The planet, a blue and green globe around which three pocked moons
   circled, was also ringed by orbiting drones and several spaceships of
   considerably less mass than the newcomer. Such vehicles were con-
sidered
   by the passengers of the enormous spaceship to be as worthy of
   investigation as the broadcasts, for both phenomena indicated the
   presence of sentient beings and advanced technology.


   The visiting vessel, which had no insignia or identifiable markings on
   its kilometre-long, irregularly cylindrical hull, sailed boldly towards
   the heliopause bounding this so-intriguing star system.


   The forward speed of the great ship would have been deceptive to any
   monitor observing its approach. Even as those aboard contained their
   initial elation of discovery and began to record this event, the blunt
   prow of the craft swept out on the in-system side of the heliopause.


   Sensors at the system perimeter were spotted, their messages and
   internal composition examined by probes: the mechanisms briefly
   prevented by this interference from performing the function for which
   they had been designed. Excitement grew to a feverish pitch as
of
     Doonarrala, bowed and shook hands with arriving delegates: hopefully
     dissembling his most uneasy and ambivalent feelings about this
wretched
     conference.


     He had never thought the idea of turning the subcontinent into a free
     trade and space port facility would come this far. The colony
     referendum had passed it by a slim margin, which vindicated his posi-
tion
     even if the "yeas' had outnumbered the "nays'. So he had been forced
to
     take the next step: this meeting of Hrruban and Hayuman officials.


     Beside him in the receiving line was his best friend Hrriss: their
     friendship as yet miraculously unimpaired by their current disparate
     views. They had agreed to disagree for the first time in their
     twenty-seven-year friendship.


     Todd found it very hard to understand how Hrriss should pursue a
course
   Beyond Hrriss was his father, Hrrestan, Hrruban coleader with Todd,
who
   was as staunchly in favour of the proposed alteration of Doonarrala's
   function as Todd and his father were opposed to it.


   Todd was impatient to get past the preliminaries and plunge into the
   problem which might relieve the tension that twisted his nerves and
   tightened his neck and shoulders. Kelly had done her best to knead out
   the worst of the kinks, silently supporting her husband. Despite their
   mutual respect and deep attachment to this planet and all it stood for,
   Todd wasn't sure if Kelly totally agreed with him on this matter.


   She'd said all the proper things and had accompanied him and his fa-
ther
   on their trips to all the villages where the pros and cons were argued
   in open debate. But, somehow, the feeling niggled at him that she was
   not as dead-set against a free-trade port as he was.


   Ken Reeve had worked tirelessly for a "nay' verdict on the referendum
   for the situation was his worst nightmare for Doona come true: an
   insidious expansion that defeated the initial purpose of the colony -
The fact that the idea for a trade and space port facility originated
with the Hrruban half of the colony did nothing to placate Todd's
arlx:ieties. The original premise, hammered into the Decision and later
the Treaty - was, he argued, about to be invalidated if part of the
planet was to be commercialized. Ironic that this whole wretched idea
had come from his suggestion that they name the western subcontinent
"The Hrrunat' after the late First Speaker, as a mark of the respect and
love in which all Doonarralans, Hayuman and Hrruban, had held Hrruna.


Todd and the old First Speaker had had a most unusual relationship,
despite their differences of species, culture and age.


It was therefore doubly ironic that what had been meant as a sincere
tribute to Hrruna was rebounding against those he had so subtly
protected during the colony's early stages.


Todd almost welcomed the discomfort of the formal tailored tunic which
rubbed his neck raw as the receiving line continued. He'd had the
notion, dressing this morning, that he should look his best, even in
defeat. His thick black hair was newly cut and neatly brushed and he
knew he looked well in the formal tunic, despite its constriction.
      He took some consolation in seeing that Hrriss was likewise chafed by
      Hrruban ceremonial gear, surreptitiously tugging at the jewelled straps
      that crisscrossed his tawny-furred torso under the loose red robe he
      wore for a such formal occasion. On other occasions Hrriss would have
      glanced at Todd, a hand-span taller than he, and rolled his large green
      eyes ceilingwards, flattening back his tufted ears to express his
      discomfort. But today they were opponents - still friendly, still
      hoping for a way Out of the dilemma which obsessed both - and their
      normal exchanges were constrained.


      Hrrestan, veteran diplomat, was currently chatting to the Hrruban Space
      Arm representative, Prrid. An old Stripe, the Senior Space Comman-
dant
      stood with his hands clasped behind him, rocking back and forth, his
      tailtip held at a relaxed angle. Beside him, his aide, a mature and
      seasoned explorer, Mrrunda, stood on one foot and then the other, try-
ing
      not to appear impatient for the proceedings to begin.


      For all the times when, as a small boy, Todd had wished for a tail, he
      a tall, white-haired man in uniform who resembled the very portrait of
      an ancient sea captain.


      In a face of weather-beaten red, surprising in a man who had never
been
      out on the seas of any planet, he had sharp blue eyes with which he
now
      studied Todd. Hoping he passed muster, Todd smiled and bowed.


      "Welcome to the Treaty Island of Doonarrala, sir. May I present Leader
      Hrrestan, Senior Commandant Prrid, and his aide, Captain Mrrunda?"
      Everett Cabot Barnstable was one of the more important delegates of
the
      conference since he represented Spacedep. There had been a lot of
      jockeying to see who would head the military arm of Amalgamated
Worlds,
      with its huge budget, resources, and manpower.


      Barustable, possessed of a strong conservative bent and vast support
on
      Earth, had finally succeeded. His predecessor, Admiral Landreau, had
the
      subcontinent: a base that would be as useful to the Hayuman Space
Arm as
      the Hrruban. Another point which Todd had tried to emphasize in his
      contentions. Spacedep had no right on Doonarrala: had always meant
      trouble to the community.


      And they wanted to invite Spacedep IN?


      Barustable accorded his Hrruban opposite numbers a sharp respectful
      half-bow, eyeing them as keenly as they did him. Then he gave an odd
      convulsive shudder and frowned. "Confound it, I can't believe it's safe
      for a body to shift planets so fast. Ten minutes ago I stood on a grid
      on Earth, and then I was decanted on Doona."


      "It saves time,' Prrid said, lifting his upper lip in a Hrruban grin.


      Todd was relieved to see that Barnstable was familiar with the awesome
      sight of a Hrruban smile.


      "I imagine you do not favour further grid installations on Doonarrala,'
you
     won t stand in the way of progress.


     "If I were certain it was progress. . ." And Todd let his comment
     trail off. So Spacedep was, as he anticipated, eager to obtain a
     legitimate position on Doonarrala.


     "Now, Todd,' Jilamey Landreau said, appearing at Todd's elbow, a-jingle
     with the tiny bells sewn in patterns on his stylish motley-coloured
     attire, "it's not like you to resist any change which improves this
     planet. The more grids, the merrier, what? Think of how many more
     people would come to the Snake Hunts,' he added, grinning mischie-
vously.
     Then he turned to the Senior Commandant and his aide, "Todd saved
my
     life on my first Snake Hunt, you know. By the way, Admiral, Comman-
dant,
     I represent the grid. - "Save it till later, Jilamey,' Todd said,
     grabbing his friend by the elbow and pushing him away from the military
     group.
  were so paranoid about their matter transmitters.


  To benefit from a trade and space port installation, the Hrrubans would
  have to put down grid facilities, probably the largest feasible one,
  similar in size to the one they had originally used to transport their
  "village' in the earliest days of the Doonan colonization. Todd
  couldn't really blame the Hrrubans for wanting a free-trade port.


  Their lack of large cargo vessels had mitigated heavily against Hrruban
  traders. And Spacedep had persisted in its restrictions on the sale of
  Hayuman spacecraft to the Hrruban merchants.            The day when the
Hrrubans
  released information and/or licensed grid matter transmitters to
  Hayumans, the Spacedep would lift its embargo on vessel transfers.


  Of course, there were grids transporting goods among Hrruban home
and
  colony worlds but there still didn't seem to be much ore available for
  more than small two-or three-man exploration vessels.


  "Yo there, Reeve,' said Fred Horstmann, a stout man with fair hair and a
      Lorena Kaldon, with scarlet-dyed hair and a firm pointed chin, was a
      banker from one of the major Amalgamated Worlds institutions.


      Her presence suggested that the project was favoured by the money
      markets and Todd's spirits sank even further. Damn it! Were they that
      certain this wretched facility would be approved? And, as her Opposite
      number, Hrrouf, a financier from Hrruba, arrived with a pale-pelted
      female with a limp air about her belied by scarred ears and forearms,
      whom he introduced as Nrrena. Both were moderately broad Stripes,
      indicating that they were of good family.


      Closely following them was Hrrin, a Rraladoonan from the Third Hrruban
      Village, who represented Hrruban independent traders and was an old
      friend of Todd's and Hrriss's. The Stripe down his back and tail was
      narrower than Hrriss's, and his leonine mane was much darker.


      Hrrin had kept his Opinions to himself so he might, indeed, side with
      Todd.


      Barnstable and the two Hrruban Space Arm delegates moved straight
for
  Though Kiachif had only made port a short hour before the conference
was
  due to start, that was time and enough for him to acquire "needful'
  supplies.


  Drunk or sober, the old man's mind was sharp, never missing the
chance
  to turn an advantage his own way, occasionally even supporting the
good
  of Doonarrala to his detriment. Todd was glad he was there.


  But would Ali prove an ally or antagonist? He had every reason to want
  better shipping facilities on Doonarrala but he certainly wouldn't want
  to give up his edge on interstellar trade.


  Todd sighed.


  Last to arrive, undoubtedly by design, was Hrrto, Second Speaker for
  External Affairs, currently the most senior administrator from
  Hrrestan's home world of Hrruba.
own
     merits and the necessity to compare favourably with his late superior in
     wisdom and probity. Comparisons were always odious, and even a
Second
     Speaker from a well-regarded Stripe would not be exempt from them.
The
     election was not far off, a fact that Todd knew would make Hrrto eager
     to conclude the conference as soon as possible so he could devote his
     time and energy to domestic matters.


     Beside him, but one pace behind Hrrto, walked a female Hrruban in
plain
     black robes: Hrrto's aide, Mllaba. Her hot yellow-green eyes showed
     Todd that her deference was deliberate, but not entirely out of respect
     for her employer. Todd found her a curious individual. Hrriss told him
     that Mllaba had abstained from cub-bearing, and even companionship,
in
     her drive to advance a political career. She came from a very broad
     Stripe, equal in rank on Hrruba to Hrrestan himself.


     Hrrto turned first to Hrrestan and Hrriss, favouring his fellow Hrrubans
  Todd realized with a shock how much older Hrrto seemed. His tawny
mane
  was almost all silver, and he moved with greater care as if his formal
  red robes weighed heavily on his shoulders. "My assistant, Mllaba."
  "Honoured,' Todd said.


  "It is I who am honrrred,' Mllaba replied in a low, throaty voice.


  "Now that all the delegates are assembled,' Todd said, "let us begin."
  He nodded at the attendant who folded shut the heavy doors of the
  conference room.


  Hrrestan politely led Second Speaker to his designated place and
bowed
  him into it, before taking his own seat.


  Hrrin leaped up to move a chair from the row against the wall for
  Mllaba. She said nothing, but her tail twitched once before she draped
  it demurely to one side instead of sticking it through the gap in the
  chair back intended for the Hrruban caudal appendage.
     politically sensitive. Doubly ironic was the fact that this was also
     his first chairmanship as Human colony leader and he wanted it against
     all odds - to fail!


     He glanced around the table, meeting the eyes of friends and
     acquaintances, forcing a smile which he hoped would not appear inane
or
     false.


     "Friends,' said Todd. "As co-host of this conclave, I welcome you all
     to this vital conference. I have to tell you that I am completely
     opposed to the formation of a space port and commercial facility on the
     Hrrunatan subcontinent." There was a murmur of surprise at his bald
     statement. "I feel strongly, as does my father and our former leader,
     Hu Shih, that such an installation is in direct conflict with the
     Decision made on Doonarrala thirty three years ago.


     "That Decision was ratified in a Treaty nine years ago, setting this
     planet aside as a peaceful co existent colony, specifically limited to
     an agrarian economy. To install - even at the distance of the
     subcontinent - an interstellar complex violates both Decision and
  "There are many good reasons why the establishment of a separate and
  autonomous space port facility on the Hrrunatan subcontinent would
  benefit both our species.


  With the appropriate safeguards, ensuring the integrity of the work
  here,' and he waved his hand to include the Treaty Island, "and what
has
  been so successful on the main continent of Doonarrala, many of us feel
  that there would be no conflict, certainly no abrogation of either
  Decision or Treaty to having a free-trade port. We must ensure,' and
  now he accorded Todd a respectful bow, "that all reservations and
  apprehensions should be discussed and set to rest."


  "With respect,' Jilamey said, standing up and bowing to Hrrestan:
  motions which set off his minute bells. "I really do believe that this
  planet is ideally suited for three separate and diverse installations.


  Certainly, it would be much easier to conduct trade in this sector of
  the galaxy - expediting,' and now he turned to the Hrrubans, "our
  allies' participation, at the moment seriously hampered by a lack of
  to keep off a topic that made Barustable, Prrid and the Second Speaker
  bristle with irritation.


  Hrrestan let the claws on his right hand unsheathe so he could drum
them
  warningly. Shrugging, Jilamey subsided but there was the faintest smile
  on his lips.


  "Speaker Hrrto,' Hrrestan said, "are you willing to comment on the
  proposed trade centre?" The Second Speaker, absently smoothing the
  lapels of his ceremonial robe, rose to his feet. Mllaba, beside him,
  sat stiffly erect, ears slightly aslant to catch every word her superior
  uttered.


  "Hrruban trade and commerce would significantly benefit from such a
  facility,' he began, switching his thick hands to a firm and oratorial
  hold on the lapels now.


  "Due to certain constraints,' and he flicked his left ear and pointedly
  did not glance in the Admiral's direction, "only a bare trickle of
     business management,' and he held one hand out to Mllaba for a sheaf
of
     notes which he then brandished as proof of his efforts, "ze majority
     would be quite amenable to such a project. With, of course,' and he
     held up the sheaf of notes, "safeguards to protect ze existing colony
     and ze Zreaty Island from any commercial contamination."


     "How large a trade grid will Hrruba install?" Jilamey asked, all but
     physically pouncing on Hrrto who recoiled.


     "Zat subject has certainly not been discussed as yet, Mr Landreau, Hrrto
     said repressively as Hrrestan simultaneously called for order, glaring
     at the unrepentant Jilamey.


     "What I'd like to know,' Tanarey Smith said, his voice overriding others
     wishing to be heard, "is whether or not the construction of such an
     installation will be joint?" His expression suggested that it had better
     be.


     "That question is premature, Mr Smith, Hrrestan said.
  "Hell's bells,' added Fred Horstmann, "there isn't a space captain worth
  his salt, Hayuman or Hrruban, who hasn't a fair idea where each home
  world has to be." He caught Hrrto's outraged expression. "Well, you
  only have to narrow the Options available, Speaker' "Don't we know
each
  other well enough now, after thirty-something years,' Tanarey Smith
  began, "to forget this nonsense about home world integrity?"


  "No!" Second Speaker Hrrto leaped to his feet, the fur on his back
  bristling. "Home world integrity is not nonsense.


  It is ze most vital point of agreement between our two races and may
  not, must not, be abrogated. Never be abrogated."


  "So is the Treaty!" Todd couldn't contain himself from saying in a tone
  just short of a shout.


  "The Treaty stipulates,' Barnstable said, raising his own voice to top
  Todd's, "the conditions by which the Doonarrala colony is promulgated.
  It says absolutely nothing about that subcontinent nor the use to which
How about a space station?" And he looked appealingly at Todd.


Though Todd hadn't expected such a suggestion, he welcomed it.


"Space station?"


"Landside free port?"


"Now, wait a minute!"


"I thought the matter under discussion was the use of Hrrunat !"
Appalled, Speaker Hrrto listened to the babble, his increasing outrage
at such lack of courtesy demonstrated by the lash of his tail.


"SILENCE!" Todd belted the word out in such a roar that there was
silence, as much from surprise as to walt until ears stopped ringing.


"You will all be heard in order.


In order, I repeat. We may all know each other very well but that is no
     He was politely heard but when he had finished, five people vied to
     follow him.


     Discreetly, Hrrestan acknowledged Hrrin who spoke about the benefits
to
     the burgeoning agrarian economy which could not profitably market its
     surplus beyond those few traders who regularly reprovisioned at the
     present small, and totally inadequate space base. More people could
be
     accommodated at a land base than a space station: therefore the
agronomy
     of Doonarrala would certainly benefit more from a facility at The
     Hrrunat.


     Lorena rose to speak for a space facility where the integrity of the
     colony would not be at risk. But, as she was speaking for bankers who
     would profit from either venture, she chose to fall on the side of the
     more expensive installation. Hrrouf, in terser language but with a
     thick accent, appeared to corroborate her statements on the Hrruban
     behalf.
     Jilamey interjected, causing the Admiral and the Hrruban commandant
to
     erupt in protest.


     "Jilamey!" Todd said again, using his penetrating voice to cut through
     the rising level of peripheral conversations, one more word about grid
     and you are o.u.t. Out!" Jilamey's unrepentant shrug was on the order
     of neverhurts-to-try.


     "I don't like griding around,' Barnstable snapped out, his crisp voice
     ringing in the big chamber, "and a big one wouldn't be any easier to
     endure than a small one.


     Brr! At least with a ship, you know where you are and how you got
     there." One of his ice-white brows lowered slightly as he turned in
     Second Speaker's direction. "But I would like to take this occasion,
     face to face, to ask the honourable Senior Commandant Prrid and the
     honoured Second Speaker why the Himbans won't trust us with grid
     technology." Hrrto's eyes gleamed and the fur at the back of his neck
     bristled. Todd prepared to stand up and dive in.
  such finality that Jilamey subsided. "We discuss ze advisability of a
  free-trade space port on Ze Hrrunat."


  "Then let us get down to the nitty-gritty,' Ali Kiachif said. "The size
  of the place, its organization: will it be jointly administered . 9'
  "Of course!' Mrrunda said emphatically.


  Ali grinned at him. "Of course!


  Hrrto grumbled out a growl, shifting himself to face the old captain.
  "Hrruban trade has been at a disadvantage zat would be remedied by
such
  a facility. I am instructed to make suitable arrangements." So, Todd
  thought to himself, no reprieve was forthcoming from the Hrruban side.
  How was he going to delay the matter? A glance at the massive
  old-fashioned long case clock in the corner of the room gave him the
  excuse he needed.


  "Let us adjourn for lunch before we have to deal with details,' Todd
  suggested, glancing about the table.
      The wide, marble hallways of the Federation Centre were peopled by
tour
      groups and employees hurrying to and fro.


      But these stood aside to allow the distinguished delegates to move
      freely towards the dining area. As they neared the facility, delightful
      aromas wafted out into the hallway.


      Todd took a lungful and began to relax a little. Hrriss's jaw dropped
      open in a contented smile. The anticipation of food was having much
the
      same effect on the others.


      "Friends, welcome!" a warm voice greeted them from inside the doors.
      "I'm your hostess, Kelly Reeve. Please, come in and make yourselves
at
      home. She repeated her greeting in excellent High Hrruban, bowing low
      towards Hrrto.


      Her coifed red hair ablaze in the room's pendant lights, Kelly Solinari
  Kelly's hand.


  Ali Kiachif sprang forward to greet Kelly. "A fine day, a fair lassie,
  and food fit for a pharaoh. How are you, lass?"


  "Wonderful, Ali,' Kelly said, returning the old spacer's embrace with a
  kiss on his grizzled cheek. "How good to see you! And Jilamey! We're
  so glad you got here. I was very surprised to see no one but Barrington
  on the landing pad two days ago. We didn't know what became of you.


  Barrington, Jilamey's "gentleman's gentleman', accompanied him on
almost
  every trip the young businessman made. He was a combination of
  amanuensis, mother hen and genie from the lamp, to judge by Jilamey's
  accounts of his silent miracles of Organization.


  "Well, surprise,' Jilamey said, sheepishly. "I got a ride on the grid
  with Admiral Barnstable, hands across the wateror the void, so to
  speak." He winked at the Admiral, who ignored the familiarity. "I sent
  Old Patience-is-a-Virtue on by himself to breathe ship air and mind my
  parcels. He's marvellous. So I was able to stay home and tweak a few
     Landreau had bought a large house high on a hilltop south-west of the
     original First Villages, and equipped it via Codep transport ship with
     all manner of modern doodads, including private vehicles not
     specifically mentioned nor barred by the Doona charter. As for horses,
     he owned a few but except for the weeks he was on planet, they
boarded
     in stables owned by friends. Except for the ambassadorial residences
on
     Treaty Island, his was the only permanent home owned by a non-
resident
     on Doonarrala. But then, Jilamey was an exception to many rules.


     "Well, sit down and eat,' Kelly said, waving him to a seat. The table
     was laid with individual place settings, but the platters and bowls of
     food were intended to be passed from guest to guest. "How have you
     been?"


     "I'm surviving,' young Landreau replied, happily. "How are the Alley
     Cats? And Hrriss's cubs? I'm looking forward to seeing them." "And
     they can't wait to see you,' Kelly assured him.
    "You should have some of your own." She caught herself and threw him
a
    little shrug of apology.


    "Not me,' Jilamey laughed, without a trace of discomfort. "I'm much
    more definitely uncle material. Besides, I couldn't spoil yours so well
    if I had my own tagging along behind me.


    "How is my youngest grandchild?" Hrrestan asked, fondly, his voice
    dropping into intimate mode, as he stopped to rub cheeks with Kelly.


    "Growing,' Kelly said, with a grin. "She follows everything with her
    eyes now, and that tail of hers is positively prehensile. When she
    doesn't want you to stop patting her back, she holds on."


    "Hrrunna is named for our dear First Speaker,' Hrrestan explained to
    Hrrto. "She was born a mere four days after he joined the Stripes."


    "A most touching sentiment,' Hrrto said, with a mere suggestion of a
    drop-jawed smile. "It is good to know those so far away from the home
   likely overshadowed any real feelings he might have.


   Kelly burst in to dispel the uncomfortable silence. "Well, come along,
   everyone. I hope you enjoy everything. Don't stand on ceremony. I'm
   sure you're famished." She came up to Todd and lifted her face for a
   kiss.


   "How's it been going?" she asked in a hasty whisper as others moved
   about the table to find the placecards with their names.


   "From whose viewpoint?" Todd asked ironically. Kelly gave him a quick,
   worried look as he tucked her arm in his and escorted her up the length
   of the room. "Ali tried to help by suggesting a space station.


   Jilamey's doing his best to irritate Hrrto and Barnstable with his
   constant nudging about grids. But,' and she sighed as he conceded,
"the
   majority see it as a way to improve their credit position one way or
   another! Even Hrrin sees the space port as profitable to the
   agricultural community-' "Oh? A new outlet for surplus. Hmm. Well, it
   would be. Ooops, sorry, love." Smoothly, Kelly ducked away from him
      Then she turned her bright smile on Tanarey Smith who beamed under
her
      charm.


      Soon everyone was seated, with filled plates and glasses, looking all
      too pleased with the morning's meeting.


      Despite the fact that the menu included two of Todd's personal
      favorites, he could find no appetite and pushed food about on his plate.


      He could hear snatches of conversations and shook his head because,
      without exception, everyone favoured the instant establishment of a
      space port on the Hrrunat.


      The instanter, the better, and why wasn't this suggested years ago?


      Because Hu Shih and Hrruna had squashed that snake any time it came
out
      of its lair.


      Why wasn't I able to? Todd thought in miserable isolation. Dad and Hu
  it anyway. I must not be the leader everyone thought I was, if I cannot
  protect the community from an evil I perceive as encroachment.


  The jingle of Jilamey's bells broke through and he saw the enthusiastic
  entrepreneur bumping up and down on his chair as he explained, with
many
  gestures as well as body language, some point he was trying to make.


  Maybe, thought Todd, I was foolish to stop Jilamey yattering away about
  the grids. Maybe if I let him irritate Hrrto, Prrid and that bunch
  sufficiently, they'll leave in a huff Todd, my friend, think with your
  head, not your heart. There're more ways to deflect a snake than
  ramming a boulder up ils maw.


  He brightened considerably as he turned over the possibilities for
  sowing discord. Certainly, insisting on discussing grids, he'd
  disorganize the meeting so that nothing could be accomplished but a
  venting of temper.


  He'd have to be subtle, which had never been his best suit, but so much
  was at stake.
   "In this instance,' Barustable began, joining in with a verbal pounce,
   "since the matter concerns more than the Villages, the parent worlds
   must have a voice." Todd lifted one eyebrow and gave Hrriss a long
look
   which Hrriss shrugged off. That annoyed Todd even more.


   Was Hrriss blind that he didn't see how eager Spacedep was to get a
   legal foothold on Doonarrala?


   "Parochial attitudes must give way to interstellar requirements,'
   Tanarey Smith said and Lorena nodded hearty agreement.


   "Yes, but with both Earth and Hrruba complaining about costs already,
   where is the credit coming from?" Todd asked.


   "This project will interest independent financial sources Lorena began.


   "Don't you worry about the financing Tanarey said.


   "All right, I won't,' Todd said, "but how does the facility manage
   bombshell. Hrrestan dropped his jaw in a smile. "You did not think
   that we Doonarralans would let you have a whole subcontinent rent free
   from us, did you? A percentage of the annual income Todd covered his
   eyes and bent his head so no one would see his grin. Maybe Hrrestan
   wasn't totally lost to common sense in this matter. In Todd's lexicon,
   however, a hefty infusion to the colony's coffers did not quite
   compensate for the abrogation of the Treaty. As it was, Hrrestan's
   remarks effectively silenced everyone except for the jingling bells of
   Jilamey's suit as, first he sank back in his chair, before abruptly
   sitting up to cause more chiming.


   "Of course,' the young entrepreneur said, beaming at his sudden
   inspiration, "Doonarrala must benefit from the project. But I think
   it's only a matter of working out an acceptable figure. Think of all
   that has already been worked out here on Treaty Island so harmoni-
ously."
   He gave one arm a hearty shake, grinning at the effect on those seated
   around the table.


   In the small reception room outside the landing bay, a smartly uniformed
   Spacedep rating awaited the passenger of an admiralty scout ship that
moulded
  mouth. The rating waited at attention while the visitor cleared
  decontam and slipped out of his pressure suit. The glassteel doors slid
  open one at a time, allowing him to enter the atmosphere lock, and
  finally to admit him to the lounge.


  "Welcome aboard, Commander,' the rating said, firing off a perfect
  salute. "The captain awaits you in her office.


  I'm to take you to her." Frozen like a waxwork, she held the pose,
  waiting for the guest's reply.


  "Thank you,' Commander Jon Greene replied, returning the salute
  promptly, but not too promptly.


  The rating relaxed subtly, as if the precise timing was what she had
  expected, and he smiled inwardly. Without a single glance back at the
  scout ship now being swarmed over by a crowd of technicians for its
  courtesy checkup, he strode off behind his guide.


  Greene surveyed the various work-stations they passed, glancing at the
      efficiency and drive, he became indispensable to his varied superiors,
      working his way up to a position of trust, where he was empowered to
      carry Out ordered tasks that required strategy and thought. By making
      his commanders look their best, he acquired a vicarious importance.


      In time, he had managed to ingratiate himself to the new head of
      Spacedep, Admiral Barnstable. Greene was an ambitious man, and
hoped to
      go higher still in time.


      Who knew what might await him in the future? The chairmanship of
      Spacedep? A seat on the Amalgamated Worlds Admin Council?


      The Admiral was presently on Doona for the purpose of attending a
      conference to gain a Spacedep niche in the proposed space port and
      negotiate other details of interaction between the two races. The
      Admiral was an adequate administrator, and spoke only passable Mid-
dle
      Hrruban, but he was a better negotiator than anyone in the Spacedep
      hierarchy. Greene knew his own talents would be employed there, as
an
   was ostensibly a courtesy call, allowing Greene to visit the captain of
   the Spacedep cruiser which was passing through Doonan space for the
   purpose of asking her to join him at the negotiations. His visit had
   its sub rosa purpose: the Admiral suspected that Hrruban warships
would
   also be in the area, and Greene's primary mission was to find out what
   they were doing. If they were behaving in a suspicious manner, the
   Admiral wanted to be informed as soon as possible, so that he could
take
   appropriate manoeuvres. Barnstable wasn't an isolationist, but he
   firmly believed that good fences made good neighbours.


   Greene and his escort passed into the rear of the bridge area and
   skirted the main dais, heading towards an alcove facing it on the left.


   The officers of the current watch on the bridge glanced up only briefly
   at the visitor and his escort. No inefficiency here. Greene nodded
   approval.


   Overt curiosity in a fleet officer was a fault.
      A most attractive woman and, by her expression, not unpleased by what
      she saw. By her record, she was also a successful, intelligent officer,
      on track for flag rank. A good person to get to know. He smiled.


      "Captain Grace Castleton, I bring you greetings from Admiral
      Barnstable,' Greene began, very formally approaching her. "I am Jon
      Greene.


      Castleton stuck a hand out over the desk, clasped Greene's, then
      released it and indicated that he should sit down. Her deep eyes were
      frank and full of concern.


      "Good to see you, Commander. That's quick work! We only just heard
the
      alert."


      "Alert?" Greene gawked blankly, and the captain frowned at him.


      "Yes, alert! You've come about that orbiting monstrosity out there,
Greene made a point of familiarizing himself with all makes of
spaceships, naval, civil and private. And he had seen one like this
recently, too. He concentrated on plucking the circumstances out of his
memory.


"Not the usual design of Hrruban warships, is it?" he murmured,
struggling to grab the evasive recall. With a deft tapping, he brought
up the computer telemetry statistics and studied the image, trying to
identify it.


"Can't be Hrruban,' Castleton snapped immediately.


"Furthermore the ship doesn't answer any communication signal we've
thrown at it, and I know all the Hrruban codes. It's heading for a high
orbit around Doona. We've our weapons trained on it, though it hasn't
offered any overt threat. But then, how could it?" And her grin was
ironic. "It's not carrying any heavy armament."


"None at all?" Greene demanded. "Ridiculous."
High-grade radiation, well shielded but still detectable.


Bastard's not supposed to be there, but I guess they don't trust us
completely either, with one of their High Council members down there.
The way they're hanging off the stranger, they don't know where it came
from, either." As if in corroboration with Castleton's assertion, the
intercom rang through. "The commander of the Hrruban ship,' a voice
said.


"Put him through." The images faded, to be replaced by the face of a
middle-aged Hrruban. "Zis is Captain Hrrrv. Your other ship refuses to
answer our hails."


"Captain Castleton here. It's not one of ours.


Can't you identify it for us?" Castleton asked, pointedly.


"One cannot identify what one has never seen beforrre!" the Hrruban
said, snapping his jaw shut.
  Castleton was not stupid and, while she couldn't express political
  opinions, she was unlikely to have anti-Doona leanings.


  "I doubt that very much,' she said drily. "Doona has no heavy metals
  resource to produce a ship that big, much less a space dock that could
  construct one."


  "Then where is it from?" Greene asked. His inner agitation increased.


  Of all the possibilities he could have anticipated in coming to Doona
  for this conference, the incursion of another alien race fitted none.
  Another race of aliens becoming involved in the already complicated
  political dance between the Humans and Hrrubans would not please
Admiral
  Barnstable. A new variable in the equation would be the last thing he
  wanted. And the faint familiarity Greene felt for the ship on the
  screen plagued him.


  "I'd sure like to know,' the captain replied, staring at the screen,
  "but I'm rather short on answers and I've initiated all the approved
  procedures for contact. Captain Hrrrv shall we pool our readings?"
betrayed a significant lack of conviction of success.


The outline of the massive ship, Greene decided, attracted the eye. It
was such a peculiar shape. A central tube pierced through an almost
globular centre section.


From the upper and lower parts of the tube, smaller clusters sprouted,
almost like tumours in a tree. It looked harmless, but so did a land
mine, the commander thought.


"We have life-form readings, sir, but, sir,' the science officer
hesitated again. "I think there must be something wrong with our
instrumentation or the stranger is somehow scrambling them."


"How so, mister?" Castleton asked.


"Too big. Neither Humans nor Hrrubans grow "em that size, sir."
"Captain Hrrrv, do your life-form readings concur with ours?" Castleton
asked. "Patch readings through to Captain Hrrrv." The next moment,
Hrrrv nodded solemnly.
       Captain. "Noted, Greene,' she said, crisply, but she smiled to take the
       sting out of her brusque reply. "Use Command Code, Barnet."


       "Admiral Barnstable,' the Treaty Island aide said in a low voice,
       bending down to the Admiral.


       "Message from Captain Castleton, Command Code." The old man
looked
       around for the audio pick-up. "Can you pipe it in here, son? Don't
       care to leave my present company even for a Command Code!" He
gave a
       snort.


       "Whatever is up Castleton's nose now?"


       "Admiral?" A woman's voice, sounding agitated, echoed from the satel-
lite
       feed. The pick-up was audible only to those nearest the Admiral.


       "Yes, Captain. Nice to hear from you. Something go wrong between
you
      Spacedep's largest flagship! Captain Hrrrv can't identify her either.
      I'd appreciate it if you'd come upstairs and take a look, sir." At such
      information, those who heard erupted into surprised protest and
      consternation. In a few seconds, everyone knew the substance of the
      message. Second Speaker glared nervously around him, as if expect-
ing
      the intruder to appear in the room. A young Hrruban wearing the single
      bandolier belt of a Treaty Island employee ran into the room and slid to
      a kneeling position on the polished wooden floor beside Hrrestan. The
      aide began to whisper urgently in the leader's ear. Hrrestan's eyes
      narrowed, and he rose to address the gathering.


      "Zat was confirmation, my friends, if we needed it.


      An unknown ship of great size entered our system over three hours ago,
      and it has made full orbit. Ze space centres are on rrrred alert.


      Until we know more, I think we may consider zat we are being invaded."
      "Why do we have to assume,' Todd asked in a low angry voice as he
and
      Hrriss ran for the nearest commlink terminal in the corner of the room,
"That,-' Todd exclaimed with awed respect as the scan started, "is truly
one big mother!" Castleton hadn't exaggerated: the stranger was
approximately seven point four times the size of a Spacedep flagship,
and of no configuration he'd ever seen before.


"Do we classify zis scan?" Hrriss asked, his talons flexing slightly in
and out over the keys.


"Let's just hope that we're not too late,' Todd said, "and that someone
isn't linking into the net right now. We don't need a panic.


Classify it, need-to-know clearance only."


"Just what I was about to suggest,' Admiral Barnstable said, dropping a
hand on Todd's shoulder.


"Hrrestan?" Todd looked up from the stranger on the screen to his
co-leader. Barnstable might suggest but he was outside his jurisdiction
right now. Hrrestan nodded agreement, and pulled Barnstable back a
little way.
     "Zere is no need to assume ze worrst,' Hrriss said resolutely, echoing
     Todd's feelings, "before all facts are known, is zere?"


     "We don't have to assume,' Todd added, supporting Hrriss, "that a
     stranger, any stranger, comes only with hostile intent."


     "That big?" Tanarey exclaimed. "What else could it have?"


     "I've got a fully armed ship on alert upstairs,' Barnstable was saying
     at the same time. "It's ready in case of any emergency.


     "We don't know if we have an emergency yet, Admiral,' Todd said.


     "We have a visitor, not a proven enemy. Hell, it isn't shooting at us,
     is it?"


     "Enough of this,' Barnstable said, firmly. "I want to see this mystery
     visitor, -" and he shot Todd a sardonic look, "with my own eyes. I'm
     going up to the Hamilton immediately. As head of Spacedep, I need to
be
"Zis surprise arrival affects more zan just Doonarrala,' Hrrto said,
promptly. "I must be present, as well."


"I go, too,' said Hrriss, glancing at Todd who nodded agreement. Their
estrangement over the space port was momentarily forgotten in this new
crisis.


"I must accompany the Speaker,' Mllaba said, glaring at Hrriss as if he
had usurped some perogative of hers.


"Hrrubans on a Spacedep military ship?" Barnstable said with sudden
pompous suspicion.


"Zese are exzraordinary circumstances,' Second Speaker said urgently,
his tense stance suggesting he would brook no refusal.


"Dammit, very well! Come along! But let's get a move on!" the Admiral
barked.


"We don't know that anything's wrong, love,' Todd whispered to Kelly
when he gave her a quick farewell hug. She held up her head defiantly
   "Don't I always come back to you?" She caught herself about to give
way
   to the very panic he had mentioned and stood away from him.


   "Just don't take any unnecessary chances.


   "Me? Never!" He gave her his most charismatic grin and then turned
back
   to the emergency before him.


   "AliI believe that the Admiral's shuttle is already on the Hamilton. Can
   you get us another one?"


   "No tussle, trouble or toil there,' the Codep captain said, cheerfully,
   "providing we don't get shot out of space on the way. Follow me, all."


   Chapter 2


   KIACHIF TOOK THE SKIFF OFF IN A FAST-CLIMBING ORBIT, cleav-
ing the
nearside of vessels hovering in local space above. Communication
satellites, merchant ships, and beacons went by unheeded. As soon as
the skiff attained its first looping orbit, the unknown ship, a virtual
leviathan, came into view, watched cautiously at a prudent distance by
the Spacedep and Hrruban Space Arm vessels.


The invader had made no overt movements, either hostile or friendly. It
just hung there in space, circling the planet at a distance. Everyone
stared in turn at the screens and the forward port, as if to make
certain what they saw in the screen existed in real space.


"Where did that large leviathanic liner come from?" Ali Kiachif
demanded. His eyes gleamed. "I'd powerful like to take her for a test
spin, make no mistake about that.


Wonder what fuel she runs on?"


"Brr! It looks dangerous,' Jilamey exclaimed, "all those sticks and
pieces sticking out. Surely that's not good design." The visitor
plunged into the nightside of Doonarrala, making it a sinister shadow
against the stars.
  Details were hard to pick out on the black hull.


  But he could see nothing at all that he could identify as weaponry, nor
  did the skiff's monitors register any telltale radiation glow. "They
  look like they mean to stay a while,' he added very softly.


  Hrriss, beside him, was the only one to hear that comment. "I know
what
  I wish zey are doing here,' the cat man said, wistfully "Me, too,' Todd
  agreed, smiling slightly as, once again, he and Hrriss were in the
  minority. He was positive that most of the others were reacting in
  various degrees of xenophobia. Had neither race learned anything from
  the Doona experiment?       Or were they two the only ones who had
learned
  the true significance of this unique colony?


  Bearing in mind the result of his father's initial encounter with two
  small Hrrubans thirty years ago, a show of friendship might once again
  prove more useful than overt hostility. The very fact that this skiff
  contained persons from two races, observing this possible confrontation
    The skiff caught up with the leviathan, passed underneath, and shot out
    in front. Kiachif turned the ship out of an ascension trajectory and
    headed for the Spacedep cruiser.


    Captain Castleton met them at the docking bay. Todd had met her once
    before, two years back, at a Treaty Day observance. He didn't know
much
    about her, except that she was a good dancer. Her crew considered her
a
    tartar because she expected honesty and tireless dedication from
    everyone who served under her. She appeared unruffled and calm,
    saluting the Admiral smartly before holding out a firm hand to each of
    the others.


    "Welcome on board the Hamilton, gentlemen, madam.


    Mllaba shook her hand gravely "Grace, I'm glad to see you,' Barnstable
    said at his heartiest. "We've just had a good look at your mystery
    guest. Damned if I know what it is. Any new info?" Barnstable turned
    to acknowledge another uniformed figure in the bay with a lift of his
    thick, white eyebrows.
compact and trim in his dark blue uniform. He glanced at the civilians
behind his CO, meeting Todd's eyes, then focusing, as if identifying
him.


Greene's look of concentration faded abruptly, dismissing the civilians
as unimportant, and returned his gaze to his superior. Todd felt a
swift flush of irritation at being so negligently dismissed.


Castleton went on. "Sir, I've invited Captain Hrrrv of the Hrruban
vessel to take part in this conference." Barnstable nodded.


"Good. In the ready room?"


"This way, Admiral,' and Castleton indicated the portside corridor.


It was then that Todd saw the two Hayumans in dark blue uniforms with
security flashes on their shoulders.


They peeled away from the unobtrusive group waiting behind the sliding
doors and filed in behind the Hrrubans as they went down the blue-grey
corridor. As everyone filed out of the bay, more of the ratings took
  clicking together with a sound of finality. He waved an imperious hand
  at the image hanging on the large screen. Hrrrv bore a broad, dark
  Stripe down the middle of his gold-furred back, sure indication of his
  clan's high position on Hrruba. Both cruisers were now matching the
  stranger's orbit, but with one fourth the curve of the great, blue
  planet between them for safety. The Hrruban's ship was just barely
  visible in the corner of the viewscreen. "I do not like its appearance.
  I think it means us no good." He walked up and down one side of the
  ready room, switching his tail irritably.


  "Captain Castleton, when the ship did not answer any standard hailing
  messages, did you try any other methods of communication?" Todd
asked,
  exasperated by the military mind.


  Grace Castleton regarded him in surprise. "I tried all known codes . .
  on all frequencies available to my equipment,' and her tone and look
  implied that she had the very best and state-of-the-art equipment in
  use.


  "Oh, I see what you're driving at,' she said, her face lightening.
      Or symbols or even a media of communication. My father had the
      advantage of being face to face with two members of another species."
      "And how do you propose to emulate your father then?" Barnstable
asked.


      "By going to meet them?" Barnstable's eyes protruded and his face
      flushed with either surprise or anger but Todd kept his ingenuous smile
      in place. "Worked before."


      "That's why we ended up learning Hrruban,' Jilamey said. When he saw
      Barnstable, Castleton and Greene giving him a concerted cold glance,
he
      demanded, "What was wrong with that? We learned it. I think Todd's
got
      the right approach. Go meet "em and find out what they do want. It
      doesn't do us any good to sit here in space with that big thing looming
      over us, neither side making a move.


      Their ship may be bigger but,' and he waggled his finger around the
      room, "we got more. They could be the ones scared stiff to make a
move,
"D'you mean to say,' Castleton asked Todd, leaning forward across the
table on her arms, "that you're willing to approach them?"


"If you'll let us have a tender, Captain,' Todd said equably.


"But . . . but that could be a vanguard?" Barnstable exclaimed.


"A vanguard? That big?" Kiachif exclaimed. "If that's baby, I don't
want to meet papa, if you get my drift."


"An unarmed baby,' Todd said, grabbing the initiative again. "Unarmed.
I'm more than willing to go "I go with you,' Hrriss said.


"I wouldn't mind the trip myself. Be sort of fun,' Jilamey said,
grinning in his eagerness.


"Now see here,' Barnstable began, trying to regain control, "that is not
standard procedure."


"I didn't realize there is one for encountering large unknown space
craft,' Todd said. He stood up. "If you'll be good enough to assign us
want
     to blast you to motes if you're foolhardy enough to approach them,'
     Barnstable said.


     "With what, Admiral?" Todd said, feeling the tide of aggravation rising
     in his blood. "You've established-at least you say you have,' and he
     glanced for confirmation at Castleton and Hrrrv, "that the ship is
     unarmed .


     Barnstable waved that consideration away. "You can't know what kind
of
     weapons they might have. The whole ship, in that peculiar
     configuration, might act as an amplifier for some kind of huge energy
     beam! Who knows what those bulges on the surface are for?"


     "I'm willing to take that risk, Admiral,' Todd said, adding grimly,
     "I've also considered that they might have biological armament which
     doesn't require high-powered delivery systems. But I prefer to believe
     that they're friendly, only waiting for an invitation from us. Enemies
     barge in: friends wait for invitations."
  was another sentient race with whom we could be friends,' and he nod-
ded
  solemnly at Hrrto who looked pleased, and grinned at Hrriss and
  Hrrestan, dropping his glance lastly on Mllaba who sniffed back at him.
  "The presence of a sophisticated spaceship that big means that who-
ever
  is in that ship is not only sentient but of an intelligent and advanced
  civilization. The fact that they haven't opened fire or made any
  threatening moves against us, I take to mean that they are not
  aggressive. I'm willing to test that fact.


  "So am I,' Hrriss said.


  "Me, too,' Jilamey piped up, grinning in an inane fashion.


  "So, do we have a shuttle, Admiral?" Todd was becoming more and
more
  irked at the specious delays. He wouldn't call them cowardly, but the
  next best thing.


  Grace Castleton flicked a glance at Admiral Barnstable.
while this lot dithers.


Grace Castleton slid in front of Todd before he had taken a full step.
"Stow that, Reeve. I take your point, and I'm sure the Admiral does,
too, even if your method is high-handed . . . especially while you're
on board my ship." She gave him a wry grin. "You've volunteered to test
the intentions of our . . "Visitor?" Todd suggested in a edged tone.


She nodded. "Visitor. But Spacedep is responsible for the safety of
all its citizens, and Captain Hrrrv for his nationals." Todd gave her
full marks for remembering the Hrruban presence, naval and diplomatic.
"That is true, but as these are aliens, whatever form they take, the
approach falls in the province of Alreldep of which I'm a
representative."


"Out of the question,' Barnstable said firmly. "Until whatever these
beings are, are proven harmless, it is still a Spacedep matter. I'll
concur that logic suggests that Reeve should lead a first contact team .


"And the elder Reeve,' Todd said. "He has, after all, had more
experience than anyone else in successful first contacts."
  "There'll be no armed guard,' Todd and Hrriss said in one voice.


  Barnstable bristled but Hrrestan's eyes flashed. "A show of arms is
  unnecessary. And might even be considered an insult. A friend ad-
vances
  with open hands."


  "It worked before,' Todd said, exchanging glances with Hrriss. Out of
  the corner of his eye then, Todd caught the look of intense disgust on
  Greene's face. Here was one man who didn't hold with the pacific
  approach. And probably one who might be a borderline xenophobe. "I
  think we've discussed this matter long enough. Too long a delay might
  jeopardize good relations. They'll have seen the skiff arriving.
  Captain, may I get in touch with my father on Doonarrala?" As Grace
  Castleton bent to the terminal to instruct the commofficer, Todd saw the
  resolute glint in Greene's eyes.


  That man's middle name might be "trouble', he thought: he had a
  sceptical and suspicious air about him. Then the line to the surface of
come calling." Barnstable looked grim. "I was afraid of that.


What's the response?"


"Not exactly what you'd think by your reaction, Admiral,' Ken said, with
a grin. "Doonans are more inclined to think that outsiders who don't
come in shooting are minded to be friendly.


We know we're not the only ones out there, and I for one am happy for a
chance to be one of the first to meet these new friends."


"They aren't friends yet,' Greene reminded him sharply.


Ken glanced over Barnstable's shoulder at the commander, his black
eyebrows mounting inw his hairline.


"Nor yet enemies,' Ken replied quickly. "I've never believed in coming
in shooting."


"I'll send a shuttle for you,' Barnstable said, cutting Ken off and
putting an end to the argument. "In the meantime, this is still a
      on that big ship. See if I can't get any more on her, if you get my
      meaning. Back in a ten-count." The Codep captain nodded to Castleton
      and the Admiral, and left the room.


      "Until Dad arrives and we can proceed with a first contact,' Todd said,
      once the door shut behind Kiachif, "we must not make any moves which
the
      visitors could consider antagonistic or hostile. No more scans, no
      probes, no drones. They could think the latter two were weapons."
      "Let's not be overcautious, Mr Reeve,' Captain Castleton said, studying
      the image of the ship in the holoscreen. "The range of power
      fluctuations we observe alone invite closer investigation.


      Surely if they're the advanced beings you speculate they are, they'd
      expect us to try and uncover any information about them that we could,
      short of intrusive hardware?"


      "Who knows what they'd consider intrusive?" Todd asked.               "Beings
more
      sensitive than our two races might find probe scan painful. Do I have
   Greene was beginning to find the endless beating of the air dull and
   purposeless. The Doonarralans - wasn't that a word? babbled against
   logical research that would help guarantee safety for their own people,
   not to mention the ships orbiting around their planet. Any part of that
   huge ship out there could conceal weapons.


   It didn't make sense to remain uninformed when useful data could be
   picked up as easily as vacuuming space dust. He wished he could re-
call
   under what circumstances he had seen that sort of vessel before.


   Castleton looked annoyed: and rightly so with civilians usurping the
   appropriate naval roles in this sort of contact.


   Barnstable gave him a glance and pushed his clipboard across the table
   to him. Greene picked it up and read the note the Admiral had
   discreetly added amidst the leviathan's readings. "Send probe." Greene
   erased the words and entered a random jotting of his own. He stood up.


   "Permission to be excused, sir?" Greene asked, pulling to attention.
metres from the door and automatically checked the corridor before he
spoke.


"Sir, the Admiral asks if you will authorize launching a telemetry probe
at the intruder." Castleton looked down at her feet a moment before her
shoulders relaxed a degree from their tight set. When she tipped her
head up again, she wore an expression of relieved approval.


"Reeve's overcautious, Greene. Personally, I'd feel better with more
data about that leviathan on hand.


The distance scanners aren't giving us much to go on.


This way." He followed her to a waiting vator car. "Level four,' she
said.


On an impulse, Greene stood closer to her than necessary in the small
chamber and was surprised and pleased that Castleton didn't seem to
mind. He was even more encouraged when she returned his smile.


A Gringg in the cargo bay operations room of the gigantic spaceship
      does not seem to be armed. Shall I take it aboard?" Splashing echoed
in
      the background, and the sounds of other Gringg conversing provided a
      pleasant hum, then the smooth rich voice of the captain came out of the
      speaker. "Do, please, and inform me when you have it.


      I'll come down to examine it."


      "Captain? Ken Reeve is here,' the bosun informed Grace Castleton,
"with
      Captain Kiachif."


      "Show them in." Conversation around the ready room table halted as
the
      bosun stood to one side to allow the two men to enter.


      Grace Castleton would have known Reeve anywhere as Todd's father.


      Both men were rangy and taller than average with big shoulders and
long
      arms, and both had the cap of smooth black hair cut straight across the
on Doona with a handful of tyro colonists more than thirty years ago.


"Hello, friends! Speaker Hrrto, Admiral Barnstable,' Ken said, coming
over to clasp hands and bow respectfully to the Hrrubans. He pounded
companionably on his son's shoulder.


Ken slid into the empty seat beside Hrrestan.


"Well, anything happen while Kiachif and I were on our way up?" He
looked around the table which bore the remains of a recent light meal.


"He's filled me in on the discussion. We're still going to make the
contact?"


"We'll have to, Dad, they're not making any move,' Todd said.


"Captain, could we have a rerun of the tapes for my father?"


"I was about to suggest that, she replied and toggled the board for the
replay.
"By me,' Ken said with a grin.


"By us, Dad,' and Todd indicated the other volunteers of the first
contact group.


"Can it be established if they're oxygen-breathers?" Ken asked.


"We'd need to know how to dress for our meeting.


"Can't even establish that, Dad,' Todd replied.


"Just like you to volunteer for a blind mission,' Ken said in a tone of
mock disgust.


"Begging the captain's pardon,' Commander Greene said, watching the
codes change on the main viewscreen.


"There's data coming through right now."


"Put it up, Mr Greene,' said Captain Castleton.
"I did,' Barnstable replied, his face reddening at Todd's imperious
tone. "For the safety of all of us, including our Hrruban allies, I
felt it was vital we obtain more information."


"Admiral,' Todd said in a restrained tone, "I specifically requested
that there be no more probes, drones or even scans until we were ready
to proceed with the first contact." Banistable narrowed his eyes to
glare at Todd.


"Until proven otherwise, this is a Spacedep matter, young man. I am
acting in the interest of safety for all the sentient beings on this
ship. I don't need your permission to proceed."


"This is Doonan space,' Todd said. It made him furious that this
bureaucrat would take a unilateral action that could endanger the whole
mission. Hrrestan, who hated the high-handedness of Spacedep, would
back him up.


"We must not show distrust,' Hrriss agreed.
   They stopped the moment the ship took the probe aboard Todd strug-
gled to
   control his vexation. "It probably stopped sending readings because
   they disabled it, thinking it might be a bomb.


   "If they have not now discovered its benign,' and Greene drawled the
   adjective, staring at Todd, "purpose, then they're by no means as
   sophisticated a species as you like to think them." Greene was rather
   pleased with that shot at the officious Doonarralan. He felt malicious
   glee at Todd's surprise.


   Todd knew he'd been outmanoeuvred there, but a soft touch on the
back of
   his arm came as a quiet warning from Ken not to pursue the point. His
   father, better than anyone else in the galaxy, knew how hard it was to
   control the infamous Reeve temper, and how much damage it could do
when
   let loose. Normally, Todd was in control, but the combination of
   Spacedep's xenophobia, and the unknown potential orbiting his beloved
   home planet was enough to put him at his worst.
he
      was under control.


      "Let's see what the probe did transmit,' Castleton said, settling down
      once more behind the table Greene pulled open the hatch over one of
the
      inset consoles. He punched in a code. The view changed to a much
      closer image of the great ship, which steadily filled more and more of
      the screen. An overlay of white characters sprang up, constantly
      changing as the readings altered.


      "We deployed a Mark 24-M probe with advanced sensors,' Greene
calmly
      announced. "As you can see from the metallurgical report, the alien
      defence shields are very strong. Most of the inner core of the ship
      resonates as a power plant. It's well insulated, with main conduits
      running down the pith of that central pillar. There are power
      fluctuations that build up from half a megawatt to over five gigawatts.


      My estimate is that the strangers are prepared to attack with some sort
      of electrical weapon."
"Big. Look at the readings. There's one weighing 230 kilos."


"Individuals?" Ken asked, amazed. Greene nodded.


Jilamey whistled. "They're as big as Mamma Snakes."


"That'd explain the power requirements, if you follow me,' Kiachif said.


"Maintaining mass gravity for massive beasties."


"Or for quick power-ups on the weapons systems,' Greene added.


Todd shook his head in vehement denial.


On the screen, a circular opening appeared in the side of the ship,
gleaming silver against the blackness.


The little probe's eye moved into it, giving an impression of a vast
entry area and a quick view of some kind of computer console, and then
the screen went blank.
Weapon storage?"


"Nonssenssse!" said Hrrestan, hissing his sibilants. "This is all
speculation. In any case, it isn't a destroyer of any kind. There's no
armament to speak of aboard.


No rrradiation pazzerns which to me would indicate dangerrrous or
powerrrful orrrdnance." Castleton scratched her cheek thoughtfully.


"I'm just as glad they haven't returned our compliment. After all, the
Hamilton's considered a peaceful ship but we have small lasers and
missiles. I wonder if they've scanned us telemetrically."


"We prrrove we arre peaceful by ze composition of our landing prrrty,'
Hrriss said.


"All I hope is they don't think the probe was some kind of threat,' Todd
said, grimly.


"Wish I knew what sort of survival equipment we need,' Ken said
thoughtfully.
     by her small son, a curious lad of eight Revolutions, and the chief
     engineer, a female of many Revolutions and much experience.


     The three of them sat down in a semicircle on the floor near the
     console. The technician retrieved the little device, hoisting it
     lightly in one arm. He set it down on the floor and settled opposite
     the captain.


     "I have decontaminated it, but you will be pleased to know that I found
     no dangerous organic substances on it or within. It makes a noise,' the
     technician pointed out, indicating the subspace receiver on his console.
     "I believe it to be a message of some sort."


     "How kind!' the Gringg captain declared. "Ghollarrgh, I am so relieved
     to find that these people did not attack us upon sight. Home world will
     be pleased. We must try to answer it, an unprovoking message. They
     must see us as being completely peaceful. Match the frequency, and
we
     will attempt to translate. Grrala, you,' she turned to the engineer,
     "should try to construct a similar device so that we may send them our
     compliments in return."
      Todd and Ken were fitted out with tough transparent pressure suits. An
      attempt was made to find one which would accommodate Hrriss's tail,
but
      nothing could be adapted in the short time allowed.


      In the end, Hrriss offered simply to stuff it down one pant leg and be
      done with the problem.


      "I'm satisfied,' Todd said, fastening the last seal on his suit.


      "The three of us should be able to handle any situation that comes up or
      get out fast if it looks chancy."


      "I want some personnel from Spacedep to accompany you,' Admiral
      Barnstable insisted. "This is still a matter under my jurisdiction,
      whether or not I go along with your interpretation. I've got a couple
      of volunteers out of Castleton's crew, one from xeno and one from
      medical.


      And I'm sending my assistant to be my eyes and ears.
   "Hrruba must also send an observer,' said Second Speaker, after a
quick
   conference with Mllaba.


   "We've already got a Hrruban in the party,' Barnstable said, glowering
   at Second.


   "I am willing to go,' Mllaba announced. "I intend to go,' she added.


   Todd caught HIriss's gesture of ears-back, and shook his head.


   "Six is more than enough for a first contact team,' he said, carefully.
   "More could be considered hostile. In fact, six might be considered too
   many.


   "Will you not trust me, Speaker?" Hrriss asked softly in High Hrruban,
   seeking to smooth things out before 1t became an argument that put an
   end to the mission. "I will uphold Hrruban honour Hrrto studied the
   younger male, who gazed at him earnestly. He grunted. "It is not a
   matter of trust, Hrriss.
      "None shall see it that way. They shall believe that only one Hrruban -
      and a half - is needed to balance out any number of Hayumans,' Hrriss
      said innocently. Behind Second Speaker, he could see Todd and Ken
      grinning at his quip. They were the only ones who understood the brief
      conversation.


      "I believe it may be so,' Second Speaker replied at last. He retired,
      with Mllaba and Hrrestan, to the reception room beyond the blast doors.
      Ken gave them a thumbs-up.


      "I'd like to go,' Jilamey spoke up unexpectedly. "As an independent
      observer. On behalf of Earth.


      Just how much High Hrruban did Jilamey Landreau understand, Todd
      wondered.


      Barustable glared at Jilamey. Although the young man's uncle was no
      longer head of Spacedep, the name Landreau was a prestigious one on
the
      Hayuman home world.
      flamboyant wardrobe and occasionally foolish mien, Jilamey was known
for
      his shrewd and observant mind.


      "You're on your own, Mr Landreau,' Barnstable said at last. "Bear in
      mind that you're vulnerable while on alien ground, and we cannot
      adequately protect you. But I'll allow it.


      "Great! I'm ever so pleased you see it my way,' Jilamey said, patting
      the Admiral companionably on the back. It was cheek and Todd knew
it,
      but Barnstable suffered it expressionlessly. "Now, where can I get a
      suit?"


      "You guys act like you have nothing to lose,' the xeno technician said
      as he suited up in the landing bay, listening to Todd, Ken, Hriiss and
      Jilamey all eagerly speculating on what they might find aboard the alien
      ship.


      Like all men raised on Earth, Commander Frill had a soft voice, that was
      currently afflicted with a quaver of fear. His quiet manner of speaking
"My batting average's pretty good in first contact, you know.


Lighten up. You're making history.


And it could be fun!"


"Fun, he says,' the medic said, checking his gear. Ensign Lauder had
been volunteered by his section chief, an honour he clearly would have
foregone if he could have thought up a valid pretext. Lauder, a slender,
brownskinned man with narrow shoulders, was to run scans, with
permission, on who or whatever they met. The rebreather unit on his
back was cycling at twice normal speed. He was very young.


"Hey, easy does it,' Ken said, laying a kindly hand on the medic's
shoulder. "If you want to back out now, no blame'll be attached."


"No, sir!" the medic said, gulping. "I'm no coward.


With an effort, he brought himself under control. His respiration
slowed, and his face went from flushed ochre to a more normal tawny
  plastic helmet on his head. Grommets around the neck bolted to the
  bubble with a final sounding snap.


  "We arrre waiting for you,' Hrriss said. His pupils had narrowed to
  thin slits, and his ears lay slightly back to avoid contact with the
  headgear.


  "Let's go,' Todd said.


  The shuttle left the lock and dipped slightly below the edge of the bay
  before the engines engaged fully. Todd felt insignificant as they left
  the big ship behind them.


  Frill, who was flying the craft, nudged the controls to pilot a
  wide-angle route towards the stranger, approaching with the sun at their
  back to get the best view.


  The leviathan lay before them, huge and black.           Todd admired the
shape,
  wondering what sort of naval architects had designed it and why this
  shape had been chosen.
   massive inhabitants that Commander Greene's probe had revealed. As
they
   drew nearer, he was flatly amazed at the incredible size of it. Beside
   it, they were a pin-point, a dust mote.


   Behind him, Commander Frill let out a low moan, quickly reprimanded
by a
   shake of the head from Greene.


   Todd recognized a thrill of terror underneath his enthusiasm and
   anticipation. Was this how his father had felt thirty-four years
   before, when he got his first glimpse of a non-human sentient life-form?
   What if, after all his proud and confident words, the creatures inside
   this gigantic ship were unfriendly? And what if the "visitors' mistook
   the purpose of the shuttle and shot at it now it was getting so close?
   What if they refused to allow the Doonarralan ship aboard? Well, that
   only meant his assumptions had been wrong. But he hated to think that
   Admiral Barnstable and Captain Hrrrv could be right.


   As they got closer, more detail became apparent to their unaugmented
   vision. The surface of the stranger was not actually black, but a matte
  "trunk' until they found what seemed to be an airlock lens, probably the
  same one that the probe had approached and entered.


  Triangular panels shifted slightly to the left, forming an iris-like
  opening. As Frill resolutely piloted the ship towards the aperture,
  Todd had the eerie sensation of being swallowed, engulfed, ingested in
  one insignificant bite. Smoothly the tiny ship sailed through the
  enormous circular hatch.


  From each of the shuttle ports, the passengers stared at the size of the
  chamber into which they were moving. The landing bay was a virtual
  cathedral with shining, metallic walls, at least one hundred metres long
  - and high. Several craft rested in dry dock inside. Each was in size
  equal to a Spacedep passenger ship. The largest was as big as the
  administration building that contained Todd's office in the Human First
  Village. At the far end of the bay was a set of double doors both tall
  and broad, made of a translucent grey material. Behind a clear window
  set high in the left wall the party could see a vast console with
  rounded viewscreens glowing blue. The maintenance equipment and
  freight-loaders were made for bodies a good deal bigger than any Ha-
yuman
     "Amazing,' Hrriss said, voicing the thoughts in all of their minds.
     "Ourrr hosts must be immenssse.


     "Seems like,' Jilamey murmured, his mouth hanging open. Ken Reeve
just
     looked around him and grinned in pure joy.


     While the party surveyed their surroundings, the airlock wheeled shut
     behind them, and hissing sounds arose.


     Greene felt a surge of panic. He was beginning to remember the source
     of his knowledge of the ship. It had been on a tape sent to Spacedep by
     an exploration team. He couldn't recall any details yet, but he
     associated the memory with violent death. For once, he hoped he didn't
     remember too many details. He struggled and won the battle with that
     moment's weakness.


     Formless shadows passed back and forth behind the grey glass doors.
As
     soon as the hissing stopped, the medical man checked his sensors. All
  mean, I'd call it safe if we came across it on a planet."


  "No trace elements?" Ken asked.


  "Some,' the medical man admitted, checking his instruments.


  "Nothing noxious in any concentration. No bacteria known to be harmful
  to Humans or Hrrubans, at least in this section. 1 won't give the
  atmosphere a hundred per cent clearance, though, simply because I
  haven't run a lab analysis on it yet. Keep using the rebreathers."


  "So ordered,' Greene said, with a sharp nod.


  "Let's go,' Todd said.


