Doona Trilogy Omnibus

by neetha Napew

  “You’ve all realized by now that the Hrrubans are not natives; not when they can disappear instantly without a trace.

  “Hey, nothing passed Landreau’s sentinels, Ken. I know the type he used, so they—they—“ Gaynor hesitated, perplexed. “Well, how the hell did they disappear?”

  “Matter transmitters,” Ken replied.

  “Teleportation makes just as much sense,” Lawrence suggested slyly.

  “Ah, come on, you guys!” Gaynor groaned.

  “Just because our scientists haven’t been able to develop matter

  transmitters, it doesn’t mean some other culture hasn’t,” Ken told the skeptical engineer.

  “I prefer matter transmitters to teleportation,” Hu Shih said solemnly. “Logically speaking, that psychic ability is coupled with telepathy of which we have had little evidence.”

  “What kind of evidence do you need?” Lawrence asked, his eyes dancing.

  “Well—“ Shih floundered a moment.

  “Let’s stick to the point,” Gaynor suggested sarcastically. “Our

  futures are at stake. So they use matter transmitters, Reeve? Then why the hell do they live in forest villages, using the most rudimentary tools and no mechanical equipment at all? That doesn’t jibe.”

  “But it supports my theory of teleportation,” Lawrence chuckled.

  “How can I know the why’s or wherefore’s?” Reeve said quickly,

  forestalling an angry rebuttal from Gaynor. “Let’s assume, until we know better, that the Hrrubans are as alien to this planet as we are. Then neither Spacedep or Codep have any further authority over us. Alreldep does!”

  “And that makes everything A-okay?” Lawrence demanded cynically.

  “No, but the contacts we have already made with the Hrrubans and

  our grasp of their language gives us a bargaining point with Alreldep for better status,” Reeve pointed out.

  “Bu if the Hrrubans are aliens, then we have not offended the Principle of Non-Cohabitation!” Hu Shih exclaimed, his face lighting with a joyous relief.

  “Oh, for Christ’s sake.” Gaynor threw up his hands in complete exasperation. “We’re right back where we started!”

  “If the Hrrubans are alien—“ Hu Shih looked keenly at Ken. “Are you sure, Ken?”

  “Hu Shih, I’m not sure of a damned thing. But if the Hrrubans are alien to Doona, it’ll explain a helluva lot of inconsistencies,” and Ken ticked them off on his fingers; “Their intricate language with pitch inflections; their sophisticated attitudes, the whole bit about the bridge from their forcing the idea through over our protests to its design and construction. The whole damned situation falls into focus if the Hrrubans are alien.”

  “Except this nature-loving bit,” growled Gaynor in the thoughtful silence that followed.

  “And what kind of a colony did we plan to start?” Ken asked.

  “A very good point,” Lawrence agreed softly, “but it leads directly

  to another unsettling question. How much more advanced are they?”

  Ken started to chuckle, he couldn’t help himself. In the light of Lawrence’s remark, the irony of the past weeks of association with the Hrrubans struck him as enormously funny.

  “You know,” he said, suppressing his amusement as a more important consideration occurred to him, “it might just be possible that they are advanced enough, ethical enough, sophisticated enough not to feel the need to absorb, dominate or manipulate us.” Ken caught the dawning comprehension in Hu Shih’s startled eyes. The metropologist seemed to expand as he grasped at the implication. “Wouldn’t it be a relief to know that we,” and Ken included all the colonists jammed into his living room, “that we can also be big enough, intelligent enough, maybe even wise enough to accept them for what they are without trying to question or change or pose our values on them? Can’t we have learned enough from the terrible tragedies of history, from the Siwannah incident, to cohabit the universe? Mutually at peace with each other?”

  “And I’m supposed to be the socio-psychologist,” Lawrence remarked in quiet awe.

  Hu Shih embraced Ken, his dark eyes brimming, unable to speak. His action released the others from their stunned reflections and everyone began jabbering at once.

  “You believe that this is what the Hrrubans have in mind?” asked Ben Adjei, his deep voice cutting through the chaos. “They want peaceful coexistence with us?”

  “I don’t know what they have in mind, Ben,” Reeve answered honestly.

  “Oh, but it is now obvious to me that they do,” Hu Shih interjected excitedly. “They have shown us no hostility, although our presence on Rrala was undoubtedly a shock to them. Immediately they began to help us; even against our better judgment, as witness the bridge. They insisted that we learn their language even as they willingly learned ours. Even when they offered to—excuse my bluntness, Ken—help with the care and protection of Todd And the fact that they would not abandon him, alone, and frightened, far from his own people in a dangerous forest simply adds further weight to this theory.” Hu paused for a split second and then rushed on. “In fact, I shouldn’t be the least bit surprised if the Hrrubans have not been testing us in adroit ways to judge our cultural ethics and maturity. Truly, Ken, your hypothesis is valid.”

  Ken looked startled. “For Christ’s sake, peaceful coexistence is not new!”

  “Yes, but never was it more applicable,” Hu Shih beamed.

