by James White
"No," said Gurronsevas.
"Then you must not offer them to us," said Remrath in a very serious voice, "The Wem believe that it is wrong to eat another intelligent being unless it dies naturally and free of disease, or its body is broken in an accident. You must not shorten another person's life out of sympathy for our hunger, no matter how desperate our present need. I am grateful for the offer, but distressed and shocked that you would behave with such a lack of feeling towards your friends. Your gift of meat is refused."
"I'm glad," said Murchison.
"So am I," said Gurronsevas, bypassing the translator, "I am tough only on the outside. But I seem to have talked myself into a corner..."
To Remrath, he said, "Please, there is no need for you to feel distressed or shocked because we hold the same belief. My words were ill-chosen and were a clumsy attempt at asking another question. Would the Wem accept off-planet food, provided it was palatable and we were sure that it would not harm you?"
"Off-planet meat?" Remrath asked hopefully.
"No," he said, and this time his words were well-chosen as he explained that, while it was possible to give the food the taste and consistency of different other-worldly meats, the material was not and had never been alive. The reason for this was that when different meat-eating life-forms worked together as they did at Sector General and on the ship, it was considered insensitive to eat the flesh of non-intelligent creatures who often bore a close physical resemblance to their intelligent colleagues. He ended, "The food is artificial, but you could not tell the difference."
Remrath replied with a sound that suggested disbelief. The long silence which followed was broken by it saying, "Regarding the tour of our vegetable gardens, I have duties here which allow me very little free time for walking in the valley. I have a class and I must prepare for the evening meal..."
Gurronsevas concealed his disappointment. He would have preferred to have Remrath as a guide and advisor on Wem plant life than to waste his own time pulling quantities of specimens—which the other would have known immediately to be toxic—and then having to wait on the results of Murchison's analyses. Politely, he said, "What are you serving this evening?"
"More of the same," said Remrath shortly. It raised one hand stiffly to point toward the outer room and went on, "But we will be able to make the necessary time, Gurronsevas, if you bring in and break up the firewood, and help me wash the vegetables."
Chapter 24
Remrath's movements over the rough ground of the valley floor were slower than Tawsar's had been and clearly caused it more pain, and it steadfastly refused to enter any area that was lit by the early afternoon sun. Both problems were solved by Naydrad, who joined them with the anti-gravity litter and deployed its sunscreen over the initially reluctant passenger. The Charge Nurse had been instructed to guide the litter and to leave all the conversation to Gurronsevas, and the agitated state of its fur showed what it thought of the enforced silence. Danalta, whose job as protector had been declared redundant, had rejoined Prilicla and Murchison on Rhabwar to help process the Wem physiological data provided by Tawsar.
The forenoon and early afternoon classes, held in the big cavern so as to keep the pupils out of the direct sunlight while taking advantage of the maximum natural illumination from the windows, had left the mine to work outdoors again, and Remrath seemed to have forgotten the time limit it had placed on the specimen-gathering exercise. Plainly it was enjoying the comfort of traveling on the litter and it was deriving even more amusement from the strange things Gurronsevas was saying and doing.
"Surely," it said during one of their stops on the higher, uncultivated slopes, "you do not eat flowers on your world?"
"Sometimes," said Gurronsevas, "the stems or leaves or petals can be crushed or cooked and used to complement or contrast with the other ingredients, or arranged on the platter so as to make a meal look attractive, or simply to decorate and give a pleasing appearance and smell to the dinner table. Sometimes we eat them."
Remrath made another sound that did not translate. It had been making them for most of the afternoon.
"These berries with the brown-spotted green skin," he went on, pointing at a low-growing bush with dense, wiry foliage which he recognized as the plant he had earlier used to scrub the platters clean, "are they edible?"
"Yes, but in very small amounts," the Wem replied. "They are the running berries. Their taste is sharp now and sweet when they are fully ripened. But we do not eat them unless one of us is having difficulty with the elimination of body wastes. You, you are not going to take them, too!"
"I will take specimens of everything," said Gurronsevas, "especially from medicinal plants which can sometimes add flavor as well as health-enhancing properties to a meal. You say that the Wem use many such plants. Who is responsible for prescribing them?"
"I am," it said.
As the senior cook of the establishment, Remrath and himself had a lot in common. The Wem's knowledge and vocabulary was severely restricted, naturally, but they spoke the same language. It would be helpful to the medical team, he thought, if he was able to identify the Wem equivalent of a doctor.
"And who among you," he persisted, "deals with the more seriously ill or injured cases? Is there a special place where they are treated? And what is done for them?"
There was a long silence, during which Gurronsevas wondered whether his seemingly innocent questions had given offense, before Remrath spoke.
"Unfortunately, I am," it said. "And Gurronsevas, I do not speak of such things to off-worlders, or even to friends. Tell me more about the strange ways you serve food."
They returned to the subject that Gurronsevas knew was safe and which he considered more interesting anyway.