  Frill released the hatch and he climbed out. The ambient temperature in
  the bay seemed slightly cool. Ken put part of the chill down to the
  room's having just been open to vacuum, and his trembling to excite-
ment.
  The bay was Lauder stepped cautiously on to the deck and avoided the
  lighted circle. He bent over his scanner. "I wonder if this is what
   "That sounds like the overture,' Todd said facetiously.


   "Here come the players." already warming up.


   Chapter 3


   AT THE END OF THE HALL, THE GREY GLASS DOORS PARTED
and slid soundlessly
   into the walls. Todd and the others waited, mouths agape, as their
   hosts entered the landing bay. For all their height and girth, they
   made little sound when they moved.


   "Stars!" whispered Frail, his voice sounding hollow and unimportant
   through the sides of his plastic helmet.


   "Mother always said I'd meet someone bigger'n me." The first of the
   aliens to enter, a bulky creature covered except for its face and the
   pads of its forepaws with thick, long fur of light honey brown, stood
   just over two metres in height. Its face had a square muzzle with a
   black leathery nose and black-fleshed lips, and two deep-set eyes the
   colour of red wine protected by thick, smooth-skinned eyelids fringed
      a scaly hide of some kind. Todd thought it resembled snakeskin but
what
      a snake! If the size of the scales was any kind of a clue, it had been
      equivalent to a Great Big Mamma Snake. The alien blinked at the
      visitors curiously before standing aside to make way for the other two.
      The being behind it, identical in appearance but black-brown in colour,
      was nearly two and a half metres tall. It too wore a collar, this one
      more elaborate than the first alien's. consisting of woven strips
      punched and stamped with complex designs. From one side of the col-
lar
      depended a loop of decorated hide that circled the upper part of the big
      alien's arm. Todd wondered if the attachment might serve some spe-
cific
      purpose, concealing miniaturized devices, or was it a mark of rank, or
      both?


      The third alien, of the same dark brown as the tallest being, but with a
      white patch on the throat that covered part of its chest like a bib, was
      just over one metre high, and wore only a simple belt and collar of
      scaly leather.
     At first, Todd was taken aback by their sheer size.


     These creatures were terrifying, as if animal giants out of children's
     story books had come to life. Suddenly, their appearance struck Todd
as
     hilariously funny. He felt a childish urge to break into giggles.


     "It's the three bears!" he whispered under his breath to Hrriss.


     "I sure hope they don't want me to tell them a story."


     "I do not undrrrstand,' Hrriss whispered. Inside his helmet, his ears
     were laid back tight against his round skull.


     "Earth fairy tale. They look just like bears, creatures that were found
     on Earth up to the last century - ugh!


     Tell you later." He stopped talking as Ken elbowed him in the ribs.


     "Shush! You notice? They don't want to appear aggressive,' Ken said.
     He smiled widely at the beings, and let the set of his shoulders hang
      harm - in fact, that they trust us. You'd never bring a baby where you
      intend to be the aggressor, nor where you expect threats."


      "That's a baby?" the medic asked, agog.


      "It must be,' Ken assured them. "IAx,k at the way it's acting." Todd
      understood completely what his father meant.       The small alien was
more
      awkward than the large ones, and kept looking up at the tallest one for
      reassurance. "That's his - or her - cub."


      "Well, I don't know - - - Frill murmured, unsure. He swallowed
      nervously. The medical man stood with his mouth hanging open while
his
      telemetry gear went wild making recordings.


      "Keep your mind on the job,' Greene said, peevishly.


      "Come along!"
     Todd's arm. "Well, as the first and most successful xenolinguist in
     Earth history, we'll see what sense I can make out of whatever noise
     they make. Wish me luck, boys."


     "Youcan do it, Dad,' Todd said, firmly. He clasped his father's arm,
     imparting confidence.


     "Find out everything you can about them,' Greene added. "Tell them as
     little as possible about us." Todd shook his head pityingly at Greene.
     The man had absolutely no idea how long it took to establish the most
     superficial linguistic exchange.


     Ken opened his arms wide in a gesture he hoped projected friendly in-
tent
     and walked right up to the furred trio.


     "Greetings and welcome to the skies of Doonarrala,' he said, speaking
as
     cheerfully and enthusiastically as he could though his heart was
     pounding in his throat. "We come in peace. We hope you do, too."
     Echoing his gesture, the three aliens opened their upper limbs and
though
   he had been assured by the ship's physician that an alien species was
   unlikely to carry germs that could infect them.


   Still, he, like all the others aboard, were volunteers. If it cost
   their lives to discover the truth about this species, so be it.


   The linguist swept the hold with one more nervous glance, to reassure
   himself that there was nothing there to discourage these small
   interesting beings. "One of them approaches. Remember there is cer-
tain
   knowledge we must not reveal yet."


   "I know what to do. Is it a female or a male, Eonneh?" Captain
   Grzzeearoghh asked, looking Ken up and down curiously.               "These
creatures
   are all so skeletal! And so small and weak!"


   "It is difficult to know. But since some of them wear garments under
   those protective shells and some do not, that is clearly the
     moves like a Gringg, slowly and carefully. I am glad. I find hurry so
     disconcerting." The captain raised her head and called out a command
     that made the aliens at the other end of the hall jump. "Rrawrum?


     Have you sent the message notifying home world that we have been
     contacted and are carefully following procedure ?"


     "I am getting it done now, Captain,' Rrawrum "5 voice echoed overhead
in
     the cargo bay, a little loudly to Grzzeearoghh's mind. She would have
     to ask the technician to correct the sound level when she had a mo-
ment.


     It was making their visitors nervous. Every care must be taken to put
     them at their ease. The strangers should have no cause to see us as a
     threat. My cub should help to reassure these small aliens, she thought.


     "Tell them also that we are beginning contact."


     "As you wish, Captain." "Mama,' Weddeerogh interrupted, as Ken
stopped a
  side and put his hands to his chest. "My name is Ken Reeve. Ken
  Reeve." He extended one hand slowly toward the largest "bear' and
  pointed. "And you?" He gave the words the strongest interrogative tone
  he could.


  The massive head swung towards him, and the rubbery lips receded
behind
  the teeth again in a passable reflection of the Human's smile.


  Ken was impressed by the flexibility of the aliens' faces, and their
  ability to imitate expressions.


  Todd was right: they did possess a superficial resemblance to Earth
  bears. Their colouring, shape, and musculature was very much like that
  of the ancient species Ursa. They seemed to be made for defence,
armed
  with heavy claws -and a thick, loose skin. And they were so
  unconsciously powerful. If they proved to be unfriendly, they could
  tear him apart without trouble. The likeness was not exact, of course.
  These beings had tails about the length and thickness of his forearm,
  covered with shaggy hair. What purpose did the appendages serve?
child among giants.


The aliens must have sensed his discomfiture, for as one they rolled
back off their feet and on to their tailbones. It was a graceful
gesture, ending with the body being braced solidly with hunched-up rear
legs and outspread tail. Their lower limbs were short in comparison to
the length of the body, but they were heavy and solid, made for balance,
not speed.


"I am Ken Reeve,' he said again, pointing to himself as he hunkered
down, his best approximation of their new posture. He wondered if he
should ask Hrriss to display his tail. "And you?" He extended his hand
towards them.


The largest of the aliens roared again, and waved a thick claw at him,
turning it palm down and drawing it from the floor up to its head.


Seeing that he didn't understand, it levelled out the claw at its eye,
and drew an invisible line out towards Ken.


"What are they doing, Dad?" Todd demanded.
   "Errizz-eer-oh?" Ken repeated, uncertainly, trying to duplicate the
   growl.


   "Grzzeearoghh,' the large one said complacently, wrapping its forepaws
   over its belly.


   The gesture made it look even more like the halos of Earth bears, and
   Todd suppressed a chuckle. Hrriss shuddered, his ears halfway back.


   "Their voices make me uncomfortable, he said in Low Hrruban. "Do
they
   always speak at such volume? Spoken so loudly, the deep notes
   reverberate harshly on my ear bones." He shook his head as if to relieve
   the pressure.


   "Hrrubans do not raise their voices unless they wish to attract
   attention or if they are angry. Could we have made them angry?


   "How could we? I don't think they're angry, or they wouldn't be looking
   so comfortable like that,' Todd said.
  possible, except Greene, who stood boldly pointing his recorder at the
  aliens. Jilamey was taking in the whole situation with awed joy "We're
  communicating already! It's too fascinating!" Grinning at Landreau's
  genuine enthusiasm, Ken pointed at the medium bear. "Who?" While
he was
  learning the complexities of pronouncing "Eonneh,' the cub rolled off
  his haunches and waddled towards him.


  "Look out!" shrieked Lauder, backing away. The young medic's face
was
  pale.


  "What for?" Ken asked, breaking off his language lesson.


  "Hi, there, fellah,' he said as the cub bent to sniff his shoes.


  While he waited patiently, the cub ran its shiny black nose up his suit
  leg, sneezing briefly as the acrid stench of the transparent plastic
  tickled its nasal passages. But it continued its olfactory examination,
  shoving its nose into Ken's armpit and down his arm to his gloved hand.
  It sneezed again. Ken threw a shrug back towards his party.
by the helmet. Ken rapped on the plastic bell with a fist, then waggled
his head back and forth inside, trying to show that it was an artificial
covering. The cub let out a series of pleased grunts that sounded like
stentorian giggles, and let go of him. Ken hunkered down and extended
his hand. It sniffed him, and squealed. He noticed that the black
nostrils of the other two were twitching, but more discreetly. Scent
must be important to them: a fact worth noting.


The trouble was that Humans did not smell like plastic suiting.


"You're a real sweet little critter. What's your name?" Ken asked the
delighted cub. "Ken Reeve,' he said.


carefully enunciating the two syllables as he pointed to himself.


"You?" he asked, pointing to the cub.


"Weddeerogh,' said the young alien in an unexpected baritone, then
scooted shyly back behind the largest bear.


"Aw,' Jilamey said. "Acts just like a kid, too.
  "Reh." The big alien tilted its head to one side and let out a short
  grunt. Ken fancied it gave him a look of approval.


  "Hayuman,' he said, pointing to himself. "Hayuman.


  "Ayoomnnn."


  "Good." He walked over to stand beside Hrriss.


  "Hrruban." The red eyes followed him carefully. "Rrrrrooobvvnnn,'
  Grzzeearoghh said, growling the rs rather than rolling them as a Hayu-
man
  would.


  "Close,' Ken said, approvingly. "Good for you, Grizzly.


  And we're all Doonarralans." He gave the leader a big nod and a smile,
  which it copied, as he indicated Todd, Hrriss, and himself.


  "Well, now we know what we all are.
  "One language at a time,' Ken warned him. "We need a lingua franca,
and
  both of OUR peoples speak Middle Hrruban. The Gringg can learn the
  niceties of Terran and High Hrruban once they've mastered this one.
Now
  pipe down, unless you want to do this for me?"


  "No, I sure don't,' Frill said, quickly, backing off.


  "Urnlllah. Ma,' the alien intoned.


  "We'e making progress. Rllama,' Ken said, rolling the "r', and keeping
  his mouth wide open so it could see the way he rolled his tongue. The
  little one watched him from the shelter of its parent's body, trying to
  match his facial expressions and rolling its long tongue. Ken laughed.


  "Do you know, I think I'm the first sentient alien they've ever
  encountered?"
     "Weddeerogh, you have no need to be shy, Grzzeearoghh said, turning
her
     head over her shoulder to beam at her offspring. "This is becoming
most
     interesting. Will you go and get writing materials for us? Now we are
     starting to work with vocabulary, I don't want to miss anything. This
     is a very important moment in Gringg history."


     "Yes, Mama,' the cub said, with one more peek at Ken.


     "What funny hands she has with no claws. I do not like the smell of
     that stuff she wears. I would like to smell her. I hope her own skin
     smells better."


     "She wears a protective covering, showing concern for our health and
     hers. I admire that,' Grzzeearoghh said. "I did not know what to
     expect from another race, especially not such scrupulous consideration.
     And we know we must act with caution. Now, please go." "Yes, Mama."
On
  the visitor. "I do believe we are getting somewhere. Good! I wish the
  female's friends were more calm. One of the females and the male
seem
  quite at home, but I think those others may faint. And that female with
  its limb stuck out holding the little device seems most uncomfortable.


  "I must confess to a certain amount of nervousness, too, Captain,'
  Eonneh admitted. "They are a feeble looking race, are they not? No fur
  to speak of. I am almost afraid to move for fear of hurting them.


  We have all been shown how important it is to give the appearance of
  being no threat to any new racewe encounter. And such amazing
  dimorphism between sexes. You'd think they were almost separate
  species. When the male speaks, his voice is so shrill it hurts my ears.


  "Here it is, Mama,' Weddeerogh said, galloping in through the blast
  doors with a tablet and stylus in his paw.


  "Good, dear. Give it to Eonneh. Write this down, Eonneh. Their word
  for floor is rrrllama.
   poets, librarians, even artists, to write the history of their species;
   they also mastered the theoretical sciences to forward development.
The
   females, larger by ten to thirty per cent, organized, and exercised, the
   practical arts, such as all forms of engineering, and tended to take the
   lead in exploration. In Eonneh's opinion, Grzzeearoghh was an excel-
lent
   captain, and was handling the situation perfectly. The World Congress
   which chose her as their envoy to any possible sentients had made the
   best possible choice.


   As the alien female watched interestedly, he made the characters for a
   short growl, followed by a lingual extension, then a nasal hum.


   The accents which went above and below the characters indicated the
   subordinate vowel sounds.


   "I'm enjoying this,' Ken said, coming close to the scribe for a good
   look at what Eonneh was doing. "Their written language is beautiful: a
   minor work of art if this is any sample. Nothing from even ancient
   Terran civilizations comes close to it." Showing his camera first to the
  It's going to take a while to get anywhere useful."


  "Don't worry,' Hrriss assured him. "Our hosts have settled in for the
  linguistic siege." Eonneh scribed busily at the big pad with Jilamey
  behind him to watch how the handscript was made. The pen contained
  free-flowing ink that the scribe carefully controlled to make thick and
  thin strokes on the smooth surface of the tile. Landreau was clearly
  impressed by the skill required, for each pictograph was complex and
  beautiful.


  "What's that?" Jilamey asked, pointing down at the character that Eon-
neh
  was patiently drawing. "Er, how do you say it? Aaah? Bbbb?"


  "And that little one?" Jilamey moved his finger to a mark like an accent
  that went over the top right corner of the squarish character.


  "Ooo,' Eonneh said carefully, glancing up over his shoulder at the
  Ayoomnnn.
"That's an aspirate,' Ken said, coming over to look. "So the different
notations are divided into hard consonant sounds and vowels?


Good job, Landreau."


"Huh?" Jilamey frowned in query.


"Is it all like this?" Ken said to Grzzeearoghh, pantomiming the
handwritten panel on to the nearest round screen.


"Be careful, Reeve,' Greene called. He felt down his hip for his
sidearm, and remembered with regret that it had been left behind in the
Hamilton. If these gigantic aliens got out of control, he had nothing
but his skills at unarmed combat with which to protect the Hayumans of
the party.


The captain rose to her full height and padded over to the console. "The
skinny Ayoomnnn female is both intelligent and curious,' she told
Eonneh. "See this, Ken Reeve,' she said, pulling up a textfile on the
screen.
"If they're used to aspirates and vowels as separate notation, it's
going to take them a while to get used to seeing the characters all the
same size and on the same line. It'll be interesting to see how quickly
they cope with such a difference."


"It's primitive,' Greene said, dismissively. "Inscribing information by
hand is slow and inefficient. Technology like this must be a fluke.


"Oh, I don't think so, Commander,' Jilamey said, from his post behind
Eonneh. "Even on Earth, the ancient art of calligraphy is still
practised and held in esteem. It seems perfectly normal to me. I spend
a lot of time in the Artists' Corridor, where there's a good deal of
reverence for the old forms." Greene snorted. "You can't attribute
Human characteristics to aliens who may turn out to be dangerously
barbaric.


"I wish this could go faster,' Ken said, sighing, studying the round
screen. "It could take us an age to put together a working vocabulary."
He went over a number of items in the bay, asking for the aliens' words,
and giving them the Middle Hrruban equivalents.
"Good,' Ken said. "Well, what do you call the big ship?" He gestured in
a wide circle, indicating the vessel around them. Grizz followed his
hand with its eyes.


"Va'arrel,' the Gringg repeated.


"This is the same? Va'arrel?" Ken pointed at the shuttle.


"Va'arrel?" He circled his arm.


Grizz seemed to be listening carefully for something, and was mildly
disappointed not to hear it. The alien shook its large head from side
to side. "Va'arrel."


"But that's what I said,' Ken began.


"What am I missing?


Va'arrel,' pointing to the shuttle. Grizz sat back with paws folded.
"Va'arrel."
  Ken grinned. "Your voices go so far down I wonder if you're dropping
  past the registers that we Hayumans can hear. Or perhaps it's a so-
matic
  element I'm missing. Of course, I could just plain be pronouncing it
  wrong. Only practice will help with that. Let's collect some more
  examples of Gringg speech to take home with us." To speed things up,
  Todd and Hrriss volunteered to work with the other Gringgs to teach one
  another vocabulary, leaving them with plenty of data when the Doona
  party finally left.


  Ken, with the loudest voice, found himself talking to Grizz, as he
  nicknamed the Gringg captain. The big alien approved the shorter form
  with a dropped jaw and a discernible twinkle in its eye. In its
  slightly nasal voice, his name came out as Genhh.


  Eonneh, Hrriss and Dodh, as the Gringg pronounced Todd's name,
were
  already working out the pronunciation of more words, and writing them
  down on the pad.
  "Chilmeh!" the cub echoed, happily, and reached out to push the Hu-
man's
  knee companionably. Jilamey pushed back, and found himself rolling
over
  the floor in the rowing Gringg's powerful embrace. His helmet hit the
  ground with a clank.


  Greene ran after them and interposed himself, on guard, between the
  alien and the Hayuman. The largest of the Gringg tensed, watching
  carefully "Be careful, Landreau,' Greene cautioned the younger man,
who
  lay gasping and breathless with laughter on the deck. With one arm, he
  pulled Landreau to his feet.


  "You have no idea what your actions may mean to these aliens."


  "Aw, he's playing, Commander,' Landreau said. The cub's tail swished
  from side to side like that of a large dog, and Jilamey ruffled the fur
  between its ears.
    We don't know anything about their physiognomy, nor they ours.


    What are your impressions?"


    "I wish I could get some samples of skin, blood, and hair,' Lauder said.
    "I could tell you a lot more if I could do microscopic analyses.


    "When we can speak a little more of their language, we'll ask,' Ken
    said. "It's presumptuous to try before they can understand just exactly
    what we want. And why. How about you? Any ideas?" He addressed
Frill,
    whose attention seemed to be wandering.


    "Sorry, sir,' Frill said, reddening slightly. "My stomach's rumbling.
    Hope they don't misconstrue that." Ken smacked him on the back.
"Good
    idea. Food! We'll offer them some of our rations, let them analyse
    them, see if our food's safe for their insides. There's got to be
    emergency packs in the shuttle -"


    "There should be, Dad,' Todd said, "if it was stocked according to
bio-sphere is compatible to theirs. They appear to be carnivorous, with
those teeth, maybe even omnivorous. Be interesting to see if their
comestibles are at all similar to ours." During this discussion the
Gringg withdrew to have a conference of their own.


"Our visitors seem willing both to teach and learn,' Grizz said,
thoughtfully. "I feel it is safe to risk the second step. Move slowly
and give them no cause for suspicion."


"As you wish, Captain,' Eonneh replied, watching Genhh Rrrreev
expostulating with the rest of her party.


"I'll go get what is required." Grizz shouldered him companionably as he
left the room.


"Go quickly, my mate. If this works out as we hope, you'll have plenty
of material for an epic poem, with yourself as the hero!" Todd, Hrriss,
and Commander Frill went back to the shuttle. According to Spacedep
regs, emergency gear, including "rations ready to eat', or RREs, were
always kept in a locker beneath the co-pilot's couch. The ring latches
securing the cubby door were frequently stiff, but a quick twist and tug
   "Not now,' Frill answered, a little sheepishly. "Not as long as I get
   something to eat."


   "Don't worry,' Todd said, with complete understanding.


   "I'm a big feeder myself. You can be the one to taste it in front of
   them so they can see that we warrant this food as safe." Willingly,
   Frill picked out his favorite from the sealed packs, and split up the
   rest to carry between himself and Hrriss.


   "Todd,' Ken called as they emerged from the shuttle.


   "Our friends here had the same idea." Todd grinned. Piled high be-
tween
   Ken and Grizz was a quantity of wrapped and unwrapped goods.


   Eonneh and another medium-sized bear whose coat was coloured a
dark,
   dusty cocoa, had Ensign Lauder by the console, showing him a program
   that displayed changing views of complex designs that Todd couldn't
   He pantomimed to Grizz, pointing to the substances on the floor and
back
   again at the screen. "Is that the substance of this?" The big ursine
   roared softly, a triumphant sound. "I guess that's what he said.


   "Reh!" Grizz said, crossing his huge paws on his chest once more.


   "How about it?" Todd asked Lauder. "Would a molecule like that be
safe
   for Hayumans and Hrrubans to eat?"


   "No doubt about it,' Lauder replied, showing him his pad screen. "It's
   a common protein chain.


   The others are complex carbohydrates, pretty similar to stuff we eat.


   It's strange, because their digestive systems are very different from
   either of our two races.


   Greene frowned. "In what way?"
   Todd slapped him on the back and escorted him before the Gringg
leader.
   "Now, Commander, you want to demonstrate the purity and delicious-
ness of
   one of our RREs for our hosts here?" he asked.


   Collecting a nod from Frill, he and Hrriss placed their armloads of
   packages in front of Grizz, next to the heaps of Gringg offerings.


   "These are examples of our food. We're giving them to you for your
   examination. First, we'll eat a sample." He accompanied his speech
with
   pantomime, which he hoped was comprehensible to the aliens.


   As the Gringg watched with interest, Frill eagerly tore open the
   pressed-plastic packet, then looked dismayed as the difficulty became
   obvious.


   "The helmet,' he said, glancing at Todd for help.
   Greene sprang forward and grabbed his wrist. "What do you think you
are
   doing, Reeve? Attempting suicide?


   If you choose to take foolish risks I can recommend to Lauder here that
   we have you brought back to the cruiser in restraints to wait until a
   psychiatrist sees you."


   "I never take foolish risks,' Todd said. He shook off the man's hand.
   "The ensign here has already told us that if he encountered an
   atmosphere like this one planetside he'd consider it safe. Isn't that
   right, Ensign?" Lauder, not eager to get into the middle of a battle
   between a renowned planetary leader and a formidable ranking officer,
   quickly nodded his head.       Encouraged by Todd's friendly smile, he
added
   very timidly, "I'd think we were lucky, too, if the air on the Hamilton
   was this fresh, Commander." The medic swallwed hard as Greene
turned his
   stare upon him, but he didn't recant.
  slap the helmets back on.


  One minute, two minutes passed. There was no sound in the landing
bay
  except for a mechanized hum deep in the heart of the giant ship.


  Todd could almost hear the sweat trickling down his back. It hardly
  seemed as if only a couple of hours ago he had been sitting at the head
  of a tableful of voracious and self-seeking delegates who intended to
  ruin a special part of his planet to satisfy trade requirements. If he
  guessed wrong, if the data that the young medic had been carefully
  monitoring was incorrect, he could be about to die.


  Todd felt with every nerve ending the touch of moving air on his skin.


  It was pleasantly warm.


  His lungs dragged it in and pushed it out. It took more of an effort
  than breathing usually did but he was in a slightly heavier gravity than
  what he was used to. He was consciously tasting each breath for
  poisons, but there was only the cloying smell of recycled air and a
him
  for the last five minutes, the next breath should be fine, too. With a
  half-hearted laugh, he let go and sucked in a deep lungful of air.
  Nothing adverse had happened. He was alive.


  Hrriss was alive. They and the Gringg breathed the same sort of air
  "It's all right." Todd nodded at his friend, and they fell into one
  another's arms. "Go ahead, Frill,' he said, as he and Hrriss pounded
  each other on the back in relief. Ken Reeve was smiling. "Lauder is
  right. Our atmospheres are at least compatible.


  "So they could live on our worlds, if they disposed of us,' Greene said,
  his eyes cold.


  "Enough of that, Greene!" Todd said, firmly. "There are no indications
  whatsoever that these creatures are competitive. On the contrary, in
  fact! May Commander Frill assist me now with a food demonstration?"
  Grudgingly, Greene gave the order. Frill saluted and began to undo the
  helmet fastenings.


  Watching Todd and Hrriss all the while, the big Spacedep officer lifted
      to be pacific? There's a theory in there someplace." He took off his
      helmet, then peeled off his gloves. The baby bear toddled towards him
      again, this time chortling joyfully to itself that Genhh now exuded a
      totally different, and much more preferable scent: one compounded of
      many subtle smells. Ken was sniffed over from toe to crotch to pate.


      With no hesitation, Jilamey removed his helmet. Timidly, with a glance
      at Greene for permission, Lauder opened his a crack, testing the air
      against what was in his rebreathers. Only Greene remained sealed in
his
      protective gear like a disapproving robot glaring at the others.


      The Gringg, too, seemed to be happy with the removals, grunting low,
      pleased sounds to themselves though only the littlest one made tactile,
      and nasal, contact.


      As the Gringg watched with considerable interest, Frill consumed an
RRE.
      He tore mouthfuls away from the bar of compressed protein, chewed
and
      swallowed them. The carbohydrate wafer crunched loudly in the
"O-kaayy." Grizz echoed the word.


Todd thought that the big alien understood. It signalled to Eonneh, who
undid one of the sausage-shaped packets and ate the contents, patting
its chest to indicate satisfaction when it had finished. Todd caught a
whiff of its scent. Not too bad, he thought.


It smelled a little like smoked snake.


"Here, try this one,' Todd said, pushing aside containers of tuna fish,
Doona snake, bean curd, turkey, and cheese, to open one of his
favorites. It was popcorn, in a self-heating hemispherical container.


Cautioning the Gringg not to touch he pulled the seal. The disk-shaped
base started to glow. In a few seconds, the whole unit began to shake.
Weddeerogh jumped, letting out a squeal of surprise, then hunkering
down, getting as close as it dared to the twitching and bulging package.
Todd grinned. Popcorn was not only food, but entertainment.
"See? This is really good." He ate piece by piece, crunching each
between his teeth with obvious satisfaction.


"Goo-ood." Using its long claws, the Gringg picked up a single puffed
kernel and looked at it, a giant examining a grain of sand.


Then it indicated to Ken that he should take the other Gringg rations,
and sat, continuing to study the fluffy morsel of corn.


"Great,' Ken exclaimed, collecting the bundles and putting some of them
in his equipment pouch. Lauder, his hands shaking slightly, picked up
an armload of the supplies and stowed them in his equipment carryall.


"Thank you, Grizz. We'll be happy to take these. Soon as we have a
good close look, we'll know if it's safe for you to come back with us."
He bowed to Grizz and nodded to the others. "Thank you for letting us
visit. We'd better get back, boys. The Admiral and the others will be
going spare wondering what happened to keep us so long."


"One more thing,' Greene said, quickly, planting a hand on Ken's
shoulder. "Tell them they've got to keep their ship in this orbit. If
      "Oh, draw them a picture,' Jilamey said, impatiently. He knelt down
      beside Eonneh and held out a hand toward the Gringg's two-finger sty-
lus.
      "Can I borrow that?" Surprised, the honey-coloured alien put the draw-
ing
      implement in his hand, and pushed the tablet towards him. Jilamey
      whistled at the weight of the instrument, then fitted his fingers into
      the twinned loops. He drew a little circle on his hand with the point,
      and smiled up at Greene.


      "Now, what kind of orbit do you want them to stay in?" Glancing at the
      Admiral's aide for permission, Commander Frill slumped down beside
      Jilamey, and looked up at the Gringg captain. "Draw Doona there,' he
      indicated the centre of a blank tablet page. "Now, draw a big circle
      around it, far out, beyond the moons - better draw in the moons - and
      put their ship on the big circle. Boy, this is undignified,' he
      complained, looking up at Ken.


      "Go on,' Ken encouraged him. "You're doing fine."


      "Well,' he said, showing the tablet to Grizz. "This,' he said,
   "Reh!" Grizz said, following his gesture. "Orrrbitttt.


   Nggh yaahrr mmmmonnya." The Gringg showed a mouthful of long
white teeth
   and black gums to indicate comprehension.


   "Well done, Frill. Satisfied?" Ken asked Greene. "Again, Captain
   Grizz, our compliments. Until we meet again?" He bowed and turned
away.
   Together, the party walked back towards the Spacedep shuttle.


   For big creatures, the Gringg could move surprisingly fast.


   Eonneh and the strange bear who had brought in the Gringg rations
   waddled swiftly past them, and stood by the shuttle. The party stared
   at them, their initial fears returning.


   "Now what is this?" Greene demanded, stopping at a distance from the
   ship. He felt again for his sidearm and cursed Todd Reeve's insistence
   on coming unarmed. "Are they preventing us from leaving?
  "Quite the opposite,' Ken suggested, eyeing this gesture with amuse-
ment.
  Ghotyakh must be an engineer, if he patted spaceships like ponies. "I
  think they want to come with us as emissaries."


  "Impossible!" Greene was alarmed at the thought of Gringg loose on a
  Spacedep ship, or amuck in the colony itself.


  "Not at all." Ken glanced back at Grizz, who raised a giant snout in
  their direction. The intelligent, redbrown eyes were calm.


  "They're showing that they trust us."


  "They could die from exposure to toxins or bacteria on Doona." Ken
shook
  his head.


  "Obviously, Commander, they're willing to take that chance. That's
  something they need to learn from us, too: if both species can exist in
  the same bio-sphere. And I get the impression that if we don't take
      "We are the logical choices,' the Hrruban agreed. "We already serve
the
      diplomatic arm for both Hrruba and Earrth, as well as Doonarrala."


      "Wish I had your background in languages, Dad,' Todd said, "but I think
      we'll get along."


      "I have all the faith in the galaxy in you two,' Ken said, then his eyes
      twinkled. "Good luck." Hrriss and Todd shook hands in turn with Ken,
      Jilamey, and the two Spacedep officers. Greene continued to look
      disapproving.


      "You should return to the cruiser with us."


      "Not a good idea,' Todd said promptly. "The Gringg have trusted us with
      two of their people. They might take it amiss if we don't reciprocate.
      Remember it's their initiative."


      "We shouldn't take them aboard, not until the Admiral has cleared such
      an important decision."
   called.


   "Errrrungh!" the cub called out his farewell to his new friends before
   the shuttle door closed.


   "Goodbye!" Ken called back, waving.


   The cub let out squeals of glee. "Errrrungh! Gggbyyy!" Just then the
   communit in Todd's helmet began to crackle. Todd picked it up and
held
   it close enough to hear any message.


   "Frill here, Reeve. If you can hear me, nod." Todd obediently nodded.
   "We'll keep sending on our way back to the Hamilton. Give some an-
swer
   as long as you hear us. OK?" Todd nodded. "If we can't stay in touch,
   we'll come back for you in twenty-four hours!" Todd nodded vigorously,
   relieved.


   The last sight Ken had of his son and the Hrruban who was nearly his
      It was a tight fit in the cabin with the two huge Gringg each spreading
      across two couches intended for one Human-size body. They were
      muttering excitedly to one another, their intelligent eyes scrutinizing
      all elements of the interior of the shuttle. Ken smiled to himself. The
      Gringg captain was probably having the same misgivings about sending
two
      of his people with them.


      "Good luck, son,' he said quietly, as Frill lifted off the little
      shuttle from the launch circle.


      Chapter 4


      COMMANDER FRILL GOT A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF perverse pleas-
ure opening a
      communications channel to the hovering Spacedep flagship and giving
his
      message.


      "Exploration shuttle returning at 1815 hours shiptime with two aliens
      aboard. Please inform the Admiral we will be with you by 1847.
   Although at first the assignment had made him nervous, Frill was
   grateful that Castleton had selected him. The aliens'd be well worth
   getting to know. In all his xeno training, he'd never come across any
   other species - apart from the Hrrubans, of course - that was sentient,
   let alone so eager to cooperate. He was also grateful that two of the
   smaller specimens had been sent. The giant ones were going to take a
   lot of getting used to.


   The two Gringg were silent until the shuttle was inside the Hamilton's
   landing bay doors, then began quietly muttering between themselves.
   Commenting on the differences? Frill wondered. The Spacedep bay
walls
   were enamelled a spankingly clean white and stencilled with the
Spacedep
   logo, and everything was smaller. A lot smaller.


   When he considered the size of the Gringg themselves, the volume of
   their ship wasn't so extraordinary. They needed a lot of head and elbow
   room.
  Setting down the shuttle smoothly, Frill began to switch off systems and
  run over the cross check list, ably assisted by Ken Reeve.


  Outside the small ship, a security force deployed.


  Marines, armed with powerful slug-throwing and laser weapons hurried
  into a line surrounding them and knelt, waiting for the aliens to
  emerge. Behind the glass doors separating the bay from the waiting
  lounge stood Admiral Barnstable, Captain Castleton and other inter-
ested
  parties.


  Ken Reeve emerged first, grinning, followed by the Gringg. Frill had a
  good look at the reactions: the marines, to a man, recoiled and
  tightened their hands on their weapons as the huge bear-like beings
  hunched to get through the portal and then stood up and stretched, to
  relieve the cramp they had endured on the small shuttle.


  "They're friendly and they are not armed,' Ken Reeve said, raising his
a safe distance. Await further orders."


"Yes, sir,' replied the lieutenant in charge.


He signalled to his men, who reformed in a close group beyond the
shuttle. Frill felt his face redden.


"Captain,' Ken Reeve said, frowning with annoyance at such over
hostility, "aren't you being a bit paranoid?


They've shown no signs of aggression at any time."


"This is a security vessel, Mr Reeve,' the captain said in sharp tones.


"So it is,' Ken said, sarcastically. "I'd forgotten."


"There are definite procedures for this sort of thing, you know,' Frill
added, with a glance of apology at Reeve.


"Don't apologize for doing your duty,' Greene snapped.
  Neither of the two emissaries seemed dismayed, ignoring the actinic
  lights and the fans that fluffed up their fur.


  Ken admired their phlegmatic behaviour in a totally foreign environment.
  Certainly there had been no similar procedures on the Gringg ship.


  Barnstable was waiting as Greene, then Jilamey, followed by Lauder,
  emerged from the launch bay. The Spacedep chairman was containing
  himself with difficulty.


  Behind him, Castleton couldn't keep her eyes off the massive figures
now
  passing through decontamination.


  Greene saluted and made directly to a computer terminal and began to
  enter codes.


  "Whew, aren't they big mamas?" Ali Kiachif breathed.


  "My son?" Hrrestan asked of Jilamey, the fur at the nape of his neck
was
"Amazing crrreatures,' Hrrestan said, gazing up at the two Gringg with
wide eyes.


Snapping off the computer terminal, Greene marched up to his superior
officers and saluted. His face was pale.


"Sirs, I must see you immediately,' he said.


"Commander, how could you so mislead me as to the size of these .


. . these things?" Barnstable said.


"They aren't things,' Jilamey said, indignantly. "They're Gringg.


. . and intelligent folk." Barnstable brushed that observation aside.


"This is a Spacedep vessel "Currently assisting Alreldep,' Ken said,
bracing the Admiral, "in establishing friendly communication with a new
species.
   throat. "Yes, there's that." He began to reconsider his position as
   Eonneh approached, passing close to him as he entered the lounge.


   "Did you ah . . . manage to establish communications?"


   "No, sir.


   We've exchanged a few words, nothing more.


   The rest was accomplished through a primitive sign language, and
   demonstrations." Greene shot a jaundiced glance at Ken Reeve. "Then
   they wouldn't allow us to reboard the shuttle unless we brought them,'
   and he cocked his thumb at the Gringg, "with us." He glared again at
   Reeve.


   "Well, what do we do with them?" Greene flapped one hand indeci-
sively.
   "Whatever one does with a new species . . sir. They came voluntarily.


   Just as young Reeve and Hrriss remained. Sir, permission to speak to
   you privately concerning the Gringg. It is urgent."
  "We have to know what we're dealing with,' Barnstable said.


  "I don't know about you, Admiral,' Castleton said, "but the size of them
  makes me nervous.


  Ghotyakh waddled in and began to exchange quiet murmurs with Eon-
neh.


  "We'll keep them here long enough to run tests,' the Admiral said.


  "Hold everything, Admiral,' Ken began, momentarily distracted by
  Jilamey's agitation, "if there's going to be any testing done,
  physicians affiliated with Treaty Island or Alreldep and Hrruban Alien
  Relations should officiate.


  Spacedep isn't involved."


  "I agrrrree,' Second Speaker put in, taking a step forward. He seemed
  much put out by the huge aliens' appearance and was maintaining a
  discreet distance. The one with the light-coloured pelt leaned his way,
  sniffing.
"You're not getting the message, are you, Admiral?" Ken said, stiff with
indignation. "These aren't lab animals. They're sentient beings from a
highly sophisticated culture and they're here as envoys, not creatures
to be dissected. Get that straight now, once and for all. They are to
be treated with honour and respect!" He let out a breath. "Because
that's how we hope they're treating our emissanes.


"Surely,' Kiachif put in silkily, "you don't want unwelcome, untested,
and unauthorized aliens aboard your flagship any longer than you have
to? I'll take "em off your hands right smart."


"Since Spacedep may have to clear up after you AIreldeps mess up this
first contact -, Greene began.


"I didn't mess up first contact before, did I?" Ken said in a voice that
was cold with threat. "Ali, we accept your offer of transport here and
now."


"Just a living minute, Kiachif Barnstable began, clearly determined to
keep the aliens aboard where he would have control of their disposition.
NOT
     liable to Spacedep authority.    They are Alreldep's.    They're coming
down
     to Doonarrala with us.


     And that's that!" His bellow made everyone regard him in surprise.


     The Gringg rumbled and shifted their big feet.


     "Now look what you've done,' Jilamey said, swinging accusingly at
     Barnstable and Castleton. Making reasuring sounds and waving his
hands
     in placatory gestures, he went right up to Eonneh and Ghotyakh who
     blinked rapidly but made no move.


     "Relax, lassie, they don't have any weapons,' Kiachif said to Castleton,
     who had instinctively reached for her sidearm.


     "Just claws and teeth,' she replied, but she dropped her hand to her
     side. Greene looked poised to move between her and the Gringg if she
so
"Especially at the outset of what should develop into mutual respect and
harmony,' Ken said in a disgusted tone. "Now, let's get these good . .
. creatures,' and he made the term far more a title than Barnstable
had, "down to an environment that is not bristling with hostility and
weapons." With ill grace, Barnstable finally agreed.


"The Kiachif vessel has leave to depart,' Captain Castleton said into
her communit to the bridge.


"Captain, will you also make contact with Admiral Sumitral at Alreldep?"
Hrrestan asked, then turned politely to Second Speaker.


"Sir, you will wish to inform the Hrruban Council of this development.


"The Terran council will hear of this,' Barnstable said.


"Along with the rest of civilized space,' Ken said, shedding all trace
of his previous aggressiveness now that the navy had acquiesced.


"Sometimes, Hrrestan, you exceed your authority,' Hrrto remarked in a
taut voice.
  Hrrto regarded him through slitted eyes and his tail switched just once.
  The Second Speaker pulled his nails through his muzzle whiskers and
then
  dropped his jaw ever so slightly.


  "A point, Hrrestan. A point."


  "Shall I also give permission for Sumitral to use the grid for
  conveyance to Doonarrala? Aireldep has always been the most intelli-
gent
  branch of the Hayuman Authorities.


  Hrrto considered that a moment longer, then with a ffick of half-bared
  claws gave Hrrestan permission. It would do HIrto no harm in his
  campaign for the First Speakership to be seen to side with the
Spacedep,
  always the nemesis of the conservative element of Hrruba.


  Hrrestan turned to Castleton and swept her a graceful bow.


  "Please let it be known in the Federazhon Building that we request the
     the others swept towards the connecting link.


     The security force drew back, hands convulsively closing on their
     weapons as he swung through.


     "This way, gentlebears,' Jilamey said, skipping in front to lead the
     way. "Next stop, a fine little planet that I'm sure you'll adore."
     After a quick huddle with Captain Castleton and Admiral Barnstable,
     Greene followed the Second Speaker and the still apprehensive Milaba
as
     they started to leave the bay.


     "A moment, honoured sir,' he said in good Middle Hrruban, laying a
hand
     on Hrrto's robed arm, "of your most valuable time."


     "For what reason?" Second Speaker asked stiffly, glancing down at the
     offensive hand. Beside him, Mllaba let out a hissing breath.


     "I beg your pardon,' and Greene snatched his hand back, bowing
About this new species. It will delay your return to Doonarrala only a
few moments."


"Very well,' Second said, without inflection or expression. Greene
nodded to the captain, who lifted her communication unit.


"The shuttle may depart now,' she said. The blast doors closed before
anyone on board the small ship could question the absence of the
Hrrubans.


The Hayuman glanced towards the brilliant light of the shuttle's exhaust
port, fast disappearing over the curve of the planet. Second Speaker
followed his gaze, then directed a curious stare at Greene.


"The Admiral thought that perhaps you are not so sanguine about the
nature of these new beasts." The brown eyes searched the slitted green
feline ones. "Perhaps you, too, believe that more caution should be
exercised in regard to these Gringg."


"Perhaps,' Second said, very cautiously. "But why should you share
  Hayuman said in a low voice. "The arrival of these beasts complicates
  the equation that already exists between Hrruban and Hayuman and
  interrupts proceedings that have long been on the agenda.


  Should this be allowed to occur? And at this critical point?


  There is more to this than meets the eye.


  Admiral Barnstable and the captain beg a few moments to discuss their
  views with you. Nothing official, or binding, certainly. Merely a
  friendly chat."


  "You interest me, Commandrrr,' Second said, his pupils narrowing. He
  stepped away from the Havuman, restoring his breathing space. He
found
  the commander almost more threatening than the Gringg. "Very well, so
  long as it is understood that this is only a small chat." Kelly Reeve
  fidgeted. When Todd and the company had departed to investigate the
  strange spaceship, Hrrestan's assistant had addressed the remainder of
  the delegates left in the dining room.
   voice a protest. "Our time is valuable. Zis interruption must not
   interferre with ourr negotiations,' she said.


   "We have not a choice,' the assistant replied. "We may not continue in
   ze absence of ze honorred Second Speaker and half our membrrrs."
Putting
   aside her nervousness, Kelly smiled at the Hrruban executive. "Per-
haps
   you would care to return with me to my village? I would be delighted to
   make welcome one who is so invaluable to the High Council."


   "Zonk you, no. I will remain on the Zreaty Island until the Speaker
   returns. I have calls to make zo ze home wrrrld,' the banker said in
   cold, if polite, refusal.


   The delegates dispersed, muttering, to their guest quarters.


   Seeing she could do nothing else to help, Kelly transported back to the
   Hrruban First Village, to Nrrna and the children.


   It was still early morning on this side of Doonarrala.
heading towards the Friendship Bridge.


"They're not coming today, Zhrrel,' Kelly said, fighting to keep from
letting concern show on her face. "They're at Mrrva's, with me and
Nrrna. Will you tell Hrromede I'll call him to explain?"


"Yes, Mizzis Rrev,' Zhrrel said, turning almost on his tail and racing
for the bridge as the bell began to toll.


"Aiee! I'm laze!" Mrrva, lithe and graceful in spite of her sixty
years, hurried to put Kelly at ease, and would not let her speak until
they were all seated comfortably in the garden with hot morning drinks.


Perhaps, in spite of her importance as the head of Doonarrala medical
services, she prized her reputation as a genial hostess, and she was as
fond of Kelly as she was of her son's mate.


Nrrna appeared in the doorway, with two children in tow. She was a
soft-furred female with pretty green eyes and pointed cheekbones that
made her look very young.
around
     the baby. Knowing that all the villages would have learned of its
     presence, Kelly could and did describe the awesome size and appear-
ance
     of the strange ship.


     "Then they just piled into Ali Kiachifs shuttle to go take a look at it.
     Sometimes, Todd Reeve is enough to drive a woman to miada!' Kelly
     finished, letting righteous ire dissipate some of her inner fears. "But,
     best of all, the pair of them went off together, Nrrna.


     Just like always." The estrangement between the two best friends over
     the matter of the space port had been of great concern to their wives,
     and other discerning friends. It had seemed incredible that any matter
     could have strained the deep bond shared by Todd and Hrriss.


     There had been tension even on the Double Bar Gemini Ranch which
Todd
     and Hrriss owned in partnership. Even the children had become aware
of
     some stress between the two adult males, though for the most part they
lenge.


      I have earnestly wished to help, you know." She tilted her head to gaze
      into Kelly's eyes.


      "I know you have, Mrrva,' and Kelly smiled and grasped the slender,
      furred arm. "It's just so utterly weird that those two could ever find
      something to quarrel about." She closed her lips then for she had to be
      loyal to Todd's principles even if, in her deepest thoughts, she didn't
      see why he so disapproved of the space port: Trade would expand and
the
      Doonarrala economy would improve enormously. A space port would
make it
      so much easier for everyone. "I just hope we don't have to wait too
      long to hear what that infamous pair are up to now." She brushed away
a
      vagrant tear because they were once more up to something!


      "The most difficult part will be for you, waiting until they return! You
      are both welcome to stay here since they must come through the village
      grid from the Treaty Island."
jetting off on special trips or being involved in colony business at
Treaty Island. As Kelly had also been involved, she had left her pair
with Nrrna and Mrrva in First Village. So, totally unconcerned and
giving their all to this extra day of leisure, they raced around their
Mrrva's front garden, playing out their notions of what was going on.


Kelly sat on the stoop watching them, reassured by their carefree
presence.


Her twin children were tall for their eight Standard years, and skinny
as a pair of saplings. Early muscular development and plenty of
exercise gave Alec and Alison such innate grace of movement that they
resembled a pair of young Hrrubans, hence their nickname, the Alley
Cats. Alec had his mother's red hair, but had inherited intense blue
eyes from Todd. Alison was a more exotic combination, with shining
black hair, and eyes with golden hazel irises rimmed with black.


Except that they were obviously male and female, the twins' faces were
extraordinarily similar in feature and form, though Alison's was
slightly rounder than her brother's. Often friends would remark on how
glad they were that they had different colour hair. In a losing battle
     "Zoddandhrriss will burrrst into the alien vesssel,' Hrrunival said,
     punctuating his phrases with zooming motions of his hands, "and drrrag
     out ze aliens and say "What are you? Where do you come from?"


     " He was wild with excitement, dancing around on light toes. His elder
     sister, Hrrana, grabbed him by both ears to hold him still. He spat and
     batted at her.


     "Then they will find out everything there is to know about the aliens,'
     Alison said, calmly releasing Hrrunival from his sister's grasp and
     fluffing up the fur between the offended aural appendages.


     The Hrruban boy's eyes slitted pleasurably at Alison's fussing, and he
     wrinkled his nose at Hrrana. Unconcerned, the female pirouetted and
     threw a boneless somersault, to land lightly on her feet again.


     "And what happens then?" Kelly asked, distracted from her dark mood
by
     the children's fancies.
almost
   a legend, with "Toddandhrriss' the heroes whose names were always
spoken
   together until they became an undistinguished mass of syllables. She
   hadn't been born when that had happened, but if Alec was anything like
   his father had been, it was no mystery how the boy Todd had insinu-
ated,
   or rather, cannoned himself into the midst of a delicate situation that
   could have had disastrous repercussions for both races. The
   unexpectedly deep bonding between the young Todd, so out of phase
with
   Earth social protocol, and Hrriss, had surprised and touched both
   Havuman and Hrrubans. It was this friendship, and Todd's determina-
tion
   to enjoy it without adult-conceived hindrances, that had been the
   cornerstone between the two species. Which had resulted in the Deci-
sion
   at Doona.


   The true adventure gave the children of Doonarrala heroes of their own
   age to admire and emulate. It prompted the occasional outbreak of rope
      Those Occupations, Kelly reminded herself, were adventurous enough
for
      eight and six year olds.


      In the meanwhile, two hours had stretched into five, and from then into
      nine. Worrying about Todd, Kelly ate a lunch and dinner she didn't
      taste. She tried to tell her self that the long delay was because
      things were going well, not because there'd been problems.


      Problems were usually heard about as soon as they occurred. But she
      couldn't completely discount her nagging premonition of "trouble',
      however nebulous it was.


      After the early evening meal, Mrrva retired into the back garden to
      leave the two younger women alone.


      Nrrna dandled baby Hrrunna on her lap, playing with the small cub's
      perfect little hands and feet. The baby's fur was a light gold with a
      mahogany-brown stripe down her back, a contrast to her mother's taw-
nier
      pelt. The cub fussed a little, and opened a little pink mouth to emit a
over her chest to keep her fingers from twitching, she paced over to the
console, wondering if it was too soon after her last call.


"What time is it, Nrrna?" she asked, tightening her fingers on her arms.


Nrrna shifted to her other side and nestled Hrrunna in the crook of her
other arm so she could look at her wrist chronometer. "Only half past
six."


"Hmm,' Kelly mused. "That means it's nine thirty on Treaty Island. Do
you think there's anyone in the Space Centre office?"


"There was not half an hourrr ago, Gelli. Why do you not try to relax?"
Nrrna settled the nursing cub, peering at the concentrated little face
with its tight-shut, shell-like eyelids.


"I don't see how you can stay so calm!" Kelly said, ffinging herself out
of her chair and pacing around. "Hrriss and Todd could be in great
danger." Nrrna let out the low, musical growl that was a Hrruban laugh.
"I must stay calm or this tiny one gets gas through my milk,' she said.
"It is an exercise in self-control. I myself do not think of danger to
     "I prefer that we are together and not alone Kelly glanced down
     affectionately at the Hrruban woman. "Me, too. I guess that's why I
     didn't go. I'd get that "useless female" reaction and be acidly asked
     what I thought I could do about anything. That lot at Treaty Island
     don't worry about people: they worry about treaties and agendas and .


     . . things! Besides, it'd be unfair to leave my two monsters here!


     Look at them out there!" The Alley Cats were in the midst of a rough and
     tumble with Hrrana, Hrrunival, Ourrh, and a group of the neighbourhood
     youngsters, freed for evening games until darkness. As Kelly watched,
     Alison was pulled to the ground by a couple of Hrruban cubs and
shrieked
     happily, coming up dusty to drag her friends over with her.


     "Where do they get the energy?" Mrrva asked with a sigh as she gazed
at
     their spirited racings.


     "It's not fair, is it?" Kelly said, shaking her head. "Ooops, there
     goes Alison's shirt. Well, it was an old one,' she added. "Once they
  closed, she placed her head on her front paws and went to sleep.


  "Take joy in the differences, that is what I think they should do,'
  Nrrna said in Low Hrruban.


  "Try telling them that,' Kelly said, wryly, then shouted out the window
  at the children. "You're playing too rough!


  Look out for Heeranh's nose! Augh!" she exclaimed, and started pacing
  again. "I don't know where they get the idea that they're
  indestructible."


  "From their fathers, no doubt,' Nrrna said. Hrrunna twitched in her
  sleep, and gave a squeaky little moan which brought a loving smile from
  her dam. Nrrna glanced up at Kelly, who was biting her own thumb.
"They
  will be all right, you know that, Gelli. They always are when they are
  working together."


  "I guess so." Kelly got up again to glance out the window, and recoiled
  in shock.
   More Rroobvnnns had met them in the orbiting ship, including one very
   quick-moving male clad in black, and many more Ayoomnnns. From the
   ship, they had been transferred to a larger shuttle, flown by an
   engaging Ayoomnnn with black-and-grey hair who showed his teeth
   frequently and spoke in a poetic cadence.         Once this vehicle had
reached
   the surface of the planet, they had been ushered into a large,
   white-stone cube of a building and down a corridor which echoed when
one
   trod on the floor. The Gringg had been obediently foLlowing their guide
   to a small platform with pillars at each corner. When they stood upon
   it, the room became misty. Suddenly, they found themselves here.


   Eonneh was impressed. This form of transport was much more effort-
less
   than any he had previously encountered. The Gringg had much to learn
   from the Rroohvnnns.


   A second group of four emerged from the mist. Genhh gestured to
Eonneh
which was rich with trees and flora.


Like the life-forms they had seen so far, even the trees seemed less
substantial here than on the Gringg world.


But it was a beautiful place, and the air smelled good.


In the distance, they could scent the musky odours of wildlife.


One creature, which must be a service animal, unlike the Ayoomnnns or
Rroobvnnns, stood tethered, calmly eating long strands of yellow
herbage. It had not noticed them, but many more Hrrubans had. They
were coming out of the little houses, staring and pointing at the
Gringg. Most of them did not react with fear, but with interest.


Eonneh found that to be heartening. Much more reassuring than the
emotions he had perceived on the large orbiting ship.


The Rroobvnnn Rreshtanh was much honoured here.


Most of the Hrrubans spoke to him before circling around to look at the
    into the living places of these people. Even in the place where we
    first stopped, we have seen nothing of the weapons carried by the
guards
    on the ship. Accept anything they do with padded claws. Let us be sure
    not to frighten them."


    "Observe the shapes of the domiciles, Eonneh,' Ghotyakh said, turning
a
    slow circle. "Square roofs, as had that building into which we were
    first taken. Everything is built using flat planes, and nearly all of
    them above ground. Curious.


    "It is so. They do not build as we do, in echo of the natural shelters
    of the motherworid." Eonneh stared at one dwelling. "I would guess
they
    have better ventilation than our homes.            Perhaps their seasonal
changes
    are not as drastic as ours. A very pleasant place." His tail wagged
    slowly. "I shall enjoy our time here.


    The gesture seemed to interest his hosts. Genhh had no caudal
   Rroobvnnns. "There is so much variation among the members of one
sex.


   And do you notice that all the males seem to live on one side of this
   place and the females on the other? Look how many Ayoomnnns are
coming
   from that direction. None live here."


   "Reh. It is most curious. Is there water about? I'm thirsty, but a
   swim is even more necessary."


   "I hear some running over there,' Ghotyakh said, peering in the
   direction from which the Ayoomnnns were coming. "There is a bridge."
   Curious to see a Doonarralan river, the two ambled towards the sound.


   A shout from behind reminded them that they were not alone.


   "Oh, I apologize, Genhh,' Eonneh said, politely, turning to the
Ayoomnnn
   female. Her thin, nearly hairless skin was reddened from the effort of
   running. Eonneh noted again how small and weak the creatures of this
   it is they are saying,' Ghotyakh said.


   "They give every indication that they wish to learn our words, although
   it is also clear they want us to learn their language. I am glad we at
   least are no longer being watched by Ayoomnns carrying weapons, but
this
   is in its own way a threat."


   "I, too, still worry that they do not trust us. It is vital that they
   see us as harmless.


   Let us continue to shield our reactions and walk among them to reas-
sure
   the small ones.


   If Grzzeearoghh commands that to speak their language is the best
thing
   for Gringg to do, we shall do so, as we will deal with whatever else
   befalls us,' Eonneh replied, following Ken into the heart of the Hrruban
   Village. "For myself it is worth the risk, I am delighted to learn an
   alien language. It is easy to master other Gringg dialects, for they
     Occasionally, Eonneh or Ghotyakh stopped to touch a tree or the wall of
     a house, feeling its substance with the sensitive pads of their
     handpaws.


     A crowd of Hrrubans had gathered and, as word spread of the visitors'
     presence, Havumans came over the Friendship Bridge to watch; at a
     respectful distance, having noted the aliens' size, teeth and claws. The
     Gringg noted them placidly, and went on.


     "What are these monsters? They look like giant mda!" demanded Anne
     Boncyk, riding up on a skittish horse.


     She was a dainty woman with a decided chin and large, fringed brown
     eyes.


     "Our latest visitors,' Ken said affably. At times, one didn't know
     which way Anne would jump. "They call themselves Gringg. Their ship
is
     in orbit around Doonarrala." The horse stretched out its neck to sniff
     at the Gringg.
"All ze children are still here, Hrrestan noted, sorting out the
whirlwind of small bodies that whisked back and forth across his front
garden. "Our sons' mates are waiting together." The older Hrruban
paused. "You are certain that Zodd and Hrriss are safe?"


"Have you ever known a situation where they were at a loss?" Ken said
lightly.


"Except that dratted space port issue. Seriously, old friend, I
wouldn't have left them if I felt them to be endangered. I have a
gut-strong reaction that these fellows are peaceful. Otherwise, they
wouldn't send the captain's own archivist with us, and that's what I
judge Eonneh here to be." Then he grinned, poking Hrrestan in the ribs.


"Let's see what the grandkids think of our new friends! If I remember
rightly, Todd trusted you on sight and he's never been righter."
"You'rrre not inzending to let zese strangers near childrrren, are you?"
Hirro, Hrrestan's nearest neighbour, was shocked.


"The advantage's on the kids' side, Hirro,' Ken said, patiently.
"Gringg,' Ken said, grinning.


""We arrre not alone,"' Hrrula quoted, dropping his jaw so far it nearly
dislocated. "Mrrrvellous!" The Gringg, largely ignoring their escort,
caught sight of the cluster of children. Eonneh's ears seemed to perk
up when Hrrana let out a shriek of mock fear, and ran away from her
brother who was stretching out a hand to tag her. Her tail, streaming
out behind, whisked out of the way just in time when he made a grab for
it. Fascinated, Eonneh and Ghotyakh moved closer to watch.


"Beep-beep!" shrieked Hrrunival, poking his sister in the belly, a sneak
attack when she twisted around to avoid running into a rosebush.


"Now you have to say that!" The other children dodged away from the
Hrruban female, who finally caught Alec up against the pillar supporting
Hrrestan's porch.


"Beep-beep!" she cried, and changed the symbol by tugging Alec's ear
lobe. "Mrow!"


"Uh-oh!" Alec yelled, and ran around, trying to catch someone else to be
     to move them along. Eonneh let out pleased little mutters at seeing
     younglings in play.


     Suddenly Alec caught sight of the Gringgs. "Look at them!" he shouted,
     standing stock still and pointed. "Are they bears, Granddad?"


     "What are bears?" Hrrana asked, swivelling and then standing as rigid
as
     her friend.


     "Earth animals and these are not really bears,' Ken said, "but close."
     All the children had paused in their noisy game of symbol tag and turned
     to look. They stared with open eyes at the Gringg, who stared back.
     Shock held the children immobile for a moment. Hrrunival was the first
     to recover. Nose a-twitch and tail straight out in defiance of his own
     uncertainty, he squared his small shoulders.


     "Who are you?" he demanded, walking up to Eonneh.


     The child wasn't quite as high as the Gringg's hip, but size wasn't
     going to deter him. The Alley Cats and Hrrana, holding Ourrh firmly by
"Amazing,' said Jilamey. "Unless you know Ken's family."


"Doonan children,' Ken said, shaking his head.


"They don't even know they're supposed to be afraid."


"Mrrva, hurry!


Where's that rifle?" Kelly shouted again, as the children, aware of the
beasts staring at them, stopped their play.


"Why?" Hrriss's mother came running, her tail lashing.


"Where's the peril?" The baby woke, crying. Nrrna snatched her up,
holding her protectively to her chest.


"There are two absolutely gigantic mda out there looming over the
children!" Kelly exclaimed. "They might attack at any minute. The kids
are just standing there, frozen.
  then pushed the door open, aware of agitated movement within.


  "Oh, no, Kelly!


  No, wait!" She looked up at the sudden appearance of her fatherin-law,
  her hands moving as if of their own volition.


  "Ken! Where's Todd? There are two huge mda out there!


  They never come so close to villages. These must be killers. I have to
  protect the children." She snapped the gun shut.


  "They're not mda! They're our new friends. They're from the strange
  ship." He put one hand on the rifle barrel and deftly relieved her of
  it.


  "From the ship? The one that came in out of nowhere?" Kelly swal-
lowed
  hard, trying to grasp his statement as he unloaded the heavy bore rifle.
  Behind him, Nrrna, green eyes huge, still clutched her baby.
Todd and Hrriss on board that immense ship?"


"They volunteered but I wouldn't have agreed, dear, if I didn't truly
believe it's the right way to deal with this unexpected situation. After
all,' and he winked at her as he helped her to her feet, "your
father-in-law's had some practice in this sort of "unexpected"
encounter." Not quite certain, Kelly gave him a shallow grin. "So come
on out and meet the Gringg. Even mda'd stay away from something that
sizeable!"


"Are you bears?" Alec wanted to know, confronting Eonneh but standing
far enough back so that she could still see his furry features. "Why
are you wearing belts?


That's a very beautiful belt. I didn't think bears wore belts like
Hrrubans. They have pockets in their belts, too. What have you got in
your belt pockets?" Eonneh seemed delighted that this red-topped
Ayoomnnn seemed unafraid of him. It appeared to be asking about his
belt, for the slender little finger was pointing at his chest.


But courtesy came first. "Eonneh,' he said, pointing at himself.
     "Don't be stupid, Alley, it sounds like Kodiak,' Alison said. "That's a
     kind of bear. I guess they must be bears."


     "But what are bears?" Hrrunival wanted to know.


     "They're an Earth animal,' Alec said, somewhat pompously.            "Mama
read us
     about them in a story book."


     "I thought there were only Havumans on Earrth, Hrrunival said. "Hrruba
     has no ozzer animals."


     "Well, Earth did and does,' Alec informed him condescendingly. "You've
     seen the pictures in the book."


     "They're Gringg,' Jilamey said, coming over to kneel beside the
     children. Following his example, Eonneh, renamed Honey, rolled back
on
     his mighty haunches, bringing him closer to their level. "They've come
     to Doonarrala from their own world to meet us."
"Wait, don't let him touch you!" cried one of the Human colonists, Bob
Lawrence.


"He's OK,' Alec said, shaking hands solemnly. Alison followed suit,
putting her hand into Ghotyakh's other paw.


"Just like their father,' mumbled Macy McKee, patting his wife's hand on
his arm. "I remember the first time Todd brought us a passel of
Hrrubans to meet-' He broke off and looked about in surprise. "And hey,
these fellows don't make me sneeze!"


"By analogy that should prove that these fellows are dangerous,'
Lawrence said sardonically.


"What a bizarre way to distinguish friend from foe,' said Dr Kate Moody
in her caustic way as she pushed her way through her neighbour.


"Allergies apart, they're sure not acting hostile. And the Alley Cats
aren't the least bit skeered. Nor young Hrrunival. Look at them
hunkering down to get level with your kids. Evening, Ken,' she said
   And I'm glad we did! The size of "em! Well grown lads!" Ken had
   brought Kelly, Mrrva, and Nrrna, still clutching her baby, all three
   women somewhat hesitant. "Come on, ladies, let me make you known
to the
   Gringg. This is Eonneh. Go on! Introduce yourself. Tell him your
   name.


   I need more recordings of his responses to get more of their
   inflections." Kelly glanced at Ken to make sure he was serious. With
   one hand he urged her forward, showing the recording device in the
palm
   of the other.


   "Kelly,' she turned her thumb to her chest, "I'm Kelly." Then she turned
   her thumb to the smaller of the two and raised her eyebrows quizzically.
   "Your name?"


   "Gelli,' Eonneh repeated carefully, thumping his furry chest with his
   immense big fist. "Eonneh. Eonneh."


   "Honey!' the children chorused, delighted with such a name.
     The others, mostly recent arrivals, watched cautiously from a discreet
     distance.