  The night was cut by the crackling roar of a take-off ignition. A

  moment later the sound was augmented. The tail flames of two ships punctuated the dark spring evening and the colonists watched until the fiery columns had dwindled to a star spark in the sky.

  “Ah, but will we be allowed time enough to find out if this is what the Hrrubans had in mind?” Lawrence asked softly.

  “God, I hope so,” Ken murmured, thinking of Todd.

  Chapter XXII

  DELAYING TACTICS

  KEN AWOKE the next morning, sore and stiff. Gradually he became aware of the unusual silence at a time when Pat should be bustling about. He slid carefully out of bed and padded quietly down the short hall to the kitchen. Pat was sitting at the kitchen table, her shoulders sagging in an attitude of hopelessness.

  Suddenly he regretted yesterday’s rebellion and the bright hope of coexistence. He wondered how many others were uncertain in the clear light of day. Then he pulled his shoulders back. Damn it, he’d’ve been a coward to knuckle under either to Landreau or Chaminade. If he’d believed in himself—and the Hrrubans—last night, he had better not vacillate today.

  He cleared his throat to give Pat a chance to collect herself.

  She turned with a smile of determined cheerfulness. Ken bent to

  kiss her and her responsiveness communicated her pride in him.

  As he straightened up, he caught sight of a familiar figure racing up the path.

  “Oho, here comes our little harbinger of bad news,” he declared as Bill Moody skidded to a stop at the door. “You’ll make a long distance runner yet, Bill!”

  “Mr. Reeve,” Bill gasped, trying to grin, trying to grab enough breath to get his message out. “Snakes!”

  “Oh, Christ, not before coffee,” Ken groaned. “Where?”

  Pat was already galvanizing into action, handing him her full

  coffee cup, sliding a dish of bread his way.

  “You’re going to eat something first,” she scolded as she picked up the dish of brna eggs and made for the stove.

  “Mr. Eckerd spotted giant snakes on the plain beyond the valley,” Bill panted out, slipping into the empty seat.

  “On the plain? Then the snakes aren’t close enough to stampede the urfa?”

  “Mr. Adjei wants to herd the urfa across the bridge to the other side of the . . .”

  Bill broke off, gawking at Ken’s black expression.

  “Across the river? Christ!” Ken swore savagely. “Ben ought to know

  better!” Even if h
e had to straddle a horse—Ken shuddered at the thought -- and herd the urfa himself, they were not going across that river!

  Bread in one hand, coffee cup in the other, Ken stormed down to the barn, his rapid strides jolting sore flesh and muscle.

  “Ben, what’s this about crossing the river?”

  Ben turned, eyes wide with surprise.

  “We can’t have the urfa stampeding through the grain. The horses’ll

  need it next winter.”

  “And we can’t encroach on the Hrruban’s domain. Not one jot or tittle. Particularly now!”

  “What’s the matter?” asked Gaynor, appearing from inside the barn. “Why can’t we move the herd across the river? It’s mutual defense against a common enemy—those snakes.”

  Ken groaned but the veterinary nodded slowly with comprehension.

  “I understand. We will move the herd far down the valley. The

  prevailing wind sweeps away from there and they will be unable to smell the snakes.”

  “Well, I don’t get it,” Sam replied sourly.

  Ben put a restraining hand on Reeve’s arm as he began to answer

  Gaynor hotly.

  “Sam, it has been understood that across the river is Hrruban territory. Ken is right when he believes that it is an act of aggression for us to cross the river with our possessions.”

  “Hell, we don’t own the urfa.”

  “It’s the principle of the thing,” Ken exploded, slopping half the

  coffee out of his cup with his emphatic gesturing.

  “Not another goddam principle to foul things up?”

  “The urfa stay on this side of the river,” Ben said in a flat

  non-arguable voice. “Besides, the grass is better on our side.” The big veterinary waved his team out of the stable yard.

  Ken watched Lawrence, taking his place for the day, awkwardly hunching in the unaccustomed saddle, bouncing ignominiously as the mare’s gait accelerated. For Lee’s sake, he hoped the horses were adjusted to the sight of urfa today.

  Unfortunately, the other cattle and Socks, who remained in the corral, were not downwind of the snakes. And Socks had had enough experience with that scent to become hysterical. She raced round and round the high corral, communicating her terror to the cows and the bull, the pigs and the people. The neighing and lowing brought out the rest of the colonists. That was fortunate because Ken immediately suggested reinforcing the corral which Socks was trying to kick down. They couldn’t get near enough to her to get her back into the barn where, presumably, her panic might lessen.

  By noon she was foam-covered and so exhausted she could barely stagger. So Ben led her into her stall, tying her tightly just as the other horses took up where she left off.

  By late afternoon, the men called a hasty conference.

  “My wife’s scared stiff,” Macy admitted. “She’s got visions of us

  either being swallowed by the snakes, beds and all, or yanked aboard a transport for a quick trip to the mines.”

  “The stench is terrible,” Gaynor said, rubbing his nose in a piece of toweling, sniffling uselessly. “God, it’s everywhere; even makes the food taste snake. Ugh.”