Initially, Remrath's interest was merely polite. Obviously it was enjoying the comfort of traveling on the litter and was anxious to prolong the experience. But once Gurronsevas was able to make it accept the idea that eating food might be something more than the simple ingesting of organic fuel, and described with enthusiasm the many other-world rituals and subtleties used in its preparation and presentation, and the large number of different courses that could be served as part of a single meal, its interest became more serious—if, at times, combined with a large measure of incredulity.
"I can believe that you consider a meal to be a work of art," Remrath said at one point, "like a beautiful wood-carving or wall-painting. Of necessity a meal is a very short-lived work of art if the artist's work is successful. But comparing the taste sensations to the pleasures of procreation is...surely that is an exaggeration?"
"Perhaps not," Gurronsevas replied, "if you consider that one provides a moment of intense pleasure which can be expanded and heightened by experience and controlled delays, while the other is a continuing, although admittedly a less intense pleasure, which lasts for much longer, is less subject to factors of age or physical fatigue, and is not subject to premature consummation."
"If you can do that with food," said Remrath, "you must be a very good cook."
"I am the best," said Gurronsevas simply.
Remrath made a sound which did not translate and so, for some reason, did Naydrad.
Only the topmost slopes of the valley were lit by the setting sun and the air temperature had dropped noticeably when they began their return to the mine. The young members of the working parties and classes, unsupervised, were running and hopping about in small groups on the flat area outside the entrance. This was an activity which was encouraged, Remrath explained, so as to use up their surplus energy and make them hunger for both the evening meal and sleep, because non-reparable bodily damage could occur if they were to go wandering about in the dark tunnels. Even though the waterwheels provided continuous power, except in special circumstances the mine was not lighted at night because their small remaining store of filament bulbs could not easily be replaced.
"Do you intend to work these miracles of taste fo
r us?" said Remrath suddenly. "How will you do it when you know nothing about Wem food and have eaten barely an insect's mouthful of my stew?"
"I shall try," Gurronsevas replied. "But first the Wem samples must be tested to ensure that they will not harm me. Should they prove edible to myself as well as the Wem, only then will I try to compose something. Naturally, any meal or course that I produce must first be tested on myself. Your advice regarding taste sensations and intensities would be greatly appreciated, since my Tralthan taste sensorium will differ in certain ways from that of the Wem, but I would not serve a meal to anyone that was not first eaten in its entirety by myself."
"Even a project that is doomed to failure," said Remrath, "can be interesting to watch. Do you wish to return to the kitchen now?"
"No," said Gurronsevas sharply, unused to having his artistic ability doubted in this fashion. He went on, "The analysis and initial experimentation with the specimens may take some time. I will return tomorrow or perhaps a day or two later. With your permission, of course."
"Will you require a guide," asked Remrath, "to find your way back to my kitchen?"
"Thank you, no," he replied. "I remember the way."
No more was said until they joined the crowd of rowdy young Wem outside the mine entrance. Two of them helped Remrath off the litter, one tried to crawl through the open space between the apparently unsupported underside and the ground, then began chattering excitedly to the others about the strange, tingling sensation that the repulsion field had caused in its head and arms. Another was about to climb onto the empty litter when Remrath chased it away with threats of imminent dismemberment and other dire punishments which, considering the First Cook's physical weakness and impaired mobility, were not being taken seriously by either.
Naydrad had begun to guide the litter back toward the ship and Gurronsevas was turning to follow it when Remrath spoke again.
"Tawsar, also, would be pleased if you visited us again," it said, "to talk to the young about the other worlds and peoples and wonders you have seen. But of your work in the kitchen you must speak only to me lest some of your ideas about food cause mental distress or nausea."
He was able to control his own mental distress, caused by shock and anger that anyone would even suggest that the great Gurronsevas was capable of preparing a meal that would nauseate anyone, before he came within closer range of Prilicla's empathy.
By the time he returned to Rhabwar's casualty deck, Naydrad had unloaded his samples and, fur rippling in anticipation, was busying itself at the food dispenser while Murchison and Danalta were doing incomprehensible things at the analyzer console. He looked around for Prilicla, but the pathologist answered his question before he could ask it.
"Cinrusskins are short on stamina, as you probably know," Murchison said, smiling. "It has been sleeping this past four hours and we are trying not to let our emotional radiation get too noisy. You've had a long day, Gurronsevas. Do you need food, rest, or both?"
"Neither," he replied. "I am in need of information."
"Aren't we all," said Murchison. "What exactly do you want to know?"
As precisely as possible Gurronsevas did as he was asked. It required many minutes for him to do so, and Murchison was about to reply when Prilicla flew in to join them. The Senior Physician gestured with one delicate manipulator for it to continue.
"First," the pathologist began briskly, "to deal with your questions about the testing of Wem vegetation for edibility by the FGLI classification, yourself, as well as the native DHCGs. We obtained more physiological information from Tawsar than it was aware of giving, and while we still have many questions regarding the Wem endocrinology, and the evidence we have found of a possible genetic rift in the area of the herbivore-carnivore, or perhaps herbivore-omnivore, transfer which may take place at puberty, these should become clear when we have more...I'm sorry, Gurronsevas, that part of the investigation is medically specialized and of no interest to you.