     The children had none of their parents' reserve. They were eager to
     meet Honey and Kodiak, as they'd been renamed. The Gringg tried to
     pronounce each new name, causing some of the kids to muffle their
     giggles in their hands. Made bolder by their curiosity, more children
     came out of the surrounding houses and came timidly forward to see the
     visitors, then retreated, loud with relief, having experienced nothing
     more terrifying than a handshake.


     "Come on, Nrrna,' Ken said, urging the shy Hrruban girl forward.


     "They're really very friendly." Still clasping Hrrunna, Nrrna slowly
     approached Honey and Kodiak. When she got close enough, she stood
on
     tiptoe, her tail balancing out behind her, and looked deeply into their
     dark-red eyes. Both Gringg saw the sleeping cub and exchanged wide-
eyed
     glances. Kodiak urged Honey forward, almost prodding him towards
Nrrna.
      cradled with tender care.


      Nrrna ignored the gasps around them.


      Hirro even went so far as to leap forward, as if to snatch the cub from
      Honey but, as if she hadn't even seen his movement, Nrrna stepped in
his
      path.


      "I trust you,' she told the Gringg in the Middle Hrruban most of the
      onlookers would understand, her voice clear and strong in the sudden
      silence. "There is no harm in you that I can sense. You do come as
      friends." The aliens were obviously entranced with Hrrunna and ignored
      everything else. Ken could barely contain his delight in Nrrna's
      actions and words. In the hush that fell on the crowd, he could plainly
      hear the tiny whirr that meant someone was recording this on film, too,
      for which he was very grateful. He'd been so concerned with getting
      Gringg sounds down, he'd forgot to attend to a visual account.


      Now Honey let out a tiny coo, the softest sound Ken had heard a Gringg
      make. The baby opened her eyes and briefly stared up at him, then
   Maybe it wasn't a Gringg lullaby, just Honey murmuring under his breath
   but the tableau the Gringg presented was an effective one as far as a
   crowd pleaser went, for soft looks were exchanged and people definitely
   relaxed. Against their original intent, the settlers were being
   persuaded of the Gringgs' pacifism by the gentleness shown a cub.


   Even the sceptics, with the exception of Hirro, regarded the large
   Gringg with less obvious apprehension.


   "Music,' Ken murmured to Kelly, "if that's what we're hearing now, is
   one more common language. I wonder what their reaction will be to
   Terran classics."


   "Wagner? Mahler? Mtxainah? Hrnatn?" asked Kelly, dubiously. "I
can't
   but be prejudiced towaras a race that genuinely like our young,' she
   added, listening while Eonneh and Ghotyakh continued rumbly bass
notes
   in soft harmony. She swept away a red wisp of hair from her sweaty
   forehead. "Whew! I thought they were mda!
  "The youngest ambassador in the galaxy,' said someone behind Ken.


  He turned to see Admiral Afroza Sumitral, his grey eyes alight, waiting
  beside Ben Adjei.


  "You got here quickly,' Ken said, shaking hands with his old friend.


  "Not quickly enough, I see,' Sumitral replied, half chidingly.


  "Once again the legitimate function of interplanetary diplomats has been
  usurped by the children of Doona. I wonder that we don't just induct
  the whole colony into Alreldep. Why don't you make me known to your
  friends here? Everyone else seems to have met them." Laughing, Ken
made
  a sweeping bow, from Sumitral towards the Gringg. "Introduce yourself.
  That's what we've done."


  "And now,' Kate Moody said when Sumitral had completed the formality,
  "if we've all finished becoming acquainted, I'd like to take a
  professional look at these two bruisers here. Ken, can we sort of
     for the source of milk. Could he be, in fact, a she?"


     "A distinct possibility,' Ghotyakh agreed. "We may be in error in our
     original assumptions. Previously I thought all the ones with tails were
     the males. Have we erred?"


     "We must not be hasty in this. The appearance of the first Rroobvnnn
we
     met closely matched our generative configuration.          Perhaps they
change
     after they have borne young?"


     "Oh, I see!" Eonneh exclaimed, his roar of comprehension alarming
some
     of the Ayoomnnns. "Our first visitor must have been a heifer. We must
     ask Genhh for the truth of this. I would not want to bring back
     specious data to Grzzeearoghh."


     Chapter 5
      for the safe passage of visitors. Thank heavens Admiral Barristable was
      more moderate than his predecessor.


      Admiral Barustable waited to speak until they were all seated and had
      been served refreshments.


      "Good,' he said when the door was quietly shut. "This room has been
      secured?" and when Castleton nodded, he continued. "We must ad-
dress the
      matter of the Gringg.


      Now that we have some data to analyse it, we can consider whether or
not
      we are being rushed into intimacy with a potentially hostile race by
      over-anxious individuals."


      "I find zem most zrreatening,' Mllaba said, firmly. "Zey seemed so
      complezely unafrraid when zey boarded zis ship for ze first time. I
      felt as if zey had previous intimazhons of what zey would encounzer
      here."
   "I am not so surrre,' Hrrto said. He was torn. On the one hand, it was
   important to establish good relations with an obviously sophisticated
   new sentient race. On the other, he realized that it was foolhardy to
   rush into such relationships, without having a firm understanding of
   mutual intentions. So far, the Gringg had made the Hrrubans and Ha-
vumans
   come to them, thereby giving them what the Hayumans called "home
court
   advantage'.


   It would not look well to the Hrruban High Council to appear in a
   subordinate position. Such loss of face could be fatal to Second's
   hopes in an election year.


   There were many candidates standing to take over the now-vacant First
   Speakership which Hrrto felt that he had to win. In his opinion, very
   few of the nominees had either the experience or acumen for the office.


   The prime Speakership should not fall into the hands of some dilettante
   or partisan who might involve the Council in irrelevancies to please his
    Gringg, his popularity, and his reputation, would plummet.


    Public opinion was fickle.


    "In my opinion,' he went on when he realized that a polite silence
    prevailed in expectation of his next words, "caution is indicated. I
    would like more data as soon as possible. Should we not be hearing
from
    ze medical examiner on Rrala about now?"


    "I doubt there could be any comprehensive results so soon,' the captain
    said. "Laboratory work takes time."


    "Yes, of course,' Hrrto replied, fingering his robes.


    Across the room from the Second Speaker, Jon Greene was busy over
a
    hooded monitor, his fingers flicking swiftly over the controls.


    Grace Castleton eyed him, wondering what he was seeing that gave
him
"Sirs, ma'am, Captain, the wait is worth it, I assure you, Greene said,
straightening up, "for I have finally found what I've been searching
for. Now, this is the tape made while we were aboard the Gringg ship."
He manipulated the controls, and the holoscreen displayed a still frame
of the Gringg landing bay. One by one, the landing party entered the
frame. Castleton drew in a sharp breath as she realized the scale of
the big chamber. At its far end, the Gringg entered the room and began
to interact with Ken Reeve.


Second Speaker's tail lashed in surprise as the largest Gringg spoke,
its roar rattling the tympanum in the speaker unit. Greene allowed the
tape to run for a short time, then speeded it up so the action was
telescoped into a few minutes. The Hrrubans watched in silence, then
turned questioning attitudes to Greene.


"Zo, we zee the firrst meeting of these creatures. Zey show
intelligence and caution in zeir approach. No less did we,' Hrrto said
as impatient as Mllaba. "What of it?"


"That it was only Ken Reeve's impression that they have never met
   understanding of the current situation.


   Everyone drew shocked breaths when the new tape shown an uncom-
promising
   picture of a planetary landscape brutally torn and burned by conflict.
   Wrecked hulks of buildings of an unfamiliar architecture had been sliced
   in two with some potent destructive weapon. Battered shafts that did
   resemble known weaponry littered broad open spaces that must once
have
   been graceful avenues.


   Castleton peered at the screen, looking desperately for signs of living
   creatures. A series of scenes of stark, dead forests and the stumps of
   shattered cities flashed past without relief. Nothing living
   interrupted the bleak landscape. Of the residents, only a few skeletal
   remains could be found, and those were darkened and twisted: by
   radiation, the captain thought, somewhat familiar with the look of such
   deaths. Nothing moved except ashy debris swept around by the wind
that
   howled eerily. The statistics overlaying the image showed readings of
   heavy radiation.
  initial report. No life-forms higher than deep sea algae remain on a
  world that, to judge by the artifacts left behind, had an advanced
  civilization.


  Estimates are that it would take over two thousand years for radiation
  levels to drop sufficiently to allow Havumans to live there." The image
  faded, to be replaced by that of an orbiting spaceship.


  Hrrto caught his breath as he realized it was identical to the one
  currently circling Rraladoona. It seemed subtly different, and as the
  exploration team's camera drew closer, he could see that this ship was
  derelict, its hull riddled with jagged rents caused by explosive charges
  and the neater, milled holes of laser bolts. The image, now recorded by
  a handheld unit, moved through darkened corridors: the white glare of
  its lights resting momentarily on the occasional floating corpse.
  Hrrto's tail twitched in surprise. There was no doubt about the
  identity of the dead. They were Gringg.


  "It would seem that Ken Reeve's assumption was wrong. The Gringg
have
  met other sentient species before,' Greene said. His eyes met
   hail-well-met attitude towards the Gringg has gotten a trifle out of
   control. Hasn't it, Admiral?" The Admiral shifted in his seat.


   "Damned straight. It's turning into a regular circus animal act
   already."


   "Perrhaps too much opennessss was ssshown,' Second agreed, edgily,
"but
   zince it iss shown, what is to be done about ze steps Rrev hass already
   taken?" And he gestured towards Rraladoona.


   Barnstable brought his big fist down emphatically on the tabletop.


   "Get in touch with him immediately and require him to show some
   restraint, that's what. Don't show so much damned hayseed cordiality
   until we've got a tap on what they're really here for. This dumb show
   of theirs, so polite and open, could mask invasion procedures,' and he
   waved his hand at the screen and the devastation it still portrayed.


   "They could be softening us up so that our defences are down when
their
  contact. To me that shows peaceful intent. Envoys have been ex-
changed
  - which I feel is a mark of amazing trust on their part, considering
  we're two species to their one. So far all they've seen are the insides
  of a shuttle and the reception area of this ship. Right now, they're on
  an agriculturally based colony world, not one of our home worlds which
  are not in the least bit endangered." She grirmed to relieve the tension
  for the Admiral was scowling even if he was listening to what she said.
  "Not that we know where the other's home world is,' and she inclined
her
  head in a courteous bow to Hrrto. "How can their mere presence on
  Doonarrala constitute a serious threat? Surely they are more vulnerable
  than we. Their vessel's not armed." Greene cut in. "We don't know that
  they're completely without armament, sir. When you consider the
  devastation of the Fingal planet, they might have some new weapon we
  can't identify." "Zat is true enough,' Captain Hrrrv said thoughtfully.


  "All we know iss zat zey have no nuclear weapons or what we consider
  usssual orrrdnance." Finding an ally, Greene continued forcefully.
  "Other weapons with less sophisticated delivery systems might be
    Since we have no direct verbal contact, I feel it is necessary to limit
    what they are allowed to see and establish verbal communications as
    quickly as possible."


    "They ought to be allowed the benefit of the doubt,' Castleton said,
    appealing to Barnstable. "How long ago was the war in the Fingal
    system? Have the usual tests been done to discover how long that ship
    has been floating in space? How do we know that isn't a Gringg world
    and those were the defenders? Not the aggressors?" Greene shot her
a
    dire look which she ignored. "The point is, Captain, that ship was
    armed and Ordnance is still trying to puzzle out their weapons systems."


    "Has Admiral Sumitral been briefed on the Fingal III discovery?"
    Castleton asked.


    "How could he be when the matter's been classified?


    He's Alreldep anyhow, not naval, for all his title,' Barnstable said,
    then waved his hand to dismiss that consideration. "The fact remains
    that a ship of indisputable Gringg design was discovered in orbit around
  Speaker, I'd appreciate your giving the same orders to your ships.
  Forewarned is forearmed!" Castleton could not fault that as she sat,
  staring at the frozen frame on the screen. Her initial impulse was to
  trust the Gringg, but intellectually she understood very well the need
  to remain on guard until both sides were satisfied of the other's
  peaceful intent. The Amalgamated Worlds had been at peace for
  centuries. The very thought of an interstellar war chilled her. She
  felt a warm touch at the back of her hand, and looked up to find Jon
  Greene watching her with his brows drawn upwards, asking a silent
  question. His moulded lips curved at the corner in a small smile of
  confidence. She nodded at him, returning the smile in spite of her
  worry. The expression in his eyes became warmer. Despite their obvi-
ous
  differences of opinion, she was inexplicably attracted to this man.


  But she was now on alert status and there was no time for any private
  life.


  "Of coursse, all waits upon being able to speak to each otherrr,' Hrrto
  said.
smoothly went on, "Which was only logical at the time, of course."


"I hope he's the right man to do the initial work,' Greene said, looking
concerned. "Some people get so wound up in their own specialty that
they fail to see the broader view.


"Rrev has proved his competencee on several levels,' Hrrto said,
surprising himself as well as MIlaba. "He prrotects, as alwayss,
Rraladoona." He dropped his jaw in a slight smile.


"Of course, Second Speaker,' Greene said quickly, "but I found his
manner of taking charge of the first contact a shade officious.


"He was asked to do so,' Castleton reminded him. "After all, he
expedited them to the planet which protected the technology on this ship
from their scrutiny."


"Aye,' Hrrrv agreed. "It waz wise to rrremove zem from zis vessel at
once."


"Zo, Admirral,' Second said, folding his arms across his chest, "we
"Ze threat is here, now, not wherever ze Gringg home system iss.


"But the Gringg fleet?" Barnstable held on to his concern.


"No evidence zat zere is any. Nothing is detectable in the near reaches
of space,' Captain Hrrrv said.


Castleton confirmed it. "I've checked with my telemetry officer.


He agrees. They came in alone.


"Each one of them is an 800 pound warrior!" Barnstable barked.


"They're a potential danger to Humanity!"


"And to Hrrubankind as well,' Hrrto added.


"And from that tape,' Greene added, "it doesn't look as if it takes more
than a single ship to decimate a planet." MIlaba was thoughtful. "Now
what we really need is furzzer support for our position of caution. Ze
  In fact, he treats them rather like playmates. He's frivolous."


  "Son, never call a Landreau frivolous,' Barnstable warned him darkly.
  "His family has considerable influence on Earth and elsewhere. I'd
  prefer to have him with us than against us." Second spoke up. "I shall
  endeavrrr to inform ze Hrruban High Council zat a wary approach is a
  wise one.


  Most of zem are conservative, and I do not zink zere will be protest.
  Perhaps more pressure can be brought to bear on ze Doonarralans
from ze
  two home governments?"


  "Direct intervention would be better,' Barustable said.


  "We need reinforcements, to have a physical presence.


  Trouble is we can't get them here quickly enough. It will take weeks
  for ships to arrive from Earth or any of the colonies where some of our
  potential allies reside. We must be ready for any eventuality!' "In zis
  I can help,' Second said, "at least with regard to transportation. I
  prrrmission.


  "Discretion widens a Stripe,' Second replied, nodding acceptance.


  "I'd feel a lot happier if we had some sort of military back-up, just in
  case the Gringg slough off the charm and turn on the heat,' Barnstable
  said.


  "Sir,' Castleton said, an odd expression on her face, "need I remind you
  that we have a full marine complement on board the Hamilton?


  Not to mention the fact that her crew have won every single martial arts
  competition the fleet has put on over the past five years?" The Admiral
  grimaced and raised a conciliatory hand.


  "Now, Grace, medals for exhibition affairs are not quite the same thing
  as military experience "Who's had that in God knows how many years?"
she
  asked, pursing her lips.


  The Admiral's face reddened, a sharp contrast to his mane of white hair.
We're going to be ready for anything . . ." Barnstable paused, closed
his eyes briefly, suddenly remembering that there were Hrrubans right
there with him, so he hastily altered what he'd been going to say.


"What I mean is, those Gringgs are naturally armoured, those fangs,
their talons, their forearms have the reach of any among us.


why, that thick furry hide of theirs could probably turn away slugs.


Mllaba put in silkily, "Perhaps permeability of zeir skin and skin
tension can be one of ze tests performed by your medical technician.


"Good suggestion. Maybe. In the meantime, Speaker Hrrto, I'll take
advantage of your offer to use the Treaty Island grid. And, bear in
mind, please, that if those Gringg make a move before we're ready for
them, one of those grid operators must reach Earth alive to let them
know what went on here." Hrrto nodded. "I will remain on Rrala,' he
said, well aware that the Hayumans might have thought he'd chosen the
easy option out by grid. The Gringg terrified him, but a more acute
terror would be to lose face by fleeing.
  "Indeed we should not, sir,' Greene said, suddenly.


  He was still smarting from Todd Reeve's off-hand treatment of him while
  on board the Gringg vessel, and his flamboyant disregard of safety in
  embracing the aliens.


  "I'd recommend against it. For security reasons alone.


  We certainly don't want the grids jammed with people insisting that
  their department has to have representatives here, too. The necessary
  departments have already been informed and are present. No more
  information should be broadcast." And when eventually the Amalga-
mated
  Worlds knew, Greene thought with satisfaction, Todd Reeve would be
  disgraced, even removed from planetary office as a danger to Humanity.


  The passengers aboard the Spacedep shuttle were silent on the way
down
  to the surface of Doonarrala. Admiral Barustable sat making notes on
  his clipboard, pausing occasionally to call up data from its small
number.
   Greene was attempting to meet her eyes.          She wondered what he
wanted. It
   was unusual for a Havuman to remain silent; normally they chattered
   away, regardless of the gravity of an event. Perhaps this male was
   different.


   It was the middle of the night on the Treaty Island Centre.


   The cleaning staff, busy with brooms and a floor polisher, paid no
   attention to the mixed group on its way to the grid.


   Mllaba took her place behind the controls.


   "Ze Firrrst Village grid,' Hrrto said to Mllaba, as he walked between
   the upright pillars and assumed a dignified pose. The female's claws
   clattered swiftly on the keyboard. Second Speaker vanished slowly in
   the rising mists.   Barnstable looked uncomfortable and wary as he
strode
   up on to the dais, and squared his shoulders.
"No, thank you. I've waited because I wanted to talk to you alone,'
Greene said, his warm, brown eyes meeting her yellow-green ones
directly. She could feel the power of his personality being brought to
bear upon her. "You have no reason to trust me, and I don't trust you,'
he continued disarmingly, "but we could help one another to our mutual
benefit."


"How?" Mllaba asked politely Greene turned and gestured to a bench
facing the grid station. Mllaba shook her head, so Greene sat down
alone.


He drew up one knee and wrapped both hands around it nonchalantly.


The arrogance of the pose put Mllaba on guard. She slipped her hands
protectively into her robe sleeves and stood stiffly before him,
waiting.


"I know that election for the Speakership is imminent,' Greene said,
gazing up at her. "If Speaker Hrrto were to gain that honour, a new
Speaker for External Affairs would be appointed." If Mllaba was
  and dangerous affair,' Mllaba said, "I should be ze favoured candidate.
  Is zat your idea?" Greene nodded, grinning. "I, too, am trying to stay
  on what we call a "fast track". I'm a risk-taker. I was sent to these
  talks partly to get me away from Spacedep HQ, and out of the line of
  promotion. So far, the Admiral is getting all the glory here but I'd
  like a little of it to drop on me.


  If we work together to save Doonarrala, as well as Earth and Hrruba
from
  the Gringg menace, both you and I would gain favour in the eyes of our
  superiors. Wouldn't you agree?"


  "And you in the eyes of ze attractive Hayuman captain?" Mllaba asked,
  and complimented herself for making a telling stroke. The naked skin of
  the Hayuman's face flushed red. Had he thought the signals going back
  and forth between them were invisible to the others in the room?


  "I'll tell you why Admiral Barnstable has really gone back to Earth,'
  Greene said, changing the subject. "He is ordering the Human defence
  fleet to Doonarrala.
   such steps, not Earth. He should have made such an order. She re-
solved
   to bring it up to the Council in his name. "And so you and I will
   cooperrrate and share knowledge?" she asked. "Only because zis is a
   crrrisis, and zat is what is best for our own species, you understand."
   "Of course,' Greene agreed, gravely. He stood up and put out his right
   hand to her, thumb upward. Mllaba stared at it for a moment before
   offering her own in the same position. He clasped her hand strongly,
   then released it.


   Hayuman customs were so strange! She tucked her hands primly back
into
   her sleeves, and Greene stepped away.


   He respected her; that was good. She intended to maintain the upper-
most
   hand in this relationship. He needed her cooperation far more than she
   needed his.


   Mllaba set the grid controls for a thirty-second delay, and stepped on
   to the dais between the pillars. "I will return in four hours,' she
  When they reached the doors of the Doonarralan Medical Centre, Dr
Kate
  herded the Gringg, Ken, Lauder, Frill, Sumitral, Hrrestan and the naval
  escort inside. Almost as an afterthought, she pointed at Jilamey
  Landreau.


  "You, mind the children! I need Nrrna and Kelly as lab assistants. OK
  with you?"


  "Anything to help,' Jilamey agreed cheerfully, and was promptly dragged
  away by Alec and Alison demanding to hear all about the Gringg ship.


  To the adults, Kate said, "Go on with you. We'll give you the news when
  we have any." She smiled, scattering them with her hands as if they
were
  chickens. When the door had closed, she turned around and let out a
  deep sigh. "Well! Welcome to you folks,' she said, inclining her head
  to the Gringg. "And welcome to you. Who's my lab partner today?"
  Lauder raised a timid hand. "I am, ma'am. Ensign Maura Lauder' "Just
  Kate, all right?" She smiled at the young officer.
  the wooden-walled waiting area, remembering how many times he'd sat
here
  with a sick child or a farm-related injury Pat hadn't been able to mend.


  "Now, Reeve,' Sumitral said, beaming, "tell me all about the
  confrontation." Ken recounted their adventure without benefit of the
  tapes he and the others had made but he didn't think he left out any
  important details or observations. Sumitral, who believed that the mark
  of a good diplomat was to be a good listener, nodded occasionally as
Ken
  talked, only interrupting once in a while to clarify a point.


  "Very interesting,' Sumitral said. "Very, very interesting. I want to
  see those tapes as soon as we're through here. Thanks to Hrruban
  technology, I got here a lot faster this time."


  "I think we need you more this time than we ever did with the Hrrubans,'
  Ken said.


  Sumitral's eyes twinkled. "I'm good for show and to wrap things up
  nicely."
   want misunderstandings of any kind with folks that big." He grinned.


   But the Gringg were not without ways of making themselves under-
stood.


   "Genhh?" Eonneh asked, then paused, as if puzzled how to make his
   question clear.


   Ken sat up straighter. "Go ahead, Honey. What?"


   "Rrss.


   Rroobvnnn?"


   "Sure is,' Ken said. "Er, yes." Eonneh cupped his hands together, the
   way he had while holding the Hrruban cub, then drew them to his
breast.


   "Nrrna. Rroobvnnn?"


   "Yep. I mean, reh,' Ken replied.
"Rroobvnnn, Rrss? Genhh, Ayoomnnn?"


"Reh,' said Ken.


"Gelli, Rroobvnnn?"


"Ah. . . ah. . . morra. No. Ayoomnnn.


"Morra,' said Eonneh, disbelievingly. He made the sign for baby again.
"Gelli. Morra Ayoomnnn?"


"Reh Ayoomnnn, Kelly,' Ken said.


"She's my daughterin-law."


"Nrrna morra Rroobvnnn.


"Reh Rroobvnnn." Ken nodded firmly.
attempting to guess what explanation Eonneh was trying elicit.


Eonneh took hold of his own tail and held up the end.


"Rroobvnnn, shrra. Nrrna, shrra. Nrrna,' and he made the baby sign
again. "Morra?" Ken fell back in his chair and burst into loud hoots of
laughter. "Oh, I get you now! Oh. no!" He clutched his sides and beat
his feet on the floor.


The noise brought Kate Moody running out into the waiting room.


"What's the matter?" she demanded.


Lauder, Nrrna, and Kelly were right behind her.


"It's hilarious,' Ken gasped, coming up for air. "They think "Hrruban"
is the word for male, and "Hayuman" is the word for female.


Or maybe the other way around." When the others looked puzzled, he
sprang the other half of the joke. "They think we're one species!' "How
could they think that?" Lauder asked, appalled as well as slightly
Nrrna with a baby that's obviously hers knocked their assumption into a
tailspin!" Sumitral grinned at Ken's inadvertent witticism, his grey
eyes alight. "So we are a species more than usually dimorphic?"


"They thought I was a girl?" Lauder demanded, huffily.


"I don't think that's funny."


"Well, I wouldn't take it to heart, lad, you'd be a good looking girl -
if you were one, which you're not,' Kate suggested mildly, "but, under
the circumstances, I think the Gringg copped on to the error of their
assumption pretty quick." Noticing how politely Eonneh and Ghotyakh
waited for further explanation of his unusual behaviour, Ken shook his
head. "I haven't got the words to explain laughter yet.


Much less how to explain that we're two species, male and female each,
from two different worlds?"


"Watch it, Reeve,' Frill said.


"That's strategic information."
     "We can't base a solid future relationship on deceptions,' Sumitral said
     more mildly. "Can you help us with the gender explanation, Dr Moody?"
     Kate grinned. "Sure can. Take the bull by the horns, so to speak.
     While Lauder and I are taking samples, we'll show them tapes on Ha-
yuman
     and Hrruban reproduction and birth.


     They'll get the idea." Kate ran the tapes used for sex education in the
     middle school, all the while taking blood, skin, and hair samples from
     her unprotesting subjects. Honey and Kodiak watched the tapes with
     every indication of understanding what they were seeing.


     They muttered - "A little like embarrassed twelve year olds,' Kate said
     later - and growled furiously between themselves.


     "I'm running a CAT scan on each of them. They seemed very interested
in
     everything, the equipment and procedures. They're both very
     intelligent. By the way,' Kate said with a grin, "they're male.
But
  that big captain on the tape, the one you keep calling Grizzly, and
  referring to as he? She's female! All of her and that squat one's her
  secondborn cub. Honey's the sire."


  "So they are dimorphic with regard to size, but the other way round to
  our two species,' Ken said, nodding.


  "Right. There's precedent for this configuration living on Earth at
  this minute. The males are tercels, an old world meaning "a third
  smaller", Terran birds of prey.


  The large birds, falcons, are the females.


  "Well, I'm glad we got that figured without making a serious gaffe. It
  doesn't matter what gender one is, so long as we don't mistake one for
  t'other,' Ken said.


  Eonneh, emerging from his turn in the ring-shaped scanner, sought out
  Genhh and Frrrill and the new Ayoomnnn.
were
  males of two different species of alien.


  "what's he saying?" Frill asked, mystified.


  "I think he's trying to apologize,' Ken said. "It's OK, you know,' he
  said, putting a hand on the Gringg's upper limb. The fur was smooth but
  thick, like horsehair. "It's no insult to be thought female, or male,
  for that matter.


  I know you're trying to learn all about us, but who said you had to get
  it all right first crack?"


  "Nereh?" Eonneh understood his forgiveness, but missed the
  colloquialism.


  Sumitral sighed. "We have got to make some sort of device so we can
  start understanding one another."


  "We've got one problem,' Kate said, leaning out the door. "I can't get
  this lad into the x-ray.
  Nrrna, who worked in the bio-lab, prepared samples for the centrifuge
  and electron microscope.


  "I'm a duffer at chemistry,' Kelly informed them. "My training is in
  diplomacy. I'll wash glass, or whatever you need me to do."


  "One thing I'll need,' Lauder said, very tentatively, "and I'm not sure
  I should ask you, is a volunteer to taste the footstuffs if they test
  out as safe."


  "Ouch,' said Kelly, wrinkling her nose. Nrrna looked alarmed. "Well, if
  you promise me I won't die of it, I'll try anything."


  "Oh, you won't be the only guinea pig at the table,' Lauder said, with a
  shrug. "We need to try at least one of the Gringg on Doonan food.
Once
  we've got results on the tissue, I'll know what we can offer them and
  what we shouldn't."


  "That's good,' Kelly said cheerfully. "I do hate to eat alone."
organ. I wouldn't try it on concrete, but there's not much shy of that
they can't eat. Ezra went home to get some supplies.


We may as well all dine together." In the Federation Centre, Jon Greene
waited before the transport grid. Only moments before the four-hour
time limit the mists arose on the grid platform. The form of Mllaba
took on shape and substance. Greene stepped forward to greet her.


"Did you meet with success?" he asked. The glare of her yellow-green
eyes warned him not to get too close.


He stopped short and gestured a fine bow as she left the dais.


"I have accomplished ze firrst of my goals,' Mllaba said, settling her
black robes back on her narrow shoulders.


"Others from Hrruba will be following me very shortly to aid in slowing
down ze Gringg agenda. As forr ze second, it awaits ze Speaker's own
presence to be set in motion. But I have laid ze groundwork well,' she
said with a degree of smugness. The two of them discussed plans for a
few moments, then Greene glanced at his wrist chronometer.
  Barnstable was at their head. Greene recognized two of the men and
one
  of the women as members of the Humanity First! Movement.


  Another was a prominent journalist with a talent for rabblerousing.
  Three others were minor politicians and animal rights activists. Greene
  grinned. The Admiral hadn't missed a trick.


  As soon as he was aware of where he was, Barnstable looked around.


  "No unauthorized personnel present.


  Good. My thanks, Mllaba, for our safe transport. Greene, I'll want a
  report from you in an hour's time."


  "Aye, sir,' Greene said, saluting.


  "Your allies from ze Hrruban home world await you at the meeting point,
  Admirrrral' Mllaba said. "Ze Speaker is with them."


  "Good. To the First Villages, then,' Barnstable said, nodding at the
     attention. "Follow me." The commander led them out of the building into
     the night.


     * * * "Quit staring at me, Kelly complained, turning aggrieved hazel
     eyes on Ensign Lauder. "If I feel my insides curling up, I'll tell you.


     "Sorry, ma'am. I'm just curious as to what's going on with you." The
     young medic blushed and went back to his plate.


     Kelly grinned. "I'm just fine. In fact, some of this is pretty good."
     She turned to her dinner partner, Ghotyakh, and pointed at a
     sausage-shaped mass. "What do you call that?"


     "Raghia,' Kodiak said.


     "Neehar, or .. He made his four fingers into the legs of some animal
     and walked them in a lumbering gait across the table.


     "Meat of some ruminant?" Ken decided. "We'll have to get him to draw
us
     a picture later. These fellows have fantastic skill with a pencil.
      Eonneh nodded, showing his teeth, having caught the gist of Ken's
      statement. He and Ghotyakh were making significant inroads on the pot
      of stew. When Kate's daughter Rachel had arrived with dinner, the
      Gringgs' agile noses went into full twitch. They waited, looking
      wistful, while Kate did a quick test to make sure there was nothing in
      the meal that would disagree with them, and howled with joy when she
led
      them to the table to be served.


      "By the way, Lauder,' Kate said, "you were wrong about one of them
      eating as little as one of us. That was Kodiak's sixth bowlful." Lauder
      grinned lopsidedly. "I could eat the same, myself. This is delicious.
      You don't get meals this good shipside."


      "My very thought,' Sumitral said, placidly.


      "Go on with you,' Kate said. "It's all last year's dried snake meat."
      "No, it's terrific,' Lauder insisted.


      "Do not let Dr Kate ovrrwhelm you with hrrr modesty,' Hrrestan said, his
  the Gringg rations to leave room for as many samples as possible. The
  next was a chopped vegetable in a messy, clear, red sauce.             She
spooned
  a little of it on to her tasting plate and took a mouthful. Her face
  wrinkled up, and she choked.


  "What's the mazzer?" Nrrna demanded.


  Hrrestan rose to his feet in alarm. "Shall I get the szomach pump?"
  Lauder was out of his chair and beside Kelly in a moment. She waved
  them away. Her face had turned red.


  "Salty,' she gasped, gesturing at the water pitcher. Kate handed her
  full glass over and then filled Kelly's again.


  "So that's what they use to keep up their electrolyte balance,' Kate
  said, briskly. "You might like to know, Ensign, that unlike Earth
  animals they have sweat glands here and there under that great pelt.


  Suggests to me that they evolved from an animal with less body hair.
"That'd be my summation,' Kate said, with satisfaction.


"Seems to me as if they must have evolved from something more like
otters than bears. It would certainly explain the tail.


"Hmm,' said Kelly, taking another packet. This one contained dried
brown kernels shaped rather like Brussels sprouts, and coated with a
fine tan powder. She crunched one tentatively between her teeth, and
smiled with pleasure. "Um, these are great. Gringg candy,' she said,
offering some to Ken, who reached out to take it.


"Ah-ah-ah!" Kate scolded, putting a hand between them.


"No one else gets to try anything until you, my dear, have gone
twenty-four hours without a reaction." Kelly gulped. "I guess I didn't
realize what a serious job this was going to be."


"I'm sorry,' Kate said, kindly. "I'm sure everything'll be all right,
but if you're going to run a proper experiment, control is essential."


"Oh, well,' Kelly sighed, and opened another packet.
tapes and a couple of small pieces of equipment.


"Sit down and have some,' Kate invited him. "There's stew, tenderfoot
chilli, creamed potatoes, mixed veg, and plenty left if you can beat the
Gringg to it. Your friend Lauder here was just saying that this
compares favourably to ship food."


"Thank you, ma'am,' Frill said with alacrity, sitting down next to Ken.
He helped himself generously from the stewpot and tore a huge section
from the loaf beside it. "I don't know when I last had a home-cooked
meal. Between bites and exclamations of pleasure, Frill explained what
he had found.


"One of the engineers at the computer control in town let me use the
equipment,' he said, "to listen to these tapes.


I've discovered a not insoluble prnblem." he went on, setting the small
boxes: a hand-recorder, a speaker, and a paired unit with glass-fronted
screens. Across the upper was a flat green line. The lower showed
stepped levels in green light. He started the recorder, and they heard
Grizz repeating words after Ken. "This is to show you what the problem
  "Interesting,' Ken said, peering at the numbers beside the levels on the
  frequency monitor.    "That would explain why I couldn't approximate
some
  of their pronunciations.


  Their voices dip down into subsonics.


  "How low do they go?" Frill checked his printout. "Thirteen to fifteen
  cycles, sir.


  "We Hrrubans would merely feel zose lowest tones, Hrrestan said.


  "Ah,' Sumitral said. "So the words go below the range of Hayuman and
  even Hrruban hearing."


  "It would also explain why we felt nervous, sir,' Frill explained. "Some
  of these low tones provoke fear responses." Sumitral nodded. "That
  guides us towards what we'll need to make coherent contact with the
  Gringg."


  "If I can ask a favour, Admiral?" Kate Moody said, standing up to dish
     about the Gringg, and want a chance to help. They're not afraid of
     challenges or they wouldn't be here. Don't shut them out."


     "Madam, I don't discount the input from those who have helped so far,
     especially the children, to whom the Gringg seem very attached,'
     Sumitral acknowledged. "And I'd be a fool to push aside volunteer staff
     who are so eager to be included, so long as they acknowledge that I'm
in
     charge of this mission.


     "Oh, I don't think they'll mind that,' Kate said. "It's being left out
     that they'd hate.


     "This is Doonarrala,' Kelly said, indicating herself and Nrrna.


     "We take pride in getting to know others on equal terms. That's what
     our husbands are doing right now on the Gringg ship, and on behalf of
     Alien Relations, over the twitching frame of Admiral Barnstable, I might
     add."


     "Cooperation made Doonarrala what it is today. I'm all for extending
   "I must go,' Nrrna said. "It is nearly time for Hrrunna's meal. I must
   find Jilamey and ze children.


   Sumitral rose and helped her out of her chair. "You take good care of
   that small ambassador,' he told her "Zonk you, I shall,' she said,
   beaming shyly at the head of Alreldep.


   "Make sure the Cats get to bed on time,' Kelly called.


   "Jilamey will let them stay up till all hours, and they are not to stay
   out of school on Uncle's say so." Hrrestan yawned, slurring his words
   out of pure exhaustion. "I forr one am wearry. I am adjuzzed to Zreaty
   Island time, and we started earrly wiz ze confornce zis morning."
   Unexpectedly, Nrrna was in the doorway again. She gestured behind
her.


   "Zese people wrrr waiting outside ze drrr." She did not have a chance to
   move aside for she was pushed in by the crowd of Hayumans and
Hrrubans
   who forced their way into the room. To Ken, their uniformly stony
   expressions gave them the aspect of a mob, not yet touched off, but
  Hrrestan rose and stood beside him.


  "Well, Ev, how are you?" Sumitral asked.


  Barustable ignored the courtesy. "These people wanted to have a word
  with the colony leaders about this situation."


  "And precisely which sizuazhon is zat?" Hrrestan asked, his tone re-
laxed
  but his eyes moved warily over the faces.


  "The interruption of our space port conference by these things,'
  protested Lorena Kaldon, jerking her hand at the Gringg. "I came here
  to talk construction, mortgages and interest rates, not alien invasions.
  My time is valuable, as is that of my colleagues here."


  "We must do what we came to do!" added a Hrruban whom Hrrestan
  remembered as being a crony of the now-retired Third Speaker, a
  notorious reactionary. "Send zem back where zey came from. I oppose
  negotiations wiz zese aliens." "They're called the Gringg,' Sumitral
   has to continue. You must understand our positions.


   "No one planned to have zuch an interruption, Delegate Kaldon, but ze
   conference cannot resume at this time,' Firrestan said, "and, as
   co-leader of Doonarrala, I muss ask your indulgence in zis matter.


   Surely you should recognize zat zeir appearrrnce has altered every-
thing.


   For ze time being, all discuzhons about ze space port must be de-
ferrrred
   while we learn more about ze new arrivals."


   "But we've been working for months to make our bids on the construc-
tion
   of a space port,' she protested indignantly. "We can't just call a halt
   and continue as before simply because of. . . hairy monsters. They
   aren't interfering with the space port project. Why can't we go ahead
   with it?"


   "Now, my dear Ms Kaldon,' Sumitral said, stepping forward, "that
  space port. For, frankly, I suspect that their main objective in
  seeking other civilized, or inhabited planets is to initiate trade." He
  pointedly ignored a growl of protest from Barnstable's direction.


  "Were I you, I would believe myself lucky to be in on the ground floor
  for those you represent. I'm sure they'll be delighted to learn of the
  possibility of even more customers at the space facility.


  Kaldon regarded Sumitral with no little amazement and obviously
  considered his advice.


  "Amirral,' Second Speaker said, stepping forward, "are you not pre-
zuming
  too much? How can you speak of trade when zeir objectives are not
  known. Nor can zey be until we can speak to zem! And even zen, such
  matters must be carefully prrsented to our respective goverrrments for
  sober, mature reflection. . . not decided out of hand herre on
  Rraladoona."


  "I speak as Alreldep's representative who is always ready and willing to
  speak to inhabitants of our galaxy no matter what form they appear in or
   side, away from Kaldon's group.


   "See here, now, my friends,' he said, scowling deeply and glaring from
   one face to anther, "I can't approve of all this good-folks-at-home
   routine. These Gringgs are an unknown quantity - and don't give me
that
   theycame-in-friendship-unarmed guff, Reeve.


   How can you be absolutely positive these creatures are so pacific?"
   "Suffer little children, Barnstable,' Ken replied, more amused than
   irritated by Barnstable's attitude. "But then you didn't see, as every
   one here did, how the Gringgs. .


   Barnstable waved him silent abruptly. "It's just not good tactics to be
   open with an unknown quantity. .


   "Do I have to remind you that it worked before, Admiral? Didn't it,
   Hrrestan?" And now Ken included his oldest Hrruban friend.


   The Hrruban co-leader whose tail had begun to lash in short hard
   twitches relaxed and dropped his lower jaw slowly.
"She's right about that,' Ken murmured to Hrrestan who also began
looking at the curious faces of those backed against the wall.


"Now, that is not the issue,' said Barnstable darkly, not liking Kate's
interruption at all. "You really are most unwise to allow such broad
contact between the Gringg and the rest of the Doonarralan population.
As the official head of the organization charged with the protection of
this sector, I want all data kept secure and the Gringg out of public
contact until we know more about them.


We have nothing but their physical presence to go on yet and that
bothers me."


"Oh, but we got plenty of physical data on them,' Kate said jovially.
"I've got enough test results to satisfy anyone,' and she gave
Barnstable a jaundiced glare, "and even more reassuring empirical stuff.
Gringgs like snake stew. And beans give them gas." There were a few
chuckles from the back of the crowd.


Barnstable turned around to glare at the group. "And what about the
can't find anything in their systems that bugs us, except for the odd
irritant, and that can be inoculated against.


They're strong, the air is good for them, and our gravity is at least
twenty per cent less than they're used to fighting.


They'd almost be super strong here.


That appeared to upset Barnstable further. "In that case, you are
exposing an entire population to danger from accidents incurred during
casual contact. I can't allow it.


Remove them at once."


"You do not have jurisdiction here,' Hrrestan said, his eyes flashing.


Sumitral was calm, almost apologetic. "This is an Alreldep matter, Ev,
and you know that." Barnstable could not refute it but he hated to
relinquish command to another authority.


"You will keep me in the loop, of course,' Barnstable asked, not without
    poise of one much older. "Have I interrupted anything critical? Mom
    sent me to ask you when you're coming home and if you're bringing
    guests. Them?" and Robin's eyes gleamed in keen anticipation of such
a
    happening.


    "They're just as big as advertised. I was out on the range when they
    arrived."


    "You zee?" Mllaba hissed. "It has alrready ze aspect of a vreakshow!"


    "Not at all,' Robin said cheerfully. "We always turn out for visitors.
    Whew! Wouldn't they be something on Snake Hunt? Can they hang
around
    that long? Hunt's only six weeks away!" Barnstable frowned. "They
must
    certainly be off planet when that Hunt occurs." "Why?" Robin regarded
    Barustable with equable poise.


    "Everyone else wants to join in and at least these Gringg wouldn't need
    to be protected! For that matter, maybe we ought to protect our snakes
Much
    less show such brutality to.


    to individuals who could only misconstrue the barbarism you exhibit."
    "Barbarism?" Robin exclaimed as other Doonarralans started to protest.
    "Hell, lady, you've never seen what those snakes do to our domestic
    animals. A blow from a Big Mamma Snake's tail can break the back of
a
    cow or horse. . . then the snake eats the poor critter whole and sits
    there digesting it for weeks.    Who's being brutal?" The woman had
turned
    quite pale but she wasn't one to give up easily. "Then it is imperative
    that you not expose outsiders to such dangers. Why, I believe that
some
    of the larger ones grow -as long as twenty metres." She regarded the
    Gringg who were not twenty metres in any dimension.


    "Those big ones are usually too canny to cause trouble,' Ken said,
    striving to remain polite. "Have we met, ma'am?


    I haven't seen you at any of the village socials, and I make it a point
As soon as Barnstable and his cronies withdrew, Ken made for the
communications console at the side of the room. In a few moments, he
returned to the group.


"I've just spoken to Martinson at the Space Centre and to Hammer at
Treaty Island. No one fitting her description has arrived on the last
couple of ships from Earth."


"Then how'd she get here?" Kelly demanded.


"The grid?" Ken said, a light dawning. "I think I am beginning to smell
a conspiracy."


"I zink you arrre right, my old friend,' Hrrestan said.


"Both Spacedep and Second Speaker. I do so dislike interference from
outside.


"And you can put it right down to Spacedep's distrust of the Gringg,'
Ken said, aggrieved. "Present company excepted,' he said to Frill, who
time chatting with these fellows,' he smiled at the Gringg, who had
remained silent throughout the confrontation, "but it's too slow.


We require some kind of device to speed our understanding of one
another. I'd also like to know how they found us.


"I can ask the communications centre to help me get to work on a .


a voder,' Frill volunteered. He turned to Hrrestan. "That is, sir, if
you'll give me the necessary authority?" Hrrestan was openly pleased
that a Spacedep officer deferred to the local authorities without
argument. Ken was glad, because he was getting to like the burly
commander.


"Grrranted, gladly,' the Hrruban replied. "In ze meantime, it seems we
must continue with drrawing of pictures to obtain informazhon."


"How will you describe light years in pictographs?" Sumitral asked
blandly as he settled down with an artist's block between Ghotyakh and
Eonneh at Kate's laboratory table.
sympathetic to aliens. He particularly wanted the Gringg out of the
vicinity of Greene and Barnstable. But his father would take charge.


After all, the matter was clearly an Alreldep problem.


Would his father wait for Admiral Sumitral to back him up? Of course he
would! Todd derided his lack of faith in his father's common good
sense. He also wished he could be in two places at once - to see the
reactions of Doonarralans to the Gringg. Best of all, he and Hrriss
were in this venture together and he wished they could just forget - for
ever - all that nonsense about the space port on the Hrrunatan. But he
couldn't, could he? Well, he could for the duration of the task at
hand.


Then Grizzly touched his arm and indicated that he and Hrriss should
follow him into the long, high-ceilinged, semi-oval corridor from the
landing bay towards the central core of the ship.


Immediately, Todd applied himself to the task at hand - perception and
observation, absorbing what he saw and felt as if all his pores had eyes
and ears and noses. So, the bay itself was situated in one of those
   said. "If they turned gravity off, we'd be in a right difficult case
   trying to get our feet from one of those holds to another. Look at the
   size of "em and the distance between!


   "I am glad zese are peaceable creazures,' Hrriss said, fervently.


   They stopped in a corridor that was split around a central pillar in
   which were set more grey glass doors.


   Grizi: hulked between them and the pillar, indicating that they should
   wait. The captain poked a claw into a hole in the door plate, and it
   slid open. Grizz took one Doonan by each hand and directed them to
look
   carefully up and down inside.


   Against the far wall, narrow, white platforms with transparent back
   panels slid endlessly upward until the perspective shrank the shaft down
   to a pin-point. The bottom of the lift shaft was much closer. Todd
   could see the platforms were an endless loop: up on one side, down on
   the other. He and Hrriss grinned at Grizz to show that he understood
   the principle involved.
     But the baby bear, Weddeerogh also leaped aboard, landing in a heap
of
     fur at their feet. They laughed and helped him up.


     "Do you feel a strong grrrvitic pull behind us?" Hrriss asked, swaying
     back and forth to test it.


     "Yes,' Todd replied, watching columns of grey glass doors sink into
     sight and out again past his feet. "I'd say there's a spiralling core
     inside this central pillar. It's compelling me to lean back against the
     wall. I guess that's how they keep from having accidents in this shaft.
     It must go up for three hundred metres." He let the pressure drag him
     backwards, and he put a heel against the upper flat of the panel. "Look
     at this!" He inched upward until it appeared that he was standing
     several centimetres above the floor.


     Weddeerogh snorted his baritone laugh and threw himself at the wall
back
     first. He adhered at eye level with Todd, then deliberately inched
     himself around until his toes were in the air. The Doonans joined in
and urge his two friends to do so as well.


The next set of doors they were approaching were open, and Grizz was
waiting for them. Weddeerogh made a flying leap and landed in a
shoulder roll on the floor. Todd and Hrriss circumspectly hopped from
platform to floor.


This corridor was not as lofty as the lower level, and had only one set
of handholds, running up the exact centre of the ceiling. The Doonans
followed the captain along, taking in as much new input as they could
with quick looks inside the various rooms that opened off the broad
hallway.


The Gringg medic was black and white with a kind expression in her
light-red eyes. Todd still couldn't easily distinguish between the
sexes, but for the sake of argument decided to call this one female.


There were beautifully rendered anatomy charts on the wall, showing
skeletal, muscular, and circulatory systems for two genders.


The black and white bear seemed to fit the female mould, as, to the
  "My heart's up here,' he said, tapping himself on the chest. The bear
  grunted, and moved the diaphragm upward. She let out a pleased noise
  when the heartbeat registered in her device. That seemed to be what
she
  was looking for. Todd counted his own pulse as she listened.


  It was faster than normal, probably due to the increased gravity of the
  ship.


  The medical examination went very much like one which the Gringg
were
  probably being put through by Kate Moody, with the medic, whom Todd
and
  Hrriss decided to call Panda, signing when and where she was about to
  take yet another tissue sample.


  Panda seemed a little puzzled when Todd automatically pulled off his
  shirt but left his trousers in place. She plucked at the heavy denim
  with a claw and crooned a question.
   them?" Actually, the room was warm enough for comfort, but Todd still
   felt chilly. He pretended total indifference when Grizz and Weddeerogh
   as well as Panda leaned in to have a good stare at all his parts. The
   Gringg stepped back to have a conference, during which they looked
from
   one to the other of their visitors with increasing agitation.


   The argument ended seemingly without resolution.


   Panda resumed her examination, and Grizz sat back on the floor to
watch.
   The medic handled them both very gently as she went carefully over
their
   entire bodies, then guided them to a host of strange, Gringg-sized
   machines.


   "X-ray? CAT scans? EEGs?" Todd asked.


   "You must ask zem when we can understand one anozzer,' Hrriss said.
   "Zere is somezing very wrong zat happens to me when zey speak.
      I was putting the agitation down to nerves, but if you're getting the
      same sort of unsettling nudge, it must be more than that.


      When Todd emerged from the last machine, Panda drew him back to
the
      table and handed him a cup.


      "Oh, no,' he said. The Gringg looked at him expectantly. Panda
      indicated the cup, and made a gentle arc with one claw, pointing to the
      interior. "No. I don't think I could."


      "Go ahead. I have done it.


      Why do you have so much zrouble producing waste wazzer?" asked
Hrriss,
      amused.


      "Doing it under these circumstances - with them watching the whole
      process, is slightly inhibiting,' Todd said, annoyed with himself,
      Hrriss and the whole affair. He turned his back and shortly was able to
  Are you all right?" The Hrruban's forehead was drawn in long furrows of
  gold plush. "It is somezing about ze way zey talk. It is loud, but I
  am used to loud speech. We who live on Doonarrala have always used
  louder voices zan on Hrruba. Ze Gringg are not just loud but grating."
  "Subsonics,' Todd said, snapping his fingers. "That could very well
  mean that they're not hearing everything WE say, either. I'd sure like
  to see an analysis of their hearing range." He gestured towards his
  ears, and made faces so that the Gringg could understand that sound
was
  causing him discomfort. Panda took a small scope from one of her
  pouches and looked in his ears. She grunted, puzzled.


  "That didn't work, Hrriss. Aha!" he exclaimed, pointing at his friend.
  "Your voice is higher than mine."


  "So?" Hrriss asked.


  "Talk in the highest register you can. Go up through falsetto.


  If their range is too low for us, chances are ours is too high for
move." Enlightened at last, Panda put the two Doonarralans on to a
frequency generator and tested their ranges of hearing. Hrriss was
capable of hearing a few cycles lower than Todd, but the lowest tones to
which the machine was set were inaudible to both. They could only feel
the cycles that Grizz indicated she was still hearing.


"Zat one could shake my bones apart,' Hrriss cried, much agitated,
waggling his hands for them to stop it.


Grizz called for another scribe. When Grrala arrived, slow of movement
but bright of eye, they were gestured to a table.


"We'd better call this one Koala, so we don't mistake her with Grizz,'
Todd suggested in a low voIce.


Panda motioned the two of them to sit while the Gringg were able to
lounge about the table as Koala set up some kind of aural transponder
and demonstrated how it worked.


Using the settings on what Todd identified as a frequency generator, he
   vice versa."


   "Zat will help mightily,' Hrriss agreed. "I do not zink we should miss
   any of zeir tonal qualities. We need to hear all to understand.


   After a while, the engineer signalled that she had enough to work on.
   Koala and the scribe excused themselves and went off.


   "Now, the question is, how long will it take them to whip up a frequency
   voder?" Todd said, grinning at Hrriss. As he moved on the table, his
   bare skin slid and he gave an exclamation. "Great snakes!


   I don't need to stay in the buff any longer!" The Gringg watched him
   dress no less closely than they'd watched him disrobe. He winked at
   Weddeerogh, who squealed. Then Grizz stood up and stretched, al-
lowing
   the visitors a splendid look at her fine strong frame.


   Refreshed, she addressed the two Doonarralans.


   "Dodh, Rrss, kwaadchhs?"
prise.
      Todd shrugged, grinning for Hrriss to answer. "Yess, we swim."
      "Rehmeh,' Grizz replied, and ushered them back to the elevator
      platforms.


      "Swimming?" Todd muttered to Hrriss as they ascended another level.


      When they followed her lead and stepped off in what must be the centre
      of the ship, they could even smell the water. Even knowing that the
      probe had showed a mysteriously large quantity of water in the centre of
      the Gringg ship, neither Todd nor Hrriss were prepared to see it used as
      a swimming facility.


      "Swimming,' muttered Hrriss in mild shock as they passed the transpar-
ent
      doors that led into the most astonishing room.


      Instead of weaponry or generators of any kind, the water-filled centre
      of the ship turned out to contain a swimming pool, vast and deep. The
      central pillar containing the elevator system pierced straight through
      the heart of it but also supported several levels above the water on
"More a lake,' Hrriss said, staring about him at the sheer size and
shaking his head at the quantity of water put to such use.


"Greene'll never believe this is what the water was for.


Though what sort of a weapon requires water . ." Todd trailed off,
shaking his head.


"I zink he would prefer anozer explanation,' Hrriss said. "He is not a
man to appreciate gracious living. Ah, but I can!"


"And look at the range of colours in Gringgs,' Todd added, nudging
Hrriss. "Pied, patched, white, brown, black, tan, gold. See the black
fellow there with a white shirt-front and chin and white boots? My
sister Inessa had a cat who looked just like him." Then he craned his
head about, able to take in more details now that the first shock of the
space-lake had passed.


The room was, indeed, remarkable. A full, curved ceiling of a soft blue
arched benignly over the lakelet that had been made to appear natural.
     before living space on the planet became so constricted that such
     luxuries had been prohibited. Man-made lakes on the few resort areas
     were out-of-doors and few would have been as large as this one. Todd
     wondered how close this approximated the living style of Gringg on their
     home world. He knelt to dip his fingers in the water and taste it.


     "It's fresh, with only a slightly chemical taste,' he said to Hrriss.
     From his pouch, Hrriss took a little bottle and filled it for later
     analysis.


     Having enjoyed their reaction, Grizz now took off her collar, shoulder
     piece and belt, placed them on a rack filled with other such
     accoutrements and slid into the water. Beckoning with a long, slow
wave
     of her arm, she signalled them to join her. Todd started to strip and
     was distracted by the workmanship of Grizz's adornments. He picked
up
     the collar and felt the material. It was smooth and supple like
     leather, though thin as vinyl.


     "Is this snakeskin?" he asked, showing the way a snake moved.
      "Oh,' Todd cried, enlightened, as she surfaced. "Fish.


      They must be whoppers!" He sketched a fish of great size with his
hands.


      "Reh, reh,' Grizz said, adding another length to Todd's.


      He whistled.


      "Oh, the one that got away,' he said.


      Squealing, Weddeerogh bounced off the side and landed belly-first in
the
      water, splashing everyone. One of the adults swam quickly towards
him,
      only head and the line of a dark-brown-furred spine and rudder-like tail
      showing above the water. The cub paddled noisily towards his dam, but
      his pursuer caught up with him. As he made cries of mock distress, the
      larger bear picked him up, lifted him bodily out of the water, and
      tossed him. Weddeerogh laughed aloud all the way down.
  "Here I come,' Todd said, hopping out of shoes and hastily pulling off
  his clothes. "Damned nuisance. If I'd known I was going swimming . .
  ." Stripped again, he poised on the side of the pool. Then, as the
  Gringg audience watched with interest, he leaped up and cut a beautiful
  arc, entering the water with scarcely a ri ple.


  When he surfaced, halfway across the pool, the Gringg applauded him,
  batting the water noisily with their palms.


  "Very prezzy, Hrriss said. "I didn't know zat was possible in zis
  grravity. I zink zey have not seen diving of zis sorrt."


  "No,' Todd said, surveying his companions. "They're not really built
  for swan dives and jackknives, are they?" At Grizz's encouragement,
Todd
  demonstrated more Hayuman-style dives, using the highest of the pillar
  islands to do a half-gaynor. The Gringg were impressed, calling out
  their approval to him in loud, gruff voices.


  When he was worn out, he pulled himself on to a nearby level and lay
     chords. The resultant sounds were harmonious, but nearly inaudible.


     "These strings are heavier than baling wire. It's more like playing
     tent spikes." The doors swung open. Panda, followed by the scribe,
     padded into the swimming room carrying a crescentshaped solid in one
     hand and, in the other, a device not unlike Todd's recorder with a slot
     intended to take the moon-shaped piece. The two bears settled down
     beside Todd and showed him diagrams on the reader's round screen.


     "That was quick,' Hrriss said.


     "Let's hope it works,' Todd replied. With a little stretch of
     imagination, Todd began to recognize the complex molecular structure
of
     proteins.


     Panda pointed to one. "Ayoomnnn."


     "Yes, if you say so,' Todd said with a grin. "And that's Hrruban,
     right?" He put his finger on the other pattern.
     pictures. With care, he sketched Todd and Hrriss, then began to draw
in
     lines around them.


     "The quality of artwork is magnificent for such quick drawings,' Todd
     said. "Jilamey could make millions for this fellow in the Artists'
     Corridor on Earth."


     "And on Hrruba,' Hrriss added.


     The scribe's sketch complete, he turned it towards them.


     "It's a family tree,' Todd realized. The scribe dashed small symbols
     between the images of the two of them, pointing at one, then another,
     and asking for clarification.


     "He's not sure if we are siblings or . . . mated?" Hrriss turned with
     twinkling eyes to his friend, dropping his jaw in amusement.


     "Uh, no,' Todd said, shaking both hands and head vehemently at the
     misunderstanding. With the scribe's permission he took the tablet and
He
     patted his work to show it was finished and pushed the drawing to the
     scribe. "We're two separate species! See - tails, no tails!" The
     revised drawing prompted another spate of conversation.


     The scribe depicted a planet with figures of Todd and Hrriss standing on
     top of it.


     "Ah. I presume he now wonders how we came to be on one planet,'
Todd
     said. "How do I explain?" So he drew Earth, marking out the western
     hemisphere continents, then its moon and sun, added a creditable
     spaceship and a line leading it to Doona, depicting its distinctive
     continental masses. Then Hrriss took over the double-looped pen from
     Todd, and sketched Hrruba and its satellites, and a dotted line for the
     Hrruban ship's journey to Doona. Todd jammed a forefinger on to Earth
     and held out his hand to Hrriss, who shook it, while with his free hand
     he pointed to his home world.


     Then they looked to see if the Gringg had understood the pantomime.
  "Scrawl or not, zey seem to understand,' Hrriss said, but his tailtip
  kept twitching.


  "Two races sharing a world in peace,' said Grzzeearoghh, with a blissful
  sigh. "How wonderful! These are species I want to cultivate
  assiduously. We must learn from them how they contrived to coexist so
  successfully. That harmony must explain why they are so willing to
  accept our peaceful intentions. Perhaps they cannot conceive that we
  might intend them harm. I hope this is so, for it will make our job
  much easier. This will be of great interest to all on the home world.


  Now, let us show our guests the entire ship so that they know there is
  nothing hidden on it to harm them or their mutual world." They led the
  Doonarralans on an exhaustive tour of the ship, from the living quarters
  to the galley to the cargo holds, and finally to the bridge.


  Soon, the small beings began to tire.


  "Mama, perhaps they want to take a nap,' Weddeerogh suggested when
Rrss
  yawned and attempted to conceal the gesture.
   corridor or a single level,' Todd said wearily.


   "Certainly nothing resembled a weapon system anywhere. They didn't
even
   stop you when you opened that triangular hatch." Hrriss wrinkled his
   nose. "No one is in danger from a compost heap. Zey seemed to let us
   go where we wanted to go. But it is so big a ship: to really explore
   would take weeks. Now, zat bridge was interesting, was it not?


   So vrrry casual." Todd gave a soft snort. "Did you notice the
   configuration of the switches, toggles and buttons? No way either of us
   could manage that sort of control board . not unless we could grow
   foot-long fingers and treble our hand-spans."


   "Zat does not worrrry me as much as ze absence of couches,' Hrriss
said
   thoughtfully. "How do zey absorb ze g-force in take-off and landing
   without padded couches of some zort?"


   "There's cushioning fat under their fur?" Todd suggested and bent over
   to rub his thighs. "Their normal g-force is enough to make my muscles
"How do I operate it?" Todd asked. Out of the device resting against
his larynx, his words came out in a basso profunda that made him jump.
"Was that me?" he asked, and the device repeated it.


"Dodh?" Ursa began. Her voice, instead of being a deep, chocolate
baritone, had been raised to a pleasant tenor range.


"Zat is much better,' Hrriss said.


"Promising,' Todd agreed. He turned to Ursa. "Say va'arrel." He
encouraged her comprehension of what he wanted by zooming his hand
around like the shuttle. Ursa glanced at Grizz for permission.


"Vamarrel,' the Gringg said, sounding faintly ridiculous in soprano.


"Aha!" Todd said. "See, we were missing something.


Now say the word for the big ship." He gestured all around him.


Va'arrel?"
of
     the higher tones.


     Wielding a tool that was a cross between a laser and a screwdriver,
Ursa
     attempted unsuccessfully to adjust the tympanum to encompass all of
     Hrriss's vocal tones.


     She grunted and raised her paws palm up to show helplessness.


     "Not perfect yet, Todd said sympathetically. "The waveband it uses is
     too narrow. We'll just have to wait until we get back down to
     Doonarrala. Better still, we could make use of Spacedep's engineers.


     The Hamilton's still floating along behind us. The Admiral was hinting
     none too subtly that they wanted to be involved. Let's get one of their
     technicians over here." With a little tinkering and a lot of luck, Todd
     was able to adjust the Gringg communication system to the frequencies
     monitored by Spacedep. The communications officer, Rrawrum, ma-
noeuvred
     up and down the band until Todd heard static, and gestured for him to
  "Sorry,' Todd apologized. "I wasn't intending to break in on anything.
  I don't know the field strength of this transmitter. I'm aboard the
  Gringg ship. I need to speak with Captain Castleton."


  "The captain's not available at present, sir.


  "Then, Admiral Barnstable? The matter I have to bring up with him is
  pretty important."


  "Not available either, sir."


  "Strange,' Todd said, frowning at Hrriss. "I wonder where they went?"


  "I'm not at liberty to divulge that, sir,' the Spacedep commtech said.


  "Uh-huh.     How about Commander Greene?" After a short pause,
Greene came
  on the line. Todd described the situation and told him what they
  needed.


  "Wouldn't construction of a translation device be their problem?
     "Really? A virgin species. Ripe for the plucking?" Greene asked
     acidly.


     "Certainly ready to, and helpful in, forming a meaningful relationship,'
     Todd said, trying not to let the sour tones annoy him.


     "A frame of mind I doubt you've ever experienced. At that, Greene, I'd
     expected that a man of your calibre and ambition would be able to catch
     the moment and run with it.


     "What do you mean by that, Reeve?"


     "Spacedep wants answers about the Gringg, don't they?


     They don't want them second-hand, do they?"


     "No,' and the reply was grudging.


     Todd grinned. "So send us a communications technician who can help
us
     refine a translator. They've whipped up a voder but it doesn't
"As an Alreldep representative, I'm asking you, as a Spacedep officer,
to provide assistance. You know, the sort of addition that looks so
good on a code sheet. Or are you unable to function without direct
orders from Barnstable ?"


