Treaty at Doona

by Anne McCaffrey

  “You’ve all made the mistake of taking the Gringg at face value,” Barnstable said. “And it is a mistake! Which Spacedep and the Hrruban Arm can at least control.”

  “You had better explain yourself, Admiral,” Todd said, anger rising to a barely controllable pitch.

  “Indeed you better, and immediately,” added Sumitral.

  “Now!” Hrrestan’s single word held overtones of threat, causing the Gringg to respond by standing taller.

  “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 said, thunderstruck. “Space fleets? Ali, why didn’t you tell us?”

  “Just got the confirmation I’ve been waiting for. I thought this laddie buck”—he jerked a thumb in Greene’s direction—“was up to no good, so I’ve kept an eye and ear pricked until he overstepped himself. You, too, Admiral.”

  Todd turned on Barnstable. “I demand to know on what grounds you have brought armed ships into Rraladoonan space!”

  Sumitral drew himself up in regal dignity. “If you have data you’ve been concealing from us during these negotiations, you must now reveal why you are obstructing the progress of these peace talks.”

  “The data was classified”—Greene stressed the verb—“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.” 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—” Barnstable turned toward 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.” The Spacedep Admiral glared at Grizz as he finished speaking and Todd realized just how frightened the man really was.

  At this point a squad of heavily armed Human marines and another of even more heavily armed Hrruban soldiers entered the Chamber. 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 marines. One immediately tried to remove Grizz’s collar. Honey attempted to prevent it, but withdrew when a laser rifle was thrust in his face.

  “How dare you?” Todd said furiously, rushing over to place himself between the marines 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, Hayuman,” Mllaba said, her voice coldly insulting, “opening the way to the Gringg domination of Hayumankind 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 Gringg now, even Teddy’s, though he had tried to resist. His dam had given one shake of her head. Sniffling, he had allowed it to be removed, though he kept his eye on the side table where it lay. Then marines took up positions behind the now-shocked Gringg, their rifles pointed at the large aliens’ backs. At that, Teddy slipped from his chair and nestled under his dam’s arm. Eyes straight ahead, she cuddled him.

  Todd ignored Mllaba’s 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 or 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.” 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.”

  “What proof is there the Gringg actually were the aggressors?” Todd demanded.

  “Quite enough, Reeve. More than enough,” Greene observed drily. “We missed the shot, but can see the smoking gun.”

  “Then the evidence is circumstantial?” Hrrestan asked, stiffening his shoulders under his formal attire.

  “They were there!” Barnstable said defensively. “The remains of their ship are 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 hurriedly took over the explanation.

  “What we have is from a scout ship . . .”

  “Which only has limited scientific capacity,” Sumitral said in a crisp tone.

  Greene glared at the Alreldep 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 Rraladoon under martial law?” Todd protested.

  “It is for your own protection,” Greene answered, looking pleased at Todd’s dismay, “since you aren’t showing the sense to protect yourselves. Spacedep is doing its job, risking lives to rescue you from your folly.”

  Todd spun to confront Barnstable. “As the representative of Rraladoon, I order you to end this nonsense. There is no clear threat and you have no basis for the illegal actions you’ve 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,” Barnstable 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 seconds.

  “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 surprise you, either.”

  With lightning fingers, Todd reached out and wrenched the corner of Greene’s collar away from the body of his tunic. There was an audible gasp from Grizz and the rest of the Gringg. Greene recoiled, wondering if Todd was about to strike him, then sat very still. He had been present for Honey’s explanation of the Gringg custom, and knew precisely what the gesture meant. Second Speaker and his aide looked puzzled, and glanced at Todd for enlightenment.

  Todd spoke intensely, to Greene alone. “I challenge you to 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 might have just given them cause for retaliation? You’ve insulted the captain, scared her cub, and have they moved a muscle?”

  “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 quarrel with you, Greene. And I mean to get it settled right now!” He poked a hard finger into Greene’s sternum. “Knives or bare hands?”

  Greene hesitated, shocked at Todd’s wrath. “Knives or bare hands? That’s barbaric . . . that’s—”

  “Barbarians have a keen sense of honor, you stupid button jabber.” Todd 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 Todd as a man who was physically fit and was known to have wrestled with and killed a large Doonan snake.

  The two men stood facing each other for long moments. Castleton moved her hand to her side arm, only to be answered by a threatening growl from Hrriss.

  “Zis is between the two of zem,” 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 repellent.”

  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 demanded, so forcefully that he had the instant attention of everyone in the room. Then he turned to Hrrto. “I count on your support, Second Speaker,” he said to him. “An individual, as well as a species, is innocent until proven guilty. The Gringg are here to speak for themselves. The tape, please—” He held his hand out to Greene. “Somehow I feel certain that you have it to hand.” As if in a trance, Greene fumbled at a tunic pocket and drew out a tape, laden with security seals. “Thank you. But—” Sumitral raised his hand—“no matter what transpires here, this Gringg and her crew are to be allowed to proceed out of this system without hindrance. Do I make myself clear?” His cold gaze fell on the Spacedep officers. “Or by all the powers and the favors I can call in 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? I would very much like to see this tape you speak of.”

  Barnstable and Greene exchanged cynical glances, but Second Speaker looked decidedly 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. The faces of the dead Gringg swam out of the blackness and disappeared again. Eonneh and Grizz were still, watching, their mobile faces for once devoid of expression.

  “Hold that image,” Grizz said suddenly, pointing an unsheathed claw as the recorder skimmed along the hulk’s battered exterior. She peered closely at the picture, 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, solemn 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 this, 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 approached again.” Honey bowed his great head, and Grizz put a sympathetic hand on his back. “It was a long time ago, and for some considerable Revolutions, we worried that these hostile people might trace the Searcher to our motherworld. But no one came. A brave captain, Zeeorogh, volunteered to make a solo mission to that system in case our people had survived but were without communication. She found the world—and the Searcher—lifeless. Perhaps if the Searcher had not returned the attack, it might have been allowed to depart in peace. Perhaps, our people might even have mediated the quarrel that started such total conflict. But in those early days of our exploration program, 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 life forms you have encountered face-to-face. 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.

  “Reh,” Grizz said, nodding solemnly. “It would cause concern when similar strangers appear in your skies. Vrrayagh’s ship was left where it had died, and it is our custom to take those cubs who would arm our ships to see what this can cost. Gringg cubs learn that lesson at once.”

  “How tragic to encounter a race bent on self-extermination,” Kiachif said in a sympathetic voice.

  “Reh. 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 in 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, that he had not been mistaken to trust his gut feelings about them. He felt a tremendous surge of elation.

  “So, zey ar
e trrruly friendly,” Second Speaker said to Hrrestan, respect in his eyes. “You were right to trust.”

  “Trust is worth more than any other treasure of spirit, mind and heart,” Hrrestan said, nodding sagely.

  “But what about those parts of the ship you would not let me enter?” Greene asked. “What’s hidden in that mass of water at the center of your ship? Why did you pull me away when I went to investigate?”

  “You did not ask to go,” Honey replied, surprised. “It is our custom to 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 it, 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 together and circulates goods, which means more goods get made, and more gets traded to satisfied customers, anywhere in this galaxy that we can navigate to.”

  “Reh,” Eonneh said, showing his teeth in a brilliant white grin. “No misleading was meant. It is not the items themselves which are important to the Gringg, but the act of exchange, leading up to the 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—” There was a humble tone to Greene’s voice. “I thought that, based on the information I had, I was acting in the best interests of us all.”