"We are all of one kind, sire. We can breed as freely as law, custom, and propinquity allow."
"Now then," continued the Heshvavu, "tell me how this breeding be accomplished. We hear divers tales; but we mean for once to have the sooth."
Mjipa squirmed on his cushion. "You mean, sire, you want to know how the—ah—how the Terran male impregnates the female?"
"That is precisely it. What's the form of their respective organs, and how are they put to use? Amongst the creatures of this world, there's a variety of ways."
Mjipa gulped; he would have blushed if he had been capable of it. "Well—ah—umm—"
"Speak up, man! We cannot hear."
"Our visitor seems ill at ease," said the minister. "Amongst your folk, Master Mjipa, are such affairs a secret dark and dread, that you may not speak thereof?"
"No, sir. As I was brought up—but never mind. I will tell." Mjipa took a deep breath and plunged into an account of human genitalia, copulation, and parturition.
When he ran out of breath, the king and the minister exchanged glances. Ainkhist said: " 'Tis much like our own process, save that our females lay eggs, instead of giving birth to living young as do the six-legged beasts. But tell us, hast ever heard of the female's organ biting off that of the male during coitus?"
Mjipa started, then burst into laughter. "By all the gods, sire, what a gruesome idea! Your answer is no; our females have no teeth or beaks in those parts. Your informant must have confused Terrans of my species with those little creatures called spiders, of whom the female eats the male after he has served his purpose."
"So!" said Ainkhist. "Methought 'twas but a taradiddle.
Let's hope the custom of your spah-ee-dahs ne'er comes to this our world. One more question: be it true that coitus can be done 'twixt Terrans of either sex and normal human beings?"
"I believe so, sire. I have heard of such successful copulations, although I have never tried one."
"So! We are fain to try one of your Terran women. Our harem harbors females from near and far, and we would further broaden our experience ere we wax too old to enjoy it. Me thought we had plumbed the depths when we futtered that wild tailed woman from Fossanderan. Know you, these savages have never learnt the face-to-face position? When we first essayed to mount her ..."
The king launched into a speech on what was evidently, apart from history, his favorite subject. He described his relations with the females of his seraglio in minute detail, causing the straitlaced Mjipa to squirm with embarrassment.
Unused to reading Terran body language, the Krishnans remained oblivious. The Heshvavu droned on until a flunkey came in and whispered in the minister's ear. Zharvets held up a hand and, when the Heshvavu paused in his monologue, said:
"The audience with the leatherworkers' guild, sire."
"Oh, ah, aye, we forget. Pray excuse us."
"Your Awesomeness," said Mjipa, "does this mean I may continue on my way to Zhamanak?"
The Heshvavu gave Mjipa a searching look. "Not so fast, good my Terran. The thought hath stricken me that, belike, we can of mutual service be. See you this?" Ainkhist held up the long strip of paper.
"Yes, sire. What is it?"
"Know that we do indite a history of the Khaldoni nations, our glorious past forever to enshrine in the livers of our folk by means of that useful but dangerous Terran device, the printing press, whereof we have heard tales. It is, we understand, in use in Mikardand and elsewhere. Now, the Heshvavu Vuzhov hath something whereof we stand in need. Had you audience with him?"
"Yes, sire."
"Showed he you that chart of's ancestors?"
"Yes. How did Your Awesomeness guess?"
"Because for years no visitor to his cabinet hath escaped without Vuzhov's showing off his chart and lecturing the visitor on's forebears, back to the first human pair, begotten by Phaighost on a phwchuv at the time of the Creation. Now, we require a copy of that chart for our history, to straighten out dates and synchronism of reigns."
"Can't you ask him for a copy?"
"We have, and the selfish coystril ignores our requests. You see, O Terran, next to that silly tower of his, this chart is the thing in's entire kingdom wherein the pettish noddy takes most pride. Did he but let another have a copy, 'twere no more unique, and he'd take less satisfaction in the showing thereof. He still likes to fancy himself as ruling the great Kalwmian Empire; wherefore that long-outworn title, Emperor of the Triple Seas. Pho! He no longer rules one sea, let alone three.
"When we sent an envoy to Vuzhov to beseech him to let a copy be made, the princox not only renied our civil request but even said he meant to have the chart interred with's corse. He said: 'When I die, this knowledge shall die with me!' Such a wicked waste of irreplaceable knowledge!"
"What do you want me to do?"
"You shall backare to Kalwm City and persuade Vuzhov to give you a copy. Fetch it hither, and your path to Zhamanak shall lie open before you."
"By Dupulán's guts, how am I supposed to do that?" cried Mjipa. "If your envoy, knowing the circumstances better than I ever could—"
"Calm yourself, good my Terran," said Ainkhist, making soothing motions. "After all, you have the prestige of a leiger of Novorecife. Your—ah—unusual appearance, even for a Terran, should lend weight to your demands."
For half an hour, Mjipa argued against this plan on every ground he could think of. But the Heshvavu remained adamant, saying: "That is our offer, Master What's-your-name. Take it or leave it. And think not to start back for Kalwm City but leave the road and circle round the corner of Mutabwk territory. Our border extends many regakit to the west; the border is well guarded; and my men shall have orders to beware of any such attempt.
"And now we must not longer try the leatherworkers' patience. As a gift to you, we shall send a slave girl to your quarters for the night. From what you tell us, your respective organs should be compatible. Thus you, too, shall broaden your experience. We shall welcome your account of the effect upon you, in intimate detail. You have my leave, gentlemen."
Startled, Mjipa could only murmur: "Your Awesomeness is too kind!" He had heard of such customs; but none had ever been practiced upon him. Hence he was at a loss as to how to respond.
Back at the barracks, Mjipa told Minyev of his interview. The Kalwmian rolled his eyes and raised his hands. "Thank your Terran gods, sir, that this Heshvavu is a mild, scholarly wight. Had ye sought to argue and bully the Lord Khorosh into something athwart his will, your head would soon contemplate the scene from a rusty spike atop the main gate, Terran official though ye be."
Mjipa grunted and felt his head. "It seems to be still attached," he told Minyev. Privately he thought he had, perhaps, presumed too far on his immunity as a Terran official. Other Terrans had made the same mistake among these high-spirited, hot-tempered Krishnans and ended up dead. He must try to be more careful.
During the afternoon, while checking equipment, Mjipa worried over what to do with the Krishnan slave girl when she arrived. One side urged him to go ahead and use her, and to hell with the consequences. He would be careful not to hurt her, and he could not impregnate her, since Terran-Krishnan hybrids were genetically impossible. The saying among Earthmen on Krishna was: "More easily cross a man with a geranium." After three moons since leaving Novorecife, Mjipa's sexual drive insistently demanded relief.
As the product of a straitlaced upbringing, however, the other side of Mjipa's nature held him back. The baMangwato were a folk of austere standards, further reinforced by the neo-Puritan movement. Besides, Percy thought, the girl would probably be a spy for the palace, if indeed she was not sent to murder him in his sleep. Even if she were not, Victoria might hear of it and raise holy hell.