"I can't order Castleton's officers to suit you, or Alreldep,' Greene
said in a sort of a snarl. Then he paused. "If someone volunteers . .
-"


"Yes, a volunteer is the answer,' Todd said, trying to keep the irony
out of his voice.


"Not that I think anyone in their right mind. . . Greene began and
then briefly shut off the channel. "You're in luck, Reeve.


There's a sucker in every ship."


"I knew I could count on you, Greene,' Todd said cheerfully. "Send him
across. And don't worry.


We'll vouch for your reluctance to send a man into danger.
      Neither Todd nor Hrriss were surprised that Greene had accompanied
the
      signals officer. The Gringg had courteously retired from the bay once
      the little ship was safely docked in their massive vessel.


      "Sound reproducer of some sort, huh? First, what's it supposed to do
      when it's alive and well and working right?" Todd explained the
      difference between Gringg voices and theirs. He had acknowledged
      Greene's presence but had to ignore the suspicious and cynical
      expression on his face, determined not to be provoked by Greene's
open
      antagonism.


      "Yeah, well, they were nearly there, I think. This resonator, here, is
      really brilliant. Should handle any decibel range. It looks like
      something they mass produce, by the way. This plastic core looks
      prefabbed and the chips are probably standard for all their audio
      equipment.


      But I think these relays are too cumbersome; that's why you can't fine
      tune. Think I can alter that to suit the purpose. He grimaced, and
     the fingers of both hands. He seemed to be one of those enthusiastic
     people whose vocation was also his av6cation, and was more interested
in
     a challenging job than the wherefores of it. "Got some tricks of my
     own, I have. I'll just tinker with these relays - here and here -
     strengthen this baffle, and put in a more sophisticated tuner. Odd how
     there're only a few ways of doing some jobs? Sound's one of "em.


     These guys have some mighty slick gadgetry." Cardiff frowned slightly,
     turning the voder from side to side, re-examining its c(ftiponents. "But
     why leave it as just a frequency modulator, sir? I can add a memory
     chip so it uses terms in the languages as soon as we have equivalents,
     build up the usable vocabulary. I got some multi-programmable blank
     chips here that'd do the job stellar! That way, all three races get
     used to hearing one another's tongues."


     "Zat would be much, much more useful,' Hrriss said, approvingly.


     "Sure thing,' the tech said. "You know, they're trying to build
     something like this on the surface, too. Or so I heard from Commander
     Frill. He was looking for a decent resonator. I ought to turn him on
  "Cardiff can't work here,' Greene said irritably, looking about
  contemptuously. "There's no workspace in this ù barn."


  "Since you've now seen what needs to be done,' Todd said, ignoring
  Greene, "the Gringg will take us where you can be comfortable. They
  stayed out of the way on purpose,' and he flicked a glance at the
  commander, "first to let you examine the voder without distraction, and
  two, so I can reassure you how hdspitable they've been. Three, so I
can
  warn you that they're big, Cardiff, really big."


  "I figured they must be from the size of their ship,' Cardiff said
  affably. "Won't bother me.


  "Well, you have nothing to fear from them.


  "Nothing to fear?" Greene said, his lip curled derisively "With claws
  that could gut a space shuttle."


  "Which, I remind you, Greene, they haven't done.
      "Lead me to "em.


      Through pictures and pantomime, Todd had managed to convey to
Grizz the
      need of workspace for the technician. Grizz and Panda had shown him
one
      not too far from the shuttle bay, one level up on the belt elevator, and
      a short dogleg. It was yet another mark of Gringg tact that they met no
      Gringg on their way to the workroom.


      That Todd hadn't expected but it pleased him very much.


      Hrriss, too, grinned as he followed behind the others while Greene kept
      apprehensively glancing up corridors and around corners. The belt
      elevator had surprised both Greene and Cardiff though they were famil-
iar
      with such mechanical lifts.


      "What are they like, these Gringg?" Cardiff said, listening to his voice
      echoing back from the high, smooth ceilings. "I was hoping for a
   over a low table, tweaking the components of the second voder.


   Panda, her scribe, and Rrawrum, the communications officer, lounged
   around.


   At the appearance of the Hayumans. all of them turned towards the
door
   and smiled.


   "Great gods! What a set of cutlery!" Cardiff declared, his eyes focused
   on the long claws Panda had extended in her work. His ebony-dark
face
   had an ashy tint to it, and his already wild hair seemed to stand out
   further. "D'you suppose they file their nails like screwdrivers? Do I
   gotta work with all of them? They're big enough to cramp my style, I
   think."


   "The silvery one over there's the engineer,' Todd said with a chuckle,
   pointing out Koala. She waved a gigantic paw, and Todd could see the
   technician's eyes riveted to the length of claw displayed.
      "Get on with it,' Greene muttered.


      "Button up, Greene,' Todd said in a fierce undertone.


      Greene glared back with a hatred which he now made no effort to hide
but
      he said nothing. He could contain himself now, in anticipation of the
      total humiliation of Todd Reeve in the not too distant future. Gringg
      had never met another species, had they? When Reeve found out the
truth
      . . . When he could not retreat from his untenable position When they
      had all the proof they needed. Meanwhile he watched as the lanky
      technician was urged forward to be introduced to the Gringg. Greene
      momentarily sympathized with the reluctance in every line of the man's
      body but then, Cardiff had volunteered.


      Greene contented himself with a smile and settled himself on a low
      counter while Cardiff eased himself down on the floor with Koala, a
      scribe, and put the voder he'd examined on the table beside the other.


      "Now, this is a good piece of work,' Cardiff said, removing the
   transformers; a different microphone assembly, something with real
   range, but solid, too; and a new power supply." He rummaged in the big
   rucksack.


   "I've got the very thing - somewhere in here." The language of
   engineering had intrinsic universality.


   Circuitry symbols might be different, but the way to diagram a circuit
   was surprisingly similar. In no time, Cardiff and Koala were
   communicating easily through the sketches, augmented by nods,
smiles,
   frowns, grunts and much gesticulation, oblivious to all else.


   Cardiff's long, thin fingers assembled components, using hot-tipped
   tools and minute pliers as Koala made suggestions by pointing and
making
   hand signals.


   "Where's my soldering iron?" Cardiff cried, pawing through his pack.
   "I'm sure I packed it. Oh, never mind.
  ran the dial up and down the cycles. "This will compress the greater
  range of Hrruban tones into the range the Gringg can hear, and match
  Hayuman stuff as well. It'll also translate any one of the ranges into
  any one of the other, depending on who it's set to be worn by. This
  switch has three settings."


  "Aha,' said Todd. "Now we're getting somewhere." Cardiff strapped one
  of the voders on to his neck.


  "You want them to learn Middle Hrruban first?" He ignored Greene's
  belated protest, "Sensible notion since so many of us can get along in
  that. So that's what we're going to record into the memory." Todd be-
gan
  to recite the words for which he already had the Gringg translations.
  Grizz recorded the translations in her booming voice when Cardiff
  pointed to her. Back and forth they went, putting more and more into
  memory, slowly expanding a GringglMiddle Hrruban glossary. Todd
  suggested the words for body parts, things in the lab, male, female,
  baby, and any verb he could think of for which he could express the
  concept. Grizz responded.
"See?" Todd said, with satisfaction. "Supersonics - at least super to
them are dropping out, as subsonics are for us." Hrriss took the other
voder, and let Cardiff tune it to him.


"I am Hrriss, and my people are called Hrrubans. His voice was
reproduced, but matching his "his and "5's without dropping out any of
the hissing.


"Hrrissss. Hrrrroobans,' the Gringg intoned.


"Piece of cake,' Todd said, spreading his hands, ha pily.


"Peess of kkayyk,' the Gringg echoed, showing their massive teeth in a
grin.


"Don't encourage them to smile,' Cardiff said with a twitch of his lean
shoulders. "It reminds me of K.P."


"Well done,' Hrriss praised him. "Well done by you, too,' he told Koala,
who grunted at the compliment.
  we've got and what we can manufacture in a hurry. Maybe even ar-
range a
  licence to grid stuff in."


  "Happy to help, if I can,' Cardiff insisted. "This was fun! Usually,
  I'm bent fixing electronics blown up by the visiting brass. No offence
  to you, Commander Greene." The three visitors looked around.


  "Wherre did he go?" Hrriss asked, springing to his feet.


  Todd glanced at the Gringg and raised his hands questioningly.


  Grizz cocked her head, and addressed a question to the others. No one
  had seen the other Hayuman leave.


  "Wait,' he said. "Where's Weddeerogh?" Grizz moved faster then than
  Todd had yet seen. In a moment, she was on her feet beside a
  crescent-shaped device on the wall. She fitted a claw into a hole and
  spoke to a slotted grille on the side. "Ahrgha, geerh vnamshola
  Hayuman, parghhen va Weddeerogh. Ahrgha, meena lorrangh." Todd
and
      and rolled on to his haunches beside his mother.


      Grizz's eyes were hot with anger, but her voice sounded calm when she
      turned to Todd with a question.


      "Geerh kwaadchhs?"


      "No, I mean, morra, that won't be necessary,' Todd said, standing up to
      pinion Greene by the arm. The Gringg male moved away to make room
for
      the tall Hayuman. "I'm taking him out of here now.


      "What did she say?"


      "She said, should she take you and throw you in the compost heap,'
Todd
      said, trying to master his fury. "What are you trying to do? Ruin the
      good work of the last day, sneaking off for a private pry around this
      ship? You could have asked and Grizz would have seen you had the
guided
      tour. This your idea? Or Barnstable's?" Greene gave him a look of
   speaking again with you soon. May we be guided back to our vamar-
rel?"
   "Reh,' Grizz said, allowing a glint of humour in her eyes.


   Weddeerogh trotted up to nose Todd's hand, then over to Hrriss, and
back
   to his mother.


   "See you soon, little guy,' Todd said, warmly. "All packed up,
   Cardiff?"


   "Lug this, will you?"


   "I'll take it,' Greene said unexpectedly, stepping forward to sweep the
   toolkit out of Todd's grasp.


   "As you will,' Cardiff said amiably then turned. "See you again,
   Koala,' and he tipped a salute to the Gringg engineer who waved one
   large silver paw in response.
meant he'd gone this far. Had he gone up or down?


"As you pointed out, Reeve, it's catching the moment and running with
it."


"Even at the expense of violating good will?"


"Good will?" Greene snorted explosively. "Yes, good will! I'll show
you some good will one of these days . He broke off. Now was not the
time to let anger overset judgement. He took a deep breath and refused
the bait.


Their guide hopped off the platform and Greene followed, knocking the
toolkit against the wall as he slightly misjudged his momentum.


Its flap bounced open, and a small, rodlike device fell out.


"Hey, there's my soldering iron,' Cardiff said, diving for it before it
dropped off the platform. He straightened up to tuck it back into the
carryall, and stopped, looking curiously at the remaining contents of
the bag. "Shooting stars, what's that? I never packed that."
  "Hey, what's the matter. . ." Cardiff wanted to know.


  "I want to see what's in there that you didn't pack, Cardiff,' Todd said
  and jerked at the shoulder strap.


  Greene struggled hard but, with a powerful yank, Hrriss stripped the bag
  from his shoulder while Todd deflected the commander's blows.


  The powerfully built aide had an excellent repertoire of hand-to-hand
  combat dirty tricks but Todd had been wrestling snakes every year since
  he was ten. When Greene kicked, Todd hooked his feet out from under
him
  and sat on him while Hrriss continued his inspection of the toolkit.


  The Gringg guide came back to see what was holding his party up and
  growled a question.


  "Morra,' Todd said, grimly, keeping his weight on Greene's back.


  "What's in it, Hrriss?"
     couldn't understand. Though he wanted to close his fingers tightly
     about Greene's neck, instead he hauled the commander upright by
handful
     of his tunic.


     "So that's what you intended, skiving off like that? To plant this
     bomb. When were you going to blow the ship?


     While Hrriss and I were still on it? Or when Barnstable gave the
     orders?" His fingers clenched and unclenched in the tough fabric of
     Greene's uniform. Though his eyes did not narrow in fear, the com-
mander
     watched him warily, giving no resistance to the mauling. "No wonder
you
     let Cardiff come. I should have been suspicious the moment I saw you
in
     the shuttle with him. When, Greene? When was this to be set off?"


     "A fail-safe, Reeve, just a fail-safe,' Greene said, grating the words
     out. Adding when Todd relaxed his grip slightly, "Should the Gringg
     suddenly turn hostile." Disgusted, Todd pushed him out at arm's length
      corridor towards the waiting Gringg.


      The two Doonarralans hurried to bracket him, making certain he took no
      further detours across the huge bay to the shuttle. Silently, Cardiff
      strode out ahead of them, eager to get into the shuttle and out of the
      way before the others boarded it. Hrriss managed the Gringg words for
      thanks and pulled the shuttle door closed. The small ship waited until
      the bay doors opened and slowly left the Gringg ship.


      "If you'd planted that bomb and the Gringg found it, Greene, all the
      strides towards understanding that we've made today would have been
      neutralized."


      "Why would they look for something, Reeve? Answer me that! They
have
      such peaceful intent, and you are so honourable, why would they look
for
      anything? But, why won't you look at matters from another perspective?
      What if all their compliance is a cover?" Greene demanded in a hard
      voice. "What if the Gringg are hiding something from us?"
   began and stopped before he blurted out why he had reason to be
   concerned.


   "For the last time, Greene, this isn't your business.


   This is Alien Relations business and in the interests of Amalgamated
   Worlds and this invaluable alien contact, I'll have you denied further
   access to the Gringg. This time, my father and I have the authority to
   keep the brass and bureaucracy right out of the loop so we can get on
   with unarmed diplomacy!" It was with trepidation Second Speaker re-
turned
   to Hrruba to bring his news to the High Council. He had got no
   satisfaction from the confrontation engineered by the Hayuman Admiral.
   Between the medical examinations and invention of a communication
   device, things had got totally out of hand and the stakes were far too
   high. In the presence of these immense aliens, Hrrto felt reduced to
   insignificance although he was of large stature among his own kind.
   Beings should not be made in such massive forms, should not be per-
mitted
   to grow to such abnormal proportions. They must not be permitted to
   come to Hrruba to dwarf even the largest of his people.
the
      Gringgs' presence. Even young Hrriss, whom he trusted as a true
      Hrruban, had taken to these furry giants as if they were true beings of
      honour, integrity and value.


      Mllaba seemed to feel that the coming of the Gringg could be a great
      advantage to him in the upcoming election. He was at a loss to know
how
      he could possibly present such hulks as advantageous, though Mllaba
was
      usually shrewd to see possibilities and potentials . .


      Still he had been there at the beginning and that did give him an
      advantage to speak from. If he could build on that, with Mllaba's
      assistance, he might indeed enhance his bid for the Speakership. He
      need only be calm - and pretend to know more than he actually did.


      Mllaba was up to something, he knew, and she would inform him when
her
      manoeuvres were complete.
Rrolm. The First Speaker's place was, of course, respectfully empty,
draped with blue and red. In the centre of the seat was the precious
blue stone given as a gift of peace to Hrruna by the Hayuman settlers in
the very first days of Rraladoona. On his deathbed, Hrruna had directed
that the stone should be displayed in the council chamber until a
successor was chosen. To him who assumed the office would pass
ownership of the stone, to remind him that peace with one's neighbour
was as valuable and vital as clean air or pure water. Yes, peace and
trust were necessary, but in good time, when the Gringg had proved,
beyond a shadow of a doubt, their pacificism.


"Be confident, sir,' MIlaba whispered from her place, a seat rolled
deferentially back from the table, suitable for one who was not part of
the Council. "Contain this situation firmly. It will be the key to the
election. Your rivals do not have such a good opportunity to display
leadership as you do right now with your intimate connection in the
Gringg incident. Fifth Speaker backs Third now but the few outside
candidates have little chance of assuming the post. Be firm.


Be confident. You have the advantage."
   counterparts, had come home full of tales about the giant Gringg.


   MIlaba's initial report had made a strong impression on the Council.


   The Speakers were eager to hear more from Hrrto.


   So Second Speaker first explained the circumstances of the Gringgs'
   advent, then signalled to Mllaba to run the tape of the huge aliens who
   had visited Rialadoona as emissaries.


   As Eonneh and Ghotyakh appeared on the screen, gasps ranged
around the
   table, then modulated into murmurs of discomfort when the Gringg
spoke.


   "What horrible sounds they make!" Fourth Speaker said.


   "Barbaric garble! Threatening in sound and appearance.


   So monstrous. Bare-skinned Hayumans were peculiar enough to be-
hold, but
     himself had managed.


     "We must, of course, wait until sufficient understanding of language
     allows us to communicate to purpose."


     "Peaceful relations?" Rrolm asked. "How can we be sure of that?"


     "Of course, their ship was thoroughly scanned and probed,' Hrrto went
     on. "No weaponry of any sort was discovered, that is true. Alreldep
     sent envoys who were treated courteously and no show of force or
     violence occurred He let his voice dwindle ominously. "We have little
     hard data, except the results of physical examinations done by the
     Hayuman medical team on Rraladoona. Alreldep does tend,' and he
paused
     solemnly, "to optimism." He gave a diffident shrug. "On the other hand,
     Spacedep has given me reason to suspect that the Gringg assurances
of
     good faith and their appearance of defencelessness - as far as their
     vessel goes could very well be false. Until we are absolutely certain of
     their intentions towards us, Hrruba and Hrrubans, we should keep the
   untenable situation upon our peaceful citizens. I must tell you that
   there is great anxiety among those with whom I have spoken at length
   when word of this new incursion was brought to me."


   "I second that, Sixth,' Third Speaker said brusquely and turned to
   Second. "Have you any action to propose at this time, Second?" Hrrto
   smiled for matters were proceeding well if Third deferred to him to act.
   Mthough that could be a trap.


   Still - "Surely, Third,' he said with a smooth growl to his tone, "that
   is obvious. The fleet must be,' and he let one talon extrude slightly
   from his right hand, "discreetly mobilized.


   Held on alert, undetectable behind the Rraladoonan moons.             I have
been
   assured that there will be those on the planet who will turn a blind eye
   to the occasional anomaly on the surveillance screens. And, should it
   become necessary,' and he paused again significantly, "the Hrruban
fleet
   will be able to move with surprise and great speed." The others reacted
marks
  directly to Third across the table from him, "I would feel less threat,
  actually, if their ship had shown some armament. With none . . -" And
  Second lifted his shoulders, leaving the anxiety for others to enlarge.
  "With the fleet in place, Hrrubans on the planet are supported. And our
  allies can turn to us for irimediate assistance in case this situation
  turns ugly. And it very well could!"


  "How?


  From what source? If the alien ship has been probed as weaponless?"
  Fifth asked, doubtfully.


  Second bowed his head, miming reluctant silence. "This is, of course,
  to be kept among us. Spacedep offered me incontrovertible truth of the
  possibility that the aliens are by no means as pacific and genuine as
  they would have us believe them. But such information is classified.
  Suffice it for you to know that my eyes have seen, and my shoulders
bear
  the heavy burden for you all. For the safety, and sanity of Rrala it
  must remain so.
      not seen is vicious and ruthless." The timbre of her voice only
      emphasized Second's less emotional narration.


      "Yes, well, no one has answered me on the matter of the space port
      facility,' said the Seventh Speaker for Management, slightly testy.


      "What's happened to it?


      There has been so much preparation, so many negotiations and hard
work.
      Surely.


      MIlaba bowed to him. She enjoyed being able to speak freely before
the
      entire Council. "It has been postponed indefinitely, honoured sir. The
      arrival of the Gringg is considered a priority of utmost urgency and the
      conference co-leader is intimately involved in the negotiations. There
      is no surety right now that the facility will be discussed in the near
      future.


      Sixth Speaker cleared his throat. "Do we yet know what part of the
     the current recession due to that inability Hrrto rose and immediately
     Mllaba seated herself.


     "The Gringg claim their discovery of Rraladoona was an accident,' he
     said. "When they visited the First Village, they had managed to convey
     to Ken Rrev that their instrumentation discovered an ion trail which
     they followed to the Rraladoonan system. They were encouraged to
enter
     the system when they also found the marker buoys and realized that the
     third planet was not only inhabited but obviously using sophisticated
     technology. Their level of technical expertise is high.


     I cannot say whether it is similar to ours or to the Hayumans.


     "To be fair,' Second continued, planting his hands on the table, "the
     public face the Gringg show is one of thoughtful, creative civilization.
     Their standard of artwork and music is high, and they have been quick
to
     comprehend symbolic communication. They may have much to offer
us: not
     only trade goods, but cultural gifts."
      "I don't like it,' snarled Sixth. "They could be a threat to Hrruban
      independence, and individual development.


      There are already too many outsiders with influence on the Hrruban way
      of life."


      "I feel it necessary that the Hrrubans take the lead in all
      discussions,' Hrrto said primly.


      "It may be more important than ever for you to manage such discus-
sions,'
      said Fifth Speaker, his green eyes wide with alarm. "I have heard
      something from our returning delegates which troubles me greatly. Is it
      true that the Hayumans are becoming more insistent in their demands to
      share our grid technology?"


      "Yes,' Mllaba said, rising gracefully to her feet. "But the Speaker
      stated without equivocation that such a thing was impossible. The
      Hayumans were not pleased by his adamant position." "You did not ad-
mit
      to them why we could not share that technology, did you?" Hrrto was
   better ships we are unlikely to find other asteroid belts where novas
   have collided and the special mineral has formed with purralinium. The
   Hayumans demand access to grid technology in exchange for space-
ship
   technology. They will hold firm on that point,' he said with genuine
   regret.


   "How they dare! They go too far,' Sixth said.


   "They are curious,' Second explained, wearily.       "Hayumans wish to
know
   how everything operates. I must admit that many of the arguments put
   forth by the delegate Landreau make sense. As we know from many
decades
   of use, grids save time and lives."


   "Has no more purralinium been found?" Fifth asked Sixth Speaker.


   Sixth stood up. "Plenty has been discovered, as the honoured speaker
   may know from reading his texts. But never with the key trace elements
   which comprise the compound needed. I think we must curtail the
the
      Hayumans remain on a hard line of negotiation, we are lost. In a short
      era, we will be circumscribed on every side by Hayumans and possibly
by
      these, these Gringg,' said Third, looking panicky.


      "Something must be done." Fifth Speaker smiled grimly.          "I heard
through
      some sources who live on Rraladoona that the Gringg were not sur-
prised
      by the grids when they first used them.


      Is it possible they might also have discovered matter transmission?"
      Hrrto dropped his jaw and waved both hands dismissively.


      "The chances of their discovering matter transmission are exceedingly
      slim, honoured sirs, especially,' and now he drew himself up, "since the
      Hayumans have been unable to duplicate our process no matter how
hard
      they have tried."
is
      to us or how little we have left,' Sixth said, all but babbling in his
      urgency. "We cannot fall from our present prominence and become
      vulnerable to either the Hayumans or these Gringg creatures."


      "Sixth, do not exercise yourself,' Second said kindly, for the old
      Stripe was spitting in his agitation.


      "After all, the Hayumans have treated fairly with us. The delay on the
      space port is actually due to Zodd Rrev's contention that a space port
      is an infraction of both the Decision and Treaty." Second smiled
      benignly. "Despite their desire to share our technology, I do not see
      Hrruba made vulnerable to Hayumans.


      "It is recorded that those who live on Rraladoona have always con-
ducted
      themselves with honour towards Hrruba,' Fifth agreed, "but there are too
      many on the Hayuman home world who are willing to take advantage of
us.
      We must protect ourselves, or our culture will be swallowed up and lost,
      as our natural resources, nay, even as the surface of our planet was, by
  Fifth was a determined and intelligent rival for Hrruna's place.


  And yet, he judged that he had not done so ill in this meeting.


  Mllaba seemed to be very pleased.


  "I concur,' he said. "Steps shall be taken to establish Hrruba's
  pre-eminence. And its safety."


  Chapter 7


  OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT WEEKS, HRRESTAN TOOK over
as many duties
  from Tod in their joint management of the colony as he could.


  "Todd can get his tongue round ze new worrds bezzer zan I,' was
  Hrrestan's comment, "for all my dam said I was borrrn grrowling." So,
  except for brief consultations now and then between the colony's
  co-leaders, Todd was free to spend long hours with Ken and Hrriss as
   Hrrestan preferred, feeding them whenever the women could get their
   attention long enough, and reminding them that a good night's sleep
   would do wonders for concentration. Finally, Kelly laid down a law.


   "No Gringg at mealtimes,' she said firmly on the evening when Alec had
   tried to emulate his father's tones and inadvertently regurgitated his
   last mouthful. "Give it a rest!" Surprised by Alec's mishap, Todd
   offered sheepish apologies for his behaviour and refrained from
   practising the deep gutturals at mealtimes.


   "Not that that improved his dinner conversation in the slightest,' Kelly
   complained to Nrrna and Mrrva the next afternoon. She made grunts
and
   woofs to demonstrate.


   "Now that he's got vocabulary and syntax, he complains because he
only
   has present tense verbs!" She rolled her eyes in histrionic resignation.


   "But zey are working togezzer,' Nrrna murmured and then the two
women
     completely conversant with the complexities of the big event but
     efficient in checking minor details that might provide situations for
     accidents to happen. Todd and Hrriss, as Hunt Masters, would spare a
     few moments to answer his questions and go over his work schedules
and
     estimates but that was one less worry.


     Todd, Ken, Hrriss and Hrrestan, separately or as teams, escorted
Gringg
     visitors around Doonarrala or accompanied volunteer linguists up to the
     giant vessel to build vocabulary and language links for the translation
     voders. The Alreldep scout ship which had been assigned years before
to
     Todd and Hrriss was back in service, shuttling people up without having
     to go through Barnstable, Greene or Castleton.           Only the smaller
Gringg,
     like Eonneh and Koala, were small enough to fit in the scout. Hrrestan
     tried hard to get permission to put a temporary grid in the Gringg cargo
     bay but Hrrto was totally opposed to the notion. Todd and Hrrestan did,
     over great Outcry from Barnstable and Prrid, give permission for the
     Gringg to use their own ship-to-surface transport, the smaller of the
  only quiet, but also emitted no noxious fumes and used an air cushion
  for landing and resting, leaving no marks despite its mass.


  The Gringg pilot, an oddly misshapen individual, smaller than any other
  adult Gringg, courteously asked for landing and departure permissions
  every time and remained in the vehicle, though Buddy, alias Buddeero-
agh,
  was quite willing to show anyone through it.


  Alec told his father that one day he had counted nineteen men and
women,
  all of whom had the odd gait of spacefarers, requesting permission to
  board.


  "None of "em are from any of the villages, Dad. Me, I think that old
  Admiral's busting his britches to find out something against the bear
  people. Isn't he?" Alec asked his father, cocking his head with a
  shrewd look in his eyes.


  "You might think that, Todd answered cautiously, busy assembling the
  latest Gringg sounds on flash cards. Once again he thought that
  replied, half amused by his son's acumen and privately embarrassed at
  such gall, "but we can't charge for ah . . . cunosity!' When his son's
  face contorted in dismay, he added. "And the navy is here to protect
  us.


  Alec gave a snort. "Ha! Then they should spend their time doing that
  instead of nosing about our planet's guests!"


  "Well said, Alec!' and he ruffled his son's tangled curls and then had
  to wipe his hand.


  "What have you been in?" Alec fingercombed his hair, inspecting the
  results.


  "Some sort of oiler something'. Musta got it when Buddy showed me
how
  their drive works!" Alec beamed suddenly, but his eyes were twinkling
  with slight malice. "He didn't show anyone but us kids!' Todd decided
  he didn't need to worry about the Spacedep's interest in the Gringg
  vessel when the pilot displayed such discretion. He also decided that
  letting the Village children tag along with Gringg visitors would be a
hards
   who wouldn't subject their children to "such influences', but these were
   fewer than Todd expected.        When Alec casually mentioned some
youngsters
   Todd knew had been prohibited, he did have a qualm or two of con-
science
   but decided their independence of mind should not be discouraged.


   The positive reaction of the youngsters was also a grand buffer between
   the Gringg and the doomsayers who had managed to arrive from both
Hrruba
   and Terra.


   Somewhere underneath the busy exterior, Todd knew he was ex-
hausted, but
   he'd hardly ever been so enthusiastic about a project in his life. Well,
   not since he'd been six.


   The Gringg and the majority of Doonarralans were as delighted as he,
   cooperating like a dream. Frictions that had been caused by
     set foot on Doonarrala, nor had any of her female department heads,
     preferring to save that portentous event, Todd was made to understand,
     for the day when she could make an official entrance, able to speak for
     herself.


     Todd was grateful for her forbearance. His office received enough
     complaints from the very vocal Hayuman and Hrruban minority who re-
acted
     negatively to the tercel males who had requested permission to wander
     about. The gigantic females would cause a bigger stir and more
     friction. But he did identify most of the possible troublemakers and
     set up contingency plans to prevent trouble from those quarters.


     Todd also had reason to be very grateful to Jilamey Landreau who set
up
     entertainments and unofficial meetings at his hilltop home, well out of
     the way of Todd and those working on the language project.


     Superficially, Jilamey seemed to be to be working both ends against the
     middle, soothing the disappointed members of the interrupted confer-
ence
  Especially when Barrington relayed Jilamey's firm opinion, one
  Barrington seemed to support, that the Gringg's only objective was to
  establish trade relations.


  It was on this point that Jilamey urged patience until the translation
  problem could be solved and how he managed to keep the frustrated
  delegates from leaving Doonarrala. Ironically, Tanarey Smith became
one
  of Jilamey's converts, especially after Landreau persuaded Eonneh to
  escort the shipbuilder around the Wander Den, the rough translation of
  the Gringg vessel's name. There were those who read a more ominous
  interpretation of slightly ambiguous Gringg words, but they were few.


  Todd could not ignore the undercurrents of dissatisfaction, even among
  Gringg supporters, that the talks of the space facility had been put on
  hold. When he had time, he gave some thought to that. As a child, he
  had absorbed his father's views about co-habitation: as an adult, he
  shared his father's opinion about any intrusive invasions of Hrruban
  lands on the planet. All right, it was Hayuman greed that his father
  feared and it was the Hrrubans who had initiated the space port project.
  officially allowed to open trade on Doonarrala. Todd, well conditioned
  by Captain Ali Kiachif over the years, considered trading a different
  matter entirely to occupation or habitation. The crunch came when
  "where' the space port could be sited was discussed.


  Todd knew how cramped and inadequate the old Hall at the space port
was
  for the volume of commerce that flowed in and out of it.


  Something had to be done to expand the facilities. No one wanted a
  larger complex at the original landing site, oozing towards the First
  Villages, ruining the peaceful valley. So a new location was
  imperative. Each time Todd mulled over the problem, he still found
  himself opposed to Siting a larger port anywhere on the lovely
  subcontinent that was now called Hrrunat. That should be left as the
  naturat memorial park to the old First Speaker that he, and all
  Doonarralans, had intended for it to be.


  He'd leave the sore subject for another time, when he was thinking
  clearly and logically, not so emotionally nor - he admitted to
gan
  arriving in from Terra and Hrruba and familiarity was not going to
  appease them. They visited every village, Hayuman and Hrruban,
  whispering against the "fiendish Gringg." They muttered about "murders
  most vile' and "devastated worlds' but would slip away before they could
  be closely questioned.


  Todd worked all the harder to get the one tool that would throttle
  doubters and doomsayers both, and allow the Gringg to speak for
  themselves. Couldn't people wait for that? Instead of riling up
  unnecessary fears and forecasts?


  The voder that Cardiff had designed with Koala was a brilliant piece of
  audio engineering. It made use of the tiny Gringg resonator, memory
  chips and other components from both Terra and Hrruba in common
use on
  Doonarrala, all fitted into a compact case seven centimetres by two by
  five. Worn about the neck on a cord, it "heard' what the wearer said
  and repeated it in Gringg. "Growl' box, or simply, the growler, its
  creators nicknamed it.
  as relaxed an atmosphere as possible. Once again, he reinforced the
  position of Reeve and Hrrestan to conduct their own planetary affairs.
  There had been some heated reminders that the Gringg vessel was the
  concern of Spacedep.


  "I could agree with you if it carried armament,' Sumitral had replied
  suavely. "It carries only peaceful visitors!" For Todd and Ken
  particularly, the conference was a golden moment for they established
  contact and exchanged meaningful data.


  First: that, for many spans of time (which Todd and Ken thought meant
  generations since the Gringg travelled in family groups), the Gringg had
  been actively searching space for other sentient species as well as
  suitable resource planets. It was a particular joy for the Doonarralans
  to learn that the Gringg had eschewed planets which probes reported
  showing habitations suggesting the basic intelligence of indigenous
  species. The Gringg also required the availability of certain minerals
  and earths on a colonial world for, despite being omnivorous and able to
  digest more substances than Hayuman or Hrrubans could, they had to
have
  a certain range of additives.
would
     compensate for the different optics.


     Three, they would be happy to establish trade with both Hayuman and
     Hrruban. Which put Todd right back on the hot seat of that unresolved
     dilemma of an adequate space port now there would be three species
using
     it.


     Four, they had found their way to this sector of space by following ion
     trails, detected by their own equipment.


     When they had come upon the Doonarralan warning devices, they real-
ized
     they had finally discovered a sophisticated culture which they
     approached cautiously, but openly. They were overwhelmingly relieved
to
     discover they were not the only sentient species in the galaxy.


     Even greater jubilation to realize that they had encountered two!
     "All a little too pat,' Admiral Barnstable told Greene and Castleton
     when they viewed the tape. "Buddy-buddy, lovey-dovey, but all too pat!"
     "Especially as we can't read their star maps,' Greene added as if that
     fact vindicated his distrust of the bearfolk.


     "Considering they've come into this sector of space from a different
     quadrant, you couldn't read them even if they had the same Optics as
we
     do,' Grace Castleton felt obliged to remark. She knew these two
     wouldn't have believed anything the Gringg said, even if they'd agreed
     to drop buoys all the way back to their home world like crumbs to get
     Out of a cave in some old children's tale. Even loosely translating
     their distances, the Gringg home world was one helluva way back in on
     this arm of the Milky Way.


     When the tape was shown in every village on Doonarrala, there was
     considerable rejoicing - and some doubts were allayed. Copies were
     despatched by Courier to both Amalgamated Worlds and Hrruban High
     Councils. Inevitably that brought back the issue of a larger space
     port.
"First of all, Zodd, you have to agree,' Hrriss said patiently, settling
on the edge of Todd's desk as he had so many times in the past, "it is
not Hrruban encroaching on unused space. It is Gringg needing space,'
and he dropped his jaw at his play on words, "for the very size of them.
But, more importantly, they provide a neutral factor, cancelling the
sort of single-race intrusion you dreaded. In a triangle, all sides are
equal."


"Only if it is equilateral,' Todd said, weary to his bones with
disputations and arguments, and mostly fearful of a resumption of the
estrangement from Hrriss which had cost him much mental anguish.


"Equal sides,' Hrriss repeated, his eyes liquid and pleading.


"Two of us don't quite equal a Gringg."


"What can equal a Gringg?" demanded Hrriss, throwing up his hands in
comic dismay.


"They are to be friends, are they not?" Todd said, suddenly propelling
himself out of his chair. He gripped Hrriss by the arms, needing to
   "Yesss, friend of my heart, yesss! Even as thou and I,' Hrriss added in
   High Hrruban. Then, in the less formal speech, "As I have told you
   hundreds of times now, not all of the Hrrunatan is beautiful .


   Todd frowned as he released his friend. "Where?" Hrriss gave a sigh.
   "Where we have always wanted to put it only you would never let me
   explain . .


   "I knew, I knew,' Todd flapped his hand dismissively but suddenly
   stopped himself and smiled with chagrin at Hrriss' careful expression.


   "I'm doing it again, aren't I?


   But you do mean that rocky area on the east coast where there was that
   massive subsidence?" When Hrriss nodded, relieved to see his dear
friend
   for once willing to discuss the problem, "But that wouldn't be large
   enough "If one filled in the lagoon that was formed by the subsidence
   islands and extended a firm base to those little islands " Hrriss said
to set up the initial facility Again Hrriss watched his friend's face,
seeing indecision increasing. "The beautiful part of the Hrrunatan
would be intact, untouched . . . untouchable!"


"If that could only be enforced. . - Todd began reluctantly.


"Why not?" Hrriss said, shrugging his tawny shoulders and dropping his
jaw. "The terrain is perfect: the first precipice, where the subsidence
began, is a natural barrier to the interior and we will see that the
traders abide by our laws."


"Traders are born to bend laws, Todd said but he knew that was a weak
argument. He shook his head one more time. "All right. Put the port
there but seal off the rest of the continent!" He shook a stern finger
at Hrriss' grinning countenance. "I find so much as an ounce of ship's
fiat or the trace of fuel discharge on the mainland. . .1 suppose
you've got rough sketches all ready?" Hrriss growled a laugh. "Jilamey
used them as a device to keep the discontented occupied while we
struggled with our growls.


Todd made a disgusted noise in his throat and rolled his eyes at such
"Ah, but,' and Hrriss raised a digit, claw half-extended, "Hrruna was a
far-sighted progressive."


"So you say . . ." Then Todd caught himself as he had been about to
embark on the arguments he had initially used to try to stop the
project. With a laugh, li put his fingertip on the claw and gently
pushed it back iti its sheath. "A triangle is the most stable
geometrical figure." Another thought caught him. "Great snakes!


We'll have to enlarge Treaty Island facilities, too, to accommodate the
Gringg."


"So we will. So we will,' Hrriss replied equably.


Besides conscripting one of the local manufactories to turn out the
parts, Todd managed to get the local high school and university, as a
work-experience for their students, to assemble the voders in their
electronics shop classes under the direction of Lieutenant Cardiff.


Cardiff was a find. If Todd could have weaned him away from his
Spacedep pension, he would have been happy to give him a place on
Over protests from the contentious of both home worlds, Todd insisted
that a number be set aside for children.


Much debate had shrunk his proposed allotment from one hundred to
thirty, but he was satisfied. The point had been made to Alreldep that
once again, the children of Doonarrala were going to play an important
part in the missions of peace. In spite of a cry of "nepotism', four
were assigned to the elder two of Hrriss's children and to his twins.


Twenty-seven days after the project began, Todd asked Barrington to
bring Jilamey down to the manufactory.


"But don't tell him why' Todd asked, trying to maintain an expression of
innocence. The tall, thin manservant regarded him with a calm
demeanour, but Todd could perceive a twinkle.


"Of course not, sir,' Barrington assured him, and departed in the small
aircraft.


Jilamey was a child when it came to mysteries. In no time, the personal
there
   wouldn't give me a word!" Without speaking, Todd escorted him into the
   quality control room. At his nod, Lieutenant Cardiff came forward,
   bearing a small device attached to the centre of a soft, flexible strap.


   "In rrrcognition of srrvice above and beyond ze call of duty,' Hrriss
   said, formally, "zo wit, keeping ze nuisances out of our furrr, we want
   you to have ze first wrrrking speech zranslator.


   "Truly?" Jilamey gasped, looking from one friend to the other.


   Todd wore a face-splitting grin as he nodded.


   Enchanted, Jilamey held still while the voder was fastened on, then
   cleared his throat. "My dear friends, this is ever so super!" The sound
   echoed, expanded, and dropped several octaves through the speaker.
   Jilamey jumped. "This will need some time to get used to,' he said,
   covering the voder input with his hand but his eyes were glowing. "I
   sound like a bassoon." Lieutenant Cardiff took a sonic probe to the side
   of the voice-box. "Your voice is not as deep as some, sir. I tried to
   leave a little personality in each one.
      It has a full language memory, with plenty of bytes left for expansion.


      You'll notice a bit of a pause - that'll take time to get used to
      between the words out of your mouth and the Gringg equivalent from
the
      growl box. It'll translate Terran into Gringg or Hrruban, whichever you
      set it for. At least the words that it currently recognizes.


      Otherwise it defaults to Middle Hrruban since Hrriss said you're fluent
      in that."


      "We'd like them to learn one language at a time,' Todd said.


      "One language I speak better than any other,' Jilamey laughed, "and
      that's trade. I've been contacted by a consortium on Terra. I say,
      there, Todd, there's a bit of unfair play g6ing on. The Hrruban trading
      contingent grows with every grid operation and, if it weren't for the
      presence of Kiachif, Horstmann and that crowd that got here originally,
      you and Hrrestan would be in for real trouble from Terra.


      However,' and he swiftly shifted mood again from the semi-critical to
     night on your behalf but, since you've solved the voder problem, when
     are we going to get to trade? That financier Hrrouf is like a mamma
     snake and I hear old Hrrto just grided back in." Although Jilamey could
     be discreet, neither Todd nor Hrriss mentioned that Second Speaker
was
     here because he had insisted on a private conference with Grizz. That
     was the only way they could pacify the Hrruban after he'd received his
     copy of the initial voder-assisted conference.


     The same concession would not be granted to Barnstable on the
grounds
     that he was only an Admiral and not the temporary head of the Hrruban
     world.


     "You will be happy to learn that the original space port conference can
     be re-convened,' Todd told Jilamey.


     "Wow!" Jilamey rounded his eyes and dropped his jaw in astonishment.
"I
     thought you'd never relent."
  inadequate. And letting the Gringg come in and out of Doonarrala
  obviates the need of their knowing the coordinates of our respective
  home worlds. I still don't like to see the Hrrunatan . .


  "Corrupted." Jilamey finished off one of Todd's wellknown objections,
  "but old Hrruna would have approved of consorting with the Gringg.
You
  know that! And by utilizing that rocky eastern coast, your preserve
  will be sacrosanct." Todd sighed. "Hrriss made that point, too."
  "Humph! At least the Gringg have made you two friends again. Haven't
  they?" And Jilamey peered anxiously into Todd's face.


  "We have never been not friends, Jilamey."


  "Still and all, you can't get me to believe that things weren't pretty
  strained there, just before the Wander Den put in its serendipitous
  appearance."


  "Leave off, Jil,' Todd said and pushed the carton of voders at him.
  "These are for your guests. We're giving every one a day to get
      Waiting until the old port facility was relatively vacant, Hrriss and
      Hrrto grided there from First Village and got on board the scout just
      before Todd made a more public appearance. He whistled as he loaded
the
      cartons of growl boxes, and waved affably to those who noticed him.
The
      Tower gave him clearance and he made no mention of passengers.


      As usual, Orizz had been cooperative about meeting Second Speaker,
      styled to her as the "Oldest Elder' of the Hrrubans. Hrriss also
      managed to convey that the Elder was. . . nervous about spaceships,
      which was the nearest he could manage with a limited vocabulary, to
      offset any dread, terror or lack of Stripe that Hrrto might display when
      finally faced with the reality of the huge Gringg Captain.


      "Weddeerogh,' Griiiz told him and, using two fingers, pantomimed her
son
      meeting and escorting the visitor to a private place to talk.
      voders to help the conversation.


      Griiiz did the Gringg equivalent of relieved smiling and much snapping
      of her claws in and out of their sheaths.


      Todd just hoped she would refrain from doing that in Hrrto's presence.


      However, when they arrived at the Gringg bay, Weddeerogh stood there
by
      himself, looking comparatively small and harmless. He was also wear-
ing
      a voder and someone had tied a reef in the cord that had been designed
      to encircle adult Gringg necks. The knot stuck out behind one ear and
      made him quite appealing. Hrrto reacted appropriately, by dropping his
      jaw in a half smile, though he was clearly stunned by the size of the
      bay and the immense boxy shuttle craft parked there.


      On the short trip from the planet's surface, Hrrto had practised with
      the voder, getting accustomed to the growling guttural reaction to his
      spoken words.
and turned to follow his guide.


They were about the same height, though the Hrruban was longer in the
leg. As they disappeared through the iris of the lock, Todd wondered if
he ought to have warned Hrrto once rnore about the size of adult female
Gringg. He felt Hrriss touch his arm and the laughter in the catman's
eyes suggested that he entertained similar thoughts.


"Well, he demanded a private audience,' Todd said and then began to
unload the cartons. As soon as Hrrto and his guide had reached their
destination, Eonneh and Koala - and probably half the crew would arrive
to receive their voders and practise before tomorrow's talks.


Hrrto had been much encouraged by the size and dignity of his escort.
The creatures at least understood the basics of courtesy. The stumpy
legs of the Gringg made its hind end waggle as they moved down the
corridor - rather like an young cub, not quite leg-long. Still, the
creature wore a harness that even Hrrto could see was beautifully
crafted.


So he had been accorded a senior official as his guide. That was as it
     He began to growl which translated to "Captain . .


     and then some incomprehensible syllables of which all Hrrto understood
     was "grizz -" Well, captain would do well enough so Hrrto swept his
     robes deftly up and stepped over the threshold. There he stopped and
     didn't even hear the panel slide shut behind him.


     The room was twice the size of the Hrruban Grand Council Chamber
and
     looked even larger because it was painted a light shade of yellow and
     was virtually empty: except for a pile of cushions, a magnificently
     ornamented chair and footstool which his stunned mind told him must
be
     for him, and two small side tables, each crowded with exquisite dishes
     piled high with titbits.


     But the room was otherwise filled with the most immense living shape
     Hrrto had ever seen. Its colouring was a sinister dark brown, nearly
     black, against which the icy shards of its teeth gleamed dangerously.
     Its head seemed almost to brush the high ceiling and the frightening
     roar it opened its mouth to produce - before the voder took over -
     accomplished. "I am Captain of the Wander Den. You may call me
Grizz
     as your friends - -, No friends of mine, Hrrto thought, trying to find
     some mental balance. Why hadn't Hrriss had the couflesy to warn me
of
     its size?


     "Be seated. Be comfortable. We talk,' the words rolled out of the
     voder, reverberating. As if puzzled by a lack of response, the creature
     held up the voder, and with the tip of a very sharp claw, made a minute
     adjustment - which Hrrto doubted even as he saw such a delicate
movement
     performed - to one of the voder dials. "Too loud.


     Roars are not good for friendly talk." Hrrto appreciated the adjustment
     just as he realized that he could not hesitate any further or be a
     disgrace to his Stripe. He bowed as deeply as he felt he should and
     dropped his jaw, remembering that Hrriss said the Gringg understood
that
     as a positive action. He thanked the ancient gods that he had not
  pile of cushions and gestured again for him to be seated.


  Still in a state of shock, Hrrto realized he would have to step up on
  the stool to seat himself. He was wondering about the dignity of that
  as he did so but when he turned toward this Captain Grizz, he found
  himself at eye level to her. Yes, Hrriss and zOdd had said that the
  captain was a female. He'd forgotten that detail. Out of nowhere he
  was reminded of an absurd joke that zOdd Rrev had told in his pres-
ence:
  about citrus fruits that grew so large that eight of them were bigger
  than a Hayuman dozen. One of these Gringg was certainly a full dozen.


  With an effort of will, Hrrto slowed his heartbeat and his quickened
  breath and looked her straight in her odd red eyes, pupilless but
  glistening with intelligence. He couldn't deny that!


  "You are . . . (gracious? kind?) very good to receive me, Captain,'
  he said, wishing that the voder would not hesitate in its translation.
  Would that be considered a sign of weakness? No, her device did the
  same thing.
  discover his preferences. They both chewed companionably.


  "You were long on your way here?" Hrrto asked, abruptly deciding to be
  social in manner. His previously rehearsed speech was totaly
  inappropriate.


  The Gringg nodded her great head, dropping her jaw as a Hrruban
would
  but he wished her black lips did not retreat over her very white fangs.
  He reached down for a handful of refried meat cubes, another of his
  favorite titbits. "Grrrr. . . two cubs born to me and a long time
  between them. I am captain."


  "I see,' Hrrto said, nodding at such information. "Will you return to
  your home world or a colony?" He hoped the voder translated "colony'
  "Grrruuph. . . We are on peaceful mission for long as possible,' she
  replied. "We wish to trade. With Hrruban.


  With Hayuman." Subtle, too, Hrrto thought, putting his species before
  the Hayuman. But that was as it should be.
      "You have seen many other worlds, planets, systems All Three nouns
came
      out in assorted groans and growls. "Have you?" he added, making that
a
      question rather than a statement.


      The captain nodded, running her tongue over her teeth, fortunately with
      her mouth closed. Evidently they had several courtesies in common.


      "Many. Not enough water for Gringg. Too much land is not needed.


      But land has certain minerals, earths, no smart peoples. We are a wa-
ter
      people. Hrrubans like water worlds?" Clever as well, Hrrto thought,
      considering this a deft ploy to gain knowledge of his home world.


      "We are land creatures,' Hrrto said, finally settling back in the chair
      and finding it comfortable. His back muscles had started jumping from
      inner tensions. "We are hunters.
Such a query would have been inappropriate, he told himself; certainly
not consonant with the social nature of this meeting; probably would be
deftly parried by the captain. Far better for him to think of trade,
and most particularly of the need for purralinium, though he had to be
most adroit in his questions concerning that desperately needed
commodity. The captain readily admitted how many planets they had
surveyed, but not what the surveys had discovered: she discoursed on
many matters - some of which were marred by the insertion of growls,
snarls and woofs where the voder could not accommodate a translation.


"On your way, did you discover dwarf systems? Or do you have enough
ores and minerals on your own planet?" Hrrto finally inserted as
casually as possible. Only systems shattered by novas contained the
purralinium with the impurities that could be used for matter
transmission.


"Reh! Yes,' the captain said, nodding her great head.


"Three,' and she held up three huge digits. "We always look for new ah
grrrmmm - metals, earths, useful raw materials."
  You must come from veryfar away."


  "Our scribes try to find time parallels so can be accurate.


  No wish to keep back any information. Only special words not available
  yet." Throughout their hour-long meeting, she appeared at ease and did
  not evade discussion of any topic Hrrto touched upon.


  Finally, after noticing she had finished the contents of the bowls on
  her table, he realized that it would be diplomatic for him to bring the
  meeting to a close. She was graciousness itself, and the young
  Weddeerogh, her male cub, awaited outside the door to guide Hrrto
back
  to the bay, and his transport back to Rraladoona.


  All in all, as Hrrto took his seat in the scout ship, he felt the
  meeting had gone well. The possibility of locating one of those
  nova-blasted systems was the brightest part of the hour. More
  important, he had survived it!
      one of the nova systems.


      Yet that would require very adroit manoeuvring on his part. But, as he
      tossed and turned, a solution came to him. The scientist, Hurrhee, who
      was one of his own Stripe, would surely be invited to attend any
      technological sessions. Hurrhee was completely trustworthy, in that he
      held science as the premier dedication of his life. He could certainly
      introduce the topic of nova-blasted systems.


      Perhaps the Gringg might even have samples of every ore, earth and
      mineral they hoped to trade. A simple survey would discover whether or
      not the purralinium fitted Hrruban requirements. Yes, that was how to
      handle that problem. Accepting judicious amounts in return for trade
      items would not arouse any suspicions.


      Satisfied with that solution, Hrrto once again composed himself to
      sleep. Only to find himself distressed by a second anxiety. Despite
      the evidence on the tape shown him by the Hayuman admiral, he could
not
      equate such brutality with the courtesies shown him by the captain.
     Mllaba, of course, had wanted a word by word account of the meeting.
He
     had touched on the details, privately wondering what her reactions
would
     be when she was face to face with the stupendous reality of Captain
     Grzzeearogh. That w9uld teach her humility.


     Casually, he asked her to arrange a discreet meeting with Hurrhee as
     early as possible the next morning, before the trade conference began
     and, for once, she did not ask why.


     The next day, the wide hall of the Treaty Centre - almost as wide as a
     corridor on the Gringg vessel - was well populated with little knots of
     Hayumans and Hrrubans chatting amiably. Hrrto, walking with great
     dignity, sensed the air of pleased anticipation. In front of the
     chamber assigned to the space port talks, he recognized the fair-haired
     female captain and the Hayuman commander. If there was purralinium
to
     he had by congress with the Gringg, he would have to rethink that un-
easy
     alliance.
     person had insisted. Would it ruin the good start he had made with the
     captain and, at the worst, deny the Hrrubans a possible source of
     purralinium? If he had only been able to ask her about Fingal and the
     dead orbiting Gringg ship! Maybe having both navies there was not a
bad
     idea. If the Gringg were as peaceful as they implied, he could always
     say that policy had required him to inform the Hrruban navy and they
had
     acted without his orders.


     Yes, that was it. On the other hand, the naval presence might forestall
     any devious Gringg scheme. Either way, he would be considered wise.
     Overnight reflections had not entirely dispersed his anxieties but his
     little chat with Hurrhee could be the most productive. After briefing
     Hurrhee, he had had to review the morning despatches which included
     almost insolent demands from Hrruban manufacturers and traders of all
     commodities to open dialogue. They must have first choices with such
an
     obscene single-mindedness that for once Hrrto found himself disgusted
     with Stripes, wide and narrow.
      and promote his personal ambitions toward First Speakership.


      Hrrto had prepared himself to greet the acerbic Spacedep commander
      present, to affect interest in their manipulations. He could also
      restrain them until the matter of how to translate Gringg distances and
      times into Hrruban equivalents - and Hurrhee was going to pump for that
      vital information - had been solved. So long as he had some coordi-
nates
      to give his exploration teams to find those possible sources of
      purralinium.


      Mllaba was almost treading on his heels as she escorted him to the
trade
      conference room. To his relief, the immense and shaggy Gringg had
not
      yet arrived though huge square cushions on the floor gave notice where
      they were to sit.


      "Your place should be at the head of the table,' Mllaba whispered,
      guiding him towards one end of the great oval board.
   "I had expected Hrrestan. . ." Second began.


   "Ah, but he is conducting the space port affairs,' Hrrin said smoothly.
   "It was our understanding that you would not stay here long but go on to
   the more important conference.


   Mllaba hissed slightly in Hrrto's ear. Sometimes she could be annoying
   about what was due his rank.


   "We have arranged ourselves according to our ongins,' Hrrin went on,
   gesturing to the Rraladoonans seated to his right and the Hrrubans,
   onward to the Terran delegation of captains and Jilamey Landreau fur-
ther
   along the table.


   The room was full enough of bodies right now and Hrrto jerked his
   shoulders, switched his tail, trying hard not to remember how the
   captain had dominated a room not much larger than this.


   "Most commendable,' Second said with an absent frown.
considerations than to bicker about what to buy from whom and at what
price.


Noting that Hurrhee was present, Hrrto spared a glance for Nrrena,
seated to the scientist's right. She was an intimate of Fifth Speaker
and bore watching. She must not think that these seating arrangements
constituted a discourtesy. Determined to put the best face on the
situation, he nodded with great dignity to Hrrin. "How wise to show,
even here, that Hrruba is distinct from Terra."


"I am so glad that you approve, sir, Hrrin said, once again making a
courteous gesture to the chair placed well along the outer curve of the
great table.


Smiling graciously to Nrrena and two Hrrubans he did not know, Hrrto
moved to that seat. It was, he was relieved to note, more ornate than
any of the others on this segment of the table. He settled himself in
the deep chair, flicking his tail out under the arm rest.


Mllaba was growling under her breath as she sat behind him on a small
seat she pulled from those ranged along the wall.
  diplomats. See how they had begun by forestalling him.


  Then he realized that he was directly opposite an as yet unoccupied
  place which had no chair. He would be facing a Gringg. He steeled
  himself for that, wary after last evening's encounter. That
  inadvertently brought to mind the Spacedep tape as well as last night's
  insomnia.


  Again, he saw the devastated landscape, and the floating frozen
corpses
  and could not control a spinal shudder.


  Firmly, he put that vision firmly out of his mind. To cover his spasm,
  he fiddled with the voder straps. Everyone here was wearing the
  contraptions, of course, and he devoutly hoped that Hrrin - or would it
  be zOdd Rrev who moderated this meeting - made certain that only one
  person spoke at a time. Otherwise the resultant cacophony of sound
  would be nerve-racking.


  The Hayuman Admiral noisily entered the chamber now, and took his
place
     Landreau was well connected in government, industry and the arts, and
     had tremendous credit. His financial acumen was much respected de-
spite
     his youth, for none of his ventures ever seemed to lose money.


     Landreau dressed much more colourfully than any negotiator or diplo-
mat
     should, in Hrrto's opinion, almost Hrruban in style. At least the
     Hayuman understood the order of precedence, as he greeted Hrrto first
on
     entering the room.


     "Second Speaker, you honour us by your presence!" Landreau said,
bowing
     with hand on heart. His warm brown eyes held a twinkle. "Why, good
     morning, Commander Greene!          You're looking well." The Hayuman
commander
     offered a meaningless pleasantry and swung immediately back to the
     Admiral.


     Landreau slouched into the seat between the scarlethaired banker and
      Hrruban in Hrrto's ear, "then I will join you in the space port
      discussions. Mrrunda attends them now." Hrrto approved with a nod
and
      Prrid seated himself. The Space Arm commandant, too, would be fac-
ing
      Gringg. Hrrto mulled over Prrid's probable reactions to Captain Grizz.


      Quite likely it would only reinforce Prrid's doubts about the Gringg's
      real purpose in approaching Rraladoona.


      There was a stir and a hubbub of voices in the corridor outside.


      Zodd Rrev observed it, too. Hrrto tilted his ears towards the door and
      rolled them back again as he felt an uncomfortable sensation at the
back
      of his neck.


      "I think our third party has arrived,' said Rrev, rising.


      Hastily, Hrrin, as co-host, sprang to his feet. Into the chamber swung
      Grizi:, looking larger than ever. Hrrto had to restrain an impulse to
fangs, despite the fact that an open mouth was for her species, like
his, a sign of friendliness. Then Hrrto noticed that the Stripe fur of
every single Hrruban bristled with an instinctive reaction.


Except his, he was excessively pleased to note. He could also hear the
faint whistle of lashing tails as Grizz' head brushed the top of the
doorway. The resounding roar she used for a voice filled the room,
overpowering the efforts of the small translator at her throat to
compensate. Hrrto's heart pounded. So bizarre for the female of a
species to be larger than the male. She quite dwarfed the males in her
entourage.


"Hold it, hold it there, Grizz,' a narrow, dark-skinned Hayuman said,
running up to the giant beast with a small tool. "We're getting
harmonics here, lady bear." Lady bear? Hrrto was taken aback by such
familiarity, such lack of basic decorum. Beside him, he could sense
Milaba's tension. He gave her a warning glance to settle the fur on her
nape but, when he turned to Prrid, the naval commandant had already
smoothed himself. Good Stripe, that Prrid.
"That . . . good, gggrrr, better, best,' said the Gringg, swinging a
huge paw to touch the male gently on the shoulder. Her voder had
modified her speech to a much more pleasing pitch.


Without the subsonics exacerbating his nerves, Hrrto relaxed.


Strange that just sound could produce such effects. But others looked
very much on their guard.


Merely the presence of the immense Gringg held an aura of threat.


Did they count on that?


"Wrrrfgruh. . .1 grrreet you all,' she said, turning her head to
include the occupants of the table. "Hayumans and Hrrubans both."


"On behalf of Doonarrala,' zOdd Rrev said, "I greet you, Captain
Grzzeearoghh, and welcome you to the first in a series of talks which,
we deeply hope, will benefit us all." The voder at his throat translated
his words from good Middle Hrruban into inarticulate growls and coughs.
  asked.


  "Two peoples are you Hayumans and Hrrubans?"


  "That is correct, Madam Captain,' Hrrin replied, courteously. "Here on
  Rraladoona we proudly sharrre a world, but we are of separate origins
  and species.


  If you and your prrrty will be seated, we shall begin."


  "No. Two rooms are needed,' the Gringg said, and folded her paws
over
  her chest with a gesture of finality.


  ù"I have brought two pairs of Gringg, to speak to you separately."


  "But why?" Todd asked, surprised.


  ù"Here are two peoples. We honour your individuality. It is possible
  you each need different things from us, that you ùsupply us with
  different items or units. It is only courteous to give individual
      Be that as it may, Hrrto did not entirely trust this new development.
      These aliens were dangerous. Did they intend to divide and conquer, to
      promise vital goods and services to the Hayumans in private, cheating
      the Hrrubans of equal opportunities? Purralinium was not the only raw
      material Hrruba lacked. Depressed, Hrrto could see complications
      looming.


      Admiral Barnstable seemed no happier with her proposal for he leaned
      across the table towards Rrev.


      "Conference, Rrev,' he ordered in High Hrruban.


      Quickly, Rrev turned to the towering Gringg and made a deep bow.


      "A moment's pause, Captain,' Rrev said through the voder and beck-
oned
      urgently to Hrrin. "We had not expected a division." The Gringg lifted
      a paw in acceptance and sat down on the cushions, waiting with cheer-
ful
      patience.
   "I insist that we establish a single roundtable for any trade
   agreements. Each of our two races must have absolutely identical
   treatment and consideration. No covert clauses."


   "Nonsense, nails, and nuts,' Captain Kiachif said, scoffing at the
   red-faced Spacedep official. "That'd be the end of free enterprise, see
   if it isn't. Why not let it be their way? What's the harm of it? If
   we don't like what they have on offer, we insist on a joint parley
   tomorrow, if you follow me. Nothing's to stop us from convening,
   comparing, and combining." "Nor am I comfortable with zis,' Hrrto said,
   covering his voder with one hand. "I prefer open conference."


   "But isn't zis preferable, Second Speaker?" Hrrin asked.


   "Hrruba's individuality maintained, and ze same for Amalgamated
Wrrlds."
   Hrrto glared, but he could detect no note of sarcasm in the
   Rraladoonan's voice. Those born on this colony planet really did lack
   many of the basic courtesies and tact which he felt his due.


   "It is a dangrrrous ploy' agreed Captain Hrrrv, eyes gleaming.
  "This is not as planned,' Second said, reverting again to High Hrruban
  in his dismay. "Hrruba and Terra must take the lead here, not these
  strangers.


  "It would seem, honoured sir,' Ken Reeve said, replying in the same
  language, "that we must oblige our guests today, at least." Only be-
cause
  the privacy suited Hrrto's needs did he give consent.


  Graciously leaving the Hrrubans in possession of the Treaty Chamber,
  Todd led the Hayumans, the Gringg captain and one of the pairs of
males
  out of the door and away to the right.


  Hrrto watched them leave. Could he trust any one of the Hayumans to
  give him an accurate account of what transpired in their session?


  Possibly his erstwhile allies of Spacedep would not dissemble too much.


  Still, if he could get the purralinium, he might just win the election
    for them to be seated. With only two Gringg in the room, everyone
    seemed to breathe more freely.


    "As long as we are now together,' he said in Middle Hrruban, dropping
    his jaw in a pleasant smile, "perhaps we should begin by introducing
    ourselves.


    To Todd's surprise, the engineer Koala was waiting a little way down
    from the Treaty Chamber with Commander Frill, Lieutenant Cardiff and
a
    few other Gringg males whom Todd hadn't met before.


    "Afternoon, Mr Reeve,' the burly xenotech said, grinning.


    "Didn't think you'd be free."


    "Frill and I are going to show Koala the sights,' Cardiff explained.
    "These are a few of her assistants.


    We've got a pow-wow later with a consortium of scientists from your
    colony and both cruisers. Nothing sensitive, of course, just general
     and touched his hand with a wet, black nose, and turned to bestow the
     same greeting on Ken.


     "Hello, little guy,' Todd said, pausing to ruffle the cub's pate hairs.
     "Welcome to Doonarrala." Then he turned to Grizz and turned his voder
on
     again. "The other room is just down here, Captain."


     "Morra,' Grizz said, looking down on them fondly from her great height.
     "I do not discuss trading matters. I seek to visit your home village.
     Much has been told me that I wish to see with my own eyes, she said in
     slow Hrruban. The translator produced remarkably accurate
     pronunciation.


