Bac’cul tried to sound accommodating without actually committing to anything. “The ramifications of your suggestion extend beyond the limits of my individual professional mandate. It is something for my superiors to determine. Meanwhile, since we have found nothing worth examining, might I counter-suggest that matters remain as they are until those occupying more senior levels of responsibility than you or I decide how to proceed?”
That put the Vrizan in the position of possibly making decisions that would later be overridden. Recognizing the ploy, Zizanden opted to change the thrust of the conversation.
“Even at this distance I can see that the cave, or tunnel, is beautifully machined and internally lit. The ancient humans were not known for expending such effort to protect or conceal ‘nothing.’”
Unable to deny this without admitting an ignorance he did not possess, Bac’cul countered, “I agree. As further study, quite possibly by the kind of conjoined research group you propose, may well prove.”
“Come now, three-legs.” Zizanden stared hard at her Myssari counterpart. “You have found more than a hole in the ground. What does it hold? Plant material, like the celebrated island depository to the north of here? Preserved fauna? Miscellaneous relics, artwork… what?”
“I have told you,” Bac’cul insisted, “we have been here only a very short while and have not had time to probe the interior and its possible contents in any depth. But out of common interest and amity, I will agree to call a halt to further exploration until the question of possible joint exploration is settled by our respective superiors.”
The Vrizan commander hesitated. Then, sufficiently pleased by what she determined to be her counterpart’s willing acquiescence, she turned and snapped an order in her own language. To Bac’cul’s relief the regular soldiers turned and headed back toward their waiting vessel. Even at a distance, their weapons had been discomfiting. With one more constructive gesture he felt he could convince the Vrizan to depart, if only for the remainder of the day. Such a gesture would be by far the best means of demonstrating to them that he and his team had nothing to hide.
“As a further indication of goodwill on the part of my people, I can tell you that the two well-known humans who advise the Science Sectionary are also here. They are present to aid in analyzing and identifying any artifacts of significance that may be found, though thus far none such have been located.”
The Vrizan said something that was unrepeatable in polite company. Her translator struggled to convey it accurately. “There is no need to brag. We are aware of and envy the assistance they provide your researchers. By formal agreement between our governments, we are no longer permitted to try to persuade them to provide such services for us.”
Meaning they are now safe from your egregious efforts at abduction, Bac’cul thought with satisfaction. Having more or less successfully befriended, discouraged, and finally misled the Vrizan, there was but one thing left to do to conclude the matter. He addressed his communicator, making sure the Vrizan could overhear him clearly.
“Ruslan, Cherpa—everything out here has been settled satisfactorily. Please come out so that you can confirm to our Vrizan friends that the tunnel holds nothing worthy of immediate examination, and so that you may bid them a mutually agreeable farewell.”
Isolated from the confrontation, Ruslan and Cherpa listened to the research team leader’s words—and worried, and wondered.
“I’m sure Bac’cul wants us to close down the place. He just couldn’t say so in front of the Vrizan.” Ruslan’s words lingered in the still air. “As we leave, you or I will stroke the relevant section of wall and the outside barrier will come down. Then the Vrizan won’t be able to get inside no matter what they decide to do next. This place will be sealed tight again.”
Bright blue eyes met his. “You think that will be the end of it, Bogo? I don’t trust the Vrizan no matter how much they quote the compact between their government and the Combine. You know me.” Her expression tightened. “I’d rather be talking from behind a gun.”
He smiled. “Me, I’m used to fighting with pages and pages of detail. That’s what I’m really afraid of: that exploration of this place will get bogged down in bureaucratic infighting between both governments. And worse, that the Myssari will accommodate the Vrizan’s wishes and allow for co-investigation of this place. I don’t know that I like the idea of the broadheads wandering around in here.”
Her words fell to a whisper. “Bogo, I don’t know that I like the idea of the Myssari doing so, either.”
He frowned. “I’m not sure I follow you, Cherpa.”
Spreading her arms wide, she indicated their subterranean surrounds. “This installation is special, Bogo. We don’t know special for what, but it’s special for something. If not revivification, then something else. I know it. I feel it. This place is not for the Vrizan. It’s not for the Myssari, either.” Her eyes met his once again. “It’s for us. For humans. Whatever it does. Whatever it means.”
It was silent in the chamber for some minutes. Eventually he looked back at her. “All right. I’ll stay behind. You bring down the barrier on your way out. Say that I’m waiting until everyone else decides what to do.”
“There’s no food down here,” she pointed out quietly. “No water.”
He shrugged. “I’ll come out when everybody else leaves. There’s water outside. Maybe you can leave me some rations where I can find them at the landing site. I won’t be here forever.”
“You don’t know if the barrier will respond to you. So far I’m the one who has done all the touch-activating with it.”
“I’ll take that chance.”
She stepped back and shook her head. “If you’re staying, I’m staying, too.”
“Cherpa…” he began, “what about the children at the outpost?”
“Their Myssari handlers will watch over them. They do most of that work now anyway. Kel’les will be there to help them.” She smiled and began to laugh, her glee bouncing around the room like loose neutrons. Her laughter sent him back, all the way back to the first time he had heard it, wild and free, in the ruins of Daribb. It had not changed much. But she had.
“If at least one of us doesn’t come out, the Vrizan are liable to get suspicious and decide to come looking for us.”
A twinkle in her eye, she turned and started away from him. “I’ll fix that. I’ll fix them.”
He started to call her back from where she had headed toward the lift, but relented. When she was younger, she would always listen to him, always take his advice. That had changed as she grew older and matured. She still listened to him… but she did not always take his suggestions. Nowadays Cherpa was going to do what Cherpa felt needed to be done. Contrary to his thinking, things usually turned out well enough. So he did what he always did in such situations.
Sat back, relaxed, and waited.
No one noticed her right away as she made her way down the last stretch of tunnel up top and approached the exit. But by the time she could feel the colder air from outside on her face, both Myssari and Vrizan had taken notice of her appearance. Walking briskly toward the outside, she smiled and offered a cheerful wave. Idly she observed that the Vrizan standing beside Bac’cul was female and quite tall. At the end of one wave, her left hand descended. As it did so it slid down the interior wall of the tunnel near the exit. In the absence of visible indicators, she hoped she had made contact with the appropriate place. Or perhaps it didn’t matter, she thought. Perhaps the entire length of tunnel was one immense instrument sensitive to the presence and touch of a human being.