Treaty at Doona

by Anne McCaffrey

  Hearing those oft-repeated words, Hrrto felt the pressing need for some air.

  “If you will permit me to withdraw?” Hrrto asked, and received a courteous nod from Hrrestan and a vague wave from Kodiak. He shot Mllaba a glance to signify she was to be careful, and left the room.

  In the hallway, where fresh air flowed lightly in from the doors and open windows, his head seemed to clear. Peaceful folk, peaceful folk, wishing for peace around them. The 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? 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—they had already admitted to being cannibals, hadn’t they? Show them that their hypocrisy was discovered, and make them reveal what weapons had caused such destruction. With the fleet pinpointing one unarmed ship, surely they would accede to all demands. Before another Gringg ship could reach the heliopause of Rraladoona, they would have built defenses against such ordnance . . . Why should Hrruba defend Rraladoona at all? The thought suddenly occurred to Hrrto. Why not evacuate all Hrrubans? If the Hayumans were foolish enough to wait for Gringg vengeance, so be it.

  But what if the Gringg should discover the Hrruban homeworld? Hadn’t that fat captain been a whisper away from admitting that he knew where the Hrruban home system was? Hrrto had never fully subscribed to either the Decision or the Treaty, though he had been forced to give verbal agreement. Under his Stripe, he had known eventually they would live to regret it.

  And what were the Hayumans wresting from the Gringg while Hrrubans were selling harnesses and collars?

  Unable to resist, he found himself walking toward 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 midsection with satisfaction which, at this time of day, could have little to do with the pleasures of the table.

  The trader’s 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 will be damned pleased with the results, Landreau.”

  “We can always use a steady new supply,” Jilamey said, his eyes narrowed as he calculated. “Spaceships don’t build themselves, you know, besides requiring hills of metal. So, if they’ll trade us . . .” and, in a low voice, he began to enumerate items which Hrrto had to strain to hear. In shock, he thought he heard Jilamey name purralinium. “That newest colony of theirs hasn’t begun to deliver the quantities that 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 toward the open door. The Hayumans were obviously being given the more important 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 spaceport talks were being held.

  “It would be foolish not to consider Gringg facilities, Admiral,” Lorena Kaldon was saying in an aggravated tone. “Much easier to start off with buildings suited to their needs . . .”

  “l 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 steps, and a door that was closed as firmly as a slam. He hurried back to the Hrruban trade conference, pausing to arrange his robes and wondering just how many lengths of such expensive cloth it would take to garb a Gringg. How many trmbla of weight made a new grid?

  His return coincided with the end of the formal talk, Kodiak and Big Paws rising from their cushions with a grace that Hrrto envied. They were physically large but all too clearly athletic. Polite farewells were made, with Hrrestan and Hrrin doing 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 appendage 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 Hayumans purralinium,” he told her, speaking in the merest whisper.

  “Just as if they knew what Hrruba needed the most,” Mllaba replied in angry exasperation. “While they deal in harnesses with us,” and she stamped a foot while her tail switched violently.

  “Is it possible the Gringg have developed matter transmission?” Hrrto asked, having to voice his worst fear.

  “Really, sir,” and she spoke impatiently, “even our matter technology was a chance application. The circumstances are unlikely to be repeated by Gringg paws.”

  He gave her an odd look. “And the Hayumans 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 Hayumans did with purralinium and whether they used the metal in its pure or impure state. “We must remain the only species in the galaxy with transport grids.”

  “As you say, Speaker,” Mllaba agreed.

  * * *

  Recalled from a more pleasant occupation to be an observer, Commander 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.

  The corridor was lined with windows along this side 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.

  From the door, Frill could see that the man snooping around the shuttle wore the uniform of a Spacedep officer.

  “Lieutenant!” the commander bellowed in his best parade-ground voice. The man turned slowly. Frill didn’t recognize him. He must have been one of Barnstable’s suspiciously increasing entourage.

  “Sir?” the lieutenant said, tapping his brow diffidently.

  “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.