     "These two,' she pointed a claw at Eonneh and another Gringg, a male
     with silky grey fur, "I trust to make best trade speech for us types.


     "Of course,' Todd said, urprised on the one hand but pleased on the
     other. He'd wanted Grizz to see for herself what her emissaries had.
     "I'll see you're grided up to First Village. My wife Kelly, and Nrrna,
     Hrriss's mate, will be delighted to host you in our homes.
voder
  input. "Sending a. . . a being of her stature to a civilian
  habitation unescorted?" Todd understood exactly what the commander
  really meant, and refused to acknowledge it.


  "I admit it might be considered rude to ship the highest ranking
  official of a delegation somewhere without the correct entourage, but
  perhaps,' with a bow and a smile to Grizz, "under the circumstances she
  will forgive me. She will be met on arrival, of course, by my wife who
  is, by the way, an Alreldep representative, and quite capable of
  handling our new friends.


  Barnstable shot both of them a look of annoyance, and Todd under-
stood
  that the criticism must actually have come from him.


  Spacedep's paranoia was beginning to wear upon Todd. Grizz, who
had
  followed only part of the swift, low-pitched conversation, showed her
  fangs amiably. The gesture made most of the human delegates shiver,
and
  The space port conference is just down the hall, you know." Then Todd
  turned to Sumitral, Ali and Jilamey. "You all know the place we're to
  use. Why don't you show our Gringg negotiators the way? I'll join you
  soon as I can.


  After he had called Kelly to tell her to meet her guests, he conducted
  Grizz and her cub out of the Treaty Building and to the grid facility.
  As there seemed to be no limit to the weight a grid could shift, he did
  not worry about the mass of a female Gringg.


  But the mass of the personage to be grided quite shattered the compo-
sure
  of the bored grid operator. The slim female Hrruban on duty froze, her
  neck hair bristling, and gaped in shock at the pair to be transported to
  First Village.


  "Zis grid is only for small shipments,' she protested, anxiously
  glancing over Todd's shoulder at Grizz.
      "No, sirrrr, no!" the Hrruban gasped. "Step up on to ze platform, most
      honrrrred guests, please!" She gestured the Gringg between the slim
      transmission pillars and fumbled to key in the coordinates.


      "I know you'll enjoy your visit, Captain,' Todd said, waving.


      "Kelly will be waiting for you!"


      "G'bye!" Weddeerogh said, waving both his paws energetically. As the
      mist rose and began to swallow him up, he squealed on such a note that
      the grid operator laid back her ears.


      The conference room which Todd entered on his return was providen-
tially
      carpeted, floor and walls, in a warm, burnt orange that complemented
the
      golden woods of the furniture frames. The pading on the walls would
      baffle some of the more annoying overtones of Gringg speech.
seated
     on one side of the large square table.


     Ken Reeve, the merchant captains, Sumitral and Jilamey and some Ha-
yumans
     Todd didn't know were occupying the chairs on the opposing side. Todd
     was annoyed to find Commander Greene also present: Barnstable hav-
ing his
     cake in the space port discussions and eating it, too, with Greene here
     to listen to trade talks. Todd did recognize several Doonarralan
     representatives of the craft and farm collectives.


     These men and women were trying not to appear awed by the company
in
     which they found themselves.


     "Are you comfortable now?" Sumitral was asking. "I would be happy to
     sit on the floor. We could move the table."


     "Eye to eye, please, is Gringg way,' Eonneh said, politely. "Sofas are
     fine for Gringg, chairs for you, thank you." The translator had picked
      memory of the Gringgs being assigned "bear' names by his twins and
      Hrriss's two eldest. The youngsters took the naming responsibility very
      seriously, having made a list of every synonym or cognate for "bear'
      that could be found in Terran philology. He remembered Hrrunival be-
ing
      peeved that his planet had no corollary creature. They matched names
as
      closely as they could to the Gringg sounds, delighting the recipients.


      "We welcome you, Honey and Coypu,' Todd said formally and started
      introducing those present. He could hear the rapid footsteps on the
      marble floors as late comers hurried to the new venue.


      As he recited their names, the Gringg sniffed subtly in the appropriate
      direction, obviously pairing scent with face. Sumitral raised the
      corner of his mouth in a wry smile as he realized what they were doing.
      Horstmann was the only one who seemed slightly uneasy.


      Jilamey, seated at the far corner beside Honey, winked as Todd named
      him. The tool-and-die maker from Rompiel was frowning abstractedly,
      trying not to stare at the two Gringg. Commander Greene spoke in low,
     for initiating the intruder probe, but defied all reason by carrying an
     explosive device on to a vessel assumed to be peaceful.


     Todd had pointed out that either act could have compromised matters
     beyond recall. He had insisted that Greene be left behind on the
     flagship whenever Barnstable came groundside. The Admiral refused,
     demanding his right to such escort as he required. He resented Todd's
     criticism of a member of his staff, and pointed out again that
     Doonarrala's priorities and Spacedep's were not identical. Todd hoped
     he wouldn't have to go all the way to the Amalgamated Worlds Council
to
     keep Spacedep from causing more trouble.


     During the weeks of reearch on the voder, Greene had been around and
     about on Doonarrala, always maintaining his distance from Todd, but
     always there, like an annoying itch Todd couldn't get rid of. Since
     none of the ursine guests had mentioned Greene, Todd decided that
they
     hadn't noticed the burly commander, or were choosing to ignore his
     surveillance. The Spacedep officers hadn't been subtle when following
     the Gringg, as if they'd hoped for some kind of incident which would
much
  time in the villages.


  He was easily the most recognizable of the Gringg. His companion,
who
  moved with a ponderousness dilatory even for a Gringg, seemed to be
  older than Honey, with a majestic, slow, bass voice that was so low it
  rumbled through Todd's very bones. Both of them had small computer
  devices with sculpted depressions which were probably operated by the
  rhythmic manipulation of claws, something like the device used by an
  old-time court reporter. As usual, Honey held his ubiquitous tile-like
  tablet. Jilamey, at Honey's elbow, was keeping a close eye on the
  Gringg, waiting for him to draw or write something with the
  double-looped pen that lay atop it on the table.


  By then, the tardy had arrived, slightly breathless, and more time was
  taken up by introductions.


  Of the seven newcomers, five were clearly alarmed by the size of the
  Gringg and, although they were wearing voders, only one had practised
  with his device. And Todd instantly marked Emil Markudian, a swarthy
  bore close scrutiny. Well, he should have expected something like this
  after Barnstable's little confrontation of assorted blow-ins at Kate
  Moody's office.


  The others who had arrived in the wake of Markudian seemed to be
  legitimate since each carried portfolios with the logos of major
  diversified Terran or Colonial companies. Two found Jilamey's pres-
ence
  distinctly unsettling.    Remembering how chuffed Jilamey had been
about
  his coup, Todd grinned to himself and then turned the meeting over to
  Admiral Sumitral, seated directly opposite the Gringg envoys.


  Once introductions of the new arrivals had been made, there was a
  perceptible pause.       Todd sensed an electrical tension rising among
them,
  veiled excitement. 1 feel as if we're about to start a high-stakes
  poker game, he thought.


  Who's going to bluff whom?
      many big pools. We are four ships to explore. Long, long, long,' and he
      nodded his head to emphasize the span, "looking. It is good, great
news
      to find two at once!" He dropped his jaw and looked about him, his eyes
      twinkling.


      "You say your objective is to trade, yet you admit that you are very far
      from your home world. How can you possibly trade profitably over long
      distances?" Commander Greene wanted to know.


      "Big ship,' replied Coypu succinctly. "We come prepared with offerings.
      Trading is good with peaceful people. You have much here which will
be
      tradable."


      "Such as?" Greene demanded sarcastically.


      "You are out of order, Commander,' Sumitral said, turning slightly so
      that his body shielded him from the Gringg. He had covered his voder
      and spoke in a low but carrying tone, somehow managing not to move
his
   but holding an edge.


   That statement elicited quiet gasps around the table.


   Todd had seen no signal from Greene but that didn't keep him from
   suspecting the two might be acting in concert.


   Sumitral regarded Markudian with an expression of mild surprise and
   astonishment but it was Coypu who answered.


   "It is easy to say what is true,' Coypu said, either not offended or
   deliberately not understanding Markudian 5


   implication. Now he lifted his paws. "We come far from our home
world,
   seeking new worlds, hopefully new peoples."


   "You are peaceful types, also,' Honey said, looking around the table and
   nodding his appreciation of that fact.


   "It is very good for Gringg to see that two different species can live
   Coypu touched his ornate neckpiece with one delicate claw. "Yes, to
   tear off the collar of a Gringg is to start fight, but only if there is
   no other honour choice."


   "Oh, similar to throwing down a gauntlet .


   . . a glove - - - a hand protector,' Sumitral said, ignoring the
   mutters from some of those nervous about this discussion. "Of course,
   duels with lethal weapons have long been considered against the law as
   well as against common sense." Coypu seemed oddly pleased to hear
that.


   "With us, too, the custom has declined. There are nearly always other
   choices. We enjoy peace. Gringg do not like to exert themselves.


   Peace takes much less energy than combat, do you not agree?" Todd
   laughed at the beautiful simplicity of the statement. "War is too much
   trouble?"


   "War?" Coypu asked, for the word had been carefully omitted from the
   voder's lexicon.
the
      AIreldep Admiral's intensity.


      "Good! Good!" Coypu said seriously. "I tire if I think about it.


      Cooperation takes so much less work."


      "Then Gringg have had wars?" Markudian asked, leaning forward.


      "Long ago: Honey said negligently, "to protect the family pool and the
      landing place, and our young when there was not enough to eat." That
      mildly delivered statement brought quite a reaction around the table.
      Todd and his father exchanged concerned glances.


      "Then, during the Great Heat, we were forced to seek refuge in the
      deepest caves. It was then that we were forced to eat many other
things
      than the beasts which had been our natural food,' Honey went on,
      blithely unaware of the effect his first statement was having.
     Unforùtunately Honey had just handed him exactly an opening.


     As Sumitral was trying to explain the word to Honey, Todd leaned to-
wards
     Markudian.


     ù"The emphasis was on a trade vocabulary, Mr Markudian.


     -We cannot, and will not at this time, accept the discussion of side
     issues." When Honey and Coypu finally understood, they both looked
     mournful.


     "When we were very young beings, long, long, long ago, before we
learned
     to think what we were doing, before we learned how much easier it was
to
     work together instead of separately,' Honey said, leaning forward, paws
     crossed over his chest in humility, "we did many stupid things we do not
     like to remember that we Gringg did. Perhaps this happened to Hayn-
mans,
     too, when your species was learning wisdom?"
in
     which humans caused an entire race to suicide. I also feel that you
     speak out too hastily, Mr Markudian, and I advise you to think very
     carefully the next time you feel obliged to criticize." Then he turned
     to Honey and Coypu.


     "We also had to learn to cope with famines. I trust there is no famine
     on your home world now that has sent you out on your long journey."


     "No, not famine,' Coypu said. "We wish to find new worlds.


     We wish to trade with same peaceful people."


     "Let's get back to trade talk, shall we?" asked Jilamey a bit
     impatiently and gave Markudian a very jaundiced look for his
     interruptions. "Let's talk about what sort of payment we'll use for
     trade items.


     "Excellent idea, my dear Landreau,' Sumitral said. He turned to the
     Gringg. "In trading with our Hrruban friends, we use certain minerals
     and metals on which we have agreed a value."
      structures of certain metals and minerals that we would like to acquire
      in moderate quantities. What mediums have value for you?"


      "We discuss a common trade currency?" Honey asked mildly, rattling
his
      claws in the holes of his device. "Held perhaps on this planet in a
      central place for all three to use? With . . ahccccgg . . .
      writings that can be strictly kept accurate?" Iskoffski looked stunned:
      jumping from cannibalism in a distant past to modern finance was too
big
      a leap for him. Markudian's expression became darker than ever.


      "A banking system is, of course, an excellent idea,' Sumitral said,
      raising his eyebrows in silent query at the two who blinked agreement.


      "If you become permanent trading partners with us, Jilamey began,
      slowly, allowing the possibility to sink in, "a central place would
      simplify all transactions."


      "Trading partners for a long time we want,' Honey replied, and gave
them
   possibles. For now,' and he spread his big paws, "we put theory into
   practice. It is not much different to the trading we do between our
   home world and its young.


   "Young? You have colony worlds?" Sumitral said.


   "Or subjugated worlds?" Greene asked, his eyes glittering.


   Honey looked down at his voder and Coypu looked puzzled.


   "Acchgg?" Honey asked in query.


   "That's quite enough from you, Greene, Sumitral said with the first
   flash of temper Todd had ever seen in him.


   "You have set up colonies of Gringg on your young worlds? Yes, both
   Hayumans and Hrrubans have done the same. Have you found worlds
with
   the different species?" Ken asked quickly, smiling.
  ignoring Sumitral's exclamation of aggravation.


  "We are able to defend ourselves, Honey said, blandly, and unsheathed
  his claws. Coypu retracted his lips, uncovering his white fangs. "We
  are larger than any edible creature we have met."


  "And not as dumb,' Jilamey said, giving Greene a look of pure disgust.


  "How many colony worlds have you now?" Sumitral asked before
Greene
  could continue.


  Honey held up four fingers. "Four! One with very good water." His jaw
  dropped and he gave himself a wiggle that suggested total approval of
  it.


  "Far from here,' Coypu added. "A very long journey but not impossible
  to make for Humans."


  "We are translating our maps to yours,' Honey said.
rary
   rarity of stock and other factors. This one time, I hope you will
   accept the values we use to pay for traded things between Haynmans
and
   Hrrubans. We think the values are fair."


   "It is just what I expect of the peoples who live together in peace,'
   Hqney replied. His simple frankness drew mutters from the other
   delegates.


   Todd was relieved that two Gringg had evidently not caught the blatant
   animosity in Greene's words and manner. "We can discuss in more
detail
   at the end of the meeting so you can key it in your own language."
   Suddenly Horstmann, who had been growing more impatient, slapped
both
   hands down on the table to divert attention to him.


   "Let's also cut this confounded cackle.


   Let's find out what commodities you Gringg are interested in? And what
     Jilamey brushed that contingency aside. "Not according to the
     Doonarrala Treaty, they don't, Greene. Look, Honey, you've had time
     over the last weeks to see just what's available on Doonarrala, which I
     think is a fair sampling of goods drawn from both Hayuman and
Hrruban.


     Technology? Medical or scientific processes?


     Tools?"


     "We have many desirable commodities to trade, as well as the product
of
     our skills,' Eonneh began, ponderously.


     "Good,' Kiachif said. "My ships don't like to make the trip back to al'
     Terra empty. Give us a fr instance or two, friend."


     "Also, our four young - colony - worlds have many valuable minerals in
     quantity.
  planets even as it has on ours. We feel that we may also learn
  technology stuff from you, sharing information. Already we have share
  technology,' and he tapped the voder with the tip of one claw, "with
  Lootcardiff." Sumitral, Ken and Todd openly grinned at the combination
  of rank and name. "We are happy to share information freely in ex-
change
  for also you share freely with us." Greene and Markudian both began to
  protest but Iskoffski was eager for information about what.


  "You can't want just cultural things and to share,' Jilamey said.


  "That could be very one-sided and we insist on giving equal value to
  trading partners." Honey inclined his head. "You give equal value
  sharing with us the delights of this planet of Doonarrala. .


  Todd could see Greene interpreting that to mean acquisition and hastily
  intervened.


  "Peaceful people deserve proper hospitality when their intent is good,'
  Todd said and Sumitral stared Greene back down into his seat.
   was open in amazement at Eonneh's dry humour.


   Eonneh showed all his teeth. "Haynmans seem to have the most supe-
rior
   idea of what is a good thing to eat."


   "Well, as it happens, Honey,' Jilamey said, beaming from ear to ear, "we
   process a lot of protein in nutritious and delicious forms and I happen
   to represent a large consortium which can provide you with a wide
range
   of truly delicious and healthful comestibles . . ." His voder faltered
   on that word. "Stuff to eat - eatables, edibles,' he hastily explained.


   Coypu gave a startlingly deep grunt, signifying pleasure for he had
   dropped his jaw. "Good. We wish to import to our world bulk or
   packaged largenesses of snakemeat, fishes, beef, poultry, and, of
   course, the stuff you name popcorn. It is not high in protein but it is
   most entertaining to watch it cook and can be seasoned in many
   flavours."


   "Food?" Sumitral asked weakly. "You want food? Not technology?"
   "Our scientists know what after talking with yours, Honey replied.


   "Scientific fact is fact for all of us."


   "A science conference just is not possible at this point in time,'
   Greene said flatly.


   "Discuss food all you want.


   That's safe enough."


   "Non-aggressive science is also safe,' Sumitral said with equal
   firmness. He put his hand over his voder.


   "If they have no ordnance, Greene, then why not discuss science?


   Now that we know what their need is, I think you can step down from
that
   red alert you're on."


   "Just long as we're not the food resource they have in the back of their
     Greene's crack about the Gringg eating Humans was asinine especially
     when the snakes were larger, more numerous and far tastier.


     "You don't require metals?" Markudian asked, surprised.


     "Yes, some metals are in short supply with us and please to give us
     samples of all you use,' Honey said. "But mostly we need foods,' and
he
     leaned forward, an earnest expression on his face. "Already, many on
     the home world are most eager to try Doonarralan snake meat.


     Having heard the praise it has from those who have taste it here, it
     will be a much sought-after delicacy. Perhaps you can show us how to
     breed the snakes on one of our worlds.


     One can feed several Gringg. As we learn to know each other better, I
     am sure there will be other goods we want, but for the present, we are
     eager to obtain largenesses of Hayuman-manufactured eating stuffs.
That
     is all."
As the Hayumans and the Gringg left the room, Hrrto was for a long
moment too annoyed to gather his thoughts.


The only advantage to the new arrangement would be the privacy to
mention purralinium - if the Gringg had it.


There wasn't an Hrruban here who didn't realize how vital it was to
replenish the supply of that transuranic ore. Even Hrrin would
appreciate that. But Hrrto saw that he would have to remain here longer
than he had anticipated, to be sure the negotiations secured them at
least the hope of the grid metal. Mllaba was also irritated.


It wouldn't be her notion to be stuck discussing trade when she
considered the space port conference a better place for Hrrto to show
his merits. But her irritation also stemmed from the presence of the
two Gringg across the table from her who were settling their big
haunches into their cushions.


Beside Hrrto, Hrrin sat with folded arms, watching as if he expected the
Gringg to spring in an assault.
     and healthy life. He tried to concentrate on what Hrrestan, who chaired
     the meeting, was saying.


     Hrrestan was assisting the Gringg in their translations when the limits
     of the vocabulary programmed into the voders failed. Hrrto felt some
     respect for the colony leader's ability to retain what sounded to him
     like the roars and sputtering of malfunctioning motors. He was feeling
     yet another painful twinge when Milaba leaned toward him, her hand
over
     the voder input grille.


     "I dislike the uncouth way they sniff at us, Speaker,' Mllaba hissed
     under her breath. She spoke in a very high-pitched whisper which the
     Gringg were unlikely to hear. "So primitive." All the home world
     Hrrubans attending the trade meeting were initially disturbed by the
     Gringg behaviour, but as the aliens had proved to be affable and
     intelligent, they began to relax. Hrrto did not: torn between the need
     to introduce purralinium and memories of that tape. He wanted to be
     able to at least warn these Rraladoonans, since they were in the final
     analysis also Hrruban, that the Gringg were dangerous: warn them not
to
  proceedings.


  While Hrrestan was basically a sensible Hrruban, he appeared to be
badly
  infected with young Rrev's enthusiasm. Perhaps, Hrrto thought, it might
  be wise to tell Hrrestan about that damning tape. Hrrestan was of an
  old Stripe and did not deserve the fate that might await other
  Rraladoonans when their apparently cultured and civilized visitors
  showed the violent side of their natures.


  But Hrrestan was so honourable a Stripe that he might feel obliged to
  impart that information to Rrev. No, no warning to anyone until the
  fleet was in place.


  Then the aliens produced a computer program showing molecular dia-
grams
  of the minerals they were ready to use as trade mediums.


  Hrrto shot a warning glance at Hurrhee who was already trying to see
  what was on offer.
     "Indeed we should,' Hurrhee murmured, flicking a confirming glance at
     Hrrto. "We have often found a use for this,' and he extended a nail to
     delicately single out one item, "impure as it is." Hrrto inwardly sighed
     with relief. They did have purralinium to offer.


     "What is Hurrhee doing here?" Mllaba demanded in an annoyed under-
tone to
     Hrrto. "He's a scientist, not a trader."


     "He is here at my command,' Hrrto murmured back, protruding the claw
of
     his fifth digit to indicate the need for discretion.


     Suddenly Milaba became extra alert and leaned as far across the table
as
     possible to get a view of the slate. Under the table, Hrrto pulled her
     roughly back. She nearly hissed at him so great was her indignation but
     one look at her superior's eyes and she obeyed, though stiff with the
     insult just given her. Hrrto ignored her manner.
     Hrrto wondered how long he would have to remain in such an ambi-
ence.


     "Yes, you do have goods that might form a trade currency,' banker
Hrrouf
     said with extreme affability, his tailtip switching. Ah, Hrrouf had
     noticed the purralinium, too. And, in his high position in the
     financial world, he would have access to the knowledge of the lack of
     new supplies of the metal. "What is it you would require in exchange?"
     Big Paws regarded the Hrruban amiably and folded his enormous hands
on
     the table.


     "You appear to be comfortable without the clothes used by Hayumans
to
     cover their skin. We Gringg also do not need coverings. We admire the
     way that the Hrrubans adorn their natural fur with the most striking
     ornamentation. Most especially I like these harnesses of hide." The
     black and white Gringg put out a claw and plucked at the strap of the
      Other Hrruban representatives were equally astounded and, if Hrrestan
      and Hrrin managed to hide their amusement, few of the others expect-
ing
      to trade advanced technologies of all kinds to the bears saw the humour
      of the announcement.


      Second Speaker sputtered, his headache forgotten.


      "Garments? Jewellery? Ornaments? You must be joking!"


      "What is joking?" Kodiak asked, looking up from his electronic keypad.
      He turned to Hrrestan for clarification.


      "He asks if you tell him something that is not true to make him laugh,'
      Hrrestan explained solemnly.


      Kodiak returned his dark-red gaze to Second Speaker.


      "Morra, very, I do not joke."


      "This is what you wish to receive in trade from us?
   "Ah, yes,' Kodiak said casually, observing the byplay.


   "The transport system. But it does. not interest us. We travel fast
   enough and are comfortable doing it. Items of wear and personal
   adornment are more important. And we insist to be told new styles and
   modes." Hrrto wondered at Kodiak's dismissal of the "transport system'.


   Could it be that they knew the special use for purralinium and had
   matter transporters on their own worlds? And if they did, would they
   trade any of that precious commodity to the Hrrubans? Many of the
   Gringg had used the grids, getting about Rraladoona but no reports had
   been made by any of the operators that the Gringg had shown any in-
terest
   at all in the workings of the grid: or had even looked closely at either
   the purralinium columns or the floor grid though these were, in any
   case, thickly coated by the conducting material.


   "This is outrageous,' Nrrena said in a growl, rising from the table. Her
   tail swished angrily, lashing her sides, and her eyes all but shot
   sparks. "I was made to understand that this was a high level trading
   conference, not a fashion show. I have the honour to wish you a good
pretence."


"Have I offended?" Kodiak asked Hrrestan.


"No, friend,' Hrrestan assured him. "That Hrruban re resents
manufacturers on our home world and elsewhere.


There is nothing in these current talks which interests her." Hrrestan
also suspected that Nrrena would be grateful to get out of the range of
Gringg speech. Kodiak accepted his explanation.


"Ah,' the Gringg said, returning a bland gaze to those left at the
table. "May we then negotiate terms? It is now to work out
equivalencies of value, against that which.


we offer for that which we want." He ended up facing Hrrestan, who
gestured courteously toward Hrrto.


"I may not speak for Hrruba,' Hrrestan said. "I have lived on
Rraladoona for over thirty years. It is the Second Speaker for External
Affairs whom you must address." He bowed deferentially. Hrrto was
      repeated the Gringg's question.


      Ghotyakh's brow ridges lowered halfway over his eyes, concealing all
but
      a crescent of angry red irises. "I believe that the delegate understood
      me,' he said, his voice shifting very slowly to a menacing growl. "We
      have come in good faith to this meeting. It is not the Gringg way to
      give offence or take insult. Lootcardiff caused this device to
      translate perfectly. As a Gringg scribe, my honour required me to
      practise diction until perfection came. Does this female have hearing
      problems? That is the only acceptable reason.


      The word reason came out in as close to a snarl as a Gringg had so far
      mouthed. Mllaba jumped in her seat.


      She glared at Kodiak, her yellow eyes ablaze.


      "You wrong me,' she said, in a low, dangerous voice.


      "My hearing is extremely acute and the roars you make injure delicate
      tissue. You know that certain sounds you make cause unpleasant
  "Why should I?" Mllaba demanded.


  "That I do not know,' Hrrestan replied sternly, "but as I am moderator
  of this meeting, I will have no further obstruction from you.


  "I am assistant to "In this meeting,' Hrrestan said calmly but
  forcefully, "rank has been suspended to the greater benefit of all
  Hrruba.    Or have you had trouble, honoured assistant to Second
Speaker,
  which you are embarrassed to admit?" Mllaba drew a deep breath in
  through her nostrils at what was perilously close to a direct insult to
  the Second Speaker. Hrrestan waited, his eyes intent on Hrrto and she
  might not have existed.


  "I have had no trouble understanding them, Second said, his eyes
  slitted. "I do find their voices and their presence oppressive."
  "Oppressive?" Hrrestan asked, with mischief in his eyes.


  "How can you find oppressive a species which is so very interested in
  fashion?" Milaba's tailtip lashed.
     "Then we have wasted our time?" asked the senior Stripe of the
     merchants.


     Hrrestan bowed graciously. "Consider it but the first offering in a
     trade that may develop in unexpected directions and have the imagina-
tion
     to come forward with other examples of our culture,' and he gave that
     word considerable emphasis, "which might appear attractive or
     interesting to our large friends." Then Mllaba, using a coaxing and
     wheedling tone, spoke up, her manner so abruptly altered that Hrrto
     decided his clever assistant must finally have grasped the significance
     of Hurrhee's presence and remarks.


     "Hrruban textiles are much admired by Haynmans since you are inter-
ested
     in adornment. A swift message and we can have many beautiful things
to
     show you,' she said at her silkiest.


     "We Gringg are content to see all you will offer,' Kodiak said, showing
     all his teeth in an affable smile.
      the left-hand side of the slate, Hrruban equivalents on the right.
      Purralinium was mid-list. "These are in order of value to us." Titanium
      was top, and Hrrto recognized the symbols for tin, zinc, germanium and
      platinum and some transuranics before purralinium. How many leather
      belts and neck pieces would be traded for enough purralinium to
      manufacture another grid? The very concept was bizarre!


      He found himself holding his breath as weights and measures were be-
ing
      discussed. To his dismay - for surely Hrrestan knew the plight the
      co-leader was setting for too low a quantity of metal. Or was he merely
      being cautious? Then Kodiak mentioned bulk figures for finished
      leathers that nearly made Hrrto drop his jaw. There would be more than
      enough purralinium.


      Now he worried that Hrrestan might ask only for that metal and signal
      its value to Hrrubans. But Hrrto had underestimated the leader's
      acumen.


      Suddenly he began to fret that Hrrestan would get the credit for such
      dealing and he, Second Speaker, who had laid the groundwork in his
     Could the Gringg really be so naive? Or their holdings so rich that
     they could make such ludicrous exchanges?


     That was a possibility that hadn't occurred to him before.


     Those rich in goods thought nothing of exchanging what they didn't
need
     for what they coveted.


     "We do not deplete your stores with such large orders?" Big Paws
asked
     courteously. "We can space shipments so that each is full of what is
     required. With Hrrubans we trade for what the Hayumans do not show
or
     seem to need.


     Therefore no bad feelings may happen. We are peaceful folk. We wish
     for peace everywhere around us." Hearing those oft repeated words,
Hrrto
     felt the pressing need for some air.
  repetition made him nauseous. Perhaps calling the fleets was not a
wise
  idea. The prospect of almost unlimited quantities of purralinium was
  worth a certain risk, was it not? At the least, the direction to search
  for the debris that would contain the metal. Ah, but with the navies in
  place, perhaps such information would be easier to obtain.


  Yes, that was the way to move now. They could show the tape to the
  Gringg and force them to admit to these atrocities. Show them that
  their hypocrisy was discovered and make them reveal what weapons
had
  caused such destruction. With the fleet pin-pointing one unarmed ship,
  surely they would accede to all demands.


  Before another Gringg ship could reach the heliopause of Rraladoona,
  they would have built defences against such ordnance. ..


  Why should Hrruba defend Rraladoona at all? The thought suddenly
  occurred to Hrrto. Why not evacuate all Hrrubans? If the Haynmans
were
  foolish enough to wait for Gringg vengeance, so be it.
would
  live to regret it.


  And what were the Haynmans wresting from the Gringg while Hrrubans
were
  selling harnesses and collars?


  Unable to resist, he found himself walking towards the other negotiating
  room. He heard voices ahead, and slipped forward, close to the wall.


  He peered out from around a column and saw the small Hayuman,
Landreau,
  in animated conversation with the fat and fair-haired trader, Horstmann.
  Horstmann was patting his protruding mid-section with satisfaction that,
  at this time of day, could have little to do with the pleasures of the
  table The trader 5 voice rang loudly in the empty hall. "Even
  calculating in the cost of fuel and modifications to the cargo space, we
  could clear a pretty bundle. If I can get impactors, freeze dry
  whatever, that'd increase space available. If we pack in drones, they'd
  take ores, refined or half, even raw for some of the unusual stuff and
  your principals'll be damned pleased with the results, Landreau."
   "That newest colony of theirs hasn't begun to deliver the quantities
   assays suggest are available. And they haven't even thought of the
   concept of in situ space refineries. We got a lot we can teach them."
   Half reeling with the shock of such infamy, Hrrto moved off towards the
   open door. The Hayumans were obviously being given the more im-
portant
   trade items while the Hrrubans were being palmed off with trifles. He
   could not return to the Hrruban conference until he had recovered his
   poise.


   He was halfway there when he heard angry voices coming from the
chamber
   where the space port talks were being held.


   "It would be foolish not to consider Gringg facilities, Admiral,' Lorena
   Kaldonwas saying in an aggravated tone. "Much easier to start off with
   buildings suited to their needs . . "I am not discussing the Gringg,'
   Barnstable said angrily and Hrrto could hear him striding away, his
   booted steps echoing in the marble hall.


   Hrrto heard Kaldon give a totally exasperated sound, the quick noise of
  They were bodily large but all too evidently athletic. Polite farewells
  were made, with Hrrestan and Hrrin doing the most of the talking,
  arranging additional meetings so that tomorrow the Gringg could see,
and
  perhaps order, varieties of ceremonial harnesses.


  Hrrto managed to drop his jaw as the occasion demanded and, by
wrapping
  his tail about one ankle under his robes, managed to keep that append-
age
  from giving any hint of his agitation.


  As the others started leaving the room, he gave a little sign to Mllaba
  to wait and she made a show of gathering up her books, checking on
items
  until they were alone.


  "I think that the Gringg have given the Haynmans purralinium,' he told
  her, speaking in the merest whisper.
  was a chance application. The circumstances are unlikely to be re-
peated
  by Gringg paws." He gave her an odd look. "And the Haynmans keep
  trying! Let us hope the scientists of both do not get together on such
  a project "Highly unlikely, not with Spacedep controlling all technology
  "I must have a few words with Hurrhee,' Hrrto said as he finished
  gathering up his own notes. "Catch him before he leaves." Hurrhee
would
  tell him what the Haynmans did with purralinium and whether they used
  the pure or impure state of the metal. We must remain the only species
  in the galaxy with transport grids."


  "As you say, Speaker,' Mllaba agreed.


  The corridor was lined with windows along this edge of the building.
  Opposite the doors of the computer lab was a view of a stand of
  picturesque forested hills overlooking the landing pad. Frill could see
  the great hulk of the Gringg shuttle on the tarmac, an ostrich among
  chickens. There was someone lurking around it with a furtive air. Frill
  went out to investigate.
  "I don't think you're supposed to be touching that, son,' Frill said.
  "Come on inside."


  "Yes, sir!" the marine said. He snapped off a more creditable salute
  and strolled, not too quickly, into the building. "Good day, sir!" he
  said, marching purposefully up the long corridor.


  "Carry on,' the commander said, vaguely, and turned away. He glanced
  back over his shoulder at the retreating lieutenant, but the man was
  gone. Puzzled, Frill went back to the conference.


  Recalled from a more pleasant occupation to be an observer, Com-
mander
  Frill found himself growing sleepy through the talk of electronics, and
  the endless displays on the small computer screens of circuit diagrams
  which to him looked all alike. It wasn't really his subject. He
  excused himself for a breath of air and wandered out of the computer
  lab.


  Chapter 8
   Ali was trying very hard to negotiate a contract but Honey was
   sidestepping him neatly, suggesting that they would prefer to build
   their own facilities on Doonarrala if some deserted space could be
   found. There was much still to be learned, and language skills
   perfected. By dinnertime, Todd had a deep respect for Honey's skills as
   a negotiator.


   He fought hard for concessions with the Amalgamated World-based
traders,
   and won a few, even from Ali Kiachif, whom Todd thought would never
   yield.


   "Such a facility not being currently available, we meet you halfway and
   do ship-to-ship transfers at designated points in space,' Honey said in
   conclusion. "It will save transit time. From here it is far to the
   Gringg worlds."


   "The same goes on our side,' Kiachif said.


   "No trip, no tax or tariff. That's fair. But there's still a need for
"As you say, as you say,' Honey said, nodding his great head. He had
been incredibly patient with the man s continual complaints and
criticisms.


Todd wondered why Barnstable and Greene had picked so obvious an
agitator. Even Honey had displayed brief annoyance at Markudian's
constant interruptions and trivial complaints. But, Todd supposed,
that's why the man was there, to try and disrupt the meeting as much as
possible. That Markudian had failed was due as much to the Gringg's
unshakeable affability as Todd's own determination not to let such ploys
develop.


A loud, insistent clicking sound arose from the vicinity of the Gringg's
collar.


"Communication device?" Ken whispered to Todd.


"Sounds more like a timer,' Todd said. "I'll bet Kodiak and Big Paws
just heard one of those, too." Todd's surmise was correct. Honey
carefully finished the last of his hieroglyphs and glanced up to nod at
the assembled Hayumans.
Rraladoona? Which name for your world is right?"


"Both, really,' Todd admitted. "Each of our species had their own name
for the planet: Hayumans called it Doona, the Hrrubans, Rrala. Now we
each use both names combined but putting the one from the original
language first." Honey pursed his rubbery black lips. "You defer in all
ways regarding a common language to the Hrrubans, it makes sense to
settle on one name, everyone use it."


"You know, Honey, you're right,' Todd said, nodding.


"Possibly we've just hung on to both names to please our respective
over-governments. We really should be concentrating on unity. It's an
acknowledgement that we're all one world, after all.


Calling people Doonarralans or Rraladoonans is just another way of
identifying them as Hayumans or Hrrubans, and that shouldn't be a
consideration any more. It was a point that hasn't arisen before.


From this moment, I'll only use Rraladoon." Iskoffski looked astonished
and Markudian glowered.
   "Then so will the Gringg, Honey agreed. He and Coypu arose with
more
   grace than their lumbering bodies suggested they were capable of.


   "We will speak to you again soon." Without further ceremony, they
   withdrew.


   The Hayumans remained in place. Markudian was still out of sorts,
   drumming his fingers on the tabletop.


   Looking worn out, Iskoffski stared out the door after the Gringg.


   Even Ali Kiachif was subdued. Jilamey glanced up at Ken and Todd
with
   bemusement.


   "Did I just negotiate a concession for half an ocean of canned fish?" he
   asked. "For a small fortune in rare minerals?" Ken pushed back his
   chair and stretched his long arms toward the ceiling, listening to his
   ribs crack. "One man's trash is another's treasure.
     Kiachif agreed.


     The urge for refreshment had prompted the Hrrubans as well. A few of
     the delegates from the space port conference stood in a corner, eating
     from plates heaped with cold meat and salad. They gravely acknowl-
edged
     the Hayuman entries. The rest, locked in a deep discussion with Sec-
ond
     Speaker, paid no attention to the new arrivals.


     Someone tapped Hrrto on the shoulder. Surprised, the Speaker turned
to
     face Admiral Sumitral.


     There was an awkward pause of a few moments.


     Sumitral recovered first. "A most fruitful afternoon, wouldn't you say,
     Speaker?" he asked amiably.


     "Most interrrsting,' Hrrto said. "Ze Gringg are most skilled at ze
     arrrt of negotiation, zough zis is not zeir native language." His voice
a table. "Jonny?" Greene stood up, looking about him for a refreshment
cabinet. Todd rose to get drinks for the party, listening closely.


"Did you find their terms favourable?" Sumitral asked Hrrto.


"I am surre as much as you yrrrself did,' Second replied, the equal of
Sumitral's courtesy. Now that he had the chance to ask what the Gringg
had offered the Haynmans, his nerve failed him. He could not stand the
humiliation of admitting what the Gringg had asked of them. He kept his
eyes fixed on Sumitral's niild grey eyes, hoping he would speak first.


Todd found the wet-bar cabinet and poured out a good shot of
Doonan-distilled whiskey for the Admiral. The sight of open bottles
attracted a number of the negotiators, and Todd found himself at the
centre of an eager and grateful group, dispensing liquid comfort.


Hrriss gave him a drop-jaw grin from the edge of the throng, and held up
a jug of plain juice. Todd nodded enthusiastically.


"A spot of mlada,' Kiachif requested, with a pretended whine like an old
man. "Not too small, and don't you dare dilute it, laddie." In the
   "I do not zink I am at liberty to reveal zat at zis time,' Second said,
   blandly. Mllaba stared open-eyed at the Haynmans.


   "Perhaps I should not, then, either,' Sumitral said, but Todd could tell
   his curiosity was aroused. Hrrto was being more than usually cagey.


   Ken and Hrriss stood next to the drinks cupboard as Todd poured an-
other
   draft for Ali Kiachif. The captain inhaled that libation and held out
   his glass for a reffil.


   Jilamey broke away from the group in the centre of the room.


   "I can't stand it any longer,' Jilamey said to Hrriss under his breath,
   watching the two senior administrators waltz around one another.
"What
   did they ask for? You must have got some humdingers."


   "In a way,' Hrriss replied, but his big, green eyes were brimming with
   mischief. "But change yrrr expectations down rather zan up!"
  get the words out of his mouth?"


  "Yes,' Hrrestan replied, with a fit of low, grunting laughter. "Hrruba
  has been requested to send this yearn's fashions in hrrnss and jewelled
  szraps, and the heavy cloth of which Hrrto's r9bes are made. Custom-
made
  size gigantic, please, in quantity." Kiachif grinned, his narrow,
  bearded jaws opening in amusement. "They were ready to say no to
bombs
  and bullets, but they didn't have a position prepared on beef or
  baubles!"


  "I am sure zey would have classified it as potenzially dangrrrous and
  not fit for exprrt if zey had considrrred it,' Hrrestan said, his voice
  hoarse with merriment.


  Jilamey exploded in a fit of the giggles. "And when you look at the two
  of them out there, neither one able to spit it out-' he said, waving a
  hand, unable to continue speaking. He watched them for a moment,
then
  his voice changed. "On second thought, I don't think this IS so funny."
     see little evidence of cooperafion in your faces but a lot of wariness.
     Speaker Hrrto, would you like to know what the Gringg asked for in our
     talks?"


     "Reeve, no!" Markudian cried, outraged.


     "Markudian, yes!" Todd said, rounding on him. "I see this as a real
     test of Rraladoonan integrity, not Haynman/Firruban competition.


     Consider this,' he went on urgently, looking around the circle, "one of
     the reasons the Gringg thought we were a single species was the way
we
     worked together.     I was delighted by that because it showed we'd
learned
     to trust each other. But the first stir of the pot from outside, and we
     separate into distrustful and greedy - strangers." Todd stared at each
     one in turn, his glance gliding over Greene's smug expression. "So
     let's reinstate the honesty we have always used in dealings on
     Rraladoon.


     "Prrrhaps if we begin again,' Hrrestan suggested, "knowing zat we arrre
   throat and ground his back teeth a moment before he could bring him-
self
   to reply. "From us,' and the words seemed reluctant to leave his mouth,
   "zey wish fine cloth, leather and jewels for zose collars zey prize so
   much."


   "At that you got the best of it,' Jilamey said, "jewels cost more than
   popcorn and fish." The tension in the room melted away like fog. Todd
   relaxed and grinned at Hrrestan.


   "You should not have admitted such,' Milaba said, glancing at Hrrto but
   careful not to let Todd or any of the others catch her eye.


   "I agree with the little lady,' Barnstable said to Sumitral.


   Todd grinned. "The truth is we all feel a little absurd.


   Right?"


   "Ze Gringg do not wish Hrruban technology,' Hrrto said, his tail giving
   an emphatic switch.
   Neither of her superiors seemed to agree.


   Todd thought it was a faij assessment.


   "Don't be so naive, Grace,' Greene put in acidly. "Any objective
   observer could see that, by asking for such trivia, they are determined
   to allay suspicion." Todd glared at him. "Greene, you're not what I'd
   call an objective observer,' he said. "On the other hand, you are
   extremely suspicious from the get-go.        Have you any reason which
you're
   not sharing with us?"


   "Grrrene is not ze only one who does not believe zeir asserzhons of
   peace,' Hrrrv said, breaking in. "To me,' and he put his fist against
   his chest, "zey are so very not curious about our technology zat zat
   alone makes me suspicious.


   Or have zey been given prrivate brrriefings?" He stared a challenge at
   Todd who felt his hands balling involuntarily into fists.
      withdraw the remark. Now!" Unobtrusively, Hrriss had moved to one
side
      of his friend; Hrrin, too. For one tense moment, Hrrrv looked as if he
      would disobey but the nod of withdrawal was the briefest courtesy
      permitted.


      "We beg your pardon for the intrusion,' a booming voice said from the
      door. Hrrestan's hand fell away, and Todd spun. The Gringg had
      returned. Honey stepped forward, gesturing to two of the other males to
      enter the dining room. Between them dangled a Spacedep lieutenant,
      struggling and angry. His uniform was mussed and he had a bruise on
his
      cheek. "We return this Hayuman male to you. He had unaccountably
found
      his way on to our ship."


      "He what?" Todd exploded.


      "He was concealed behind a storage hatch,' Kodiak said, apologetically.
      "But we smelled him. I knew immediately which Haynman he was. I
had
"We thank you for rrrsstoring him to us. He surely became lost and
disoriented. We will see zat he does not wandrrr again." Fortunately,
the Gringg chose to accept Hrrestan's explanation.


"Then we wish you good day,' Honey said, with a toothy smile at the
assembly. The Gringg left, and the room seemed suddenly larger.


As soon as the door closed, Lieutenant Bouros shook off Hrrestan's grip
and stood at attention. Greene eyed him with annoyance.


"Detected by smell,' Hrrrv said in disgust. "A fine job of concealment,
Terranmale. No Hrruban would have been so stupid."


"What in hell did you think you were doing concealing yourself on the
Gringg shuttle in the first place?" Todd demanded, looming over him.


"I don't answer to you, sir,' the marine said, staring straight at the
wall ahead of him.


"Reeve, this is a Spacedep matter,' Barnstable said, pulling Todd aside
and lowering his voice. Greene and Ken closed in on them.
      "Ev, that's Alreldep's job, not yours,' Sumitral said, mastering his
      irritation. "And to allow him to go without neutralization of body
      odour?" Sumitral rolled his eyes.


      "Have you learned nothing about the Gringg? Even the kids here know
the
      Gringg have a keen sense of smell.


      Or don't they issue deodorants in your navy?"


      "Reconnaissance seems an obvious course with unknowns like the
Gringg,'
      Bouros said, still staring straight ahead.


      "The ship wasn't secured, sir. It was easy to do a recon."


      "A recon might have been acceptable,' Sumitral said, though his
      expression was dubious.


      "But you had hidden, hadn't you?" Todd said. "Intending to remain on
  also under mine as planetary leader,' Todd went on, his fury unabated.
  "The next time, mister, you overstep yourself, you'll be subject to my
  authority."


  "And mine,' Hrrestan said with equal threat.


  The marine kept his face carefully expressionless.


  "Have we made ourselves clear, Admiral?" Todd added, turning to
  Barnstable but looking at Greene, too. "We're trying to forge an
  alliance with these beings and there are to be no more juvenile war-
games
  during the proceedings."


  "Has it never occurrrred to you,' Hrrestan went on, "zat ze Gringg will
  likely tell you morrre zan you could ever discoverr by spying?"


  "With all respect, leader,' Greene said, "I doubt that very much."


  "I wish zo know morrre about ze Gringg zen zey have told us,' Hrrrv
  muttered sulkily. "As yrrr prrrecious Hayumans say, "Know yrr enemy."'
taken much of the wind out of their sails. He allowed his temper to
cool. He'd said enough, and to the point, for one day. He'd best
withdraw.


"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have other matters to attend to." With a
bow to the assembly, Todd left the dining hall.


"A little strong, was that not?" Hrriss asked, mildly, following Todd
toward the grid. His naturally quicker pace kept him abreast of the
Hayuman who was still dissipating his anger.


"Aargh!" Todd said, stopping and twining his hands into his hair.


"I wish they'd all pack up and go home, and let us handle the diplomatic
relations. We'd achieve fair terms and a treaty, and they'd never have
to leave Terra!"


"Or Hrruba,' Hrriss said, thoughtfully. "I don't know how zings went
with ze trade discussions, but ze space port talks were constantly
interrupted by Barnstable's objections. I zought he was an advocate."
Todd grinned. "Only if Spacedep's allowed its little bureaucracies. And
     have been so glad to see Greene leave our trade talks where, I might
     add, he and that Markudian lackey of his were doing their damnedest to
     mess things up."


     "He objected to selling zem food?"


     "As much as Hrrto ornaments from Hrruba The two old friends grinned
at
     each other.


     "Greene had a notion that perhaps they wanted us for food,' Todd said,
     with a shadow of distaste at being reminded of that incident.


     "Ho!   So long as you promised zem Rraladoona snake, y6u skinny
creatures
     are safe,' Hrriss said with a laugh.


     "All fooling aside, Hrriss, I think the Spacedep personnel bear closer
     watching. But come on,' he said, with a sudden lightening of mood.
     "We've got to get the lists of teams drawn up for the Hunt, or you'll
     see a hell of a hullabaloo when the snakes swarm!" He grinned at his
     Race you to the grid!" Forgetting for the moment that they were adults,
     with children and responsibilities, the two abandoned themselves to the
     familiar contest of their childhood. Todd was laughing by the time he
     caught up with Hrriss at the pillars.


     After Todd had stalked out, most of the other delegates found excuses
to
     leave. Jilamey Landreau collared Admiral Sumitral and led him away,
     talking excitedly about the tons of fish and snake which the Gringg
     would need. Hrrestan was deep in discussions with the craftsfolk about
     the availability of large quantities of well-tanned leathers and they
     all left. Only Castleton, Barnstable, Greene, Second Speaker, Hrrrv,
     and Mllaba remained.


     Greene spoke to Bouros. "You're dismissed, man.


     Report back to Earth." He turned to Barnstable. "We can't use him
again
     now that Reeve and the others have seen him."


     "Stupid way to be caught,' Castleton said with a halfsmile. "Especially
  "Well, Castleton, see what your specialists can do to overcome that
  problem,' Barnstable said, giving her a sour glance. That startled her
  but she nodded her head in acceptance of the commission.


  "Somehow or other, we have got to gain more evidence against the
Gringg
  that will hold up in World Court. Grace, have we gotten anything new
  from the exploration ship?"


  "Nothing yet, Admiral,' Castleton said. "I renewed the request with an
  urgent tag on it through secured transmission again this morning.


  "Confound it, we need that data. Barnstable pulled a chair away from
  the dining table and sank into it.


  "Trivia!" Second Speaker burst out suddenly. Grace stared at him,
  wondering if he was accusing them.        The Hrruban began to pace,
showing
  all the agitation he had concealed while S\1mitral and the others were
  present. The Speaker's tail lashed back and forth. "The Gringg ask us
  for trivia. What does it mean?"
  released from his duties planetside because it was causing jealousy
  among the personnel who had been denied permission to downside.
Grace
  had been grateful for the presence of Jon Greene, who had lent her his
  deep well of strength. He was the most zealous patriot she had ever
  met. All his actions and decisions were considered in the light of what
  was best for Humanity.


  Grace admired him, but found herself unable to agree completely with
him
  about the treachery of the Gringg. Still, she watched the computer
  scopes every day, tracking the approach of the Spacedep squadron. It
  was still too far away to be picked up on sensors. Nor was anything
  else, which took care of the notion that the Gringg were waiting for
  reinforcements.


  "What are the Gringg waiting for?" Mllaba asked, her yellow-green eyes
  wide.


  "A display of physical aggression?" Castleton suggested.
sir,' Greene said, "if you'll allow me a free hand."


"What? All right, Greene. Carry on.


Castleton paused, wondering how to phrase her feelings. "Sir, after
having listened to them today, I hesitate to admit it, but I . .


. I like the Gringg. Hearing them talk, it's hard to believe that they
caused the destruction of an entire planet. Their behaviour differs so
greatly from what appeared on that tape. If I hadn't seen it, I'd never
be convinced that they are dangerous.


"Besides that, they are so big!" Hrrto exclaimed. "And so loud!'
Barnstable planted a firm finger on the tabletop. "Cunning, too. All
that openness and charm right up to the moment they're ready to take
over this planet!" Such an emphatic pronouncement silenced the others.


"Only a week, maybe less,' Hrrrv said in a tone of some desperation,
"and we'll have a superior force in Rraladoonan skies.


Zen we will have ze authority,' he paused and drew his lip back from his
   "Speaker Hrrto and Captain Hrrrv, you would of course support this
move
   for any doubting Hrrubans,' Greene put in. "With an intelligent and
   dedicated administration, we'll soon put things to rights. We might
   even consider removing the Reeve family from Doonarrala as subver-
sive to
   the well-being of the colony since they seem to be forever leading-it
   into dangerous situations." Just thinking of that possibility gave
   Greene a certain measure of satisfaction. Grace Castleton regarded
him
   with shock. She had no idea his dislike of the young planetary
   administrator went that deep.


   "And Hrrestan with him,' Mllaba said, "since he also espouses zese
same
   courses."


   "I do most respectfully suggest that you act only on provocation,' Grace
   Castleton said. "This is an independent and autonomous planet. We
   still don't have proof that these Gringg pose a threat to the planet or
  do not play devil's advocate."


  "Oh? Well, there's that,' Barnstable said, mollified.


  "The Gringg protestations of their pacific nature are hypocritical,'
  Barnstable went on, "and the basis for trade with them ludicrous. Only
  consolidates my distrust of "em.


  I'll have conclusive proof all too soon that they're dangerous!


  Why, the size of them alone makes them physically superior . - I mean -
  - - well, you know what I mean!


  We've got to make these fool Doonarralans see that these bear types
are
  the most dangerous species Mankind has ever encountered.


  Why, they could dominate the known galaxy. That cannot be allowed!"


  "It will not, sir,' Greene assured him.
      "AH!" and she leaped from the kitchen and stopped abruptly in the mid-
dle
      of the room, fists dug into her hips. ""Would you mind entertaining
      Captain Grizz and her son, honey?"


      " She did a good imitation of him and that further warned him of being
      in deep trouble with her.


      Oh, all I have to do is entertain them this afternoon, show them how we
      live?"


      " She said, mimicking her own wifely reply. "But,-' and now she
      advanced on him, her head down, her glower intense, "does my beloved
      husband drop me one little word of the essential difference between the
      bears I've met and our noble Captain Grizzly? No, nary a word does he
      say!" With a practised flick of her hand, she caught his outstretched
      hand with the hard edge of a whipped tea-towel. It stung and, even as
      he began retreating, she flicked the towel again, catching him even
      harder on the leg.
  and her attack. "You knew that! We told you she was immense . . .
  that the males are tercels.


  I know we said it."


  "But you didn't say it then!" With unexpected force she jerked the door
  free of his grasp and he stood there, feeling vulnerable.


  "Honey, you're good at remembering details - he began. Then panic
swept
  through him. "Nothing happened, did it? With Orizz and Weddeerogh?"
  Surely someone would have got word to him about that.


  Kelly turned on her heel. "No, nothing happened except Nrrna, Mrrva
and
  I were paralysed with shock for five minutes. Even the grid operator
  was affected . . ." And then Kelly couldn't maintain her angry pose
  any longer.


  She burst out laughing, doubling up with the strength of her spasms.
"He's adorable! All I could think of was "a Bear of Very Little Brain .


"Huh?"


"You know, Winnie-the-Pooh." She stared at her husband.


"My mother read me those stories when I was a kid and I read them to
ours . . . don't you remember?


Eeyore "And the tail that's all he's got,' and Todd now remembered the
charming stories. "What name did the kids give Weddeerogh?"


"Teddy,' Kelly said firmly, "Not my idea. Winnie ought to have been
obvious but those kids of yours latched on to Teddy Bear and there was
no arguing them out of it.


My word, but he can eat. "Sing ho for a Bear, sing ho for a Pooh",' she
sang, ""I'll have a little something in an hour or two".


He can move in here any time his mother's away Swims like a dolphin.
     head in remembered amazement, "I didn't think the grid could take
     anything that big!"


     "That particular grid, as you well know, can handle a whole village. So,
     what was the captain's reaction? She wasn't offended?"


     "I believe she thought we weren't sure how to greet her appropriately
     and instructed us,' Kelly said, snuggling up to him now which is what
     he'd wanted all along but he didn't feel quite like responding to her
     just yet. "And Teddy was no problem at all especially after he saw
     Hrrunna. After that, when he wasn't in the water, he was rocking her.
     Thank goodness they eat anything, and almost everything. I'll have to
do
     a major resupply tomorrow. Another thing, Grizz wouldn't come in here
     she figured our floors weren't up to her weight .


     but she looked in through every window. On tiptoe she could even see
     into the dormer rooms." She stifled another bubble of laughter.


     "She seemed to approve - but mainly of the lake. Thank goodness you
and
      Todd affected a very serious expression. "Not what we expected at all."
      He wondered how long he could play this one out before he told her the
      "awful truth' Once the details of trade items became public knowledge,
      there was great competition to show the Gringg what Rraladoon craftfolk
      and farmers had to offer. Since the old Hall would be even more
      inadequate than ever with even a few Gringg within, every village
      offered its green as marketplace. Nearly half the Gringg on board the
      Wander Den wished to participate actively in trading so that no village
      had a chance to feel deprived or neglected.


      Other Gringg were interested in other facets of life on the planet.
      Their wishes were accommodated despite continued vehement protests
and
      ominous warnings from Spacedep. Gringgs were "adopted' for a day by
      people in every line of work. With scrupulous impartiality, Kelly and
      Nrrna acted as secretaries for such engagements. So it was not
      surprising that, when Shhrrgahnnn asked to see more closely some of
the
      four-footed beasts which were in such continuous use by Hayuman and
      Hrruban that Kelly asked her brother to oblige him.
   hadn't exhibited a "physical' reaction.


   "Well, sick stock doesn't respond normally. That voder contraption
   unnerves me,' Mike said, "and I understand its purpose.


   However, Kelly did agree to wait and be sure that the Gringg didn't
   freak out his patients. So, early on the scheduled morning, Kelly Reeve
   delivered the guest at the hospital.


   "Now, Bra,' Kelly said, introducing the Gringg, "your niece and nephew
   have renamed him Cinnamon.


   "I can see why,' Mike replied affably. "He's got hair the same colour
   as we do. Mike's poll was fiery red, much brighter than Cinnamon's
   though both could be termed "red'. Where Kelly was dainty and slen-
derly
   built, Mike's features were heavier and his frame carried extra bulk. He
   had a willing, open face that wore a grin of anticipation as the Gringg
   climbed awkwardly out of the Reeve family hovercraft.


   "Cinnamon, this is my brother, Mike,' Kelly said, holding on to his arm.
   "Fardles, he's a monster!" Bert muttered, nevertheless extending a hand
   to the Gringg.


   "Greetings, or whatever." The Gringg touched his claws gently to the
   middle of the man's palm. Bert drew back, pretending to make sure all
   the fingers were intact.


   "I am most pleased,' Cinnamon said after the usual preliminary growl-
ings
   came through the voder. He showed his long, white teeth, and all three
   males swallowed.


   "Bet he brrush zem a lot,' Errrne quipped weakly.


   "I've never seen anything with red eyes before that wasn't stark raving
   mad,' Gross added.


   "All right!" Kelly said, keeping an affable grin on her own face, just
   as glad that neither Bert nor Eurne had voders. "Let's see what effect
   Cinnamon has on the stock.
  Cinnamon seemed friendly and curious, not threatening as some of
those
  in-flow visitors from Earth had suggested. The Gringg stood looking
  around him, sniffing the air, nostrils wrinkling ever so slightly.


  "I guess the barn does smell kind of pungent,' Mike said, with a grin
  and wondered if the voder translated the tone in which words were said,
  or meant. "It's a warm day, and we haven't mucked out our patients'
  stalls yet,' he explained to the Gringg. "Come along. You don't have
  to do any of it, but we can talk to you while we work." The isolation
  stables were in a big airy barn that had ventilators along the roof
  line, to circulate air through the building without chilling the
  patients below. Sensing the visitors, sick horses and mules started to
  whicker, somewhat nervously: one kicked its side partitions.


  Promptly Mike marched Cinnamon out again, while Kelly exclaimed in
some
  dismay until Mike re-entered the Barn with Cinnamon through the
downwind
  door.
     the stall door.


     A low hiss of admiration escaped between Cinnamon's lips as he gazed
at
     the young bay horse standing on the straw. The animal looked up from
     the hay it was lipping, wisps hanging from its lips as it gave the
     unusual shape a long stare before it started to chew again, but it
     didn't panic. It twitched its dark satin skin here and there as if
     ffies troubled it. It raised the white-bandaged leg, curling the hoof
     under the protection of its body.


     "See? No reaction at all,' Kelly said, "I'm off!" and she departed
     before anyone could delay her.


     "The creature is very beautiful,' Cinnamon said, speaking more softly
     through the voder than Mike could have thought possible. "What is
such
     an animal used for?"


     "We ride them,' Mike explained, gritting his teeth as the voder squawked
     back. The gelding switched ears and rolled eyes apprehensively but
      Cinnamon gave the cow a most cursory glance and went back to admire
the
      horse. "They are like gentleness and night and wood,' Cinnamon said,
      struggling for Hrruban words to express his admiration.


      "Hrrrsses must surely be the most lovely creatures on Rraladoon,' he
      pronounced with a trill that enhanced the Hrruban word.


      "Well, we kind of like them, too,' Mike said, a little overwhelmed to be
      on the receiving end of poetry so early in the morning. "Stay and see
      how we care for them. I've got to spend some time in the surgery this
      morning. Bert, you have the comm." He passed his voder over so that
any
      queries Cinnamon had could be understood. Then, with a nod at the
      others to begin their work, he left for his office.


      Cinnamon watched intently as Mike and Bert hauled out soiled straw
and
      spread fresh, doled out medication, checked bandages, and generally
      cared for the ailing hoofed animals. When the round device on the wall
what is the purpose of this place. I have watched you. Why have a
vet-er-i-nor-y hospital when you eat animals? Why not just eat the ones
who can no longer serve you?" Errrne and Gross thought this was the
funniest thing they'd ever heard. Mike shut them up with an eloquent
glance.


"You don't farm animals, do you?" Mike asked rhetorically "Morra.


Only plants such as grain, vegetables and fruits.


All of our meat is caught wild. There is plenty of game around us, and
we are good at preserving that which is uneaten,' Cinnamon replied.


"Well, there are more reasons to have animals than for food,' Mike said.
"Not all animals make good eating."


"Can you show me some?"


"No, I can't. Every beast we raise on Rraladoon has a double purpose.
   "The captain will want to know about these,' he said.


   The Gringg was careful to input all new vocabulary into the memory of
   the voder at his throat. By the end of the morning, he could discuss
   what he had learned with intelligence and a measurable degree of
   clarity.


   "These bruins are smart,' Bert commented, impressed.


   "Tape-learning,' Errrne said, shrugging his plush-covered shoulders. "He
   is amassing a bluffrrr's guide, zat is all." Errrne was puzzled when
   Cinnamon shoved away the chair beside their table in the lunch room.
   Then he realized that the Gringg was quite capable of reaching the table
   even parked on the floor beside it. Not knowing how much a Gringg ate,
   Mike had made arrangements with the cafeteria cook for double quanti-
ties
   of everything.


   As he watched the Gringg eat, though daintily enough for all his size,
   Mike was a little sorry that he hadn't made that triple.
  "I didn't think anything short of a Great Big Mamma Snake could pack it
  in tighter."


  "Everything had a most delicious flavour,' Cinnamon said, rolling back
  on his tail and running the tip of a claw between his teeth for stray
  morsels. "I admire also the variety of textures and aromas." Mike
  grinned. "The grub is good here. What's Gringg food like?"


  "We eat protein, carbohydrates, starch coming from different sources. I
  will show you some of our eatables at another time. Now I must be
  curious about all aspects of our new friends, who are so very different
  from Gringg."


  "You can say that again,' Bert said, surveying the alien with a narrowed
  eye, forgetting that he was wearing the voder.


  "Why must I repeat it?" Cinnamon asked, drawing his brows together
over
  his snout.
   "Cinnamon asked, and the men laughed again.


   It was impossible for anyone passing through the lunch room to miss the
   shaggy hulk of the Gringg. A few eyed Cinnamon warily and passed on
   hurriedly. Mike recognized those as interns from Earth.


   Most of the usual Rraladoon staff, however, stopped to be introduced.


   Cinnamon's head kept turning back and forth, trying to follow multiple
   conversations. Mike decided he was happy to be in the midst of
   everything. One by one, the medics and visitors recalled appointments,
   and disappeared, leaving the four of them alone at their table.


   "OK,' Bert asked. "So, Cinnamon, what do you want to do this
   afternoon?"


   "I wish to learn more about the pretty hrrrsses,' he said eagerly.


   "You and everybody else,' Mike said, pushing away from the table with a
   mock sigh of exasperation.      "Come on.     We've got Mrs Lawrence's
hunter
      hair. The things most people noticed about her were her perfect
      cupid's-bow lips, and the fact that she was as shy as an urfa.


      She nodded, tilting her head towards the stall.


      "No problem,' she said, collecting her wits. "Like you ordered, I
      changed the dressing before feeding this morning so it might need
      replacement.


      The chestnut horse stood half asleep in the sun. Mike hopped over the
      fence and approached with soothing sounds, running one hand down
the
      back and to the rump. Its eyelids fluttered as it shifted a leg,
      denoting it was aware of Mike.


      "Hey, watch he don't cowkick you, Mike!" Bert said, nervously, "if he
      catches sight of Cinnamon?"


      "He's all right,' Mike said, turning to catch the tie-rope and halter in
      one hand.
      being very careful to stay downwind.


      "We call horses the wealth of Doona,' Mike explained, patting the
      gelding's cheek. "No one in the galaxy raises better stock than we do:
      jumpers, hunters, or just riding hacks."


