . . c'mon, Paskutti, roared Kai. Tardma, Tanegli, Bakkun . . . you lot . . .
The iris opened again and the heavy-worlders sedately crossed the compound to join the celebrants.
CHAPTER FIVE
By the time he had finished the first beaker of Lunzie's brew, Kai had considerably more respect for the versatility of the fruit and for Lunzie's resourcefulness which was already legend in the expedition. He might almost become a fruit-freak. His taste ran to a tart flavour in beverages and this had a jolt that was satisfying as well as to his liking.
He was startled to see Lunzie gravely pouring small beakers for the three youngsters but when he half-rose in protest, she gave him a placid nod. Kai watched as Bonnard sipped warily and then made a disappointed grimace.
Aw, Lunzie, it's just juice.
Certainly. What else did you expect to get from me at your age?
You've added something, though, haven't you, Lunzie? said Cleiti, smiling to make up for Bannard's complaint.
Yes, I have. See if you can determine what it is.
Probably something good for us, said Bonnard in a mumble which Lunzie might not have heard for she was turning away.
Kai, thoroughly amused by the incident, moved to the dinner table and began to fill a plate. There was a mixture of synthesized and natural products, including a patty made of the algae Trizein had been cultivating. It tasted faintly of the hydro-telluride that permeated everything on this planet. Kai thought again that were it not for that stink, Ireta would be a wonderful assignment.
He stood a little apart as he ate, watching the other members of his teams, to gauge the general reaction to Dimenon's and Margit's find. A strike automatically increased the team's expeditionary earnings and there could be some resentment. Of course now that they knew the shield lands were stripped, they'd go right into the nearest orogenic zones. Finds would be the rule, instead of the exception from now on.
And that would mean Kai would have to report the finds to EV. How long would he and Varian be able to suppress the fact that the expedition was no longer in contact with EEC? The teams would be expecting some sort of acknowledgement of their endeavours from the mother ship. Well, Kai thought, he was within standard procedural methods to wait until they'd done a thorough survey of the site and assayed the yield. That would give him a few days' grace. Then it was entirely within the realm of operations that EV might not strip the message from the beamer for another eight to ten days. After that, he and Varian might be forced to admit to the lack of communication. Of course, by that time, maybe the vessel would have passed beyond the interference of the storm and have picked up the backlog of reports. Kai decided not to worry about that problem right now. And took a good swig of Lunzie's brew. It did go down smoothly, with only the faintest trace of hydro-telluride.
Glancing around the room, Kai noticed that Varian was intently watching the heavy-worlders, her brows contracted in an expression of mild bewilderment Paskutti was laughing, which was unusual enough, at something Tanegli had said. Could Lunzie's brew be having a loosening effect on the heavy-worlders? That shouldn't puzzle Varian. He went over to her.
Never seen Paskutti laughing before?
Oh, you startled me, Kai.
Sorry, but they're . . . they're not drunk on the stuff, certainly . . . She held her own beaker out, peering at it quizzically. They've had just as much as I have but they're . . . they're different.
I don't see any difference, Varian. Except this is only the second time I've ever seen Paskutti laugh and I've worked three standard years with the man. That's nothing to get upset about . . . or, and he stared at her intently a moment, did something happen today?
Yes and no. Oh, just a rather brutal incident . . . a predator attacking one of Mabel's types. Nasty piece of work. She gave herself a shake and then smiled with resolute good humour at him. I'm too used to domesticated animals, I guess.
Like the Galormis?
She shuddered. You do know how to cheer me up. She stuck her tongue out at him and then laughed when he did. No, the Galormus were clever, in their own way. They had the wit to act appealing, like the beasts we have all come to know and love through the medium of the three-d tapes. My old practical vet instructor always warned us never to trust any animal, no matter how well we knew, liked or trusted it. But . . . oh, well. I have been with that dour bunch a lot, and I guess I'm imagining things. This is a happy occasion. So let's make it one. Tomorrow's going to be very busy. And, she added, turning her body to shield her words from anyone nearby, what are we going to do about a message to EV?
Thought about that myself, and Kai told her how he proposed they handle the problem.
That's okay by me, Kai, and eminently sensible. Only I sure do hope we hear within that period. Say, you might ask the Theks in your next contact if they do remember anything about a previous expedition here.
Do I convey curiosity or disapproval because we were landed without any knowledge of a previous expedition?
Do the Theks appreciate either emotional prod?
I doubt it, but the trick is to get them actively thinking about anything.
By the time they've had their think, we could well be gone from here. She paused and then, sort of surprised at her own words, added, You don't suppose that Elder Thek is from the original group?
Varian, it takes a million years to produce the tectonic changes that buried the other cores. Not even a Thek is that long-lived.
Its son, maybe? Direct memory transfer? I know they practise that between generations.
That could be it?
What?
"How all knowledge of Ireta got lost. Inaccurate memory transfer.
There you go again, Kai, accusing the Theks of fallability. And here they've done half your work for you!
Kai gave her a quick worried look but she was teasing him.
Not the dangerous half . . . just sketched in the shields. Which reminds me, if you can spare them, I'd like to borrow the heavy-worlders tomorrow. We've got to move a lot of equipment and Dimenon says the terrain is wicked. Gaber will have to be on the spot for detailed mapping.
Who does that leave in camp on duty?
Lunzie prefers to stay in, on call. Divisti wants to do some tests and Trizein won't stir out of his lab. Oh, fardles, the younger contingent . . .
"Don't worry about them. I'll take 'em. I'd like to see the pay dirt myself. It'd do them good. We can spin off and leave you to work in peace. I think Bonnard could manage the tell-tagger, even if you don't "
It's not that I don't, Varian . . .
I'm teasing you, Kai. But the kids'll be quite as useful for me to check the vicinity for the deposition of wildlife as the heavy-worlders. So long as we stay in the sled, she added as she noticed Kai about to caution her.
Lunzie joined them at that point and Kai complimented her on the drink.
Lunzie frowned as she regarded the pitcher of liquid dubiously.
It's not right yet. I shall distill it again, to see if I can't filter out that hint of hydro-telluride.
By all means keep at it, Lunzie, said Kai and held out his beaker for her to fill, complaining when she did not.
You don't need a big head for tomorrow. This fruit is potent. Lunzie nodded towards the heavy-worlders whose deep laughs were rolling through the dome with increased frequency. They feel its effects and their metabolism can tolerate more alcohol than ours.