  BY MIDAFTERNOON, exchange rates had been decided and some groundwork laid for an exchange board. Honey was also deftly inquiring what sort of warehousing would be available until a sufficient amount of goods had been accumulated to make a voyage to the homeworld profitable. Ali was trying very hard to negotiate a cont
ract, but Honey was sidestepping him neatly, suggesting that they would prefer to build their own facilities on Doonarrala if some unoccupied space could be found. By dinnertime, Todd had a deep respect for Honey’s skills as a negotiator. The Gringg fought hard for concessions from the Amalgamated World-based traders, and won a few, even from Ali Kiachif, who 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 full transits, or else how are we to meet your folk and find out all about you for ourselves?”

  Honey grinned, showing his fangs. “Reh,” he said, noting the terms on his tablet. “We seek only equity.”

  “None of this is final until we check with Earth,” Markudian warned, not for the first time. “It’s subject to approval by the trade authorities and the Amalgamated Worlds Council.”

  “As you say, as you say,” Honey agreed, 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 unshakable 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.

  “That is all I may do today, friends,” he said. “I thank you most very. I will be able to give you final numbers when I have presented these terms to Captain Grzzeearoghh. She is who decides what is best for Gringg.”

  Todd rose and bowed to the Gringg. “On behalf of the people of Terra and Doonarrala, I thank you for coming, Honey and Coypu.”

  “Doonarrala,” Honey said. “Have I not heard the Hrrubans say 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 acknowledgment 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 anymore. It was a point that hasn’t arisen before. From this moment, I’ll only use Rraladoon. It puts my native tongue second, but that should demonstrate how much I value peace and unity.”

  “Like Gringg,” Honey said approvingly.

  Ashland looked astonished and Markudian glowered. “Really, Reeve, I think you take too much on yourself.”

  “No, he’s right,” Sumitral put in. “The name ought to have been standardized a long time ago. I agree we should be calling this colony by the Hrruban-derived name. I don’t think Reeve’s co-leader, Hrrestan, will object,” he added with a grin.

  “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, Ashland 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. I don’t know about you, but I’m desperate for a cup of coffee.”

  “Seconded,” Jilamey said at once. “We’ve been here hours. Let’s see if there’s anything left to eat in the dining hall.”

  “Dammit,” Horstmann said fervently, “I hope there’s something to drink.”

  “I could swim a sea of mlada and never sink, if you get me, friends,” Kiachif agreed.

  * * *

  The urge for refreshment had brought the Hrrubans to the dining hall as well. A few of the delegates from the spaceport conference stood in a corner, eating from plates heaped with cold meat and salad. They gravely acknowledged the Hayumans as they entered. The rest, locked in a deep discussion with Second 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 displayed signs of strain.

  “I trust you won some concessions from them?” Sumitral asked delicately. “Your own skills are not to be decried.”

  “You are most kind,” Hrrto replied, bowing.

  “Somebody find me a drink,” Barnstable said plaintively, sinking down at 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 favorable?” Sumitral asked Hrrto.

  “I am surre as much as you yrrrself did,” Second replied, equal to Sumitral’s courtesy. Now that he had the chance to ask what the Gringg had offered the Hayumans, 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 mild gray 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 center 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 center of the room, the careful maneuvers went on, the tension growing. Greene hovered at Sumitral’s elbow as if to snatch back any incautious statements the head of Alreldep might make.

  “Might one ask what commodities were discussed?” Sumitral suggested.

  “I do not zink I am at liberty to reveal zat at zis time,” Second said blandly. Mllaba stared open-eyed at the Hayumans.

  “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 cabinet as Todd poured another draft for Ali Kiachif. The captain inhaled that libation and held out his glass for a refill. Jilamey broke away from the group in the center of the room.

  “I can’t stand it an
y 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 razzer zan up!”

  “You, too?” Todd asked. “The Gringg asked us for food!”

  “Not what anyone was expecting,” Ken said, “but I was charmed by it and trust Landreau here to have food processors and big freezer units in that consortium of his. The Gringg don’t want our technologies; they seem content with their own. But they do want rather basic, simple items we have in quantity, and cultural things. Is that why Hrrto can’t get the words out of his mouth?”

  “Yes,” Hrrestan replied, with a fit of low, grunting laughter. “Hrruba has been requested to send this yearrr’s fashions in harnss and jewelled szraps, and the heavy cloth of which Hrrto’s robes are made. Custom-made size giganzic, 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 frr 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 waved 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.”

  “Neither do I,” Todd said, breaking away. Hrrestan, with a nod of agreement, followed him.