      "How is it ridden?" Cinnamon asked.


      "I will show you,' Errrne volunteered, taking another headcollar and
      lead rope from those on the peg of the turn-out field. As the Gringg
      watched, the Hrruban quietly approached an animal grazing just beyond
      the - sick gelding. Deftly he slipped on the halter, tied the rope on
      to the far side to make a impromptu rein. Then, with the ease of long
      practice, Errrne leaped to the gelding's back and coaxed it into a walk.


      "You hold on with your knees,' Mike explained. "You don't need a sad-
dle
      unless you're riding a long distance.


      Then it's vital for your comfort and the mount's. They've got sharp
      spines.
      "He does what to hrrrsses?" Cinnamon asked, anxiously, tapping the
      voder. Bert laughed as he tried to explain.


      ""Break" is not the direct translation,' Mike said, his eyes dancing.


      "Hello?" someone called.


      "Back here!" Mike shouted back.


      Footsteps ticked and scratched on the concrete floor of the barn.


      Nita blushed suddenly. Mike noticed her reaction with a grin. If she
      knew those boots just by sound, the wearer had to be Robin Reeve.


      The younger brother was a smaller, slighter copy of Todd. He had the
      same intense blue eyes, dynamite with the engaging grin that got him
out
      of trouble as often as it got him into it.


      "Afternoon,' he drawled, then noticed the visitor. "Well, him!' he
      greeted the Gringg. "I'm Robin. Which one are you?"
"Robin is my brother-in-law, Mike said. "His brother is married to my
sister-' "A most complicated explanation of a simple relationship,'
Cinnamon observed.


"Sometimes, it's very complicated,' Robin agreed. "Say, Mike, I've got
a sow in the flitter out front. She's due to farrow any time now, but
she's running a temperature.


I'm afraid she'll lose the htter."


"How in hell did you get a sick, pregnant pig into a hover?" Mike
demanded.


"It's only because she knows she's my favorite that she trusted me
enough. I have this way with women. Oh, hi, Nita,' he said,
mischievously peering at her sidelong from under his sweeping black
lashes. Nita bent the bow of her delicious-looking lips into a shy
smile, then retreated to the isolation stall.


"I'd better take a look at your pig then,' Mike said, grinning.
to
     the species, and to this specimen in particular, when the Hayuman Bert
     Gross pulled at his forelimb fur.


     "If you want to see some more horses, we've got a whole bunch of them
in
     a corral over to the other side of the building,' Gross said, studiously
     casual.


     "Reh!" Cinnamon exclaimed, picturing a sea of the beautiful animals. "I
     would be most grateful." The Hrruban pulled Gross to one side. "What
     are you up to?" Errrne said in a low voice.


     "I'm gonna show our guest,' Gross said, with careful emphasis, "a whole
     lot of horses.


     Errrne, understanding the joke at last, dropped his jaw in a big grin.
     "Let us go!" The paddock contained some thirty animals, huddled to-
gether
     near the feed troughs.     One tiger-spotted Appaloosa stood near the
gate,
  "They are not hrrrsses?" Cinnamon asked, puzzled.


  "When is a hrrrss not a hrrrss?"


  "Is that a joke?" Bert asked, elbowing his Hrruban companion. "Uh,
when
  a horse - ah, forget it.


  Yeah, they're horses. Nice, aren't they?"


  "Reh,' Cinnamon breathed.


  He felt a deep affection rising in him for the big, liquid eyes, slender
  limbs, and smooth pelts of these animals. Oh, what very attractive
  creatures they were. "I understand why Rraladoon prizes them so."


  "Why don't you just go in and get acquainted with them?" Bert asked,
  opening the gate and standing back to gesture him courteously through.
  "They're all wellhandled."
   Wearing a beatific expression, Cinnamon walked towards the herd.


   Instantly, it split into two groups and cantered past him toward the
   opposite side of the corral.


   The Gringg was disappointed that the animals were so shy around him.
His
   new friend had assured him that they were friendly. Perhaps he was
just
   too unfamiliar. If he allowed them to smell him, they would become
used
   to him and come close enough to touch.


   Extending one paw forward very slowly, Cinnamon walked towards
them
   again. For the first ten paces, they stayed where they were, watching
   him approach.


   He had not observed before that their huge brown eyes were edged with
   white under the lids. He took another step. One of the bigger animals
   tossed its head. That seemed to set off the others, who cantered away
   the Doonarralans behind him, but he did not see them slapping one
   another on the back. He tried another approach. When the herd was
   downwind of him, he stood still, allowing the slight breeze to carry his
   scent to them.


   The musk of his fur made a few of the horses rear and toss their heads,
   but they did not bolt or show other signs of alarm. In a few moments,
   they calmed down completely except for a twitch here and there.
Slowly,
   very slowly, Cinnamon moved closer with his paw out.


   As before, as soon as he was within a Gringg-length or two, the herd
   melted to either side of him and fled. Patiently, Cinnamon tried again.


   "We could let this go on all day!" Gross said, red-faced with laughter.
   Errrne grunted breathlessly beside him.


   Over and over, the same actions repeated themselves.


   The bear-like Gringg walked towards the herd, which split up and ran
"What's with that one? It's spooking badly now,' Gross said, pointing.
"I don't want it jumping the fence." At first there seemed to be no
reason for the horse's growing anxiety. As the herd split one more
time, the two men outside the pen saw why.


"A mare's in zat bunch,' Errrne cried.


"Oh, fardles, and her colt is there, too,' Bert said, hurrying to jump
the fence. The mare cut out of the herd and made straight for the
Gringg, swinging her head back and forth, showing her teeth.


"Cinnamon, get out of there!" he yelled. "Back off!" The Gringg stood
waiting for it, his eyes wide with joy.


Even trained as he was for accurate recall, Cinnamon was not ever able
to describe exactly how the collision came about. One of the horses
came out of the herd, directly toward him. Welcoming, he put out a paw
for it to sniff, but greeting him was not what it intended.


He saw a flash of eye, then teeth, then hard, round hooves flailing at
his face. It cut his muzzle, making him bleed. The hooves struck him
stopping uncertainly halfway there, it emitted a tentative whinny, which
grew sharper when there was no reply. Cinnamon realized with horror
that this was her young. He had killed a mother horse and left an
orphan.


He threw back his head and wailed his grief. Then the horses began to
stampede!


The instant the wild howling started, Mike and Robin exchanged a look
and raced towards that side of the building. They'd never heard such a
sound before - a cross between a siren and a foghorn, a very insistent
and unhappy foghorn - but they knew it meant trouble.


In the stableyard, there was a penful of hysterical horses hammering
themselves against the far fence, and Mike's two junior associates
staring with horror at the Gringg.


"What happened?" Mike demanded, looking from one to the other.


"Why's he yelling like that?"
      The Hayuman and Hrruban traders, chafing from their enforced idleness
      while waiting for the outcome of the postponed conference, had spent a
      lot of time in the pub of the Space Centre. It wasn't a large one,
      though additions had been made as trade to Doonarrala increased.


      In fact, there was more pub' than space port facility. The ambience of
      this small cramped complex was a thousand light years different from
the
      mild village it bordered, and the pub was a further remove yet.


      Ali Kiachif made it a point to drop in at least once a day and swap lies
      with whoever was hanging about. Any of his captains who needed to
drop
      a private word in his ear could find him there and many potential
      problems were quietly defused in that milieu.


      Fred Horstmann and a couple of the others involved in the conference
      were having an afternoon drink with Kiachif.


      The subject, as it had been for weeks, was the Gringg.
  "Fun? For fish, flesh, or fowl?" Kiachif asked, ripping the seal off a
  fresh bottle of mlada and pouring himself a glassful. "I'd say they're
  telling the truth."


  "But it sounds like a joke,' Horstmann offered, taking a pull from his
  beer. "Hard to believe they'd settle on such simple stuff, if you
  understand me." The other traders grinned.


  "You've been around Kiachif too long,' Captain Darwin said, looking
open
  and innocent when the Codep chief turned a surprised glare on him.


  "Not so simple, but it's a foot in the door, to be sure, a foot in the
  door,' Ali said. "Nothing will do but fresh and new, which will keep
  our ships in the space lanes.


  I like that well enough, if you follow my reasoning, and you do." The
  debate went on, with about two thirds of the spacers firmly in the
  Gringg's corner, and the others uncomfortable and unsure of the new
  aliens' motivations.
      Greene was sure set on roiling up ill-feeling and Kiachif knew, from his
      special sources, that the commander'd come an aIm's ace to making an
      intergalactic incident happen.    Which would have been bad for new
trade
      possibilities and that was not on in Kiachifs lexicon.


      It's time he had a piece of my mind handed him, Kiachif thought.


      He gulped what was left in his glass and excused himself.


      "I'll be back,' he called to the publican. "Another bottle of the same,
      to be waiting." The man snapped the towel he was plying on the inside
of
      a glass pitcher, and nodded.


      The mlada was burning a pleasant warmth in his stomach as he made
his
      way through the chilly concrete corridors. Kiachif told himself he
      preferred a quiet life, but a good mill always helped the blood run
      warmer. If Greene didn't tell Kiachif why he was trying so hard to
      queer things, it wouldn't be for want of persuasion - of one form or
      someone who wasn't visible from the doorway. A lover's chat, perhaps?


      Kiachif slowed down as he recognized the man's voice: the importunate
      Commander Greene.


      He doubled back and put his ear next to the door-post.


      Whatever was going on in there, it wasn't love talk. He heard Greene
      say something about sensors, followed by a low and indistinguishable
      question. The woman shook her head.


      "No, sir. It's all been by the book, I swear,' she said.


      She sounded panicky, and her skin had a moist look of stress Kiachif
did
      not like to see.


      "And the records of the scans have all been filed under coded seals?"
      Greene's voice was smooth and low, but there was an unmistakable
threat
      in it.
   reconstruct it, given time. There'd been three ships on the screen
   three ships with the yellow data prints of heavy weaponry.


   Heet ships? But where bound, and why?


   "It's a crime to reveal secure data to anyone without the correct
   classification,' the commander said, continuing his harangue.


   "I know that, sir,' the technician said. "I'd never do that, sir."
   "Good,' Greene said, standing up and moving into Kiachifs line of sight.
   He leaned over her in an ominous fashion. That he scared her was
   obvious from her distraught expression. "See that you don't. You are
   to keep me or Admiral Barnstable posted on any change, but no one
else,
   do you understand me? An infraction of the regulations could put you
   into a one-by-two cell in a military prison on Earth for ten years.


   The woman's eyes widened until Kiachif thought they'd pop right out of
   her head.


   "Well, if that gall don't grease a goose's gizzard,' Kiachif muttered.
      fixed Kiachif with a hostile stare. He was clearly unhappy to have been
      interrupted before he had totally cowed the poor girl.


      "I was just going,' he said. "Remember what I said,' he told the
      technician. "Security!"


      "Yes, Commander,' the technician said, unhappily.           She watched
Greene
      leave, then turned to Kiachif, beads of sweat visible on her forehead.
      "How may I help you, Captain?" she asked, placing her hands ready on
the
      keyboard at her station. Her voice petered out, and she swallowed.


      "Is that rattlesnake giving you trouble, my dear?" Kiachif asked kindly,
      sitting down on the edge of the chair Greene had just vacated.


      "Oh, no, sir,' she said quickly.


      "Now, now, you know, I don't believe you at all, if you follow me,'
      Kiachif said, his voice soothing. "That one has no manners. I'm sure
      that asking nicely would have gotten him the self-same smiling service
   or so of miada, would you? A sort of thank you for checking up on my
   ship? You look like you could do with a jolt, if you know what I mean."
   She shot him a tentative smile. "I don't know as I should "Why not?
   Your shift will be over, duty done, and a little relaxation's in order.
   You've been under quite a strain, with all the shipping in and out, and
   many's the glass I've had that's taken the weariness out of me in such a
   situation. So I recommend it highly to you, if you know what I mean."
   After Greene's manner, the kindly old captain whom she'd known for
years
   soothed her rattled nerves. A drink or two in pleasant company was just
   what she needed right now. She swiped back her hair with a shaking
   hand. "Oh, captain,' she said, in a low voice suffused with
   desperation.


   "I'd like that very, very much."


   Chapter 9


   Sic EVERYONE ON BOARD THE WANDER DEN was so busy that
there wasn't even
"I told you Teddy could come any time,' she said. "Pop over and tell
Nrrna, will you, kids? Is Grizz coming, too?" she added, immediately
cataloguing what she had already prepared in the freezer.


"No, just Teddy,' and Todd grinned. "With all the adults out and about
trading, or kibbutzing, the little feller's likely to be lonely."
"Little feller?" Kelly mocked, grinning, and raised her hand to her ear
level.


"Comparatively,' Todd said with a grin. "Buddy'll drop Teddy off right
here. Save you a trip into town."


"Fine by me, as I thought the air cushions on the flitter would burst
the day we collected t little feller and his sweet mommy from the grid."
Kelly favoured her husband with a sardonic look for the surprise she'd
had when all of Grizz and her not-so-small cub had emerged from the
mist.


"I'll clear up as much as I can in my office tomorrow, Todd said, "so I
can join in the fun."
  that when Buddy skilfully landed the big Gringg shuttle, there were
  unofficial observers, too, as the eager five young bounded to greet
  Weddeerogh. He had put on his best fish-scale collar and, on his dam's
  urging, had brushed his fur until it gleamed. He had also shortened the
  cord of his voder so that it no longer prodded his ear or the back of
  his head.


  Not that the voder could handle the shrieks and shouts of delight from
  the two Hayumans and three Hrrubans.


  He didn't even try to say the phrases of gratitude his dam had had him
  prepare.


  "C'mon,' and the Alec one grabbed his hand and started pulling him
away
  from the house. "The (garble) just hatched and you've never seen baby
  (garble) before, Teddy." Alison, Hrrana and Hrrunival either pushing or
  pulling him started him on the way to the barn while the smallest
  Hrruban followed, wide-eyed.


  "I must give your parent . . ." Teddy began, the voder stuttering at
  He found the newly hatched "chickens' (and he dutifully added that noun
  and "bantie' as "mother of chicks' to the vocabulary), delightful
  creatures although he couldn't hear them peeping, as the others could,
  no matter how he fiddled with the voder.


  Then he was taken on the tour of the horses in the barn and he pleased
  everyone by remembering the names he had been given on his previ-
ous
  visit. He wondered how long it would be before he could mention
  swimming in the lake again but no, there were other newborn creatures
  for him to meet. . . katzz and kitthhhhens. He did know the word
  "katz' . . . small furry being. Well, he must uphold the honour of
  his father, who was one of the most renowned scribes on their home
  world, so Teddy girded himself to remember the personal names of
these
  new species. It wasn't easy to pick up new words: the Hayuman chil-
dren
  talked so fast and the Hrruban brothers and sister interrupted them
  constantly, making it difficult for the voder to keep up.


  "Here they are, Teddy,' Hrrana said, beating the others to show the
  It sniffed at him as was proper so he sniffed, very carefully, at it.


  "(garble) behind the ears,' Hrrana said and demonstrated. He asked her
  to repeat the first word and then added it to the rapidly increasing
  line of new vocabulary.


  He gently extruded one claw, because his digits were much larger than
  Hrrana's, and applied the appropriate pleasure. He could feel a
  rumbling through the palm of his hand.


  "She's prrrring,' Hrrana told him proudly and he took this to mean the
  small creature accepted him.


  "What is this kitthhhen? How big does it grow?" Teddy asked just as a
  larger, black-and-white creature of the same species came bounding
over
  the hay-strewn place to investigate him. It sniffed at his feet and
  courteously he squatted and got his head down to its level to get its
  scent.


  "That's how big it grows,' Hrrunival said. "Cats are from Earzz and are
"At least as intelligent as you, Hrrunival,' Alec went on, tauntingly.


As he evidently expected, Hrrunival charged at Alec who lithely twisted
Out of the way and streaked for the wide open barn door, Hrrunival in
close pursuit. Clucking (rather like the chicken had), Alison removed
the kitten from Teddy's hand.


"We'd better make sure the fight's fair, she said and, with Hrrana and
Ourrh who hadn't yet addressed the Gringg cub, followed the boys.


The little Gringg had no choice but to follow as fast as he could
waddle. At the door Alison looked back.


"Wait, Hrrana! We're leaving Teddy behind!"


"Ooops! He can't run verry fast, can he?" Hrrana observed, slowing
down.


"He's doing the best he can,' Alison replied.


Alec suddenly remembered his manners and grabbed hold of Hrrunival,
      "Should we try the creek this time?" Alec asked his twin.


      "No, he wouldn't get very wet in the creek,' she replied, scanning the
      girth of their guest.


      The ducks on the farm pond scattered with noisy pr tests when the
      children, stripped naked, waded into the water and started to splash one
      another. Teddy unfastened his collar and laid it and his voder on those
      of his hosts.


      "Confirmed,' Lieutenant Gallup whispered, crawling on his knees and
      elbows into the ditch where Lieutenant Walters crouched. His long,
      sallow face was filmed with sweat under the camouflage make-up, and
his
      brush-cut black hair was dusty. "The Gringg cub is there with the Reeve
      and Hrruban kids. They're swimming in the pond, mother naked."


      "And the pond right out in the open,' Walters said, squinting through
      the tall grass into the sunny yard. His light blue eyes were two pale
      spots in an irregular stripe of black grease-paint. Raising his scope,
      he scanned the grounds of the Reeve and Hrriss farms. "D'ja see
   That fancy collar of the cub might be interesting to examine.


   Wouldn't know what sort of technology's hidden in it. All the bruins
   wear something of the sort all the time they're downside." Under a sky
   bluer than any he had ever seen, Teddy dived and swam and played
with
   his new friends in water that smelled of fragrant grasses and weeds.


   It tasted unusual but very nice.


   The Hayumans and Hrrubans taught him games by demonstrating be-
tween
   themselves how they were played.


   One required each swimmer to keep away from one chosen to be "tag-
ger'.
   Alison lost that draw and the game required lots of splashing and
   swimming and shrieking for those eluding the tagger.


   Another made use of a coloured ball which the players were required to
   catch with hands. He had to be careful of his claws which inadvertently
      purpose to keep the young felinoid from feeling bad. The object of the
      game was to get the ball over cross poles at each end of the relatively
      oval pond. After a certain number of these objectives had been
      attained, Hrrunival gestured Teddy and the others to him at his end of
      the pond. He pantomimed that they should now swim as fast as possi-
ble
      to the other end. Teddy wished that the voder was waterproof. He was
      losing valuable words which he was certain no other Gringg would
      collect.


      The children quickly discovered that though Teddy couldn't move as
      quickly as they could on land, none of them could touch him for speed in
      the water. His big paws scooped waves out of his way, and his powerful
      tail gave him extra thrust. No matter what kind of a head start he
      allowed the others, he was always at the other side of the pond before
      any of them were halfway across.


      "No fairrrr!" Hrrunival cried, spitting out a mouthful of duckweed at
      the end of another unsuccessful race. "He's got a ruddrrn behind!'
      "You've got a tail, too,' Alec told him. "Use it!"
We'll
   see who's fastrrr all over.


   This motion was carried as a good idea and the alteration explained to
   Teddy.    He never objected to staying in water.         The Rraladoonans
climbed
   out of the pond and shook the water from their skins and fur. Taking
   his voder from the pile, Alec named himself as official starter.


   "OK, once around the pond to this point here,' the boy said, drawing a
   line in the soft earth down to the water-line with his toe.


   "If anyone falls down or gets hurt, the race stops right there.


   "Agreed,' Teddy said. This Hayuman was most careful of the safety of
   others.


   "OK,' Hrrunival said. The girls nodded.


   Teddy braced his toes in the thick mud. The others bent down with one
   foot behind,their hands touching the ground on either side of forward
   Alec was a swift runner. Hampered by having to avoid reeds and water
   plants, Teddy needed to concentrate closely on his stroke to keep up
   with him. He could hear the Hrruban boy yards behind them grunting
with
   frustration as he drove his short legs to their fastest pace.


   A small fish, disturbed from its hiding place among the reeds, leaped
   into the air like a rocket directly underneath Teddy's face.


   Thinking of the predatory fish on his motherworld, he jumped up to avoid
   it. It fled him.


   Sputtering, he rolled over in the water to clear his nose and mouth.
   Alec gained a few paces and Hrrunival was closing faster now.


   Teddy kicked to right himself on to his round belly, and paddled
   furiously to regain the lead. He was nicely buoyant, but the water
   plants all around him were dragging at his fur, slowing him down.


   Only a few lengths to go. He spat weeds out of his face and sucked in a
Hrrana was dead last. Teddy heaved himself out of the water and stood
dripping to congratulate Alec.


"It's a tie!" Alec said, slapping him on the back and splashing all of
them. "You're fast." Teddy reached for his voder and put it on.


Alec repeated his last words.


"You are fast, too,' Teddy said. "I worked hard, but we both won." He
turned to Hrrana. "I am sorry.


He meant to console her for losing, but Hrruban words failed him.


The girl seemed to understand his intentions perfectly well. She shook
her head with cheerful resignation. "It is all rrright. I nevrrr win,'
she said, "so it does not bozzer me.


Hrrunival was not such a good loser, but he tried to cover his
disappointment. "Well, that. . . was a good contest!" he panted, not
yet recovered his breath. "Wanna zry miding hrrses?"
"Hrrrrrrunival,' Hrrana said, fuming with embarrassment at her brother's
tone. "You haven't ze patience to teach anyone to hop." Not looking
back, he twitched his tail at her and led Teddy away, water still
dripping off their furs. Alec and Alison followed, grinning.


"Close, but no luck, Gallup muttered under his breath as they watched
the children leave the pond. "Didn't have long enough to check anything
on that collar. Good thing I got it to hang on the branch." He and
Walters had been within metres of the pond when the children climbed
out.


"Commander Greene wants that little bear stat,' Walters said.


"Figures questiOning the kid's our best chance to find out what the
Gringg are really doing here. He might even be our ticket aboard their
ship, if his folks want him back safely."


"The Hrruban kid said they're going riding."


"Couldn't be better,' Walters said, grinning.
   while the Hrrubans went back to the stables for their ponies.


   They came back, mounted, before Alec and Alison had decided who
suited
   Teddy best.


   "We need something so bomb-proof you could drop a Big Mamma on its
back
   and it wouldn't spook,' Alec decided.


   "That's Teabag then,' Alison said.


   "What saddle, though?" Alec asked, critically examining their guest's
   body.


   "Gotta idea,' Alison said. "Hrrana, you saddle my grey for me, please?"
   "Zure,' the obliging Hrruban said and expertly threw a pad and then a
   saddle over Alison's grey pony mare.


   Hrrunival went so far as to help bridle her. Teddy stood to one side
   watching, feeling considerable respect for his new friends.
      foot down on the concrete floor of the building, seemed content to
      serve. There were no longer large animals on his home world, though
his
      dam had told there had once been many and different kinds.


      How lucky were Rraladoonans to have such a variety.


      Then Alec came out of the barn with his bay animal.


      "Now, Teddy, watch me! This's how you mount,' Alec cried and sprang
      into the saddle, wiggling from side to side to show how secure his
      saddle was. "There! See how easy that is?"


      "Alec, you nit,' his sister admonished him. "Teddy couldn't vault that.
      He'll need to mount from something."


      "Yeah, I guess he would' Alec said, simply, dismounting, looking around
      him for a suitable surface. "Sorry, Teddy, we were just about born into
      the saddle." The mental picture this elicited for Teddy made him gasp.
      He could not picture his dam awkwardly poised over the back of an
      animal. Surely it could not be true! Alec caught his expression of
   There's no way he could rise at the trot,' she said, turning to her
   twin. "But old Teabag's a pacer, isn't he? And he'd bomb proof, too.


   "Say, wouldn't a pack saddle give Teddy a lot of support? I mean,
   remember when we used them for jousting saddles when we played
knights
   and ladies?" Alec said.


   "Ze very zing,' Hrrana said. "We can pad it with extra blankets and a
   sheepskin."


   "Worth a try,' the redheaded boy said. He jumped off his horse and ran
   up to the end of the barn. He came back laden with a strange
   contraption and an assorted of blankets and numnahs.


   Together, the twins prepared his mount, the goldenbrown horse named
   Teabag. The children explained that Teabag was a "single-foot,' which
   confused Teddy who could see that the animal had four legs, just like
   all the other hrrrsses. He was a bigger animal than the children's
   ponies. And his back, where Teddy was to sit, was higher off the
tween
  his lips. Each time the small Gringg attempted to get close to the
  horse, he edged his backside away. Then Alec pulled sharply on the
  reins.


  "Get up there,' and the horse sidled close to bales of hay which had
  been piled in the form of a mounting block for Teddy's benefit.


  "Jump up on these, Teddy, and we'll get you in the pad. We've even got
  a neck strap for you to hang on to. No one's ever fallen off Teabag.


  "Safe as houses,' Hrrunival said, snickering a little as Teddy dutifully
  climbed up on the bales.


  "Throw your right leg over,' Alec said, pushing against Teabag's right
  side so the old horse couldn't dodge his would-be rider.


  Teddy managed that, though he could feel himself stretching the skin
  between his legs. Maybe Gringg were not meant to ride horses, even if
  Hrrubans could. Still, it was not uncomfortable and there was support
  for his lower back and a slot for his tail to fit through, too.
  snigger.


  Teddy nodded, trying to assimilate the knowledge while the horse
moved
  from side to side under him.


  Inadvertently he clutched both reins back, leaned back and convulsively
  tightened his legs against the sides of the animal.


  "Whoa, there, Teabag,' Alec said, grabbing at the bridle by the bit.
  "Hey, you did just right then, Teddy, leaning back and tightening your
  legs. You'll be a rider in next to no time. Just sit deep in the ahemm
  . . . pack saddle.


  Grab on to the cross piece, here,' and Alec showed him the
  leather-covered bar. "All you have to do on al' Teabag is sit and let
  your body move with the horse!"


  "I will try,' Teddy said.


  "Oh, Alec, I'm not sure if he'll be able to stay on,' Alison said,
flanks
   and Tornado moved forward. Teddy, right behind him, followed his
   example. To Teddy's absolute delight, Teabag immediately obeyed,
   forcing Teddy forward. Startled, Teddy grabbed at the cross piece and
   that gave him a feeling of more security. Then they were all out of the
   barn and walking briskly away from the yard. To his surprise, Teddy
   enjoyed the movement. It was exciting. The horse smelled good, too,
   always a propitious sign. He felt that it might not be a bad thing
   after all to be born into the saddle.


   "Where do we go?" he asked.


   Alec swivelled around in the saddle. "How about just down to the river
   and back?" he suggested. "We'll go near the marsh. Maybe see some
   drrr-frogs?"


   "Towards the marsh,' Gallup said, scrambling out of the hollow on hands
   and knees. "Ready to deploy the jammer." Walters was right behind
him.
   Keeping their distance, they trailed the string of horses. The six
   young riders kept their horses to a slow steady pace, moving farther and
meadows,
   skirting golden cropfields and going over green hills. Where it was
   level with the surrounding terrain, the horses walked abreast.


   Alec and Alison sat so naturally in the leather cradles that they
   appeared to be part of the animals. Hrrunival would occasionally hurry
   his horse forward ahead of the others, then turn back to rejoin the
   formation.   Nobody minded the pudgy Hrruban's plunges and darts,
least
   of all Teabag. It was a peaceful day. Avians winging in the sky sang
   sweet chirrups, and the breeze smelled delicious and intriguingly
   different. Teddy felt happier than he could ever remember. He wanted
   to stay on Rraladoon for ever and ride horses every day until he rode as
   easily as Hrrunival did. The children chatted and laughed, asking Teddy
   about life on his world and matching his experiences with some of
   theirs.


   "I am sad,' said Teddy. "I am sad to know that in the future I will be
   too big to ride these beautiful creatures.


   This is more fun than anything I have ever done!" The other four
  "What was it like to come all this way in a starship?" Alison asked
  then.


  Teddy's Hrruban vocabulary did not include many superlatives soit was
  difficult to find the words to explain.


  "I was not yet born when the voyage started,' he said, no longer aware
  of the hesitation in the voder turning his Gringg into their Hrruban,
  "but I have been travelling all my life. Always stars around us, some
  very bright and big. Some dim. We came to one place where there was
  nothing but big rocks in orbit. My sire said that the sun had burst
  open in one great whoosh. We have orbited several planets but I was
  told they were not right for Gringg. Then I had to learn what was right
  for Gringg which is right for Hayuman and Hrrubans, too.


  Much more fun to see than to learn." And he made a broad gesture,
  dropping his jaw to show them how happy he was. "Were you born
here on
  this planet?"
  "But you are Rraladoonans?"


  "We all are,' Alison said from where she rode slightly behind Teddy.
  "Let's see if Teddy can manage to trot a bit, OK?" When they pushed
  their horses to faster movement, Teddy made a tentative grab for the
  cross piece but Teabag seemed to flow forward and soon Teddy re-
leased
  his hold, leaning back so his tail would keep him steady.


  "Hey, Teddy, you're doing just great,' Alison called but somehow Teddy
  did not trust his balance enough to turn around and thank her.


  Soon they pulled the horses back to a walk for they had reached a
  forested area and could no longer ride spread out. Teddy's fur was
  beginning to dry in long rats and tangles. He combed at a few of the
  worst knots with his claws, fearing the thorough brushing at the hands
  of his sire if he arrived back at the ship so untidy. Eonneh was never
  unkind, but he was merciless with tangles in his cub's thick fur, and
  smoothing them out sometimes hurt Teddy. Eonneh threatened, not
  seriously, to plait all of Teddy's fur and leave it that way if he could
  not keep it neat. Working carefully with one hand, he undid a mass of
  discourage the untoward familiarity. Hrrunival's mount reared and
  whinnied a protest, moving in again. Teabag stopped short, making
Teddy
  rock violently forward in the saddle, and turned to snort, as if to
  demand the other horse leave him alone. Instead, he caught a sniff of
  hot, wet bear, and his eyes rolled white. The horse's neck arched and
  nostrils flared, and Teabag swung his head forward.


  "What is he doing?" Teddy shouted, alarmed, clutching for the
  saddlehorn.


  Alec turned to look, and his eyes went wide. "Hold him!


  Hrrunival, grab his lead. Teddy, pull back on the reins!"


  "It does no good!" Teddy bellowed.


  The sound of the Gringg roar was the last straw. The spooked gelding
  shot off along the trail with Teddy bouncing on his back. The little
  Gringg struggled to hold on, gripping as hard as he could with his knees
  to keep from tumbling off. He pulled at the reins, but the horse
guest
    got hurt?   The ground in the swamps was notoriously unsafe.           The
horse
    could slip on the unsteady path, both mount and Gringg ending up in
    deep, viscous mud. As one, they urged their horses in fast pursuit.


    What would they say to Grizz if Teddy got eaten by a snake?


    "The horse bolted with him,' Gallup radioed to Walters, now a dozen
    metres behind him. "We've got him alone.


    Deploying jammer.


    "Following,' Walters said. "Stay out of sight. Radio silence, now!"
    Keeping their eyes open for the other children, the two men pelted down
    the hill, following the runaway horse and rider into the stand of young
    trees at the edge of the meadowTeabag charged off the path down into
a
    deep gully, twisted down the sloped sides, then bounded across a nar-
row
    but fast-flowing stream. One of his hooves slipped on a stone in the
   "Help!" he cried and shifted one hand, his claws instinctively extending
   so that he clawed Teabag's neck. The horse, already frightened, now
   reached the stage of terror where all he wanted to do was rid himself of
   what was on his back. Teabag charged up a bank and headed directly
into
   a thicket, hoping to brush the predator off.


   Teddy had to cover his face with both hands to protect it against the
   thin branches which whipped past. The reins wound tightly around his
   palm jerked again and again as Teabag tossed his head wildly from side
   to side. He brushed against tree trunks and shot through bushes,
   snorting and neighing furiously. The Gringg, afraid of being thrown
   off, shifted his grasp to the cross piece again, digging his claws into
   the wood beneath the leather and shut his eyes tight.


   "Hurry!" Alec shouted. Tornado crested the bluff overlooking the sum-
mer
   creek and came to a halt. The other horses cantered up beside him.


   "Where's he gone?" Alison demanded.
      "You're g, Alec agreed. "Teabag must have been scared so much he
just
      went through like a rocket. We'll have to go around on the path and
      hope we catch up with them." He guided Tornado down the gully and up
the
      other side so that they skirted the woods. They found the path, which
      was marked by yellow streamers tied around the two small trees flank-
ing
      its entrance to show it'd been widened and cleared of dangerous plants.
      As she was the steadiest horse of the four, Alison urged Fairy in first,
      leaving Alec to bring up the rear.


      Once under the roof of leaves, the group scanned away to their right,
      looking for evidence of Teddy's passage.


      There was nothing moving in the woods except for an urfa that looked
up,
      chewing, with tender leaves sticking out on either side of its narrow
      jaws. It fled when Hrrunival sat up high in his saddle and yelled.
Several small brooks cut through the floor on this side of the Bore
River. The riders forded the streams, only centimetres deep.


The four took it in turns to call out. "Teddy!"


"Are you all right?" "Answer us!"


"Teddy!"


"Teddy!"


"If we don't find him soon, we'll have to call for help,' Alec said,
peering ahead as he felt along his belt for his handset.


"Oh, no,' Hrrunival protested, as the boy pushed the signal button. "Do
not. I will get in zrouble. It is all my fault. My hrrss made his
nrrvous, and it rrran away. Please let us find him first."


"We'd better,' Alison said, looking at Alec, stricken.


She punched furiously at her handset. "My communicator's not working.
of
      shrubs and trees. "You go on. Going.


      . . for car!" Walters slowed to a stop, and bent over to catch his
      breath.


      "Aye!" Without looking back, the other Spacedep man shouldered his
light
      pack and kept running.


      The forest thinned eventually, fading away to whippy saplings and high
      grasses flattened where the deer and urfa slept at night. Alison led
      them around to the right towards, as Alec put it, "Teabag's probable
      trajectory.


      Beyond the woods, the ground was soft and soggy. The riders skirted
the
      edge of the bright green patches of bog hoping that by staying close to
      trees which their fathers instructed them liked "to keep their toes
      dry,' they would be able to stay out of the clutch of quickmud.
   "Forget the snakes. We've gotta find him,' Alec said, voicing what all
   of them were already thinking. Snakes could be anywhere.           It was
early,
   but even a Big Mamma Snake might be wriggling out there.


   "If anyone's afraid, you'd better go home now. Get Mom, or Aunt Nrrna,
   or go call Uncle Robin or Uncle Dan.


   "I'm not afraid,' Hrrunival said at once, though his green eyes were
   saucer-sized and his tail lashed.


   "Nor I,' Hrrana cried. Alison just shook her head.


   "OK,' Alec said, taking a deep breath. "Here we go." The land changed
   around Teddy. First, branches stopped hitting him in the face and feet.
   Then, stinking, sticky mud got thrown up at him by the horse's hooves.
   Suddenly, the mud changed to wet sand, then very dry sand. Teabag's
   feet foundered and slid. Teddy cried out as the horse fell down and
   roiled on top of him. He wasn't hurt because the sand was so soft but
   he was real scared with all that weight on him.
"Stop!" Teddy called to it. "Don't go! I am lost!" The Gringg roar
only served to speed the gelding on his way.


Teddy pulled himself up out of the sand and brushed at his coat.


Now it was not only matted, but dust and grit were ground in all the way
to the skin. He scratched at his belly, which emitted a deep, rumbling
sound.


"They did not feed me yet,' Teddy said, wonderingly, "and I am hungry."
Such a thing had never happened to him before. But what was there to
eat in this hilly desert overlooking the smelly marsh, or in the big
river he could see down the hill to his left? If his new friends were
here, he could have asked them. This was their world.


They would know what to eat on it.


Wait, there was a smell! It was faint because the air was so dry, but
he was sure he had caught it.


The breeze that carried it was coming from behind him.
  the bottom of a sandy cup. In the midst of the sandy nest of eggs, the
  mda looked up, startled.


  When Teddy appeared at the top of the next dune, it met his eyes.


  "Are you Gringgish?" Teddy asked hopefully. It was unlikely that more
  true Gringg had come here, but he might be one of the sort of Gringg
  that lived here. It was not impossible, he thought, remembering cats
  and Hrrubans.      "I am Weddeerogh, of the Wander Den, cub of
Grrzzeeraoghh
  and Eonneh. Can you help me? I am hungry and lost.


  What are you eating? It smells good. Can I have some?" The mda,
  accustomed to living alone and avoiding creatures which talked, was
  taken aback to hear unfamiliar sounds emitted by another mda. It eyed
  Teddy with suspicion. This mda was fully his size, and meant to defend
  its find. But surely courtesy would require this Gringgish creature to
  share with him?


  "Please. I am only a little Gringg. Will you not share?" Teddy waited
  politely. The strange Gringg did not reply, other than to start a low
      that it had had enough egg.


      Growling with annoyance, it picked its way gingerly across the hot sand
      and disappeared among the marsh plants.


      That was a decision of sorts, Teddy realized, galumphing down and up
the
      hill of sand towards the good smell. If the strange Gringg had none of
      his words, this was his way of telling him it was all right to share,
      and that he wouldn't measure how much food Teddy ate.


      The stranger had already eaten many eggs to judge by the amount of
      shells strewn around but the nest contained many more, half-uncovered
in
      the sand. Teddy picked one up carefully and it sagged around his
      handpaw. He sniffed and the smell was good, not tainted by
      unpleasantness.


      His father had told him that most of the food the planet offered was
      good for Gringg to eat. Reassured by both smell and paternal remarks,
      he tore it open with his claws. He plunged his muzzle into the heart of
   another egg and pierced one end of the shell and sucked the contents
   out. That way he would keep his face fur clean.


   He had emptied quite a few eggs in this fashion when he heard hoof-
beats.
   He stood up and, peering over the dunes, saw Alec approaching on
   Tornado. He pulled so hard on the reins that Tornado stood up on two
   hind legs which delighted Teddy.


   "He's here!" Alec cried and the others quickly joined him. "But you're
   in the dunes! Teddy. "We've got to get you out of here! It's
   dangerous.


   "You've found him?" Alison cried in relief. "And Teabag, too? Is he
   all right? What's he doing?" Alec squinted at the little round figure,
   who was waving something white at him.            "Teabag's not here but
Teddy's
   eating snake eggs.


   They climbed up to meet him, panting in the dry air.
   "Ooh, cooked!" Teddy opened wide, red eyes.


   "That would be good, also!


   "I like zis little guy, Hrrunival said. "He's got class!"


   "Wait,' Alec said, squatting down beside Teddy. He, too, refused the
   egg so Teddy felt obliged to eat what he had opened. Then Alec looked
   at him queerly. "What other Gringg?" Teddy swallowed a mouthful of
yolk
   and pointed the way the stranger had gone. "He never spoke to me, but
   that is not unheard of,' he said.


   Hrrunival scrambled to look at the tracks that led away from the snake
   nest. "It was a mda!" he gasped. "And it left you alone?" His voice
   cracked on the last word.


   "Reh. It did not speak to me, but we have not been introduced." Alison
   was laughing. "Mda can't talk. They're not intelligent."
     "So do I eat meat!" the young Gringg protested.


     Hrrana, ever cautious, was checking the perimeter for snake signs.


     "I see no tiddlers, but zere are ozzer nests already made. We should go
     away as quickly as possible."


     "It's zoo caurly for anyzhing but tiddlers,' Hrrunival said, holding his
     head up to sniff the breeze.


     "Snake Hunt is only dayz away,' his sister reminded him.


     "But not yet." Since no one moved away, Teddy went back to eating
eggs.
     They were so delicious, he could not understand why his friends did not
     want to share them. Nor why they kept looking around them nervously
at
     the dunes.


     Gallup spotted the white-eyed horse with the torn pack saddle plunging
      now was follow its tracks back to the cub. The stink of the marsh was
      dying away as the terrain sloped up and into less fertile soil. Ahead
      of him were the snake dunes. Spacedep maps warned him against go-
ing
      into the desert unarmed. The big Rraladoon snakes were capable of
      eating an entire horse, let alone a winded lieutenant.


      As he topped the next rise, he looked down on to the dunes. And there,
      on the top of one of the sandy hillocks was the little bruin.


      Alone, too! A perfect opportunity!


      Gallup reached for his sidearm. If the kid agreed to come quietly,
      Gallup wouldn't have to use force, but after a chase like that one, his
      patience was gone. The kid was looking down, busy with something
messy.
      Gallup crept around the edge of the dune, staying just out of sight.


      Behind him, he heard rhythmic pounding on the sand.


      He jumped into cover just in time to avoid being seen by the five
  Kelly was busily preparing a big lunch for the kids who'd surely be
  hungry after swimming. It was only as she walked into the living room
  that she realized there were no sounds coming from the direction of the
  pond. She had also just realized that there was a horse tied up to the
  door post and a hovercar on the drive when the doorbell rang.


  "Who -?"


  "Kelly, my dear!" She opened the door to see Jilamey Landreau, finger
  poised over the bell for a second stab.


  If she had thought that Jilamey had toned down his wardrobe in the
years
  since she had first met him, she was profoundly wrong.             He was
dressed
  in bright, bull-angering red that stood out from the surrounding
  landscape like an out of season poppy. Still, when Kelly considered it,
  the colour was perfectly becoming to him. She didn't know why she
  thought men shouldn't wear bright colours.
to
     her, but he only nodded.


     "Old Caution there insisted on following me here in the car,' Jilamey
     said, plaintively. "You see why I don't bring him to Rraladoon very
     often? He mothers me, Kelly.


     Make him stop." Kelly shook her head. "You need it sometimes,
     sweetheart. Come in, both of you. Where are Todd and Hrriss?" Ji-
lamey
     laughed. "Oh, likely in their office in the government building,' he
     said. "I thought I heard something about "too much to do before Snake
     Hunt" as they left."


     "Sometimes, I wish they were both twins,' Kelly said, her hands on her
     hips. "I love having these visitors, but I wish that things would calm
     down a little so I could see my husband once in a while." She sighed. "I
     can't damn the man for having priorities, but it does get a little
     lonely." Jilamey laughed and seized her hand.


     "Now I know you're telling a fib, beautiful lady. Where are the
  "I have a special present. It finally arrived from Terra on the latest
  shuttle."


  "Good heavens,' Kelly exclaimed, going over to the communit and
punching
  in the twins' codes. "What is it?"


  "A model airplane, made from blueprints centuries ago.


  It really flies! I tried it from the roof of Alreldep block."


  "Only you could get away with that, too,' Kelly said, all too aware of
  the repressive character of Terran society.


  "That's funny. There's no answer. She punched in the code again,
  thinking she had gotten the signal wrong.


  "Nothing." Nrrna arrived with her sleeping cub, greeting Jilamey
  graciously before she saw the anxious expression on Kelly's face.
"So why do zey not answerrr?" Nrrna asked, anxiously.


"I don't know,' Kelly said, biting her fingers. "Oh, wait, maybe
they're out in the barn. No need to turn them on there. Only surely,
we'd hear them . . ." She looked anxiously at Jilamey.


"Barrington? Search the barn for the youngsters, would you?" Jilamey
said and his servan moved with great alacrity, covering the distance to
the main barn in seconds.


"He keeps fit,' Jilamey remarked as he gently extracted the communit
from Kelly's hand and punched in a sequence.


"Just a little trick I learned . . - to see if the units are
broadcasting. Ah, that's odd. There's a jammer in operation
somewhere."


"A jammer?" Kelly cried, really alarmed now.


"Could be natural "Maybe David's seen them,' and Kelly regained
possession of the unit and called the ranch manager. "He hasn't seen
I'll keep a look-out for them." Kelly winced because suddenly she was
sure that the kids were in trouble, only Todd had broken the connection
before she could tell him that. Then Barrington mounted the steps to
the porch.


"I'm sorry to report that there is no sign of the children in the barn
or the pond. Further, six stables are empty.


Would that be significant?"


"It would! Oh God,' Kelly said, "they should have told me they were
going riding. And with a total novice in tow, too."


"There is the vehicle which could be used to search,' Barrington
offered.


"And I can summon my personal heli from the house,' Jilamey added.


"We'll find the children in next to no time, Kelly. Don't you bother
your head." He took the communit back and dialled for his pilot to bring
the heli immediately to the Double Bar Gemini. Then he strode to the
    I wouldn't worry - yet! No sooner do we leave than they'll come back,
    having done a tour of the meadow for Teddy's sake-' Not quite con-
vinced,
    Kelly and Nrrna nodded, for each could think of all the dangers that
    could befall six small children on Rraladoon so close to Snake Hunt
    time.


    Just then, three things happened: a riderless horse clattered into the
    barnyard, Jilamey's heli arrived and so did the big Gringg shuttle.


    Chapter10


    ALTHOUGH KELLY AND NRRNA WAVED FRANTICALLY at the shut-
tle, it took off
    once it had deposited Grizz.


    "Oh, Lord! And that's Teabag coming in all a-lather, too." Kelly
    groaned, hiding her face in her hands.


    "With a pack saddle on?" Jilamey inquired, mystified.
  "He talks?" Jilamey said to Kelly's back as she strode to intercept the
  gelding, wearily plodding towards the safety of his stable "No,' Nrrna
  said, her eyes flashing, "but ze mud on him and ze grasses caught in ze
  girt will tell us where he has been. The young Gringg cub'd be more
  comfortable riding a pack saddle zan a normal one. At least, zat
  Hrrunival cub of mine had some sense!" She was not one bit less an-
noyed
  than Kelly though her aggravation was expressed by the lashing of her
  tail.


  As he obediently went to greet Grizz, Jilamey mused on the maternal
  trait that caused each to blame her own offspring for whatever had
  happened to Teddy.


  He devoutly hoped nothing had for it might have a devastating effect on
  delicate negotiations now in progress.


  "How nice to see you, Captain,' he said cheerfully.


  "Didn't realize you were expected and Kelly's had to go tend to that
  loose horse,' he added, waving in that direction. "Are you hungry or
    white eye he gave her as she caught up the shorter dangling rein
proved
    that his fright hadn't been that long ago. She soothed him as she
    examined the claw marks on the cross piece and noted the scratches on
    the thick leather of the reins but, apart from his scratches, there were
    no other bloody spots. Kelly tried to reassure herself that falling off
    a horse was part of learning how to ride.


    Probably even al' bomb-proof Teabag found a Gringg too much to bear.
A
    real all-out howl from a fallen Teddy might well have made Teabag bolt.


    Nonetheless, spooking was most uncharacteristic of the docile Teabag.


    She felt his legs warm but not hot, so no tendon damage. Her hand
came
    away with swamp mud, the stink apparent even at arm's length.


    "Well, clues of sorts,' she said, still trying to reassure herself that
    Teddy had merely fallen off. In the swamp - which Teabag would have
    avoided on his own - Teddy would at least have had a soft landing.
  preferable, wasn't it, even if it showed her up as a less than careful
  guardian.


  "I am so sorry, Captain. The children have all gone off, on horseback,
  I believe, though the last time I looked they were all in the pond,' she
  said and managed a smile. "I didn't realize you'd be able to join us or
  I'd have kept them about the place."


  "Grrgggl. . .


  the meeting ended sooner than expected,' Grizz said amiably, glancing
  towards the pond.


  "And you thought of a swim, no doubt,' Kelly said, managing to act
  casually. "Well, while you're indulging yourself in a well earned
  relaxing swim, we'll just go back along the trail and hurry the kids in.
  Here's Nrrna, too, Captain,' and Kelly, turning her back briefly on the
  Gringg, beckoned furiously at the Hrruban to join them.


  "How fortunate you came by heli, Jilamey,' and she firmly tucked her
arm
   "Oh, would you please man the communications channels, Barrington?"
   Kelly said, scrambling into a window seat. "And keep trying the kids'
   frequency." She gave him the code and he bowed politely in accep-
tance.


   The small craft lifted off and Kelly's heart did a flip as she saw
   Grizz, dwarfing Nrrna's slight figure, standing in the yard.


   "Where do you think they went?" Jilamey called over his shoulder as
they
   cleared the trees. The heli's engine was reasonably quiet, but no way
   to silence the whup-whupwhup of rotors tearing the air had ever been
   discovered.


   "They must have taken a trail ride,' Kelly shouted back and remembered
   then to turn off her voder before she damaged her eardrums.


   "Then they might just have turned their handsets off?" he asked.


   "No, a call alert would get through. Nothing did,' Kelly said,
      "Would they have known to keep the pace slow for Teddy's sake?"


      "Alison and Hrruna have more common sense than the three boys but
Ourrh
      isn't up to much riding either so they'd have kept to a reasonable pace.
      Turn towards the swamps, Jilamey. It was swamp mud Teabag had on
his
      legs." "Swamp? This close to Snake Hunt?"


      "Yes, I know." Kelly grimaced. "But Teabag wouldn't spook at any old
      tiddler' "What about a Big Mamma?" Kelly shook her head impatiently.
      "I'll skin them, so I will, when I find them. Let's backtrack Tea's
      probable route home. He came in on the swamp road."


      "No sooner said than done, milady,' said Jilamey.


      "Look, where the terrain opens, can we skim to see if I can spot hoof
      prints?" Kelly asked, reached for the case that held binoculars.


      Jilamey was a deft pilot and, in the soft ground of the track, Kelly
      could make out the darker colour of disturbed ground in the even pattern
      Now she scanned more widely as they passed over the marsh toward
the
      dunes.


      "This's getting all too close to snake hatching grounds, isn't it?" he
      asked.


      "It certainly is,' Kelly said, leaning forward with the field glasses.


      Jilamey had just angled the heli up and over another line of drifts, and
      a wide prospect spread before them. She caught her breath at the oh-
so
      welcome sight of a handful of small figures crouched on a blanket on a
      dune ridge.


      Slightly below them were five horses, apparently tied to a driftwood
      log. "And there they are, the scamps! Teddy's with them." Only then
      did Kelly admit to herself how terrified she had been that he'd be
      missing. "Set down!" With one eye on the tracer screen and the other
      looking out for riders, Walters drove the small flitter around the edge
      of the dune where Gallup was waiting. He killed the quiet hum of the
Together, they inched up towards the crest of the dune where the
children were waiting.


The whupping of heli blades startled them. Hastily, Gallup and Walters
burrowed into the sand and covered their heads with their arms.


The copter set down on the sand hill between them and the children.


"Aw, hell!" Walters exclaimed, slamming his fist into the hot, dry dust.
"Commander Greene is going to be furious!" Gallup plucked at Walters's
collar. "Come on, we have to get out of here before they spot us." He
reached into his pack and switched off the jammer.


Together, the two men crept backwards down the hill to the ffitter.


"Snakes!" Kelly cried, pointing.


There were only a few, and relative tiddlers at that, but they were
gathering just out of sight of the cluster of children. Kelly knew that
the smaller reptiles wouldn't attack something big by themselves, but
      are! Teddy, you're all right?" and fumbled to turn on her voder.


      "You've had us worried half to death,' Kelly said, running a hand down
      Teddy's sticky matted fur before she turned on her twins. "Why didn't
      you let us know you were in trouble?"


      "We tried, Mama,' Alison said, ducking her head in shame. "We tried
"We
      did, Mom, Alec said stoutly, reinforcing his sister.


      "And we made sure the red "charged" light was on before we took them
off
      the rack. They just wouldn't work when we tried to call you."


      "Well, you nearly caused an interplanetary incident, young lady,' Kelly
      said sternly, but she hugged her daughter and ruffled Alec's hair before
      she plucked Alison's radio out of the belt clip. She thumbed the switch
      and then stared at the unit. "It's working now." she added
      expressionlessly.


      "It wasn't before, Mama, honest!" both twins clamoured, tugging at her
   "Furthermore, you all know how dangerous the dunes can be at this
time
   of year so why under the sun did you bring Teddy here of all places?"
   "We didn't bring him, Mom,' Alec began in an exasperated voice as if
she
   had added insult to the injury of underestimating his common sense.
   "Teabag did, and Teddy didn't have much choice." Alec pressed his lips
   against a grin. "We followed."


   "Well, then, young man, what spooked Teabag to run off?" Alec
shrugged
   his shoulders. "I was leading, Alison behind me, then Hrrunival and
   Ourrh with Hrrana behind Teddy."


   "Teabag just took off,' Hrrana murmured, obviously upset and feeling
   responsible.


   "Well, no one has been hurt and Teabag got home.


   Teddy, did Teabag actually run away with you?" Kelly turned back to the
   victim and only then saw that the yolk streaking the fur around his
     incident out of this. "So you've found snake eggs, have you, Teddy?
Do
     you like them?" and she grinned because his eyes sparkled and he
dropped
     his jaw.


     "Gracckle. Very tasty indeed. May I take some back?


     My dam would find them as tasty as I do.


     Alec gave an exasperated snort. "We've been trying to get Teddy to
     move, but he's stuffing himself."


     "Can we get started home now?" asked Hrrunival. "It's not much fun
     sitting around watching someone else eat when you're hungry, too."


     "You'll be hungrier by the time you've ridden home,' Kelly began,
     thinking that would be adequate discipline for this escapade.


     Just then the horses neighed in alarm and began pulling at the reins
     which tied them to a driftwood log.
   Because they were beside her, Kelly gave her two children a shove
   towards the heli before she reached for Teddy who hadn't even risen at
   Jilamey's warning cry.     Hrrunival and Hrruna each grabbed one of
Ourrh's
   hands and began hauling him to safety. But Teddy first had to rock
   himself to his feet, even with Kelly yanking at him.


   The snake, feeling the vibrations, moved in on them.


   "Oh, fardles, Teddy, GET UP! That thing wants you for lunch!" Out of
   reflex she pulled out her belt knife, jumped in front of Teddy and faced
   the oncoming snake. She just hoped Jilamey had a snake rifle in his
   heli. The worst she could do to the snake with her knife was deflect it
   briefly.


   But Teddy had to be protected.


   Then the snake was close enough to stare directly in her eyes, pinioning
   her almost hypnotically. She didn't recall ever being this close to one
   on foot before or armed with the most inadequate of weapons. Kelly
   stared with helpless fascination as its maw opened, the jaw unhinged as
  lousy shot."


  "I'll forgive you,' she shouted back, "if you kill it!' Kelly and Teddy
  dodged, getting out of the direct line of fire. The entrepreneur fired
  again, this time catching the snake in the tail, causing it to thrash
  back and forth in pain. Then it raised its head and stretched wide its
  jaws again, moving toward Jilamey. Teddy needed little urging from
  Kelly now, as she hauled him to the top of the nearby ridge and slid
  down the far side. They both lost their balance in the loose footing
  and ended up rolling down into the next valley.


  "Aaaaaaggghhh!" Teddy cried, his vodered voice echoing in her ears.
  Above, below, beyond, behind her, she heard the repeated boom of the
  rifle discharging.


  She was still trying to spit sand out of her mouth and clear her eyes
  when Jilamey slithered down beside her, a wisp of smoke curling up
from
  the bore of the rifle.


  "It's OK. It's as dead as I could get it." Kelly got her eyes clear of
"I want to come back here and roll down hills again."


"Teddy, not here!" Kelly said firmly. "This is the breeding ground for
those snakes. You could have been killed."


"Why didn't you tell me to defend myself from it? I was not afraid and
I am strong enough to have rendered it harmless,' the cub said calmly.


Kelly started to protest and then realized that the Gringg cub was
probably a lot stronger than she and might well have been a match for
the tiddler. But snake-killing was not likely to be considered a
desirable occupation for a species that said it did not like violence.


"Well, I knew Jilamey had a rifle and I certainly don't tvant to risk
your hide on any snake wrestling!"


"Oh, that is what one does with these snakes? Wrestles?


I like wrestling. I'm good at it,' and Teddy looked disappointed that
he had not been allowed to show his prowess.
     "That one was small - a tiddler. Some of them are immense, the ones
we
     call Great Big Mamma snakes are much, much bigger." She indicated
girth
     with her hands.


     "Oooh,' Teddy said, impressed.


     When they got to the top of the dune, he exclaimed in dismay. "It
     smashed all the eggs." There was yolk all over the place and crumpled
     shells for, in its death throes, the snake's dead body had convulsed,
     completely destroying the nest.


     "We'll find more for her another time, Teddy. Come on. Your mother's
     waiting for you at the ranch. Let's go.


     Kelly gave him a gentle shove towards the heli.


     "You didn't mention the mda,' Alison muttered at Alec as they watched
     the snake's death throes.
  inside her trousers, and inside her boots. She was itchy and thirsty,
  and she didn't know whether to skin her children alive or just never let
  them out of her sight again.


  "My second snake,' Jilamey asked, plaintively, pointing to the twitching
  corpse. The children were admiring it and arguing amongst themselves
  over its length and probable weight. "After nine hunts and not for want
  of trying, I have slain another snake. Might it count towards the
  Coming of Age ritual?" Kelly laughed, her voice echoing over the empty
  land.


  "Oh, I'm afraid not, Jilamey. I wish it did, you were so heroic.


  But it's got to be an official kill or capture during the Hunt itself,
  or we'd have poaching during the early season by obnoxious youths
who
  want to make sure they qualify. Cheer up,' she said, seeing his
  crest-fallen expression. "It'll be good enough for a feast. We'll have
  a barbecue. Grizz'll enjoy fresh snake steak, and so will I. I only
  have to defrost the sauce.
  She let a grin break the scowl of disapproval on her face. "I'm just
  glad you're safe,' she said, kissing each one in turn.


  "I just wish they hadn't fibbed about those comms. This could have
been
  very serious,' Kelly said softly to Jilamey as he lifted the heli. Teddy
  had his nose pressed tight against the plasglas, watching the kids ride
  off.


  "They don't lie as a rule, Kelly,' Jilamey said. "Could there have been
  a minor malfunction?"


  "I'd prefer that explanation but it doesn't work." She sighed. "Well,
  nothing really bad happened." At the house, Grizz was on her feet, a
  living tower, waiting for the heli to land. Making a most
  peculiar-sounding ululation, Teddy climbed out of the aircraft almost
  before it had set down and hurtled towards his dam.


  She embraced him fiercely, throwing him up in the air without effort and
  neatly catching him as he squealed with delight. Jilamey whistled at
  There is trouble. I must be there."


  "Quiet!" Todd shouted, waving the crowd down. "One person, tell me
what
  happened." His office was full of angry people. Bad news had travelled
  all over the colony in the time it had taken Mike Solinari to inform him
  of the incident. Admiral Sumitral had come on the run from his office
  when he heard the commotion. Second Speaker arrived shortly after-
wards,
  with Captain Hrrrv and several of the visitors from Hrruba behind him.
  The rest were Rraladoonans of both species, all arguing at the tops of
  their voices. In the middle of it all was the Gringg male, Cinnamon,
  who said nothing and sat despondently waiting for whatever would hap-
pen
  to him.


  "Mike!" Todd said. "The rest of you, quiet!"


  "My two assistants and I were showing Cinnamon around the veterinary
  hospital,' Mike began, shouting at first but lowering his voice as the
  others stopped talking to listen. Dr Adjei, head of Veterinary
   "He killed it,' Bert Gross burst out.


   "With one punch!"


   "You're out of order, Gross,' Todd told him sternly.


   The plump woman from Humanity First! pounded on Todd's desk and
thrust
   an accusing finger at Cinnamon.


   "This monster should never have been allowed to go unsupervised
among
   decent beings! It could have been one of us!"


   "It was an accident,' Robin Reeve said firmly. "Cinnamon has repeat-
edly
   said so."


   "I will recompense for its loss,' Cinnamon said, miserably. "I will
   adopt its youngster and nurture it."
     "What perspective is that, Reeve?" Greene asked, sardonically.             He
stood
     with fingertips poised on Todd's desk, not as loud or insistent a
     gesture as the angry woman's but somehow much more menacing.
"That one
     of these gigantic aliens of yours killed a horse, or that he did it with
     one blow? They can break necks with the same effortlessness that you
or
     I would use to brush away dust.


     You've sown them among the population of a civilian planet like
     poisonous weeds. Where in this perspective do we find responsibility?"
     "Oh, very picturesque, Commander,' Robin Reeve said, applauding with
     sarcastic exaggeration.


     Greene showed no signs of impatience or temper.


     "As Admiral Barustable has repeatedly requested, these creatures
should
     be sequestered."
ze
     Gringg intended to kill."


     "Why would he?


     And let me remind you that, in our laws,' Todd said, "as in yours, a
     suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Prove that Cinnamon
     acted in malice."


     "Our laws forbid violence,' Eonneh protested, making his way forward to
     stand beside his colleague. The room seemed to shrink around them.
The
     animal rights woman from Terra let out a squeak of surprise and
     retreated behind Mike and Robin, who exchanged a glance of disgust.


     "I am sorry,' Cinnamon repeated, staring at his big paws reproachfully.
     "I strove only to push away the hrrrss's attack. It hit me with its
     feet, here." He showed a torn patch on his coat where the mare's
hooves
     had struck his chest and the gash on his broad muzzle. "I did not
     realize I had struck it so hard until I heard "And somehow he imitated
     "Dr Gross,' Todd said, keeping his voice level and consequently forcing
     the crowd to hush to hear him.


     Inwardly, he was ready to roar with fury that a petty, though tragic,
     incident had given such fuel for trouble.


     The veterinarian came forward and cleared his throat.


     His face was red, and he nervously rearranged his hands from pockets
to
     belt, to hip; his right hand twitched towards Cinnamon, and ended up
     scratching the nape of his neck.


     "Well, he, I mean the Gringg, went right into the corral, and he started
     chasing the herd around and around.


     Anyone with sense wouldn't have done that. Then the mare charged
him,
     defending her foal. He struck her down like swatting a fly' "It is so,'
     Errrne said, with a terse nod.
"Huh?" Gross looked at his Hrruban comrade. Errrne lifted both hands
palm up, shrugging.


"I heard them." A very soft voice came from within the muttering crowd.


"You were a witness?" Hrrestan asked, glancing around the crowd.


"Come forward." A slender girl in a soiled coverall raised her hand.


"I saw. Juanita Parker. I work at the animal hospital." Robin elbowed
his way through the crowd to escort her towards the desk.


"Will you tell us what you heard?" Hrrestan asked her in a kind voice.


Nita blushed deeply, but Hrrestan kept his big, green eyes fixed on her
deep brown ones. "Dr Gross invited the bear, I mean, the Gringg to see
a herd of horses on the other side of the barn. I I didn't mean to be
eavesdropping, but the barn's open all the way through, and there's an
echo."
"So you say that the two Rralandoonans led him to believe the situation
was controllable, and then failed to act responsibly and in time to
prevent a tragic occurrence?" Admiral Sumitral asked.


"That's a leading question!" Bert Gross protested.


"You watch too many courtroom videos, Bert,' Ken Reeve told him.


"Will you answer, Nita? Just tell the truth."


"Well, my dear?" Sumitral prompted.


Nita nodded, not looking at the men. "I think they were trying to play
some kind of joke on. . . Cinnamon, but it backfired. That mare was
very protective of her foal. We had trouble getting close to her and
she knows us.


"So the mare reacted out of fear of a stranger,' Todd said flatly.


"I think that sums things up pretty well, don't you, Hrrestan?"
   Errrne hissed. Todd met their glares with a cool stare. Both of them
   suddenly found something else to look at.


   "I'll talk to the two of you later on,' Todd said, his voice cold.


   "But I think Dr Solinari might have something to say to you first."
   "You're damned well right,' Mike said, grimly.


   "I have a restoration to make,' Cinnamon insisted, inclining his big
   head. "I did not mean to cause a loss of life. I wished to make
   friends."