"What we can tell you," it went on, "is that our study of the tongue structure and analysis of the saliva indicates the presence of a taste sensorium and an oral pre-digestive system that is in most respects similar to those found in the majority of warm-blooded, oxygen-breathing life-forms, including your own. If you identify and label your specimens and give us a few hours to process them, we will be able to tell you with a fair degree of certainty which plants, or sections of plants such as roots, stems, foliage or fruit, will be edible by the Wem and yourself, and which will be toxic to a greater or lesser degree. Frequently, material which we would classify as being toxic if introduced directly into the bloodstream can be rendered harmless by the normal detoxification processes of digestion, so it is unlikely that you would poison a Wem or yourself if the food samples tested are initially kept small. The same applies to any food material for the Wem produced by Rhabwar's synthesizer.
"We cannot tell you how exactly any given sample will taste," it went on. "The chemical composition will indicate whether or not the taste will be intense, but not whether it will be intensely pleasant or unpleasant to a Wem. As you more than anyone else here know, taste is a personal preference which varies between individuals of a single species, much less those with different evolutionary backgrounds."
"It seems," said Gurronsevas, "that the Wem palate will have to be reeducated."
Murchison laughed and said, "Thankfully, that isn't my problem. Is there anything else you want to know?"
"Thank you, yes," he replied, directing all of his eyes towards Prilicla. "But it is neither a medical nor a culinary matter. I would like to know how much time I have to work on the problem? The present friendly situation at the mine could change as soon as the hunting party returns. When will they arrive?"
"That knowledge will be useful to us, too," said the Senior Physician. "Friend Fletcher?"
"There is a small problem, Doctor," said the Captain's voice from the wall speaker. "Tremaar has been concentrating its surveillance within a circle of fifty miles radius of the mine and has seen nothing of the hunting party. Beyond that circle the surface is uneven and wooded, giving large areas of natural cover so that the observations are less than trustworthy. Other settllements are under observation, but the closest is sited on the edge of a mountain lake just over three hundred miles away. Because of the Wem aversion to sunlight, Tremaar thinks they may be traveling at night and resting out of sight by day. Either way, they are not carrying the type of portable equipment with a radiation signature that would reveal their presence to orbiting sensors.
"But I can put up our unmanned casualty search vehicle," Fletcher went on. "That baby will detect any sign of life even if it is close to extinction. It uses a low-level spiral search pattern and, unless the whole hunting party is dead, you will have their number, rate of travel, and estimated time of arrival within a day or so, depending on how far away they are just now."
"Do that at once, please," said Prilicla. It flew closer to him before saying, "I can feel your satisfaction, friend Gurronsevas, but we are far from satisfied with our own progress. We are a small and uniquely-equipped medical team, too small to cure the ills of an entire planet..."
"We are also nothing," said Naydrad, looking around from the food dispenser, "if not modest."
"...Although we should be able to solve the problems of one small, isolated community. Our contact is not going well. Your conversations with Remrath clarified the reasons for the shame it felt as an adult over being forced to eat young food, but still Tawsar is reluctant to give information in several areas important to full understanding. Progress is being made only in the Wem kitchen on the common ground of cookery. Surely, Chief Dietitian, this must be a first in the annals of First Contact procedures."
Gurronsevas did not reply. He was pleased by both the unexpected compliment and the use of his title in conjunction with it, and he knew that the other was aware of his pleasure.
"We overheard Remrath's inv
itation to you," said Prilicla. "What are your plans?"
"I would like to return at the same time tomorrow," Gurronsevas replied. "By then the edible vegetation specimens will be analyzed and identified and I will know enough to make a few dietary experiments while talking to Remrath and helping in the kitchen. But there is no need for physical protection. I feel very comfortable working over there."
He did not add that he felt more at home in Remrath's steaming and smoking and altogether primitive kitchen than he did among the shining, aseptic medical technology of the casualty deck.
"I am aware of your feelings, friend Gurronsevas," said the empath gently. "But I would feel happier if Danalta accompanied you. As well as being able to assist you directly it will be available in case of a medical emergency. According to the statisticians, the kitchen is the second most likely room in which accidents are likely to occur."
"Especially," said Naydrad, "the kitchen of a bunch of cannibals."
"As you wish, Doctor," said Gurronsevas, ignoring the charge nurse. "Am I allowed to return Remrath's hospitality by inviting it here?"
"Of course," Prilicla replied, "but be careful. The same invitation was extended to Tawsar, who refused it vehemently. Its emotional radiation at the time was complex and intense and even unfriendly. Remrath might feel and react in the same fashion.
"That is why," it went on, "we must discuss the whole Wemar situation with you, the facts we know and our speculations based on them, before you speak to Remrath again. Because of their unidentified feelings of antipathy or distrust towards us, you are maintaining our most promising communications channel with the Wem. It must not be closed accidentally because we have not provided you with all the available information."