   "I am positive of that!" Todd replied earnestly.


   "You are most courteous,' Eonneh said, bowing.


   "Is that all?" Greene asked. "You stand here and compliment one an-
other
   ad nauseam, when this alien has shown the dismaying ability to destroy
   without effort?"
  will cost and Cinnamon'll pay what he owes. End of matter!


  "In whatever way becomes possible, I will make the value good,' Cin-
namon
  promised.


  "You forget loss of use of a valuable brood mare and any subsequent
  earnings,' Greene said.


  Cinnamon nodded his head obligingly. "That, too, is fair and can be
  decided. I await the decision.


  "But we have formulated no schedule of payment or value,' Second
Speaker
  said, looking distressed.


  "You can't just let these . . . aliens,' and Greene larded the word
  with repugnance, "buy their way out of any incidents. This one involved
  only the death of an animal. You let the Gringg wander where they like.
  "Agreement must be formulated with all despatch,' Hrrestan said, "so zat
  justice - unlike zis. . . inforrmal and crrowded hearring can be
  calmly and sensibly rendered on any matters zat could be required.


  A tribunal of one each of our zree species should do very well, should
  it not, zOdd, Sumitral?"


  "Now wait a minute,' Greene said.


  "You are not, Commander Greene, a resident, norrr even a frequent
  visitor to Rraladoon,' Hrrestan said, gently but firmly dismissing the
  man's protest.


  "We Gringg will cooperate in any way we can,' Eonneh said, looking
from
  one to the other. "Justice must be clearly stated and set down.


  It is the only fair way in which we can interact, now or in the future."
  "Done and done,' Hrrestan said, jaw dropped as far as it would go.
  At Second Speaker's side, Mllaba stared at him, her huge eyes glinting,
  and a hot flush rose from Greene's collar to flood his face
  unbecomingly. In his presence, almost with his cooperation, the
  ridiculously naive Doonans had struck a bargain with their would-be
  destroyers. They proposed galactic policy with a dangerous species,
and
  were grinning like idiots. Sumitral, beside them, who should have been
  wary, was behaving just as foolishly.


  "This whole thing is an inappropriate response to the situation,' he
  said through clenched teeth.


  "Not at all,' Todd raised his voice to be heard over the hubbub.


  "The malice was not on Cinnamon's side.


  If he had deliberately destroyed property, it would have been necessary
  for him, as it is for anyone on Rraladoon, to be disciplined in some
  fashion. However, we have established, haven't we that he was the
  victim of an ill-conceived trick."
  aliens to meet,' Todd went on, injecting some levity into the
  discussion. He was rewarded with a few grins, "it behaves us to
  consider contingency plans and guide-lines until formal proceedings can
  be instigated.


  This is my world, and I am the Hayuman leader of it.


  Hrrestan, as my Hrruban colleague, do you concur with me?" Hrrestan
  nodded, his gleaming eyes never leaving Greene's face. "I could almost
  suspect,' and Todd paused significantly though he pointedly did not look
  in the commander's direction but at the outspoken woman, "that the
whole
  incident was manufactured by those intent on causing trouble between
our
  people and our new friends.


  Our guest,' and Todd emphasized that word, "has been most gracious,
  considering he was the butt of a bad joke.


  End of incident. Now, you all, clear out of here, and tend to your own
  business. Not mine!" Greene stood staring at the tabletop, then he
Todd gawked at the Spacedep officer's sudden change of direction. He
was unable to detect any sarcasm in Greene's earnest face.


"That's very wise of you, Commander Greene,' Sumitral said. "And the
sooner we can devise final terms the better. In the meantime, let us
extend immunity to these stray visitors of ours until we have achieved a
proper treaty with the Gringg." He sighed. "If only they came in a
slightly smaller package, there'd be less objection!" They were talking
in a tight group as Robin and Mike were urging people to disperse,
joking that the show was over for the day.


"Or less dangerous,' Mllaba said, staring at the dejected Cinnamon. "It
is not merely ze sheer size of the Gringg zat is off-putting.


"Not to menzion ze zurprize of zeir trade items,' Hrrestan said.


Hrrto was shaking his head and his tailtip twitched convulsively.


He spoke Middle Hrruban in a low voice.
  Hrrto. "Yes, yes, I take the point, Hrrestan. But " and he sighed
  heavily. His priorities were in constant turmoil. Only the prospect of
  the essential purralinium remained of constant importance.


  "It always depends who the victim is, doesn't it?" he added
  enigmatically.


  "Hall's cleared now, so goodbye. I've got a hospital to run,' Mike
  Solinari said over his shoulder as he firmly pushed the last of the
  curious out the door.


  "Especially when the victim does not realize he has been made one,'
  Hrrestan said, looking at the retreating figures of the veterinary
  contingent.      "The laws of Hrruban are far more stringent than are
needed
  here on Rraladoon, Second Speaker. Diplomatic immunity should be
  tendered and the terms of such immunity are already known to both
  Hayuman and Hrruban. Let us examine them first.


  But certain values remain constant . . . innocence until guilt is
  proved should be the most important aspect. Then the law forms of our
  Then to Hrrestan, "Justice for all is the primary purpose of the
  Council,' Hrrto said. "And also of our allies on ze Amalgamated Worlds
  Council." Greene had not taken the hint and entered his discussion, also
  using Middle Hrruban. "Diplomatic immunity is certainly a good point at
  which to start since we are all familiar with its workings. I was for a
  while attached to Spacedep Legal so I would like to assist.


  His offer surprised every one in the room so that he was able to glance
  meaningfully at Mllaba without comment.


  She nodded, understanding that the two of them must have a private
  conference.


  "Then it's settled,' Sumitral said, cheerfully. "Ah, Captain
  Grzzeearoghh, we've been expecting you. There's a matter of great
  importance I wish to broach to you.


  Todd glanced up. The enormous Gringg filled the doorway, her red
eyes
  nearly sparking. Behind her were her cub, Kelly, Jilamey Landreau, and
   "If I may,' Admiral Sumitral began, nodding to Todd and Hrrestan for
   peimission. Then he approached the Gringg Captain. "As undoubtedly
   Honey has informed you, there has been a slight mishap involving
   Cinnamon, which has been resolved under our laws. As guests of this
   planet, Rraladoon, you are now granted diplomatic immunity, the
   ramifications of which I would gladly explain to you. I can safely
   assure you that this will be immediately ratified by the governing body
   of Amalgamated Worlds." Somewhat stunned by Sumitral's announce-
ment,
   Hrrto forced his way over and said, "And by the High Council of Hrruba."
   As he heard himself saying such words, he wondered that he had so
   spontaneously promised what he would have to argue at his most elo-
quent
   in the Council to obtain. And yet, all he had to do now was mention
   "purralinium' to them and they'd agree to any measures needed to pro-
cure
   the metal. Nevertheless he had been forced to take an action which he
   ought to have discussed, at least with Mllaba, before committing
   himself. Could the Hayumans and Zodd Rrev have manoeuvred him
cunningly
   into agreeing? Or was it that Sumitral had once again made the Second
  be trusted. Hrrto would like to discover the reason behind such a
  switch. Then it occurred to him that, under the guise of diplomatic
  immunities, "escorts' could be assigned to any Gringg on the planet - to
  insure that the immunity was observed. Ahh, thought Hrrto, that Greene
  is quick, clever and shrewd. He had got the better of Sumitral,
  Hrrestan and Rrev and used the concession to forward his own aims.


  "Of course,' he continued, hoping his pause had not been overlong, "all
  three interested parties, plus their home world representatives must be
  present to discuss a Trade Agreement - in the same chamber." Grizz
gave
  him a brilliant smile, her long fangs gleaming. "Of course, Second
  Speaker Hrrto,' said the pleasant voice of the voder. "It would not be
  correct or courteous any other way." Second Speaker bowed to the
Gringg
  leader, suddenly feeling that twice in a short space of time he had been
  manipulated by another clever strategist. Zodd and the two Hrrubans
  were not laughing, but he thought they might be on the edge of a
  humorous outburst.


  "I would be most interested in a Treaty between us all, especially if it
      "Now that you mention our friend, the snake,' Jilamey said, addressing
      everyone who remained in Todd's office.


      "I happen to have a delicious specimen which we can barbecue tonight.
      You are all invited to partake of the unique taste of Rraladoonan snake,
      a real delicacy. I feel a lot of policy can be discussed over a
      friendly spare rib or two, eh?" He winked at Kelly "You two are never,
      never, NEVER to leave your handset off again,' Todd said, towering
over
      his offspring with uncharacteristic anger. Alec and Alison studied the
      ground and each other's shoes for a moment, then peeked up at Todd.
"If
      there had been an accident, no one would have known where to find
you
      until it was too late!


      "But everything came out all right in the end,' Alison offered,
      fluttering the thick lashes of adoring golden eyes at her father. "We
      stayed with Teddy to make sure he'd be all right until Mama found us."
      She could sense him softening, and nudged Alec with her elbow. Her
twin
  how it began. Promise, or you'll never get to ride Hunt until you're
  old and grey.


  Promise!"


  "She means it,' Jilamey said, lounging in the porch seat while
  Barrington, elegant as ever, sliced snake up into manageable portions
  for the barbecue grills. "She nearly made me stay behind from my first
  hunt because I didn't want to carry a handset.


  The twins sighed and matched glances. They knew they hadn't been
remiss
  but couldn't prove it. They were frustrated because their parents
  didn't believe them.


  Being accused of a lie was almost worse than getting chased by
snakes.


  "I promise,' Alec said at last. Alison nodded.


  "We'll check and double-check from now on. We're very sorry to cause
      sure that your equipment is functioning properly. You were unable to
      call for help, or notify anyone as to your location. Think of me. I'd
      have been devastated if anything happened to you.


      The thought had passed through the twins' minds.


      They threw their aims around Todd, who hugged them tightly.


      "We'll never let it happen again, Daddy,) Alec said, in a low, tight
      voice. Over their shoulders, Todd glanced up at Kelly.


      When Teddy had emerged from the Gringg shuttle at the Double Bar
Gemini,
      he was also a much chastened person. He stood, scuffing one foot in
the
      dust, for his friends to come out again to play. Hrrana, Hrrunival and
      Ourrh had been assigned extra chores by Nrrna as their punishment.
Kelly
      watched Teddy mooch around the grass kicking a stone, bored and
lonely.
      She relented.
  steps calling to the small Gringg.


  "And we wanted children, didn't we?" she said, taking Todd's hand and
  squeezing it as they watched the children play together on the grass.


  "We did and I wouldn't have it otherwise, even with double trouble,'
  Todd said, gathering her under one arm and enfolding her tightly. "It's
  not an easy job, but I love it The smell of roasting meat made a
  tantalizing atmosphere for the negotiators who gathered over the course
  of the next hour or two. Robin and Jilamey acted as chief cooks,
  turning hunks of meat on the broad grills, and explaining to the Gringg
  what "barbecue' meant. Big Paws, the black-and-white Gringg, couldn't
  seem to stay away from the fragrant, spitting roasts.


  He stayed close, chatting with the chefs.


  "I have had only preserved snake,' Big Paws said, with a sidelong
glance
  at a smallish steak, only centimetres from the edge of the grill, as if
  he'd swipe it if backs were turned.
"How is it a secret if he knows?" Big Paws asked, pointing to Jilamey.


"I'm practically family, Landreau said, grinning. He sliced off a piece
of rare steak and held it out on a toasting fork to the Gringg.


"Taste. The bite disappeared in a twinkling. "Delicious!" Paws
exclaimed, licking his chops with his long, brown tongue.


"I would like to have much more of this. Is this barbecue the only way
of preparing it?" He looked dubiously at the glowing coals.


"What ever way rocks your jollies. Tell you what, come along on Snake
Hunt,' Robin suggested. "If you catch your own snake, you can cook it
any way you want."


"Oh, I would love that,' the Gringg said, his eyes lighting up. "I will
make the suggestion." He raised his voice, already quite loud enough to
be heard all across the yard.


"Captain Grzzeearoghh, may I suggest a concept to you?" The
black-and-white Gringg lumbered off towards his leader. Robin grinned
   "I will find something,' Hrriss said, his jaw dropped humorously.


   "So you're the chief meeter, greeter, and feeder for tonight?" Kiachif
   asked. "Where's your tail-twin? Scrubbing dishes?"


   "Zalking,' Hrriss replied, with a grin for his longsuffering friend. "I
   am sure he would razzer be washing dishes. Zodd is engaged in deep
   talks with my father, Second Speaker, the Gringg, Spacedep, and
   Alreldep, so I offer hospitalizy on behalf of us both."


   "Ah, one of you is as good as the other' Kiachif said, airily. "And I
   saw your assorted offspring going about handing out baked toties,
salad,
   and fruit like very pros.


   You re raising "em right, young Hrriss, so you are.


   "Thank you,' Hrriss said, extremely gratified. "I will see if there's
   any miada in the house."
     licked clean. Castleton's food was virtually untouched. She toyed with
     a beaker, picking it up and putting it down again without drinking from
     it. She felt she couldn't force anything past the tightness in her
     throat.


     "I could not zink what you were doing, Greene, in agreeing to enter
     formal discussions with these creatures,' Mllaba said, as soon as they
     were out of earshot of the party. "But it was cleverly done. We can
     szretch out zuch dialogues for many weeks."


     "Glad you caught on to my drift,' Greene said smugly, settling on to a
     chair beside Castleton.


     "And it had the effect of disarming Reeve's objections. The Admiral was
     very pleased when I reported back to him. The bruins have now sworn
to
     abide by a peace accord. Now they'll have one, and Admiral Barustable
     is personally involved in drawing it up. It gives the fleets time. This
     diplomatic immunity also allows us to keep track of where the Gringg go.
     They'll have escorts everywhere. If once they show what they are
     capable of, we'll have witnesses!"
  enamoured of the concept of unity that no one listens to reason.


  "They'd sign tonight if the Admiral wasn't there, Greene said, grinning
  with malice. "He insists on discussing each clause in the Diplomatic
  Immunity Handbook over and over again, then letting himself be talked
  into the original wording already set down.


  "But very slowly,' Mllaba said, laughing in short, breathy grunts.


  "A very cleverrr man, for a Hayuman.


  The Immunity Agreement will not be finished tonight.


  And yet they continue to look upon his involvement as helpful!' The
  other two joined in the laughter, but it had a forced sound.


  Castleton took a sip from her drink, but did not taste it. The thought
  of deliberately sabotaging a safeguard for both Gringg and themselves
  worried her, almost more than the up-coming confrontation when the
naval
  support ships arrived. Despite the tape, she found much to admire in
twenty-four hours of making orbit.


Greene looked at her, almost for the first time, and his expression
changed from triumph to concern as he saw how worried she was.


"What's wrong?" he asked, suddenly perceptive of her mood.


"Nothing,' Grace replied carefully, glancing at the two Hirubans.


"All ship-shape, and observing radio silence."


"Ze Hrruban fleet will arrive just outside ze heliopause a few hourz
later,' Hrrrv added.


"Very good,' Greene said. "The Gringg are most likely to strike when we
expect it least. Possibly while we conclude agreements and treaties
they never had any intention of signing. We'll hold up the final
agreement as long as possible until both fleets are in position."


"It cannot be held long,' Milaba said. "Ze movement toward accord is
does on Doona,' Greene warned.


"Admiral Barnstable has sent sealed orders to open fire on that Wander
Den of theirs the moment their reinforcements arrive, or at any first
hostile sign.


"Zouzanns of lives are at risk,' added MIlaba. "We have to stall until
ze ships are in place to defend zem. Ze Gringg shipz must be blown
apart before zey can attack."


"We shall be ready,' Greene said, leaning over and speaking in a low
voice so the others had to listen very closely. "Then we'll support
Hrrto by telling the Council that he was on the right side - the side of
caution - all along. The Admiral has the tape to justify our actions.
That's our ace in the hole.


Barnstable also wants to sabotage that scientific get-together planned
for tomorrow.


"It is already being zaken care of,' Mllaba said, her yellow-green eyes
watchful in the twilight. "I attend ze conference again in ze mrrning."
  "I, too, must go,' Mllaba said. "Ze Council expects me to report on ze
  Zreaty's progress." Her black robes whispering over the long grass,
  Mllaba glided away.


  Like a shadow, she passed between the hulking figures of Gringg and
  Hayuman, and disappeared between the gateposts.


  "What if we've been wrong?" Castleton asked Greene suddenly, in the
  thoughtful silence that followed the Hrrubans' departure. Her voice was
  too loud, and she forced herself to lower it. "What if they truly are
  peaceful creatures? What will the Gringg think when our forces sur-
round
  them? They'll feel betrayed. They'll never trust us again.


  Greene put a gentle hand on her wrist, and she shuddered slightly.


  "You've seen the tape, Grace. We can't ignore that proof. We have
  every right to demand an explanation, and to take reasonable
  precautions."


  "I still don't agree with your conclusions,' Grace said.
   She was aware of the warmth in his eyes and the scent of liis skin
   mixing with the cooler aromas of the night air. "After tomorrow we
   might be very busy.


   "Or dead,' Grace said, her eyes fixed on his.


   "But not without having given a good battle,' Greene said. He held out
   his hand to her. "Let's go back to the ship and form our own plan of
   action." With a sad smile, she nevertheless took his hand.


   Chapter 11


   COMMANDER FRiLL COURTEOUSLY PUSHED BACK HiS chair and
stood when Milaba
   entered the conference room. He wasn't sure if protocol for a Speaker
   of the High Council applied to his personal assistant, but it was better
   to err on the side of courtesy. MIlaba spared him an annoyed expres-
sion
   then made straight for his side of the table. He remained standing
   until she had taken a chair and he assisted her to draw it under the
   table.
      mime, with each side making subtle alterations in the technical diagrams
      showing on the computer screens set between them.


      Cardiff's talk was peppered with untranslatable military and corridor
      slang that a couple of the Gringg were beginning to repeat back to him.


      Hurrhee, the chief scientist from Hrruba, interrupted his talk to pay
      heed to Second's assistant. He was, as Frill understood it, a
      medium-wide Stripe, which put him among the upper class on Hrruba,
but
      Milaba was his Superior. She muttered a long, low stream of grunts and
      growls at him, flipping off the control on his voder.


      Hurrhee submitted to that action but Frill frowned and pricked his ears,
      though he only recognized a few of the glottal changes as belonging to
      High Hrruban rather than Middle. He wished he knew that dialect,
      because whatever it was she was saying, it sounded important.


      "What is it, madam?" Hurrhee asked with just a touch of asperity.


      "I am in a most interesting conversation. I do not wish to get left
   else had comprehended.


   "Yes,' she said. "Speak not using terms, but concepts." Hurrhee low-
ered
   his voice further. "Most interesting, madam. I spoke in a general way
   about crystalline focusing systems from deliberately impure mineral
   complexes.


   Those,' he nodded towards the hugest Gringg, a female, who sat beside
   the Hayuman scientist and a large, brownpatched male bear, "began to
   study the false diagrams I gave them. To my great delight, they have an
   idea how to prolong the life of the tuning crystals, madam. But I am
   now absolutely positive that the purralinium they are willing to trade
   us has the impurities we so urgently need. Though that metal did not
   come up in conversation, the dark-skinned Hayuman has made a sug-
gestion
   that could very well result in still further protection for our
   supplies."


   "What?" Mllaba replied, deeply troubled.
   "If the Hayumans suspect what aim you serve, they will be in posses-
sion
   of valuable information regarding gr-That technology,' Milaba said
   sternly. "Discredit anything which comes too close." Hurrhee shook his
   greying mane, disbelievingly. "But should these things be secrets,
   madam?        Science is the only universal language which cannot lie.
Sooner
   or later they might deduce it on their own. The Hayumans seek it now,
   and I believe the Gringg have a fair idea that purralinium is what
   powers the grid systems. The large female has asked several leading
   questions. I hate to keep putting her off, since who may know what
   advances she may lead us to?"


   "But it would be advances the Hayumans might be able to share to the
   disadvantage of Hiruba, and that must not be. Our secrets must remain
   our own. Can you not equivocate?"


   "No,' Hurrhee said, bluntly, but still in a whisper. "The facts would
   swiftly bear against me. There is more. A few of the naval Hayumans
   are quite upset about it, and in fact tried to speak out against open
   discussion.
  to make policy." Her voice was devoid of expression. "Follow the
  instructions given you and do not deviate.


  "Madam,' Hurrhee replied, with great dignity, "how can I, in my capacity
  as a leading scientist, ignore the chance to gain advantages which will
  result in massive leaps forward in many fields? I must know what these
  Gringg have to say, and to do so, I must be honest."


  "Honesty!" Mllaba was astonished. "What is that when our security is at
  stake?"


  "False security, I would say,' Hurrhee replied haughtily.


  Mllaba didn't trust herself to speak further. An outburst here would
  only serve to disgrace her office and that of the Speaker she served.
  Angrily, she pushed back her chair and stalked out. Hurrhee watched
her
  depart, then returned to his discussion.


  "Ah, Koala,' he said, pleasantly. "Now, where were we?"
the
      Hrruban cause dear."


      "This sounds ominous, Speaker Hrrto,' Hrrestan said, infusing a light
      tone into his voice. "It is true, I act for the best of all Hrrubans,
      but also to secure prosperity for my Hayuman neighbour."


      "My request does not counter either of those purposes,' Hrrto said. "You
      are aware of the scientific conference going on in the Treaty Centre?"
      Hrrestan inclined his head. "But of course. Your interest honours us.
      What is your request?"


      "It is not a simple one to explain. I must tell you I disapprove of the
      openness which pervades there. Instead of discussing generalities, as I
      thought the conference was meant to do, the participants seem to have
      gone straight on to sensitive topics, discussing engineering and space
      sciences as if they were exchanging recipes."


      "Scientists do tend to become enthusiastic about their pet topics,'
      Hrrestan said. "If you wanted them to learn only names and formulae,
      that could have been done with simple teaching tapes, instead of
lack of discretion. "There are reasons why we should be more discreet.
I . . . I cannot be more candid at this time, but I am greatly
worried that indiscretion reigns with creatures unknown to us a mere
four weeks ago." And Second Speaker allowed his alarm to colour his
tone. He controlled himself and went on firmly.


"We take quantum leaps before we understand walking with them as
partners. So much is at stake here."


"Indeed, but what exactly alarms you so?" Hrrestan asked earnestly.


"I beg your pardon?"


"From what I have heard, there has been accord and much exchange of
information among our scientists while others are busily discussing
trade agreements. What specific problem agitates you so, Second
Speaker?"


"Mllaba has been attending on my behalf while I dealt with the
Diplomatic Immunity Affair,' Hrrto said in a testy tone: he had the
right to use his assistant as an information gatherer. Hrrestan did not
  any. Surely I do not need to remind you why."


  "Pure purralinium is also on offer and the Hayumans seem much more
  interested in that,' Hrrestan said soothingly. "They like quality and
  insist on the purest assays.


  "But the danger exists and you should by now know how Hayumans can
grasp
  a single word and end up with a statement! If they ever connected the
  impure purralinium with our grid technology Second Speaker threw his
  hands up at such a catastrophe. "MIlaba has tried to slow the talks or
  divert them from discussions that would inevitably lead to its
  disclosure, but she has been unsuccessful.


  These scientists are so single minded! Therefore, you must disband the
  science conference!"


  "I must not do that. For shame, Speaker Hrrto,' Hrrestan said, his
  large eyes flashing. "For shame that you will not allow the Gringg to
  prove themselves as strong and supportive allies. If they can deduce
our
  greatly by frank and honest interaction with such a race.


  Hrrto regrouped his arguments. "But you do not fear them yourself?
You
  do not find their size frightening?"


  "Not at all,' Hrrestan said, his jaw dropping in a slight smile. "Their
  voices are annoying, but they cannot help that. We become accus-
tomed
  and nape hair no longer rises when they speak too loudly. If they are
  large of Stature, what of it? They are intelligent, caring beings.


  Yesterday, at the incitement of my grandchild, one of the Gringg picked
  me up and held me in the air like an infant. You were at the barbecue;
  you might have seen it yourself. It was a game the two of them were
  playing together, and yet the Gringg is the size of a large horse.


  My rambunctious grandson considered him a playmate. If my children
and
  their offspring trust them, can I do less?
  the grid in the heart of the First Village. The mist obscured his
  vision for a moment, matching the muzziness of his thoughts. Hrrestan
  had always seemed such a sensible Stripe, even if he seemed to have
  wasted his opportunities by being a mere co-leader on an agricultural
  planet.


  Furthermore, nothing Hrrto had seen or heard of the Gringg, even the
  unfortunate horse accident, contradicted their contention of pacific
  nature. The horrific tape shown to him by Spacedep seemed more and
more
  of a fantasy.


  And they had purralinium.


  Throughout the weeks since the Gringg had arrived, Mllaba harped at
him
  that revealing the Gringgs' inherent evil would serve to propel him into
  his world's highest honour. Yet he continually temporized and did not
  reveal the existence of that damning tape. If he was wrong, he was
  risking the destruction of a Hrruban colony. He had almost told
  Hrrestan about the tape. Would that omission cost lives?
   In the final analysis, Hrruba had to have whatever purralinium the
   Gringg had! He could even use that as his excuse for withholding vital
   evidence.


   "But why, Tom?" Todd asked, puzzled and unhappy. The emigration
request
   Tom Prafuli had just handed him was possibly the worst document to
cross
   his desk. A totally unexpected and unwelcome surprise Tom Prafuli
   pushed the sheets towards Todd. His solemn, dark brown eyes were
   mournful. "Just sign the emigration order, will you, Todd? Don't take
   it personal.


   Get it over with.


   The colony administrator took the pages in both hands and met the
other
   man's gaze. "Tom, we've been friends for more than twenty years.


   We grew up together; we suffered through university exams together. I
      gesture with one hand, holding it high above the ground beside his
head.


      "The Gringg?" Todd asked, astonished. "Tom, you're one of the great-
est
      proponents of diversity I know.


      The Gringg will make great friends and allies. They're harmless."


      "Oh, yeah!" the rancher said, bitterly, and Todd could almost see tears
      starting across the man's shiny dark eyes.


      "Ask Crystal Dingo how harmless they are."


      "Crystal Dingo?"


      "My mare. My prize brood mare that was. She's the one who's going to
be
      cheval steaks and a tanned hide today. But my mare is just the
      beginning, isn't she? I hear you're giving a big, prime chunk of
      Rraladoon to those Gringg." Todd stared. "What? Who told you that?"
    "That's bull,' Todd replied staunchly, suppressing the rise of anger at
    such ridiculous gossip, "and you know it, Tom. Even if one of them
    wanted to settle right here, they'd have to take unclaimed land. That's
    in both the Decision and the Treaty. You know how I feel about them,
    don't you?" Todd put a little heat in his words because Tom had been
    pro-space port.


    "Well, there's those that say you're thinking of them before your own
    folk, Hayuman or Hrruban." Todd eyed him. "If you weren't hurting, I'd
    take exception to a crack like that, Tom."


    "You can take what you like, so far as I'm concerned. You can give
them
    my ranch when I'm gone.


    I don't want to be anywhere near them. Let me go, Todd,' Prafuli
    begged. "I heard through the bulletin board that they're taking
    applications for homesteaders on Parnassus. We're already booked on
a
    ship heading in that direction next week."
      You ought to get out there and listen to your friends." Without further
      protest, Todd signed and affixed his seal to the form and handed it back
      to the rancher, who left the room without saying another word.


      When the sound of Prafuli's retreating footsteps died away, Todd got up
      from his desk and stared out the window for a moment. Usually the
view
      relaxed him enough so he could think. The vast garden changing with
the
      season, overlooked by the grand presence of Saddle Ridge was a most
      soothing view. This morning, though, the garden was flooded by a
      gathering crowd. Among them he could pick out the probable dissidents
      by their pallid complexions, somewhat scorched across noses and
cheeks
      by the sun. All this past month there had been a steady stream of
      agitators, swelling the original numbers which Todd was sure Barustable
      had grided in.


      He really hadn't thought they'd have much effect on dedicated
      Rraladoonans but Tom Prafuli had proved him wrong. Unfortunately
      screen the spurious from the serious. Wryly Todd thought that those
who
      took in paying guests for the New Home Week festival would be making
      good money.


      He vowed that, once New Home Week and the Snake Hunt Festival,
which was
      its finale, were over, he'd start weeding out the agitators on the
      grounds they were disturbing the peace. Which they were.


      As he watched, in full view of the crowd, some of these new "activists'
      unfurled banners and stapled them to poles of green rla wood. Todd
      squinted to read the badly printed messages snapping in the light
      breeze: Gringg Go Home, Two's Company - Three's a Crowd!, Doona
for
      Doonans.


      That last slogan was obviously contrived by Earthdwellers, since they
      didn't even use the Current name for the planet. He hoped that not
      everyone in that large mob were agitators. Todd recognized many
      neighbours and people he knew from all six Villages. No one seemed to
   His mail was full of messages of complaint: the Gringg were an unwel-
come
   and threatening presence. He erased most of them as soon as he saw
   their content, stunned by the depth of ill-feeling. A half-dozen
   suggested that he step down from office immediately and allow a
   "responsible, right-thinking Terran' to take over before disaster
   struck. Where had his wits been all these weeks? He'd been so
   convinced that the best possible outcome for all Hayuman- and
   Hrruban-kind was to form a partnership with the new species that he'd
   ardently pursued that goal.


   Had he been so wrong to inflict his world-view on the rest of his
   people? Was his idea of galactic unity so unwelcome to the majority?


   Hrriss slipped into the office. "Arre you ready to go yet, Zodd?


   My father would like to take a few moments to talk with you beforr ze
   conference begins. What is ze mazzer?" Todd looked up at him, his
blue
   eyes wide with confusion and hurt like a lost child.
    messages, too, and he is paying no heed zo zem.


    Zere is bound zo be malcontents who will not wait frr all to come out
    right. How many of zose messages were signed by Villagers?"


    "More than I like to count." Todd felt suddenly unworthy of the office
    Hu Shih had ceded to him.


    "You always assume zat you are ze one who is wrong, Hrriss said, with
a
    gentle grin as he opened the door.


    "Let me suggest a little experiment. Ask zese folk what zey zink."
    Todd's personal staff consisted of two Hrrubans and a Hayuman, whose
    work-stations were in the outer office.


    They looked up as Todd and Hrriss came out. The office manager,
Kathy
    Hills, fluttered her long blond lashes at him in a demi-flirt, then
    stopped when she noticed his expression. Her large blue eyes filled
    with concern.
"That's a funny question,' she said, a little puzzled.


"Sure. Why?"


"Well, I . - - Do you have any trouble having them as permanent trading
partners? Neighbours? Friends?" Kathy laughed.


"Well, I can't imagine being closer to anyone than I am to my two best
Hrruban friends. It'll be a shade difficult,' she added with a giggle,
"to be on the same level as a Gringg but every one of them I've met so
far has been polite and curious and really rather interesting.


Need you ask?"


"Well, yes,' Todd said. "It seems I do need to ask. I should have done
it before." Mrrowan, at the desk across the room, exchanged pitying
glances with Kathy and Hrriss, and shook her head.


"Zodd, you can be so blind sometimes. We zrust yrrr judgement.
    We elected you to succeed Hu Shih, didn't we? And most of the people
I
    know,' and he turned to get emphatic nods from the two females, "think
    you're handling a difficult situation very well. Any fainthearts don't
    know how good they've got it here.


    "Thank you,' Todd said, his shoulders relaxing somewhat, though the
    tight knot in his gut still remained. "I needed to hear that. I was
    half-convinced that I've been ignoring what's been going on right around
    me. I'm not going to bull it through without the approval of the people
    who live here.."


    "And you are not, Mrrowan insisted.


    "Rraladoon exists as it does because we've always helped each other.


    You have had help from many people zese long weeks of zeaching ze
Gringg
    to speak our language. Zose are not disapproving. It has been a
    prrject we have all shared.
  "And you're letting that upset you?" Kathy demanded, screwing her face
  up in disgust. "You amaze me, Todd!


  Let it run off your back, the way you did the other stupidities that
  have been perpetrated. You're on the right track.


  Don't you doubt it!" Her expression turned fierce.


  "I second that!" Barrough and Mrrowan chorused.


  "But it is nice of you zo ask,' Mrrowan added, dropping her jaw in a big
  grin.


  "I zold him he was mad,' Hrriss said, his eyes alight.


  "No, they're not exactly disinterested parties,' Admiral Sumitral said
  when Todd consulted him on the matter, "but loyal enough to you to
warn
  you if the matter was getting out of hand. So why are you letting one
  emigration give you second thoughts?"
Hrriss grunted low in his throat but it was Sumitral who answered.


"Would I,' and the diplomat touched his chest, "have backed you so
solidly if I felt you were not acting in the best interests of a planet
which is very dear to my heart?" That rhetorical query wrung a wry smile
from Todd.


"You'd be the first to set me straight, I guess.


"If I hadn't firrrst,' Hrriss said, twitching his nose and whiskers.


"I admit that it can be unnerving to see people carrying such
unflattering banners round and round your office,' Sumitral agreed.


"But surely you saw how many of them are not even residents?"


"It's the ones who were that upset me. There were letters demanding
that I step down. Kelly's reported rumours all over the complaint
board."
     instinCt with you, and with Hrriss. Remember that. Ignore the dross.
     Myself, I have trusted very few in my life. . . a survival technique.


     But I trust you, and Hrriss, and certainly Hrrestan. And oddly enough,
     I also trust the Gringg. Call it professional instinct.


     That's why I'm backing you. And, to give you a little encouragement,'
     Sumitral pulled up a file on his desk computer and swung the screen
     around for the two friends to see, "I'll give you the straight facts
     from home world newsprints. Here's the result of an opinion poll
     circulated by the Amalgamated Worlds Council on Earth.


     You see, in the beginning when the first data about the Gringg's arrival
     began to circulate, a general poll showed seventy-five per cenr were
     against getting involved with them. But look at the demographics: most
     of them are old timers, who grew up when there weren't even Hrrubans
on
     the horizon, when settling space meant hardship and terror.


     The young people, between sixteen and twenty-five, were ninety-two
point
       favour of forming a Treaty with the Gringg. This is what I based my
       platform on when approaching the Council, and that's how I won ap-
proval
       to offer them both diplomatic immunity and a Trade Agreement." Sumi-
tral
       tapped the screen with a stylus. "Don't doubt yourself, Todd Reeve.
       You've the backing you need. And an interstellar reputation as a fine
       example of Hayumankind and a role model for aspiring youngsters.


       "Zere, you see?" Hrriss asked, whacking Todd solidly on the upper arm
       with the back of his hand.


       With such reassurances, Todd was finding it hard to hold on to his
       gloomy mood. Hrriss was grinning widely, his jaw dropped almost all
the
       way to his breastbone "I'm not sure I like having an interstellar
       reputation,' Todd said in a low grumble.


       "You should have thought of that when you were six,' Sumitral said, with
       the ghost of memory limning a smile on his face. "Now, come, take your
       optimism into the negotiating room with you. You can deal with the
the plain white walls of the Federation Centre. He nodded a greeting to
the grid operator, a young Hrruban male with a very pointed face and
narrow-striped tail.


"We'll meet the Gringg on the landing pad, Sumitral said.


As they emerged from the grid facility, they were surprised to see the
crowds on the Treaty Centre grounds.


A handful of Alreldep regulars in their maroon uniforms stood guard on
the concrete apron attached to the building, around a grand table with
three pens and inkwells but only two seats, for the public signing of
the Treaty between Terra, Hrruba, and Gringg.


Most of the Hayumans and Hrrubans waiting near the landing pad were
Rraladoonans, waiting eagerly to view the signing. Many had brought
seating while others had spread blankets on the ground. There was a
buzz of pleasant talk which stilled as the official escort arrived.


To one side, however, Todd was dismayed to see yet another cluster of
protesters. This bunch suddenly pushed their way through the scattered
     Ken Reeve, Jilamey Landreau, and Ali Kiachif immediately stepped up
to
     the shuttle hatch, daring the mob to start something. A phalanx of the
     commercial space crews emerged from behind the shuttle, their hand
     weapons still holstered but ready, and formed a sort of barrier.


     Jilamey waved to Todd and Hrriss and gave one of his outrageously
cocky
     grins.


     "Damn!" Todd muttered under his breath.


     "Well, I didn't expect this!" Sumitral muttered under his breath.


     "I did, after the crowd around my office. Kiachif and Horstmann
     dragooned their crews into guard duty,' Todd replied out of the side of
     his mouth. "I'd hoped it was just talk. Damn "em for using pictorial
     insults."


     "Since it's all too well known that the Gringg have concentrated on
"Wait a sec!" He held up his hand to delay the others in the formal
escort. Then he took another step forward.


"You're not citizens of this planet,' he said, rapidly scanning the
protest group to find the leader. "You have no right of protest here."
Then he turned to the friendlier faces and raising his voice, added, "I
recognize a lot of you from previous snake hunts. How about removing
the vipers in our midst? I think they need to go back to whatever hole
they emerged from. Quietly! Out of respect for the rules of
hospitality!" Before the protesters could rally effectively to defend
themselves, their posters were confiscated and their persons bodily
removed by willing hands. Some loud and outraged cries drifted back.
Todd waited a bit, grinning at Sumitral.


"All right, that's out of the way. Let's proceed with the scheduled
formalities.


As soon as Todd, Sumitral and Hrrestan approached the Gringg shuttle,
the door slid open. A buzz started, this time a welcoming one.


Waving cheerfully and with a pleasant smile showing all her fangs, Grizz
  Grizz twitched her ears and seemed to scan the gathering but her
fanged
  smile remained in place - a fanged smile that had been caricatured on
  one of the posters. Todd hoped that the Gringg might just dismiss those
  as bad Rraladoonan art. The Gringg and officials had taken no more
than
  a few steps when suddenly a fist-sized rock winged past Todd's head,
  ricocheting off the side of the shuttle. A clatter of pebbles hit the
  ground around them.


  Todd swung immediately in the direction of the assault.


  A man, tawny-skinned but with the sallow complexion that spoke of
  limited exposure to the sun, threw another rock straight at Grizz.


  Anticipating its trajectory, Todd jumped up with one hand high and
  caught the rock. He swore as it stung his fingers. Teddy squealed with
  fear. The Gringg immediately closed about the cub, hiding him from any
  further attack.
   Hrrestan told Todd that the Hrruban had the same uncompromising
opinion.
   The sharp chunk of granite that he had caught would have done some
   damage had it reached its target, no matter how tough Gringg hide was.


   "I'll want to see that man when you catch him,' Todd said aloud and
   gestured to two of the crewmen to officiate.


   Todd dropped the stone to the ground and, with his boot, ground it into
   the dirt.


   "My sincere apologies, Captain,' he said in a ringing voice. "Let us
   proceed with the order of business.


   Then, flexing his stinging fingers, he raised his arms and gestured for
   the crowd to give way and a respectful aisle immediately opened up,
wide
   enough for the Gringg and escort to proceed. That such an incident had
   occurred at all rankled deeply in Todd, marring what should have been a
   great occasion.
  Barnstable, in his dress blues, nodded sharply to Hrrto as he slid into
  the chair opposite, and surveyed the room. The only other Occupant
was
  Mllaba, who sat discreetly against the wall, allowing her senior to mull
  over his thoughts by himself. Greene waited discreetly as his senior
  seated himself, then escorted Castle ton to her chair on the other side
  of their senior commander.


  "Well, Speaker Hrrto?" Barnstable asked. "Anything to report?"


  "I have spoken to Hrrestan. Ze conference goes on unhindered, and a
  Zreaty seems imminent whether we will or will not apprrove,' Hrrto said,
  but his voice was distant. "If we are right, zis means zere are only
  hours left.


  I can do nothing more. Despite all advice to the contrary, the High
  Council wants to trade with zese Gringg." That was true enough for,
once
  Hrrto had mentioned the existence of purralinium, the High Council
would
  hear of nothing but any agreement that would augment the dwindling
  altered his desire to win the upComing election: such crushing
  responsibility for all sorts of unexpected incidents had lost any
  appeal.


  "Withhold your approval,' Greene said. "The Treaty will require
  signatures from all three governments."


  "I am not sure zat will be possible,' Hrrto replied. "Nor zat it will
  mazzer.


  "But it can,' Barustable said urgently, his eyes glittering.


  "Think of it: the Gringg have given us a map of their systems.


  They have claimed hundreds of planets. If you don't sign, all the
  provisions and the safeguards become null and void. Hrruba could take
  over valuable mining planets: even habitable worlds. Considering what
  they did on Fingal. the Gringg don't deserve to colonize more worlds."
  "No, Second said, wearily. "I am too old for war. Nor am I one to take
  anozzer's worlds. We Hrrubans, too, have put such greed behind us.
But
viathan.
   Our combined fleets are hours away. They must not hesitate to attack."
   "Is zis wise?" asked Hrrto. "It is not us who will die." And we are so
   close to gaining new supplies of purralinium.


   He closed his eyes in despair.


   "Too many will die if we don't act. You saw that tape,' said Greene
   through gritted teeth. "These Gringg are deceivers and vicious killers.
   I can sense it every time I'm close to one of them." Grace Castleton,
   sitting by Greene, angled her body away from him. She was weary with
   trying to argue with Jon. He kept on the same theme and would see no
   other logic. For the first time since she'd received her own
   commission, she found her command onerous. Her private opinions
could
   not interfere with her obedience to orders from the Admiral.


   Barnstable was as rabid against the Gringg as Jon, wholeheartedly
   willing to believe evidence she found spurious.


   "We need more time,' Mllaba said. "Just a few hours and ze fleets will
     weighs half a ton and has claws."


     "Yes,' Greene said promptly, "but showing them the tape buys us time.
     They'll demand proof of its authenticity and we can drag that out as
     long as we want to. Let "em rant and rave a while. That'd be to our
     benefit. And I've arranged one more delaying tactic. Those should eat
     up the hours we need for the fleet to get into position." Everyone
     nodded in agreement, and nervously settled back to wait.


     As soon as they were safely past the crowd, Teddy started to whimper,
     having managed to control his terror until the safety of the Treaty
     Centre was in sight.


     "Here, Teddy,' Jilamey said, stroking his shoulder, handing the cub a
     handful of peppermint humbugs he happened to have in his pocket.


     "Can't imagine how those layabouts got here! Must be some fringe
nuts."
     Far more reassured by something to put in his mouth, Teddy stuffed in
as
     many as he could and so forgot the fright he had had.
legitimate reporter idents, who wanted to ask the Gringg questions: a
tiresome but necessary interview.


Todd tried to appeal to them to wait until after the formal signings but
the protests were so loud that he relented. Voders were passed over to
the reporters which Todd hoped would prove so irksome to use that the
newsgatherers would depart. Instead there was a barrage of the inane
questions, the kind of tripe that made Todd's innards roil.


"Captain Gringg, how did you feel discovering not one but two sentient
races inhabiting this planet?"


"Do we differ from other species you've encountered?"


"How long was your jourriey here?"


"From what part of space do you originate?"


"What's your home world like?"


"How many cubs would you have in a life span and doesn't it interfere
     "Nor was I, but it is never wise to annoy zose who broadcast news,'
     Hrrestan said.


     "If such broadcast is ever aired on Earth and Hrruba,' Todd said,
     feeling uneasy about the unexpected delay. He glanced down at his
wrist
     chrono. They were already late for the scheduled arrival time but he
     agreed with Hrrestan that it wasn't politic to irritate newsgatherers.
     How many of those quickly flashed credentials might prove bogus?


     And how did so many arrive so propitiously? As if he needed to go far
     to find an answer to that question. What did Barnstable and his crowd
     think they'd achieve by these delaying tactics?


     However, when he and Hrrestan did suggest that the interview had gone
on
     long enough, there was immediate protest.


     "This isn't half enough of an interview, Reeve,' protested one of the
     more aggressive Hayuman interrogators.
  we've given you as much as we can. After the ceremony's over, I'll
  arrange a longer session for you with Captain Grizz and her crew Todd
  cast a significant look at the commander of the Alreldep honour guard
  and immediately his troops moved in to form a barrier between the
Gringg
  and the newsgatherers. Then Todd and the others politely herded their
  guests into the building.


  "I know who planned that little diversion,' he muttered to his father.
  "I don't know why!"


  "The "why" worries me, too,' Ken said.


  "I must check the records of ze grrrid operrators,' Hrrestan said.


  "Zere have been too many unauzorized uses of zat facility!" He twitched
  muzzle and whiskers and his tail lashed in angry switchings.


  When they reached their destination, Todd sighed with relief, thinking
  as he did so that maybe such relief was premature.
you
  can get on such a momentous occasion?


  Surely you don't wish to keep any of these negotiations secret?"


  "Surely you don't expect me to believe you didn't arrange it, Greene,'
  Todd countered with an insincere smile.


  "Please, let us put aside rancour,' Hrrestan said in Middle Hrruban,
  hand raised for silence. "Will you not all sit down? This is the final
  phase of our negotiations. I have here three copies of the Treaty
  worked out between Admiral Sumitral, Captain Grzzeearoghh, Second
  Speaker, Admiral Barnstable, myself, and Zodd Rrev. The suggestions
and
  input comes from many quarters and has taken days to compile. I ask
you
  all to glance over these documents to ensure that all the salient points
  discussed have been included to your individual satisfaction." It was
  only when Hrrestan sat down that he realized half the room was more
  interested in the ornate timepiece at one end of the room - a fine piece
  of engineering since it registered the precise time on Hrruba, Earth and
   To Hrrestan's surprise, the Spacedep commander asked to be recog-
nized.
   He nodded to Greene, and the Hayuman rose.


   "The agenda of this meeting does not allow sufficient time to read every
   clause of this weighty document,' Greene said, making a show of the
   effort it took for him to raise the weight of the thick document in
   Basic language.


   "There were many points that had to be discussed in great detail.


   We will need more time for a thorough reading than you have allowed."


   "I must point out, Commander, that you are not an official member of the
   Trade Treaty Committee,' Hrrestan said in Middle Hrruban for the voder
   to translate. "You were present only as an observer for the Admiral who
   was involved in another discussion."


   "However, as the Admiral's appointed representative, surely I may
speak
   to that point?" There was the slightest edge of smug superiority about
then held the document open, it was clear to Todd that the man was
totally familiar with the contents.


"On page 14, clause 5, subsection 12, there is an ambiguity in wording
that I feel ought to be changed,' and he read it out.


"I hear no such ambiguity,' Hrrestan said, "and furthermore, he tapped
the keys on the terminal nearest him, "here is a transcript of that
particular discussion. You will note that the wording is exactly as it
was decided upon at that meeting."


"Ah, I see that you are correct,' Greene said, all affability even as he
tuined pages again to a new section.


"Would you also check Paragraph 9, clause 3, honoured co-leader?


Now is that as it was decided? I really do feel there's been an error
in the quantity of lithium in respect of trade weights.


Todd began to fidget but a glance from Hrrestan suggested to him that
his colleague would allow only so much of Greene's disputation.
   Captain Grizz raised her brow at the new word and Jilamey leaned
across
   the table to clarify the term.


   "Ev,' Sumitral said, turning to Barnstable, "what is all this in aid
   of?"


   "Well, you can't expect me to sign a faulty or errorstricken Trade
   Agreement, now can you?" Barnstable said, raising his eyebrows at
   Sumitral. "And I never approve of a document I haven't read
   thoroughly."


   "Your approval of this document is not required,' Todd said bluntly.
   "This is Alreldep business. You are here as an observer, Admiral, and
   on our sufferance." Barnstable raised his eyebrows in placid amuse-
ment
   at the warning.


   "But I,' Hrrto said firmly, "wish to read the text before it is signed."
   Second Speaker glanced around the table. "I would be failing in my
duty
She
     flipped to the first page of the document and began to read.


     Most of the Hayumans crowded around Admiral Barnstable who had
pulled
     the Terran-language copy over in front of him. Kiachif put a pair of
     spectacles on his nose and peered down them at the pages, scanning
as
     Barnstable read to himself.


     Just then the first quiet, decorous intrusion of Spacedep aides began,
     the first with just a whispered message: the second and the third
     bringing Greene message cubes which he read before passing to
Barnstable
     for his perusal.


     Mllaba stood behind Second Speaker as he read slowly.


     She hissed startlement as Jilamey Landreau sidled up to look over
     Hrrto's other shoulder "Too much of a crowd over there,' he said,
     smiling at her winsomely. "Just as well I can read formal High Hrruban
for scientific interchange to be chaired by the Gringg?"


"At my humble suggestion,' Honey replied. "The Gringg see that Hrruba
and Terra require an arbiter of scientific matters to ensure most
efficient development of important technology. We will do this for you,
in exchange for a place among you.


"Never!" cried Barustable. "Ridiculous! Afroza, you can't sign this,'
he boomed at Sumitral.


"I can, Ev, and I shall,' Sumitral said. "I have the permission of the
Amalgamated Worlds Council to do so.


"But a seat on the Joint Supervisory Council overseeing trade!'
Barnstable's face turned bright red with aggravation.


"If the Gringg trade with you,' Grizz asked, "is it not fair to allow us
a small say in the laws and privileges? We will agree to abide by them.
If we governed, would you not expect such a courtesy?" For that
Barnstable had no objection. "I . . . suppose so "We keep faith,'
  For another half hour everyone read quietly while Todd and Hrriss be-
came
  more uneasy. Todd drummed his fingers on the tabletop. Every
  legitimate signatory for this Trade Agreement had been intimately
  involved and had approved each day's finished negotiations. Why delay
  the inevitable? Or did those messengers mean the Spacedep contin-
gent
  were waiting for some sort of confirmation?


  Greene had edged forward and was perched on the front of his seat,
  turning an occasional worried glance at Captain Castleton, who re-
sponded
  with small shakes of her head.


  "And what is this?" MIlaba asked a few minutes later, pointing over her
  senior's arm at a statement near the end of the document. "A section of
  Treaty Island to be designated as an Embassy of the Gringg?"


  "Of course,' Todd said. "As we discussed at length last Tuesday
  afternoon, they will have ambassadorial status to Rraladoona. It's an
  acceptable compromise since they are not actually members of our
    I'm still not at all happy to see the Hrrunatan inhabited but that part
    of the continent's useless for anything else so it might as well be a
    space port and the Gringg are to hoe their own quarters there as well as
    here in the Treaty Centre." He looked around the table at the troubled
    expressions. "Look, you'll have to accept that the universe isn't
    composed of only two sentient races any more-' He stared significantly
    at Greene. "r just one. We've been sought out by a third. One day
    there may even be more.


    He kept his grin at their dismay to himself. "That portion of the text
    was agreed on yesterday morning."


    "And you agreed to this?" Barnstable demanded of Hrrto. "When? After
I
    left? How could you?" Suddenly stung by the Hayuman's presumption,
    Hrrto struck back.


    "Hrruba does not answer to Earth for its actions, he replied. "It
    sounded quite reasonable to me when I discovered how much that
would
    benefit Hrruba you Hayumans would deny us.
deny
  the Hrrubans and could very well offer without a loss to ourselves, if
  you understand me. Our new cryogenic techniques for one thing."


  "That's top secret, military only!" Greene said, narrowing his eyes at
  the Codep captain.


  "As if we have a constant call for frozen soldiers,' replied Kiachif
  with a snort.


  "If we may be allowed to mediate this point,' Grizz began pleasantly,
  with her paws folded over her belly, "the function of trading is to sell
  to others what they do not themselves have. Both parties should gain in
  the exchange."


  "So let's exchange,' Jilamey said eagerly. "Let's exchange spaceships
  for grid systems. Amalgamated Worlds would gain what they need and
  Hrruba would be able to explore more efficiently. That'd be the greatest
  trade - and the greatest gain - possible." He beamed around the table,
  apparently unaware of the frozen and outraged silence.
    Just then two ensigns hurried quietly into the meeting room and placed
a
    communications unit on the floor next to Barnstable. Todd noticed that
    the unit was operational and broadcasting.


    "Now just a moment, Barnstable,' Todd said, rising from his chair.


    "This is a closed session and that thing is on broadcast. You two,' and
    he pointed to the ensigns, "get that out of here, on the double." Hrriss
    indicated his distaste with a swish of his tail.


    Hrrto, usually a stickler for protocol, glanced up and seemed to draw in
    on himself.


    Todd's order was ignored as, hard on the heels of the Spacedep
    technicians, uniformed Hrrubans brought a similar unit for Hrrrv.


    "Just what is going on here?" Todd demanded, glaring at Barnstable
and
    Hrrrv. Neither answered him. "I want an answer or, by all that's holy,
hold, you'll be off this planet and you'll never get back on it!' Out of
the corner of his eye, Todd saw the smug grin on Barnstable's face. He
nodded at Greene, an obvious signal to continue.


"Yes, you've erred catastrophically in the matter of the Gringg.


These great, peace-loving creatures you're so eager to invite
everywhere! That you're stupid enough to trust. Sumitral and Hrrestan
both leaped to their feet.


"If you fault Reeve's judgement, then you fault ours, too,' Sumitral
said in a cold hard voice.


"You're getting a little too old to practise basic common sense.


Sumitral,' Barnstable said. "If you resign now, we can probably see
that your long service is suitably rewarded."


"My what?" Sumitral's face was expressionless but his response was
unforgiving.
"Indeed you'd better, and immediately,' added Sumitral.


"Now!" and Hrrestan's single word held overtones of threat to which the
Gringg now began to respond.


"Before those naval ships coming in behind the moon get into a position
to cause both us and our Gringg friends considerable discomfort,' Ali
Kiachif said, his black eyes flashing with warning.


He removed from under the table a small but powerful receiver which he
had obviously been monitoring.


"What?" Todd asked, thunderstruck. "Space fleets? Ali, why didn't you
tell us?"


"Just got the confirmation I've been waiting for.


I thought this laddie buck,' and he jerked a thumb in Greene's
direction, "was up to no good so I've kept eye and ear pricked until he
overstepped himself. You, too, Admiral.
  "The data,' Greene stressed the verb, "was classified until it could be
  confirmed. It is now. I contend that, in your naive and ingenuous
  fashion, you have put all of Humanity and Hrrubanity at risk."


  "And that you, in your usual warlike and suspicious nature, have
  arbitrarily decided we need to be defended by two space fleets.
Humpf."
  And Kiachif's black eyes sparkled with outrage and indignation.


  "Ev, what have you done?" Sumitral asked, distress and disbelief
spread
  across his face. "How could you supersede my authority in this matter?"
  "I have rectified - and not arbitrarily - a serious error of the current
  civilian government,' and Barnstable turned towards Todd, levelling a
  finger at him. "You have negligently placed the civilians of this
  planet in grave mortal danger. Therefore I declare martial law on this
  planet. I am taking over here. Two cruisers are approaching the Gringg
  ship and have orders to fire if it moves or they detect any unusual
  emissions. Furthermore, the entire fleet will take action in one hour,
  if I do not cancel the mission with a code word known only to myself."
  Mllaba smiled with intense relief.


  "Guards will be here in minutes to take these Gringg into protective
  custody until we can search their ship." Greene pointed at Grizz and
  Honey as he spoke, signalling the mannes. One immediately tried to
  remove Grizz's collar.


  Honey attempted to prevent it, but withdrew when a laser rifle was
  levelled in his face.


  "How dare you?" Todd said, furiously, rushing over to place himself
  between the guards and the Gringg. "We're on the verge of making
  lasting peace with these people.


  We've already begun commercial transactions!"


  "You are so naive, Havuman,' Mllaba said, her voice coldly insulting,
  "opening the way to the Gringg domination of Humankind and
Hrrubankind?
  Because that's the climate you were preparing - or did they make it
  worth your while?" The marines had removed the collars of all the
  Todd ignored the snide insult. "Domination?" he asked, wanting to
  guffaw out loud as he glanced at the passive Gringg. If she had chosen
  to, Grizz by herself could have overcome both squads, without requiring
  the help of Honey and Kodiak but she remained quiescent, almost
amused,
  Todd thought. Or were the loud and conflicting exchanges jamming her
  voder with meaningless sounds.


  Barnstable continued. "Spacedep is in possession of data that proves a
  Gringg ship destroyed a planetary civilization in the Fingal system."
  Sumitral sat bolt upright. "I have received no information on such an
  incident!"


  "The matter was classified but we have the tape of the exploration
  group, tape showing the devastated planet, with a dead Gringg ship
  orbiting it, and Barnstable enunciated that phrase with intense
  satisfaction at its effect on the Rraladoonans. Almost patronizingly,
  he continued. "Further examination proves that the weapons that killed
  the population and destroyed the cities came from that ship."
  shoulders under his formal attire.


  "They were there!" Barnstable said defensively. "The remains of their
  ship is still in orbit. The race they wiped out did inflict mortal
  damage on the ship which is why we have proof of their infamy "And
when
  did this happen?" asked Kiachif. "How many eons ago?"


  "That hasn't been ascertained yet,' Grace Castleton said, speaking for
  the first time. Greene gave her an odd look then he hurriedly took over
  the explanation.


  "What we have is from a scoutship "Which only have limited scientific
  capacity,' Sumitral said in a crisp tone.


  Greene glared at the AIreldep official. "The fully equipped naval team
  sent to conduct a thorough investigation of the system hasn't had time
  to reach Fingal yet."


  "And for this you want to put Rialadoon under martial law?" Todd
  protested.
  no basis for the illegal actions you have taken, including letting an
  unauthorized war party into Rraladoonan space.


  The Gringg were now looking around nervously, their subsonic rumbles
  adding to everyone's agitation.


  "He's right,' Kiachif agreed. "These are bears, not bombs or brigades."
  "They aren't bears,' Barustable said. "They're an alien race -
  strangers."


  "I have always made myself personally responsible for Grizz and the
  others,' Todd added. "Send those guards out. I know these people,
and
  they are a threat to no one "Gone native again,' Greene said to Todd
  with such repugnance the room was completely silent for several sec-
onds.


  "I have evidence of a clear threat, as I've told you all along,'
  Barnstable said. "Sit down, Reeve."


  "If you're accusing me of being a closet Gringg, then this won't
     his aide looked puzzled, and glanced at Todd for enlightenment.


     Todd spoke intensely, to Greene alone. "I challenge you personal
     combat. I resent your interference. I deplore your attempt to embroil
     me and my world in your petty secret bureaucratic games. You have
tried
     and condemned an entire race on the basis of an isolated incident and
no
     evidence. Do you realize that if they weren't so peaceful, you may have
     just given them cause for retaliation?


     You've insulted Captain, scared her cub, and have they moved a mus-
cle?"
     "How could they?" Greene demanded with a sneer.


     "With lasers aimed at them?" Todd laughed again. "Haven't you seen
how
     fast the Gringg can move when they want to? Have you any genuine
notion
     of their physical strength? Grizz alone could account for every marine
     in this room and bend those laser barrels into pretzels. But I've a
   cut him off with a ferocious smile on his face that made him look not
   unlike a hairless Gringg. "I do, too, and there are many on Earth who
   have considered me an arrogant barbarian. But I'm willing to fight for
   what I believe in. Whereas you are preparing to initiate a bloody and
   unnecessary war, and turn a very profitable colony on its ears with
   martial law! Well, I'm willing to fight for self-determination. Are
   you as willing to fight for your beliefs, Greene? Is individual combat
   too immediate, too undignified for you? In your hearing, the Gringg
   said that "tearing the collar" has long been considered unacceptable.


   Or didn't you understand that?" Greene was stunned by the onslaught of
   Reeve's tirade.


   He glanced down at his torn collar and up again at the relentless glare
   of Reeve's hard eyes. He'd never been challenged before: not since
he'd
   been a very young boy.


   He hadn't won that fight either. Physical training as an officer had
   always been isometric. For the first time he was aware of a man who
was
  "zis is between the two of them,' he said.


  "Enough!" the Admiral said, in a thundering voice. "Jon, Reeve, sit
  down! The very idea of a physical contest between the two of you is
  repellant." The two men remained eye to eye for a moment, then
Greene
  spoke.


  "I. . . decline your challenge, Reeve.


  "There speaks a really brave man,' Ken Reeve said.


  Greene eyed him, looking for sarcasm, but the colonist's face was as
  sincere as his voice. "Maybe we can all have the courage to refuse to
  fight when there are alternatives."


  "Admiral Barnstable, you will show us that incriminating tape. NOW!"
  Sumitral said so forcefully that he had the instant attention of
  everyone in this room. "I count on your support, Second Speaker,' and
  Sumitral turned to Hrrto. "An individual, as well as a species, is
  innocent until proven guilty. The Gringg are here to speak for
   "Or by all the powers and the favours I can call in the Amalgamated
   Worlds, you'll be sorry!" The silence was profound.


   "Grurghgle . . ." Eonneh's voder began, "I have not completely
   understood all that was said but I did hear you mention a destroyed
   Gringg ship, did I not?" There was an interrogatory lift to his final
   word. "I would very much like to see this tape you speak of. It may
   well solve an ancient history that has troubled us." Barnstable and
   Greene exchanged cynical glances but Second Speaker looked decid-
edly
   uneasy. When Mllaba wanted to whisper in his ear, he pushed her
away.


   "Well?" Todd asked pointedly With quick deft fingers, Sumitral slipped
   the tape into the appropriate slot and keyed it to play on the table
   projection. Todd was not the only one in the chamber who watched in
   horror as the camera skimmed over the dead surface of the planet, then
   followed a searchlight through the heart of a cold, dark ship.
     She peered closely at the picture and then leaned back in her chair, her
     face saddened. She gave Eonneh a brief nod.


     "We can identify this sad ship,' Eonneh said in a slow and sad tone. "It
     is the Searcher and was commanded by Captain Vrrayagh, an ancestor
of
     our captain. It left the motherworld many long Revolutions ago. We had
     only two brief reports from Vrrayagh. The first when the Searcher
     arrived at that system and discovered the planet was torn by a massive
     war, its peoples fighting against one another. When the Gringg
     attempted to make contact and sent a shuttle to land in the largest
     remaining city, it was immediately attacked and destroyed." Eonneh
bowed
     his head briefly. "Then, even as the two armies still fought each
     other, they turned their weapons also against the Searcher.


     Whatever armament was used was immensely powerful and the
Searcher's
     engines were destroyed. The second and last message told us that and
     that the crew would defend themselves as well as they could but, if no
     further message came from the Searcher, this planet was not to be
      not returned the attack, it might have been allowed to depart in peace.


      Perhaps, even our people might have mediated the quarrel that started
      such total conffict. Our presence had possibly only made the situation
      worse. But in those early days of our exploration programme, our ships
      were armed.


      No longer. Better the loss of one ship than encourage retaliation or
      indulge in lethal exchanges which require so much expenditure of
      energy."


      "How wise of you!" Sumitral said, softly. "So we are the first
      life-forms - and with the events of the day I am not sure I can say
      either of our species are as intelligent as they should be." He shot an
      almost malevolent glance at Greene and another at Mllaba. "We are
the
      first you have encountered. I deeply regret this misunderstanding.


      Though to be perfectly fair, the evidence would give a military mind
      cause to make exhaustive inquiries." He glanced briefly again at the
      Spacedep contingent out of the corner of his eye.
   "How tragic to encounter a race bent on selfextermination,' Kiachif said
   in a sympathetic voice.


   "Morra. It became a great sadness to all Gringg,' Honey said.              He
bowed
   his large head in deference but then lifted it again and smiled at
   Kiachif. "It is why we were so happy to meet the Rraladoonans and that
   they came to welcome us, without loss of life." Sumitral looked at Todd,
   with a wry expression. "Their experience is not so far from ours of the
   Siwannah Tragedy."


   "Gringg, Hayuman and Hrruban have a great deal in common,' Todd
said. He
   breathed a deep sigh of relief that his faith in the Gringg had not been
   misplaced, nor had he been mistaken to trust his gut feelings about
   them. He felt a tremendous surge of elation.


   "So, zey are trrruly friendly,' Second Speaker said to Hrrestan, respect
   in his eyes. "You were right to trust."
  ask permission before viewing another's domicile.


  What do you wish to see? The bottom of our swimming pool?" He
broke
  into a loud, grunting laugh, joined by his mate and cub. "Most
  certainly, if you can swim, you are welcome to come see that or any part
  of our ship, any time. Come now!" Greene flushed, but said nothing.


  "But why do you want such trivia as food and clothes from us?"
  Barnstable asked the Gringg, breaking the uncomfortable silence. He
was
  still looking for reasons to doubt.


  "With all due respect, Admiral, Kiachif said, with a huge grin, "you
  stick to running spaceships and leave this to us trade captains.


  Whatever the customer wants, if he's willing to pay for, I'll convey it
  to him. Trade is important for more than just the items we transport.


  Trade opens minds as well as credit sources. It brings new customers
exchange of all things: goods, then techniques, then ideas. We
understand the confusion, and we forgive without grudge."


"I was misled by another's enthusiasm,' Barnstable said, glaring at
Greene. "There are some who always see the downside of situations.


"Sir,' and there was a humble tone to Greene's voice, "I thought that,
based on the information I had, that I was acting in the best interests
of us all."


"Look, Greene,' Todd said, turning towards the chastened officer, "no
hard feelings. It is your job to err on the side of caution. Just
stick to that and leave us planetary types to do ours." Greene's face
flushed, and his lips were pressed tight.


He turned to Barustable. "Sir, I wish to tender my resignation and
accept full responsibility for my actions, authorized and unauthorized."
"You acted under my authority so I bear the responsibility, too, which
is to safeguard this colony as I would our home world. I did as I
thought advisable under the very unusual circumstances. And that's
that!" He turned toward Hrrto and Hrrestan, then muttered brief, crisp
   throat. "With your permission, Captain Grizz,' he said to her and she
   nodded, lowering the lids over her eyes briefly. He cleared his throat
   again. "I would welcome a full tour of your ship and its facilities. I
   believe Captain Hrrrv would, too." He even attempted a smile at the
   Gringg.


   At a gesture from Castleton, the marines returned the Gringgs' collars,
   shouldered their weapons and filed out of the room. Hrrrv's squad of
   catmen followed.


   Barnstable swivelled his chair to face Greene.


   "In view of the unauthorized actions you personally initiated which put
   civilians in danger, I accept your resignation, Jon. What may serve a
   combat officer well is simply no good in an aide. Perhaps you're more
   suited for other duties "If I may suggest an alternative for Commander
   Greene, Admiral,' Captain Castleton said, her manner devoid of emo-
tion,
   "the Hamilton has an opening for an executive officer. Commander
   Fletcher's tour of duty is over in two weeks' time.
  eyes met Greene's in a coy gaze. His expression changing from stern
  endurance of disgrace to surprise. He pushed back his chair and stood
  up.


  "Request permission to be excused for a moment, sir?" he said, saluting
  both Barnstable and Castleton. Grace looked queryingly at the Admiral
  and he flicked his fingers for her to answer.


  "Granted, mister,' Castleton said. Without another word Greene stalked
  from the room.


  Todd leaned sideways to Hrriss. "Whaddya want to bet there won't be
any
  protesters awaiting our departure?"


  "I never bet on sure thing!' Hrriss wrinkled his nose.


  "Hope no one will need ze grid for ze next few hours."


  "Admirrrral,' Hrrestan said, severely to Barnstable. "In all this
  confrontation, I have seen that Spacedep has been closely involved.
      said. Then he turned to Second Speaker.


      "And for you, a speaker of the High Council, to go along with such
      machinations!" Hrrestan said. Todd heard the hurt and suppressed an-
ger
      in his colleague's voice and trembled as he had when he and Huiss
were
      small, caught by the cat man, doing something they knew they
shouldn't.


      "We must learn to see all beings as potential friends for we are
      terribly alone in the void of space. No offer of friendship should be
      rejected out of hand. See what you nearly did, destroying the peace
      both our species have enjoyed. For the sake of Hayumankind, for the
      sake of all Hrruba, for our hopes for the future, we must never come
      this close again to disaster!" Hrrto gazed at him thoughtfully. No one
      spoke, for Hrrestan's words struck home in every heart.


      Sumitral broke the silence. "Well, gentlefolks, we do have some
      business to conclude here. Are there now any changes to be made to
the
     "Then let nothing delay the signing,' Sumitral said urgently. "Shall we
     make this official?"


     "All in favour?" Todd said. The vote was unanimous. A moment later,
he
     sent a clerk running to the Duplication Office with the approved copies
     of the Tripartite Trade Agreement.


     The party went outside to the prepared table. The AIreldep guard
     withdrew to each corner and stood proudly flanking the officials. It
     was such a momentous occasion that Todd felt quite six years old
again.


     He could almost feel Hrruna's reassuring presence as that six year old
     helped to formulate the Decision at Doona.


     As they neared the table, Todd could see that the newsgatherers were
     gone and those that remained were smiling with friendliness, eager to
be
     present at an auspicious occasion. Grizz, accompanied by her two
     scribes and her son, took her place at the end of the table and rolled
  to each delegate.


  "Hayumans, Hrrubans, and Gringg,' Sumitral said, rurning to the crowd.
  "I welcome all of you to witness the signing of this historic trade
  agreement between our three peoples. This is only the beginning of
what
  I hope will be a long and fruitful alliance." There was a wild cheer.
  The deep voices of the Gringg boomed louder and lower than the rest of
  the crowd.


  Flowers, brought along specially for the occasion by Rraladoonans,
were
  thrown into the air like confetti.


  A handful of fragrant stephanotis landed on the treaty table in front of
  Second Speaker Hrrto.


  "An omen, Speaker?" Mllaba whispered the question in his ear.


  "I believe so, MIlaba,' Hrrto said, nodding.
   ù . For our hopes for the future, this must not be!" The tape ended,
   and the lights came on in the High Council Room. Hrrto glanced around
   at his fellow High Council members. Sixth Speaker was looking
   irritated, Fifth thoughtful. The sergeant-at-arms was smiling slightly.
   At a glance from Hrrto, he snapped his jaw closed and assumed a prop-
erly
   blank expression.


   Second Speaker rose and placed his hands on the desk. "This con-
cludes
   the file I have been assembling on Hrrestan, son of Hrrindan.


   You have had copies for your personal review, and heard personal
   witnesses testify to his wisdom and devotion to Hrruba. I nominate him
   for the seat of First Speaker of the High Council, and withdraw my own
   candidacy in his favour." Gasps and muttering from the rest of the
   council.


   Mllaba looked absolutely livid, but she suppressed her anger as best
she
   could even if she couldn't control the twitching of her tail.
      "He is a younger, stronger person, impartial and possessed of great
      patience and wisdom. With all humility, I would serve the Council and
      Hrruba best by remaining as Second Speaker. In that capacity, I can
      cement the relationships with the Gringg which I have already begun.


      Therefore, as temporary Council leader, I direct the sergeant to
      commence the voting for the First Speakership." Each member placed
his
      hands on the hidden panel below the level of the table. The blind
      monitor at the head of the table would tally the votes without revealing
      who had cast them. The sergeant stood up.


      "The nominees for the position of First Speaker are Fifth Speaker for
      Health and Medicine, Sixth Speaker for Production, Carrdmarr, an
      industrialist and philanthropist of Hrruba, and Hrrestan, Village and
      Colony Leader of Rraladoon and Chief Liaison Officer to Hrruba,' the
      sergeant intoned. "For Fifth Speaker?" One light went on at the tally
      board.


      As tradition dictated on Rraladoon, the construction of new quarters -
      and Hrrubans in respirators with brushes full of the sticky sap treated
      the timbers, which became strong as iron and immobile in their newly
cut
      shapes, yet still light enough to be hauled about by two sturdy workers
      or one Gringg. Other teams carried the finished beams and wall sec-
tions
      to the builders. It was all going by the numbers.


      While others prepared the building materials, heavy loading equipment
      that had been used to build the Centre and the Councillors' Residences
      had been rolled down, and were now hard at work excavating a deep
      swimming hole, with dams at each end to keep the level suitably high.


      In the spirit of cooperation, artists from every village worked
      alongside the Gringg scribes to stencil and paint handsome, colourful
      designs as soon as the walls were ready.


      When Todd arrived that morning on the site, he estimated that there
must
      have been five hundred people pitching in to help. He was inordinately
      pleased by that: another subtle vote of confidence in himself and
  "At this rate, it could be finished in two days,' Todd told Hrrestan,
  who was sitting at a safe distance from the sawyers, going over the
  blueprints. Amid loud cries to beware for safety, workers raised the
  pylons for the foundation.


  Gringgs, using mighty hammers, almost casually pounded them into the
  ground. From where they sat, Todd could see how enormous the fin-
ished
  complex would be. But then, the Gringg liked a lot of space.


  The curved archways were a lot like the halls on their ship.


  "As quickly as the rlba sets,' Hrrestan agreed, cheerfully in Low
  Hrruban. "It is hot enough to dry the sap, but not too hot. Donations
  of furnishings have also been coming in. Have you noticed them? I
  asked Kelly and Nrrna to take careful notes so the donors can be
  thanked." The generosity of the Rraladoonans was indeed impressive.


  Piles of tapestries, cushions, carefully boxed works of art, even some
  clipboard.


  Todd grinned, and held up a hand, still slightly yellowed from last
  week's bruising rock. Hrrestan glanced at it.


  "Kiachif tracked the culprit down."


  "He did?" Todd was surprised.


  "Is he still breathing?" he asked, knowing Kiachifs penchant for making
  punishment fit crimes.


  Hrrestan grinned. "Kiachif is careful to keep his customers. The man
  is from a trading company which does a lot of business with Spacedep.
  With all the rumours being circulated by inaccurate reports, he
  evidently believed that the Gringg were going to be allowed sanctions
  that would ruin his business."


  "So, what punishment fitted his crime?" Todd asked, seeing Hrrestan
was
  amused.
    Kelly turned wide eyes on her husband. "You've given up fighting the
    space port?"


    "Well,' Todd said, dragging out the word and the suspense, "a triangle
    is a much more stable construction than a two-sided affair." He heaved
a
    sigh. "And with the Gringg mediating, I don't foresee the problems that
    obsessed me when the project was first suggested."


    "The Gringg have done us many favours,' Hrrestan said and answered a
    hail from one group of workers, leaving the two Reeves together.


    "That's a tremendous relief, darling,' she said, giving him a firm hug
    and a long kiss. "You don't know how Nrrna and I have worried "Oh,
yes,
    I do,' Todd said and held her tightly for a long moment more when she
    would have disengaged.       "Yes, I do,' he added more softly, "and
blessed
    you for letting me make up my own mind."


    "Humph,' she said, struggling out of his embrace. "As if any agency but
"I don't see why not. At least they'll have a roof over their heads.
They're as eager to join the hunt as anyone else on Rraladoon right
now." He grinned broadly. "That'll be some sight! Gringgs tackling Big
Mamma Snakes." Nrrna arrived as he finished his sentence.


"Hrriss says to tell you zat ze Sighters say ze snakes are gathering on
ze sea marshes. Some are even heading for the dunes."


"Good, good!" Todd said, nodding.


Nrrna grinned. "Ze children have talked of nothing else all day.


Zey arre eager to show Zeddy what a G.B.M.S.


looks like."


"From a safe distance, I hope." Todd looked arouna.


There were numerous children on the site, but he couldn't spot his
twins. "That reminds me: where are they?" Kelly glanced up. "Hmm?
   tarpaulins.


   Todd found the five youngsters sitting together in a heap. Hrrana had
   her tail wound firmly around Teddy's leg, and Hrrunival was sandwiched
   between the Alley Cats with his head on Alison's lap. All of them wore
   glum expressions.


   "So what's wrong here, Cats?" he asked.


   "Daddy, couldn't Teddy stay here with us?" the twins asked in hopeful
   unison. "We're afraid if he goes away, we'll never see him ever' "Well,
   since his mother's a starship captain as well as a fully accredited
   consul to Rraladoon, she might be spending a lot of time either in the
   embassy or running cargoes between our world and his,' Todd ex-
plained,
   "so you might get to see him as often as you do Ali Kiachif."


   "That'd be OK,' Alec said. He had screwed his face up under his mop of
   red hair, hardly daring to let hope show.


   "You may be absolutely certain that we will be staying in touch with our
Her
     engineer and that marvellous Cardiff worked out a conversion program.
     Her entries will be holographic or audio/video for a time, but the
     Gringg have all the parameters to create a congruent writtenlanguage
     program. I gave them a lot of read-and-listen books to help them
     connect the spoken to the written word."


     "What kind of books?" Todd asked, eyebrows raised, seeing the
     mischievous gleam in his wife's eyes.


     Kelly affected innocence. "Very simple ones to start with.


     Children's books, like The Three Bears, and Winniethe-Pooh." Todd
     laughed and hugged her close. "Thank you, love."


     "But of course! I don't want to lose touch with them either,' Kelly
     said, and reassured the children with her smile. "So you can message
to
     Teddy as often as you want."


     "I'm glad,' Alison said, seizing Teddy's paw. "I like him." Teddy
   he, Dad?" Alec asked, his tone demanding an affirmative. "Hrriss said
   he could have that old plodder of his." Todd scowled. "It may not be
   tomorrow. And it might not be safe. Have you considered what Captain
   Grizz thinks of all this?"


   "Oh, she wants to go, too,' Hrrana said. "She is very interested in
   snake eggs. Teddy told her about his lunch that day."


   "Please, Dad?"


   "Please?"


   "Please, Uncle Zodd?"


   "We will stay back where it is safe,' Hrrana promised, opening large
   green eyes at him. Todd sighed.


   "Let us talk it over with your parents later."


   "Oh, there you are!" Ken Reeve said, peering in under the makeshift
tent
  "Oh, yes!" exclaimed both Alley Cats at once, springing to their feet.


  They dragged the rest of the Fearless Five behind them, although no
one
  required much urging. Kelly and Todd, holding hands, followed more
  slowly.


  The same Hrruban and Hayuman skills which had raised the friendship
  bridge now translated an architectural design by Honey; a mighty,
  cave-like building was already starting to take shape. Part of the
  first level, which would support a solidly buttressed terrace, was
  cantilevered over the river, so that the water-loving Gringg could dive
  into the warm, tropical water from their dwelling.


  Todd admired its handsome lines as much as he did its symbolism.


  "Gosh, your own swimming hole, right inside your house!" Alec said,
  catching the gist of the design immediately. "Hey, Dad, this is a great
  idea! Can we run a walkway right to the swimming hole? It would be
  terrific!"
  "Are you pleased with what you have wrought, friend zOdd?" Hrriss
asked.


  "More and more,' Todd said, waving a hand at the building framework.
  "That's a grand design, Honey, functional and impressive.


  The architect sighed. "It is not often such an opportunity is given. I
  am sorry I shall never live in it,' but he eyed his design with evident
  satisfaction. "Others shall stay as the permanent residents. I and my
  mate and offspring will only be occasional visitors."


  "Well, you'll be welcome whenever you part space to come here,' Todd
  said. "We've certainly enjoyed your visit."


  "I contemplate with great sorrow the ending and I thank you for the
  invitation to join in the Hunt festivities."


  "Couldn't, and wouldn't, leave you out of them,' Todd said, instantly.
  "It's just too bad we don't have horses strong enough for you to take
  part in the Hunt itself."
      you'll be more than welcome, if only to keep our assorted offspring from
      haring away to find big snakes by themselves,' Todd added, with a
laugh.
      "This is the time to see Rraladoon at its best, during New Home Week.
      Every Rraladoonan who can scrape up the fare from Earth or one of the
      colonies comes home. We'll introduce you to as many as you can toler-
ate
      meeting.


      They'll spread the word about our new trade allies with no tall tales
      and embroideries. That I can promise!"


      Chapter 12


      Two MORNINGS LATER, SIGHTERS LANDED THEIR LIGHT helicraft
outside Todd's
      bedroom window just after dawn to inform him that the hundreds of fe-
male
      snakes were nearly finished with egg-laying in sandy dunes.
  Robin was such a good organizer and so meticulous in detail, that Todd
  anticipated few problems. But then, the snakes might not cooperate.


  They could throw glitches almost as if they were testing the Hayumans
  and Hrrubans who had invaded their traditional routes. Years of coping
  provided ample experience to handle anything that could possibly hap-
pen.
  He hoped!


  Fortified by a good breakfast, he and Hrriss reined their Hunt horses in
  the middle of the village square in front of the Assembly Hall. The
  peripheral support personnel - Sighters, Beaters, Lures, Wranglers and
  first aid crews - as important as the teams who herded the snakes along
  the way, were all accounted. The complements of the individual teams
  were still assembling, their team leaders checking each person that gear
  was in proper order and appearance. The aids were well supplied with
  traditional medical gear, plus big tubes of the healing salve vrrela,
  good for any general wound, but a sovereign remedy against rroamal
  poisoning. The mere touch of the toxic vines was enough to raise
  healthy welts even on furred skin. Team members carried supplies as
  well but it wasn't just team riders who blundered into the poisonous
might
  have trouble controlling their horses in the excitement of the Hunt.


  The square was crowded with double the indigenous population of
  Rraladoon: the ones who got vicarious thrills out of watching the Hunt,
  observing those who were qualified to participate. Visiting dignitaries
  from planetary governments all over Hrruban and Hayuman space were
  present.


  Not only did the Hunt provide a real boost to the treasury of the
  colony, it attracted enough competent people to help the resident
  conservationists drive the snakes safely back to their natural preserve
  with a minimum of loss. Even the most ardent ProLife fanatic admitted
  to the necessity of discreet culling for a species whose females laid
  hundreds of eggs, a large proportion of which survived natural
  disasters. Even when there had been few to control the thousands of
  reptiles, wholesale killing had been prohibited.


  The decision of a safety kill or capture of a certain number of snakes
  was the prerogative of the Hunt Masters, requiring split second
  Someone always forgot these essentials.        As usual, there was one
young
  rider who protested having to wear a poxy belt unit which he was certain
  would hamper him. Hrriss merely gave the cold-eyed stare of a person
  who did not wish to argue.


  "No handset, no hunt, young man,' Hrriss said, firmly.


  Grumbling gracelessly, the Hayuman took the unit and retreated out of
  sight of the Masters of the Hunt.


  The onlookers framed the main square, keeping a judicious distance
from
  the heels of excited horses, cavorting and showing off. Old hands at
  this Hunt, like Todd's Gypsy, Hrriss' Rrhee, the old mares that Errala
  and Hrrin used, calmly circulated, miraculously avoiding a kick or a
  bite.


  "Sappers?" Todd asked, checking his pad.


  "I have hrrrd from Hrrol,' Hrriss confirmed, pointing a sharp claw at
  ready to accompany the teams." The Lures, mounted on dirt bikes, were
  trained in their function - to attract renegade snakes of any size and
  "lure' them back to the main drive. Their bikes and persons were
  liberally smeared with bacon fat, redolent and irresistible to snakes.


  "Great,' Todd said. "We've got about half an hour before we have to
  ride out. I'd better let the guests get into position." He informed the
  heli pilots.


  The excited clamour, mostly from first-time hunters duffers in
  Rraladoonan parlance - vied with the hacking sound of copter blades
  beating the air, the impatient whinny of the occasional horse, and the
  general babble among old friends reuniting after long separation, as
  Rraladoon prepared for its annual event. While duffers were permitted
  to accompany hunting teams, they could not participate in the more
  difficult and dangerous occupations of Beater or Lure, though over the
  years, some off-world hunters who showed the proper amount of care
and
  skill could be "promoted' to hunter status.


  Few had the patience to be accorded that honour. Many of the duffers
was a coming of age ritual but hunter-mentalities of all ages vied to
meet that challenge.


Pet ocelots, who hunted alongside their masters and mistresses, now
huddled underneath horses' bellies or sat on pillion behind their
owners' saddles. Hrriss was running a new ocelot this year, Gerrh; a
cub of his two beloved pets, Preen and Mehh, who were getting too fat
and lazy to run beside horses. The spotted cat sat bolt upright on the
back of the shifting mare, his tail curled around his haunches much as
his master's was. Most Hrrubans tucked their long tails down inside
chaps or bandaged them to one leg to prevent accidents.


As one of the Masters of the Hunt, Todd stood up in his stirrups, one
hand on his Gypsy's neck to steady him.


In a stentorian voice, he ran through his usual caveat.


"We are not here to decimate the snake population.


If that's your intention, you can stay right here in this square when we
A timid hand went up among the riders. "But what if a snake attacks
me?" a young Hayuman visitor asked. Her riding coat was so new Todd
fancied he could see the mark on the cuff where the bar code had been.


"If you should be so unlucky as to have a snake attack you, call in your
position and then get out of the way as fast as your horse: and a
snake-chased horse really moves! If flight's not an option, shoot as
straight as you know how,' Todd said. "That one's for the stewpot. If
a snake attacks and gets a taste of blood, it'll go for any hunter near
it next year. We call them "renegades" and we kill them to prevent real
trouble next year. The snakes that proceed peaceably back into the
marshes are to be left alone. Don't provoke them! You don't know what
they're capable of. Do not mingle in the main swarm; just flank it. You
don't want a snake running up your horse's leg to get a chunk of you!"
He grinned then. "I assure you Rraladoonan horses will do their best to
keep you clear all by themselves. If you hotdog, endangering yourself,
your mount, or anyone else, the leader of your team has full right and
responsibility to sideline you for the duration. If you don't want to
spend the rest of the day in a snake blind, listen to your leader and
obey any orders.
    Fifteen or twenty of the huge aliens had elected to join the teams, to
    the amazement and enthusiasm of some of the returning Rraladoonans,
and
    the nervousness of others. Todd was unhappy to see that there was
still
    some distrust among his folk for their newest allies, but he hoped the
    Gringg performance in the Hunt might alter diehard notions.


    Since there were no horses up to the weight of an adult Gringg, they
had
    agreed to work as assistants to the Beater Teams, whose task was to
make
    enough noise to scare an escaping snake back into the mass.


    The job was by no means a sinecure. Since the beaters drove tractors
    and other light farm machinery fitted with heavy snake-bars, the crews
    equipped with noisemakers, flails and, at the last resort, heavy calibre
    hand-guns, anything that could persuade a snake to return to the stream
    heading south towards their natural habitat.
into
   the cab of the wide-bucket heavy-duty tractor, one of the largest on the
   planet. It was effective in blocking snakes' escape routes among the
   marsh grasses and Mark was wizard in the things he could make his rig
   do, should push come to shove.


   "Move "em out!" Todd cried as he saw all the Gringg on board their
   designated vehicles. He pumped a fist in the air. With a roar of
   engines, the Beaters departed to take up their positions, followed by
   the Lures, on their nippy dirt bikes that looked all too flimsy for the
   work they must do.


   With Grizz and Eonneh riding in the farm hover truck, Kelly drove slow
   enough for the five children to follow on their horses. She also didn't
   want to bottom the truck with all the weight it currently carried. With
   her huge arms folded neatly across her belly, Grizz sat with the utmost
   dignity in the front seat, though her bulk was crushing Kelly up against
   the door. Rolling the window down gave Kelly the opportunity to lean
   her upper torso outside. Honey, filling the rear seat, was armed with
   his ubiquitous pad and stylus.      The youngsters were leading Kelly's
mare
  for her to manoeuvre the truck inside the crowd and waved furiously to
  get Todd's attention.


  Hrriss noticed her and trotted over, leaning down to the window.


  "Nrrna and the farm managers are lined up at the ranch fences with
heavy
  guns and dynamite in case of tiddlers!


  Where do you want us?" she called over the din.


  "You and the children go with Llywelyn Cam's Beaters toward Boncyks'
  farm,' Hrriss said, checking them on his list, "wherrre the woods end.


  "Right you are!" Kelly saluted cheerfully and set the hover truck moving
  in the right direction. In her rear-view mirror, she could see the
  youngsters urging their horses after her, east towards the river,
  disappearing among the houses and trees at the edge of town.


  "Four zeams filled and despatched, twenz> seven to go, Hrriss informed
  Todd.
       After Todd's initial reproof, Jilamey always wore every bit of the
       compulsory Hunt safety gear. He added a few pieces of equipment
which
       he considered necessary. His saddlebow was hung with quivers, one
full
       of short spears, another of crossbow quarrels to fit his custom-made,
       fast reload weapon, including some marked with the red seal for high
       explosive. The sedately clad Barrington followed closely behind his
       master in the small, but very speedy flittercar. Responding to an
       over-the-shoulder nod from Jilamey, he parked the vehicle beside the
       Assembly Hall, and disappeared inside.


       "Old Overprotective's going to help cook this time!" Jilamey said, with
       an impish grin that made him look like a balding faun. "Out of my way
       at last. I'm ready, able and oh so willing! Bring on the snakes!'
       "Good to see you,' Todd said, chuckling. "Now that you've arrived, our
       team is present and accounted for.


       Take a position next to Hrrin and Errala."
  Masters. Through the open hatch, Dar Kendrath waved wildly to get
  Todd's attention. He pointed to his wrist and held up one finger, then
  five more. The main swarm would reach the dunes in about fifteen
  minutes.


  "That's cutting it close, Todd said to Hrriss, giving Dar the thumbs up
  sign that he understood the message. He stood in his stirrups, twisting
  around at his waist. "At the trrrrrot, forward!" he yelled, swinging
  his arm in an age-old gesture.


  Dar veered his craft out of the way of the on-coming horses. The sec-
ond
  Sighter chopper, a good distance from the throng, followed a moment
  later.


  Hrrula, with Robin Reeve as his second riding behind him at the head of
  Team Two, wheeled his horse around.


  His team was full of visiting duffers, some of whom were reasonably
good
  riders, but Hrrula was competent in keeping team members out of grief.
  riding beside Hrrin's mate Errala, with Jan and Don, Team One's own
  Wrangler and sharpshooter, bringing up the rear. Team One was lighter
  in personnel than most of the other groups of hunters, but as the team
  that took responsibility for steering the lead snakes, they needed to be
  able to peel away and move faster than any other.


  Todd held the fast trot pace to the head of the desert where the snakes
  lay their eggs. The weather was slightly overcast which was a minor
  blessing. Bright sunshine meant hours of hot riding. Gerrh twitched
  nervously on his pillion, reacting to the strong odour of snake which a
  slight breeze wafted down the river path. Errala covered her sensitive
  nose with a citrus-scented cloth, and coughed. Team One cut along the
  trail past the other teams in place. As Todd and Hrriss passed, each
  leader acknowledged their readiness.


  The radio crackled on Todd's hip.


  "They're swarming!" Leah Kalman's shout came through clearly.


  "Teams Six and Seven spreading out." Todd squeezed his legs into
Gypsy's
  north.


  "Yaw!" Todd exclaimed, his gaze sweeping the heaving multitude of
  snakes.


  "Numbers have increased beyond estimate,' Hrriss called in Low
Hrruban.
  "More must have survived zan usual. Good for us that we can trade the
  excess to the Gringg now they've got a taste for the flavour.


  "This swarm s going to take real handling, partner,' Todd called back
  and then began shouting orders to the other riders. "Spread out!


  Contain them. We've got to keep them rolling or they'll stack up here
  and we'll have the devil's own time!" Big Paws, his powerful body
  crouched low to the ground, was almost on all fours. But his fangs and
  claws were bared and the small snakes that had tried to scoot out past
  him reversed, and he herded them back to the marked route. When a
  three-metre tiddler made a hasty break to dive between his legs, he
  seized it at the back of the neck, and flung it bodily into the main
  reptiles. At the sound of his rumbling roar, several that were headed
  in that direction stopped where they were and doubled back on their
own
  lengths.


  "Look at zat!" Hrriss said, gleefully. "A new deterrent!


  Zey must dislike Gringg vibrrations!" Todd, vigorously applying his
  quarterstaff to curtail breakouts, grinned back. "Keep up the good
  work, Big Paws!"


  "Reh!" the Gringg chortled, flinging another four-metre snake overhand.
  It struck the ground on its nose and hastily sought refuge among its
  fellows, slithering away as quickly as it could from the gigantic
  black-and-white terror.


  Todd wheeled to follow the vanguard of the reptiles through the woods.
  The snakes were relatively placid up near the dunes, in strong contrast
  to the way they would act later on, when they were tired and the
  clutching hunger had fully kicked in. Then they became dangerously
  "I'll get the one of the right!" Jilamey shouted, waving his crossbow
  over his head and spurring his horse through the marsh waters after the
  snake. He aimed and pulled the trigger, but the quarrel struck mud,
  missing the tiddler completely. His horse slipped, nearly precipitating
  him into the fetid waters. Jilamey was improving but he would never be
  a match for Kelly and he missed her support on the team.


  She certainly wouldn't have missed an easy shot like that but she had
  offered to cart the captain around.


  A roar sounded from behind the farm machine, and one of the young
snakes
  came sailing over the top of the tractor to land in a heap on the path.
  Todd jumped. Don swore.


  "Fardle it, I didn't think they could fly!"


  "Compliments of Koala,' Dautrish called to the team.


  "She missed the other one, though!"
the
      leading snakes and keeping the foot of his quarterstaff poised for use.


      His team fanned out in single file behind him, riding hard.


      A flashgun popped to one side of the path. Todd caught the glare out of
      the corner of one eye. A margin hunter, turning back a tiddler that had
      strayed between the cordon of horses. They entered the woods.


      The terrain here favoured the snakes, who could disappear without
trace
      into the undergrowth by virtue of their natural protective patterning.
      It took quick eyes to make sure none of the leaders strayed, encourag-
ing
      others to follow. Not for the first time, he was grateful to the river
      for bordering one side of the snake run, keeping the hunters from having
      to double up teams along this section.


      A low ridge of rock rose up in the middle of his path.


      Avoiding the obstacle, Todd hugged the opposite side and came out ten
  butt end of his spear to the snake's head. It coiled up and headed into
  the stream without further hesitation. Gerrh galloped after his master
  and leaped neatly back on to Rihee's back.


  The ridge had provided one of the only breathing points the hunters got
  on the trail, where geography did their work for them in keeping the
  snakes from straying.


  After that, the long, hot ride was made dangerous by low branches
which
  knocked against Todd's helmet and shoulders while he tracked the
  swift-moving snakes along their way He passed the first of the snake
  blinds: one of the small, well-sealed rla-wood cottages smeared with the
  citrus perfume that deterred snakes from smelling the contents.


   The broad window at trailside was filled with spectators staring out at
  him through field glasses.


  "Todd, I've got a lively one here,' Don called through the handset.
  "Could use your help." With one hand, he laid the reins along Gypsy's
  neck and turned him around, while he lifted the small communications
   the cordon of young reptiles than she could really handle as Don went in
   pursuit.    The sharpshooter waved to Todd as he approached, and
pointed
   at the five-and-a-half-metre snake he was pacing. As steady as if he
   was sitting on still ground, Don's rifle aimed at the back of the
   reptile's head.


   "The damned thing won't go back in line!" Don called.


   He ducked a branch. "I've got a bead on it, but I don't want to kill it
   if it's just ornery.


   "Crank a ground shot next to its head on the right, Todd said,
   unlimbering his quarterstaff to help prod.


   He called for a Lure to come and assist. Nodding, Don squeezed the
   trigger, and a puff of dust kicked up on the right of the snake's nose.
   With a violent check, the snake turned a sharp corner and veered to-
wards
   the stream, but five metres of body was a lot to manoeuvre.
      The incident attracted the attention of more tiddlers.


      Todd shot off flash after flash of brain-searing light to divert the
      predatory snakes while Don helped the gelding to its feet and regained
      his saddle. Suddenly, a leather-clad Lure on a cycle burst out from
      among the trees and began riding a serpentine trail between Todd and
the
      mass of snakes. Across his shoulders, inside out was a fresh sheep
      hide. The heavy scent of blood got the slow-witted attention of the
      stray snakes. They followed the Lure who led them to the main stream.
      The bike tilted to an angle and roared down the riverbank, out of the
      snakes' reach.


      "Whew!" Don said. "Thank heavens for loaves and little fishes."


      "Ow, this thing gets hot,' Todd said, letting the flashgun fall on its
      strap against his chap-covered leg and airing his gloved hand. Don
      swung up and leaned over to slap Todd on the shoulder.


      "Thanks, friend,' he said, reining the horse towards the perimeter of
      the snakes back on to the path with brooms, flails, and in the Gringg's
      case, his own big feet. A jab here, a prod there, and the tiddlers kept
      in the boundaries of the swarm. Cinnamon waved and called out hap-
pily
      as he and Hrriss passed.


      The day was going well. No injuries or losses had been reported yet
      from up the line. The most serious problems would probably arise on
the
      Boncyk farm, still some klicks ahead.


      Kelly felt as if they'd been waiting for hours in the meadow near the
      Boncyk farm, but she knew it hadn't been more than one.             It just
seemed
      longer, because the children, antsy with anticipation, were on the edge
      of driving her crazy. She'd known all along the folly of bringing
      youngsters into the heart of a Snake Hunt. Corn had brought up her
      horse so at least she had a chance of chasing them down if necessary.
      Staying back with a Beater team was simply the best way for them, and
      their guests, to see the action without getting hurt. She'd explained
      the roles of each of the hunting teams and the auxiliaries.
     "Yes, Mom."


     "Yes, Aunt Kelly."


     "Yes, Gelli,' Teddy promised, wiggling deep into the sheepskins.


     Somehow she wasn't totally reassured. In the hour since they'd taken
up
     positions, the five youngsters had made friends with the Beaters,
     galloped up to take a look at the Boncyk farm, and found the nearest
     citron-covered snake blind. Alec came galloping back with a report of
     who was inside it, watching for the snakes to come by.


     "That Admiral is in there,' her son announced. "The cranky one with
     white hair."


     "Alec!"


     "In a blue uniform,' Alison said. "Well, he grumbled at us.
"See here, Eonneh, the five petal structure. Most attractive, is it
not?" she asked, her red eyes gentle "Most attractive,' Eonneh replied,
accepting it. Their claws intertwined.


There's more going on there than a botany lesson, Kelly thought, with a
silly smile of approval on her face.


"They're coming,' called Leader Corn. Kelly stood up in her stirrups
and let out a sharp whistle for the children.


"Come on!" yelled Alec, and headed Tornado uphill.


Seeing his friends respond, Teddy wheeled the lethargic Rock in a wide
loop and, at a dignified plod, followed Alec back towards the threshing
machine.


Admiral Barnstable, pacing around outside the snake blind, felt
unwilling to enter the reeking enclosure until it was absolutely
necessary. He noticed that there was some commotion up on the high
      "The snakes are coming."


      "If you're safe, I'll be safe,' Barnstable said, panting a little as he
      reached the crest of the low hill.


      The Reeve woman had a small arsenal's worth of primitive weapons ar-
rayed
      on her sheepskin-padded saddle.


      There was a strong smell of animal sweat and excrement coming from
      across the lea to the right. Looking down the hill towards the farm
      buildings, Barnstable saw a thin, dour-faced farmer and his family
      waiting on horseback, behind an odd assortment of heavy farm machin-
ery
      that had been rolled up to the low fence. What a ridiculous barricade,
      he thought. He turned back to eye the two adult Gringg, seated on the
      grass nearby, who met his gaze pleasantly.


      "Aren't you carrying any defensive weapons?" Barnstable demanded.


      "These snakes are highly dangerous and excitable."
   Out of the thin forest came a dappled, tossing, undulating reptilian
   river. Barnstable's heart started to pound in his chest and his mouth
   went dry. He sucked his cheeks for saliva. This was like the prelude
   to a battle. Beside him, the enormous farming machine revved its en-
gine
   and bucked down the slope towards the snakes.


   Two horses, looking amazingly small next to the swarm, cantered along,
   prodding an occasional snake that tried to break free. What Reeve and
   Hrriss were doing looked almost easy. For all their admonitions about
   the dangers involved in the Hunt, it looked like there was nothing more
   to herding snakes than quick reflexes and concentration. Barnstable
was
   unimpressed.


   Then the wind changed to the south-west. Instead of blowing into their
   faces from the salt marshes, the shift brought a miasma of heavy,
   stinking air direct from the byres at the rear of the barn behind them.


   Barnstable gagged.
      The tumbling tide of snake shifted until it was heading directly towards
      them. Everett Cabot Barnstable had a sudden change of heart regard-
ing
      the difficulty of managing thousands of snakes as the whole boiling
wave
      of them seemed to come straight at him. For the first time in his life,
      he experienced gut-twisting terror.


      "Llywelyn!" Kelly shouted, angling her steed between Barnstable and
the
      stream. The horses, having caught the snake stink, were dancing
      frantically about, their riders controlling their antics with
      unconcerned skill.


      Teddy bounced up and down in his high saddle like a ball.


      "Behind me, Kelly,' Corn shouted, raising his handunit.


      "Lures! Edge of the Boncyk farm! Now!" The thresher rolled around the
      crest of the hill and headed for the outbuildings. The huge machine
  "No!" Kelly exclaimed. "You stay right here or.


  . .!" She left the threat of dire punishment hanging.


  Then a three-metre tiddler attempted a fast break around the wheels of
  the thresher. Corn promptly lowered the boom on it and Kelly shot the
  crossbow bolt directly into its brainpan. The snake lashed about in
  muscular spasms, but it was no longer a threat. One of Cam "5


  assistants dismounted and stuffed the writhing corpse into a snake bag.


  Todd and Hrriss galloped by, their attention on the fan of stragglers
  who were enticed by the strong swine smell.


  Hrriss growled orders into his handset for Don and Jan to keep the rest
  of the snakes moving down the path to the marshes.


  Having learned by bitter experience in the early years of their
  homesteading just how tempting their stock was to snake, Wayne and
Anne
   The females were ruthless and attacked any snake that crossed into
their
   tract, chopping them into squirming pieces with sharp little hoofs.


   The males were more aggressive, charging at any snake, no matter
what
   its size, that dared impinge on their territory. Todd had nicknamed the
   swine herd Wayne's War Boars, a more euphonious title, even though
there
   were more sows than boars.


   Just to the right of the line of outbuildings, the pigpens were
   surrounded by high, lightweight but sharp-edged metal barriers that
   could rip open the belly of any snake trying to crawl through. Wayne
   left the spoor of snake blood on them year after year to try and scare
   off new marauders, though Todd and others warned him that it worked
just
   the opposite way. Snakes happily consumed their own dead. But to get
   to the barriers, let alone the styes, the snakes had to pass the cordon
   of angry boars.
      "C'mon, Reeve! Get these snakes out of here,' Wayne cried, hoisting
his
      bow to his shoulder. That was the signal to his crew.


      They pressed forward to help the hunters form a strong cordon against
      the advancing mass of snakes.       With hand gestures, Todd directed
them to
      the best points to reinforce the defences around the byres.


      "Where's the rest of the barricades?" Todd demanded, looking at the
bare
      rear edge of the pens.


      "Got a stand of new olive trees,' Wayne said, pointing beyond the pen to
      a grove of young saplings with greygreen foliage. "I don't want them
      snakes mowing them down."


      "For life and love, Wayne,' Todd said in a groan, slapping himself in
      the head. "Snakes don't eat olives, they eat meat!"


      "The boars'll get "em,' the stockman assured him.
      Jilamey had only a short time to secure his second snake to complete
his
      Rite of Passage, or go without for another year. Snake sacks in hand,
      the Hayuman was casting frantically about him for a likely catch.


      "Jilamey!" Todd shouted. "Help Anne!" With a guilty start, the younger
      man wound the sack around his saddlehorn and kicked his horse over
to
      where Mrs Boncyk and two farmhands were fighting off tiddlers who
were
      slithering around the pen looking for any weakness. The open edge
drew
      the wily squirmers like a magnet. Boars rushed to protect their
      families, getting underfoot of the horses and squealing fiercely
      whenever a quarterstaff blow meant for a snake struck one of them in
the
      back. Jilamey prodded escaping snakes until they retreated far enough
      upwind to lose the pig-redolent air.


      Most departed hastily for the marshes. One struck back at his
      quarterstaff. Anne Boncyk raised the crossbow at her knee, and fired.
"Aim a little higher,' he called. "I make that mistake myself."


"My darned sights must be off,' Anne said, fiddling with the crosshairs.


There was a tremendous explosion on the opposite side of the barn.


Todd grabbed for his radio.


"Anybody! What was that?"


"Sapper mine,' Kelly's voice replied.


"A horde of tiddlers was moving in between the house and the granary.


The survivors are stopping to eat the carrion. You won't have to worry
about this avenue for a while. Team Two's moving up! I just saw
Hrrula.


"Thanks, han,' Todd said, replacing the unit on its clip. He gestured
to Don to move out to the opposite end of the grounds to check that no
     Gerrh leaped down to join the boars hunting small snakes.


     The pigs grunted at him, but didn't attack, accepting him tentatively as
     a fellow predator Inside the smelly enclosure, the sows were running
     around and around their mudpatches, screaming chal lenges to the
snakes
     outside; detailing in Pig, Todd grinned to himself, just exactly what
     they'd do to any reptiles they got.


     The screams of the attacking boars as they stomped tiddlers to death
     added to the din as the hunters tried to regain order. Todd's horse
     slipped slightly on the bloody pieces of one snake. The boar who had
     killed it was eating some of the flesh with savage grunts of pleasure.
     Todd held tight with his knees as Gypsy recovered and got to mort se-
cure
     footing. Then he chased four live snakes away from a damaged portion
of
     the fence that lay tilted, leaving a tempting rent through which a small
     snake could squeeze.
    Hrriss's Mamma Snake made one more effort to escape before he har-
ried it
    beyond the farm. Once it was upwind of the pigs, the smell of salt air
    touched its sensitive tongue and nostrils, reminding it that there were
    easier meals elsewhere.


    "He's down, he's down!" the handsets screeched. With a final swipe at
a
    pair of tiddlers who'd just decided to leave, Todd grabbed for his
    radio.


    "Report! Who is it?"


    "Hrrula,' wailed the voice. It was evidently one of Team Two's duffers.


    "It's me, Todd,' Robin's voice exclaimed, interrupting the hysterical
    outcry. "Hrrula got spun off when a snake twined a foreleg.


    He's okay, but there are a couple of Mamma Snakes coming around the
barn
    with a flood of tiddlers. I'll join you as soon as I've got him up
  Mamma Snakes were tough and canny, having survived many years of
Snake
  Hunts, and they were big.


  Another exploding charge echoed, alerting them that more snakes had
  tried to enter the vulnerable farmyard.


  Not for the first time, Todd cursed Boncyk who refused to move his pigs
  to a more secure location during the farrowing season.           The sharp
whine
  and buzz of motorbikes cut through other noise, marking the arrival of
  the all-female bike team Robin had nicknamed.


  Robin was right to call the mass a flood of snakes. The very ground
  undulated with a hissing carpet that inexorably flowed towards the
  stycs. The dry grass beneath it sounded as if it were on fire.


  All the hunters who were free moved to intercept them.


  "Blockade in position, Todd,' Llywelyn Corn reported by radio.
      while on the move. Todd fretted that the few hunters he had on hand
      might not be equal to her determined challenge.


      Then the second of the Mamma Snakes appeared around the edge of
the
      barn, pursued by Anne Boncyk and Kelly. They loosed crossbow bolts,
      hitting it along the back just below the head, which distracted it, but
      didn't really slow it down. Hrriss and Jan joined the chase.


      "Hi!" Kelly called to Todd. "This one's a real trier.


      "Where are the children?" Todd asked, looking about him in panic.


      The ponies would be vulnerable to this Big Mamma.


      "Back there!" Kelly gestured. "With the Gringg!" Now the cluster of
      five young riders and their horses, with their gigantic escort, galloped
      up the rise. Not allowed to carry more dangerous weapons, the Alley
      Cats and Hrriss's children did have dart guns and slingshots with which
      they were uncannily expert. Keeping their horses moving at a good
      distance and parallel to snakes, they used darts and sling-propelled
   "Good shot, Teddy!" Jilamey called. He was reloading his crossbow.
   "Look out, someone! Get that one!" Attracted by the new rich musk
from
   Gringg fur, a four-metre tiddler made for Teddy's horse.


   No one was nearer than Jilamey. Not stopping to think, he spurred his
   horse forward until he was nearly on top of the reptile before he struck
   at it with his quarterstaff. The snake evaded his blow and wound up the
   shaft on to the saddle before he could drop it. Jilamey went for his
   knife, but the snake trapped his arm. Jilamey let out a roar of pain
   just as the snake opened its huge maw to engulf his head.


   "Morra! Chilmeh!" Teddy cried. The little bear leaned over towards
   Jilamey's saddle and grabbed the hissing snake around the throat with
   one hand. Hauling the head away from Jilamey's body, he began to
batter
   the snake with his other handpaw, his claws rending the thick scales as
   if they were no more than cotton. Blood spurted and the snake hung
   limply in his grasp. Jilamey, rubbing snake spit from his face, stared
   down at it. Teddy raised his eyes to the Havuman, almost surprised at
   what he had done as Jilamey.
  "Rehmeh,' Teddy replied.


  "I am sorry I got blood on your coat."


  "Think nothing about it,' Jilamey said, shaking his head in wonder. "You
  saved my life. You're a real hero, little bear!" He gave a shaking
  laugh. "People have always warned me about losing my head over
snake
  hunting." A roar from Grizz attracted their attention. The two adult
  Gringg had caught the Mamma Snake that Hrriss was chasing. Grizz
had
  caught it by the tail and was now working her claws up its back to the
  head. Meanwhile Eonneh tackled its wide open jaws, attempting to shut
  them. The Mamma had been all set to swallow the War Boar it had
  stunned. The immense snake writhed in a furious attempt to dislodge
one
  or the other of its attackers.


  "DON'T LET IT GO, GRIZZ!" Robin roared. "It'll be twice as dangerous
  now it's tasted pork blood." All the farm hunters converged upon the
  scene, peppering it with quarrels, all the while Eonneh was closing its
  The remaining Mamma Snake had turned at bay. It was coiled in a
huge
  knot at the corner of the sty, ready to spring on whatever puny creature
  dared to attack. Todd estimated the snake at a good twelve metres or
  he'd lost his eye. In that posture and cornered, it would be a bitch to
  kill. It could strike out in any direction and even if all of them
  charged, it was capable of inflicting considerable damage.


  He and Hrriss signalled to the team to form a circle around the snake.
  If there was any way to get it moving, they might be able to drive it
  downhill into the marshes without killing it.


  Just then, Jilamey's horse buckled to its knees and sent him over its
  head, right into a mass of squirming tiddlers trying to brave the
  bloodstained barriers around the olive grove. The horse got up and,
  squealing, fled its immediate danger. Hailing arms and legs, Jilamey
  desperately sought to get to his feet. Like living ropes, the snakes
  impeded his efforts, tripping him until he was up against the light
  metal blockades. With a cry, he slipped again into the midst of them.


  Todd spurred Gypsy into the tiddlers, brandishing his quarterstaff from
      While Teddy tried to urge Rock to move, the powerful snake skimmed
the
      ground towards him, as relentless as lava, as fearsome as lightning.
      Todd and the others wheeled and hurtled towards the vulnerable cub.
      Teddy let out a deafeningly squeal that startled old Rock more than the
      approaching snake. He reared, adding his own scream of terror and
      walked backward on his hind legs right up against the wall of the grain
      barn. The Gringg cub had learned his lesson about holding on. His
legs
      were locked firmly on the packsaddle, but he didn't know what to do
      except hang on.


      "Mama!" he cried. The voder at his throat made it a weak, high-pitched
      whimper.


      Horses were fast, but Gringg could move with astounding speed when
      necessary.


      "Weddeerogh!" Grizz cried, streaking forward to fall on the snake's
      back.
The snake's long body whipped dangerously from side to side, too
perilous for anyone to approach to help her.


The Gringg hung on, rolled over and over in the dust by the muscled
strength of her prey. As Todd and the others watched in astonishment,
the serpent's frenzied movements grew weaker and finally ceased. The
great coils gave one more convulsion and then lay still.


Shakily, Grizz rolled off the dead snake and lay on her back.


Eonneh rushed forward to help his mate to her feet.


Teddy dismounted and hurried to his parents, dragging the unwilling
horse behind him by the reins.


"That,' said Robin Reeve, the first to regain his voice, "was the most
amazing thing I've ever seen in my life.


Ever.
"You may be sure, Reeve, that I never intended that,' Barnstable said,
eyeing Todd warily.


"Oh, I'm sure,' Todd laughed. Nevertheless, he offered Barnstable his
hand and the Admiral accepted it. "Well done, Grizz,' he called.


The Gringg, clutching her cub and mate close to her massive chest,
beamed at him, showing all her fangs.


"Isn't anyone going to congratulate me?" Jilamey called, rising to his
feet from the dust. "I'm going to pass my Coming of Age Ritual at
last!" He held up not one, but three snake bags, tightly tied and
wriggling.


"You young fool,' Boncyk said with a groan, bowing over his saddlehorn
in despair. "You've flattened half my new olive trees!" A beaming Hu
Shih took his place of honour on the dais at the Snake Hunt feast that
evening in the Assembly Hall. His wife Phyllis, tiny and exquisite, sat
beside him in a Hrruban robe of red silk tissue spangled with gems.
  been tantalizing everyone with their aromas. Jilamey sat at the Reeve
  family table in the front row below the dais, proudly showing off his
  Coming of Age medal with four wiggly ribbons to everyone.


  Hu tapped his water glass with the side of his fork, and waited for
  silence.


  "Thank you, friends,' he said, beaming. "I've been asked to say a few
  words. This is a triple celebration. Today we celebrate yet another
  successful Snake Hunt, a festival I have always enjoyed, as it marks the
  climax of New Home Week, the very first of the traditional Rraladoonan
  festivals. Rialadoon - the name has passed through many changes
over
  the years: Doona, Rrala, Doonarrala, Rialadoona. It is really time we
  settled on one designation to be used by everyone.


  Rraladoon demonstrates our unity as one people, despite our different
  biologies. "We be of one people, thou and I," as an ancient poet once
  said now and for ever.


  "The second reason for celebration is the historic Trade Agreement
Reeve
      raised her glass to clink against her husband's. Jilamey, and Com-
mander
      Frill, seated at Ken's particular request at the Reeve family table,
      joined them.


      Teddy, urged on by his parents, came forward with a heap of
      tissue-wrapped bundles. He stopped next to Hrriss, waiting with
      pleading, scared red eyes until the Hrruban took the top bundle.


      "Zonk you, young Zeddy,' Hrrestan said, gravely.


      The young bear sketched a clumsy half bow, made all the more en-
dearing
      by the roundness of his figure, and moved on to Todd, then one by one
to
      each of the original party visiting the Gringg ship.


      Commander Frill was delighted to be included, and patted the cub on
the
      shoulder. Teddy's last delivery was to Greene, sitting at one of the
  "That's sweet,' Grace Castleton said, with a warm smile for Teddy and
  elbowed the unresponsive commander.


  "Put it on, Jon!


  "This is in recognition,' Grizz announced in Middle Hrruban, the voder
  raising her voice to a tolerable pitch for the guests present, "of our
  first friends here on Rraladoon, and in hopes for the many yet to be
  made." She waved gradously, acknowledging the pandemonious ap-
plause and
  cheers. Todd immediately unwrapped his gift and put it on, preening.
  Gringg-sized, it hung over his shoulders like a shawl.


  Hrriss donned his. Each collar was beautifully and individually
  decorated. Grinning at one another at the tableau they made, they
  leaned over towards the Gringg leaders.


  "Beautiful,' Todd said, fervently. "Thank you."


  "It is our pleasure,' Honey said. "You have given us many gifts, most
  treasurable of all being the gift of friendship." Hu Shih smiled, and
has
   secured my safety and my enjoyment in retirement. Let me swear now
that
   I'll continue to vote for him any time he comes up for re-election.
   Happy birthday, Todd, and long life to you." Hu Shih sat down amid
   applause and cheers.


   The Alley Cats left their seats between their two sets of grandparents
   and mounted the dais, joined by Hrriss' children. Alison pushed Alec,
   who presented a giftwrapped box to Todd.


   Alec cleared his throat. "We have a special present for you, too,
   Daddy."


   "It was our own idea,' Alison added.


   "Why, thank you,' Todd said, really touched by the gravity on their
   faces. He opened the box.


   "It's from us, too,' Hrrunival said. Hrrana, behind him, nodded
   vigorously.
  It fits!" The children gave him kisses and hugs made shy by the
  onlookers and hurried off to return to their places by their
  grandparents.


  "Speech, speech!" Hrriss cried, clapping his hands together. The cry
  was taken up by the rest of the room.


  "Speech!"


  "My friends,' Todd began as he rose. He pointed at the collar and the
  rope tail. "If my age is the calendar, then this is the composite
  picture of the make-up of Rraladoon part Hrruban, part Hayuman, and
now
  part Gringg but all very, very happy and grateful.


  Thank you so much."


  "Lions and Hayumans and Bears, oh my!" Kelly chortled. Everyone
  laughed.
  Second Speaker Hrrto, seated at the end of the dais, rose.          May I
speak,
  Mr Hu?" he asked politely.


  "But of course, Speaker,' Hu Shih said, startled, but in perfect High
  Formal Hrruban. "We'd be honoured by your words."


  "It is I who am honoured,' Hrrto said, bowing. Then he altered to the
  Middle Hrruban most in the room would understand. "I have a most
  important announcement to make. I do not wish to diminish the last
  presentation, but there is a fourth reason for celebration tonight. You
  are aware that our beloved First Speaker Hrruna became one with the
  Stripes some months ago. We have all mourned his loss, I more than I
  knew at first.


  An election was held last night for his successor. The results affect
  you, more, and he dropped his jaw slightly in the equivalent of a
  Hayuman grin, "than you might think."
     "This is a most happy day for me as well,' he went on in Middle Hrruban.
     "I am proud to announce that the Hrruban who will pass into the First
     Speakership is revered for his wisdom. He is known to have trod a
     difficult but just path in the best interests of both Hrruba and
     Rraladoon. He is well known to you all. It is perhaps as well,' and
     again that brief amused drop of the jaw, "that he is not a member of the
     High Council at present, which I believe is one reason why many of my
     fellow Councillor felt able to vote unanimously in his favour." His
     smile broadened as he deliberately tantalized his breathless audience.


     "By that admission, you know that it is not I who won such an honour.


     I find myself content to remain Second Speaker and serve First.


     But I did sincerely believe for some time that I was the only suitable
     candidate.


     "Over the course of the last two months, I have watched and been
     impressed by another whose achievements I presented to the attention
of
     the High Council. They have seen the merit of my arguments.
   clapping hands raw and making the Gringg cringe away from the wild
   whistlings.


   A dazed Hrrestan got to his feet, shaking his head at Hrrto as if he
   could not believe such an honour would fall to him. Then with a snap of
   his head and a straightening of his lean shoulders, he held up his
   hands. As silence finally fell in the hall, Hrrestan seemed unable to
   find words. Into the stillness, tiny Hrrunna who could have no
   recognition of the honour just bestowed on her grandsire, purred a
   childish question. "Rra?" Hrrto chuckled at the baby's reaction. "It
   is auspicious that Hrruna's namesake also approves.


   rhen, with a formal bow of unusual humility, Hrrto presented Hrrestan
   with a small box. Hrrestan opened it, his eyes widening whitely. The
   audience gasped as he held up the great blue sapphire which had been
   Rraladoon's present to Hrruna.


   "Where's Mrrva? She should be here,' Todd murmured to Kelly and
started
   to beckon Alec to him.
   Hrriss wound his tail around Todd's knee and gave him a companion-
able
   squeeze. Todd threw his arm over his best friend's shoulders. Kelly
   and Nrrna joined the hug, insinuating themselves into the embrace and
   clasping their hands across to one another. The baby sat in the middle,
   gurgling happily.


   "What a splendid tribute! So long deserved,' Kelly whispered.


   Todd nodded and sniffed surreptitiously. All his life, he'd respected
   the Hrruban who was, in many ways, a second father to him.


   Without Hrrestan's guidance, Todd might not have grown up to take
over
   the responsibilities that had been predicted as the fate of the
   exuberant, disobedient six-year-old colonist. Hrrto was right. There
   was no one else of all the high-ranking wide Stripes that Todd had met
   during his nearly forty years who was better suited, or trained, to
   accept the First Speakership. He overcame his thickened throat and
   added his cheers to the prolonged accolade.
   Speaker will limit the amount of time I may spend here, among my
friends
   and family on Rraladoon. I will never give up my home here, so it is a
   good thing that our new friends the Gringg have come to us with the
   materials to make more, and more efficient grids. So efficient, in
   fact, that we will be extending this technology to our longtime allies
   and brothers, the Hayumans. And it is the Gringg who have brought us
   the means to share that technology with Hayumans." The applause
which
   followed this announcement was thunderous. Hrrestan, beaming, re-
sumed
   his seat.


   "Couldn't think of a better cat for the job,' Ali Kiachif said, toasting
   him with mlada and draining the glass dry.


   He beckoned to one of the young Hrrubans helping to serve at the feast.
   "Give me another shot of liquid headache son." Todd had one more
   announcement to make and stood, raising his hands for quiet.


   "The space port planners committee will meet tomorrow - tomorrow
  Hrruba, red for Gringg, and green for Amalgamated Worlds. "Now, the
  moment of truth!" He touched the relevant key, and three spots began
  glowing in the heart of each nebulous blob. The crowd let out a
  collective gasp.


  "Reeve, that's classified!" Barnstable roared in protest, jumping to his
  feet at his place on the opposite end of the dais.


  "Not really,' Todd said. "Not for years. It's long been possible to
  extrapolate the location of the home systems from radio-telescope
  transmissions. I tried it myself. There is Earth, there is Hrruba, and
  there is the Gringg home world. We're going to be open and above
board
  now.


  We've agreed that the home worlds will be off-limits to the uninvited,
  but who knows what the future will bring? Oh, and there,' Todd said,
  pointing to a small blue spot glowing gently in the centre of the map,
  "there's Rraladoon.
   now there are three. It's only a matter of time before there are four,
   then ten, then fifty "Stop!" Barnstable protested, his face flushed.
   Then he suddenly took a deep breath and managed a weak grin.


   "Take it easy, Reeve. Some of us can take only so much incredible
news
   at a time."


   "Then let us become a homogeneous whole,' Hrriss said, his eyes
sparking
   merrily. "Let the party begin!" The DoonaiRrala Ad Hoc band had a
guest
   instrumentalist among their number: Artos, the Gringg lutanist. He
   confessed to having learned the Rraladoonan system of musical nota-
tion
   only recently.


   "But I can play harmony if required,' he added.


   "You'll play solos, if I have anything to say about it,' Sally Lawrence
   smiled at him winningly. "Ready, everyone? A-one, a-two, a-three!"
  his giant tnend were soon the centre of a dozen or so couples merrily
  stepping along.


  The children joined hands with grandparents and danced in a circle
  around them. Teddy spun into the circle holding hands with Ken, and
  Hrrunival coaxed Kodiak to join with him and Hrrana.


  At the side away from the musicians, a couple of hunters who'd started
  their party not long after dismounting from the ride had adopted
  Cinnamon, and were telling him tales of being misunderstood in their
  lives.


  "I broke my mother's heirloom teapot when I was a child,' one of them
  said sadly. "Was an accident. Coulda happened to anybody. Have
some
  mlada. You don't have to worry about a hangover, do you? Your eyes
are
  already red."


  "My eyes are always red,' Cinnamon said, puzzled. "Is this another joke
  on me?" The hunters grinned. "Yeah, Br'er Bear, but a harmless one.
   of snake migration. First-time visitors paid off with groans. Mike
   Solinari was among the losers, but he antied up with good grace.


   "I don't know,' he said, shaking his head at the senior physician.


   "I think you have some arcane set of motivators to know just when
   they'll come because it's never the same hour any two years in a row.


   "I've spent a lot of time studying my subject, lad,' Ben said, clapping
   the young veterinarian on the back. "Live, learn and one day you might
   guess, too.


   On the dance floor, Robin Reeve tapped Grace Castleton on the shoul-
der.
   She and Jon Greene executed a gliding turn and stopped.


   "Can I help you, young man?" she asked.


   "You're a ship's captain,' Robin Reeve said, his words slightly slurred.
   Robin had his arm firmly tucked around Nita Parker's waist.
     so soon, do you? We certainly don't." Greene whispered in her ear, and
     she blushed. "Perhaps later, Exec." Beside her, Barnstable was
     recounting the events of the Snake Hunt to a circle of listeners. "Never
     seen anything like it in my life. Snake comes up and tries to eat a
     rider, slithers right up the horse's a-' He glanced at his wife beside
     him and she gave him a long-suffering look.


     "Er rump. The beggar - I mean, Gringg - just yanked it off by the tail
     and battered that reptile about the head with her paws until it was dead
     as a mat! Nothing but her paws!


     Now I believe they don't need any personal armament."


     "Ah, young Reeve,' Ali Kiachif said, shouting at Todd and Kelly above
     the raucous music of the DoonaiRrala Ad Hoc Band. "Congratulations
to
     you and greetings to you, lovely Kelly. My glass must have a hole in
     it, if you understand the problem. The mlada's all gone."


     "I'll find you some,' Todd laughed. Spotting one of the servers, he
     directed the girl towards Ali. Arm in arm, he and Kelly wriggled
rose
   from the table where they and Hrrestan, Surnitral, Fred Horstmann,
   Jilamey, Barustable, and Kiachif had been having an unofficial
   roundtable about the space port facilities over a glass or two. Kelly
   glanced at Nrrna.


   "Should we go?" she asked Grizz.


   "Morra,' the Gringg replied. Several of the other Gringg filed in
   around them, surrounding the table like an impromptu forest. "It is a
   most interesting thing to tell you.


   You will like to hear it. Rrawrum, my communications officer, has just
   called me." She tapped her collar with a foreclaw. "Another species has
   just attained an orbit around our home world. They are so unlike us
   that they cannot communicate anything except that like us, they arrive
   in peace." She shot Todd a knowing glance. "And yes, our people have
   determined that their ship has no weapons although they do have me-
teor
   shields."
  have been vastly impressed by the voder and all your courtesies to us,
  have managed to convey the spatial coordinates of Rraladoon to these
new
  creatures.


  "Your leaders did what?" Todd asked, half-appalled but also finding
  himself ready to accept a new challenge.


  After all, with Hrrestan as First Speaker, there would be harmony with
  that world.


  "They are speeding with all despatch here to this Treaty Planet,' Grizz
  said. "It is the sensible solution to a problem we Gringg are not
  capable of solving."


  "Look, Grizz, we can only do so much,' Todd began, temporizing be-
cause
  he didn't want to appear eager.


  "But you did so well in greeting us, putting us at our ease, showing us
  how two species can live in harmony."
     around as if embarrassed to be complimented so publicly by someone
he
     had, until just recently, held in great suspicion.


     "I wonder what kind of joy juice they might bring with them,' Kiachif
     mused, sloshing the thick amber liquid which Eonneh suggested he try.
"I
     mean, every civilized species has something or other to ease the pains
     to which flesh - of any kind - is susceptible."


     "What do zey look like?" Nrrna asked.


     "We do not know,' Grizz said. "A description and other details will
     follow.


     Todd's mind was boggling over the hundreds of possible shapes an
alien
     species could have. Kelly nudged him with her elbow.


     "I wonder if they have young,' she said, assuming a most innocent
     expression.