  “Look, that pass is narrow and it’s the only entrance to our valley,” Eckerd suggested. “Let’s just blast it closed and be done with it.”

  “The Hrrubans might not want us to alter the landscape,” Ken protested.

  “Look, Reeve, I’m all for peaceful coexistence while Earth plays pass-the-buck,” Lawrence said, “but I’m not anxious to be eaten by a snake as an interim project.”

  “And how in hell do we know those Hrrubans are coming back?” Gaynor demanded, then blinked as he noticed Reeve’s tense look. “Yes, I know they’ve got your kid, Ken, but you’d better face the alternative.”

  “I am firmly of the opinion,” Hu Shih stated, rising to his feet, “that the Hrrubans will return. The alternative is not consonant with the ethical standards they have exhibited, nor with our logical extrapolation of their future course. Had they not wished to continue to associate with us, they would have remained away the first time.”

  “Have you logically extrapolated why they disappeared at all?” Gaynor inquired. “Let’s face it—the traffic in and out of Doona’s atmosphere has been congested. If they are so scientifically advanced that they can leave as they choose, maybe they have left for good this time. Maybe we’ve already failed those tests of theirs.”

  “Yes, we may have,” Reeve agreed slowly, aware that his throat was dry. He had stubbornly refused to consider that the Hrrubans might not return—this time. “It boils down to a question of faith. Nothing in our relations with the Hrrubans so far can make me believe that they won’t return—if only to bring Toddy back.”

  “Do you think they know of the reptiles?” Ben asked.

  Ken swore volubly. “I know damned well they do because I was

  watching Hrrula. Then that farting Codep ship homed in and he left.”

  “You don’t suppose their policy of peaceful coexistence extends to the snakes, do you?” Lawrence asked.

  “They did settle across the river here, away from the reptiles’ accustomed trek” Dautrish remarked. “And if these creatures follow the pattern of reptilian life on Terra, they would most certainly have territorial imperatives. My studies of the mdas prove that that species does. One can assume it applies to the reptiles as well.”

  “Yes, but we are now in the snakes’ back yard, and we’ve got to do something. Those things are too big for any weapons we have here.”

  “I would prefer not to ask the Hrrubans’ good opinion,” Hu Shih began.

  “Let’s not carry that Principle too damned far,” Gaynor growled.

  “However,” Hu Shih went on, “as the Hrrubans are not loth to

  protect themselves from mda, as proved by Hrrula’s slaying of the one that attacked Todd, we may take that as precedent. Eckerd, survey the pass with blasting in mind. How many men will you need? Ken, would you please go to the village in case the Hrrubans have returned?”

  Ken was bitterly aware of Sam Gaynor’s skeptical expression as he left the mess hall.

  Goddammit, why had Gaynor brought up the alternative—‘if the Hrrubans return’? And what about the more unsettling corollary—‘if we’re still here when they return’? Everyone had ignored Landreau’s threat. Spacedep had precedence over both Codep and Alreldep. Yet Spacedep had turned Doona over to Alreldep which had cleared it for Codep—and the colony.

  Ken gave a mirthless bark of laughter as he pounded across the bridge, grateful for the physical exertion as a release from the frustration, doubt and anger boiling up inside him. Christ, could they pull anything out of this fiasco besides the misery and anguish?

  If the Terrans had failed the Hrrubans’ test and they never returned, then the Terran colony could stay—if they could eliminate Landreau’s threat. And if they could re-establish cordial relations with Chaminade and if—what if Todd . . .

  Ken resolutely jogged up the slope of Saddle Ridge, unable to dwell on anymore if’s.

  The Hrrubans had not returned. The forest clearing was empty of any trace of them. Ken hadn’t really expected anything else. He was used to hope deferred. He considered hanging around the site until it occurred to him that his very presence might possibly be inhibiting their return. He got as far as the edge of the forest before a second notion struck him so forcibly that he raced back to the clearing. It was not outside the realm of possibility that they had some kind of monitor system rigged in the clearing.

  “If anyone is listening,” he called out, carefully pitching the Hrruban accents, “please tell Hrrula or Hrrestan that the colony may be taken from Rrala at any time. We are also in danger from the giant reptiles and must take steps to protect ourselves.” He paused, turning in a slow circle, willing his eyes to find some evidence of Hrruban reception. “Tell Todd—tell Todd we’ll stay as long as we can. If you could just send him back—no, Todd’s
better off with you,” and Ken broke off, running halfway to Saddle Ridge.

  He reached the mess hall in time to see the women helping Buzz Eckerd load the copter with the plastic explosive.

  “We’ve got to seal that pass tight,” Eckerd told him, all the while swallowing nervously. “I did a sweep down that plain and snakes are all of a sudden everywhere.”

  Pat came out of the stores shed and raced up to her husband, her face mutely appealing. He shook his head slowly and hugged her tight when she burrowed into his arms for comfort.

  “Ken, what if—“ she mumbled.

  Ken gave her a little shake. “Look, hon, what if isn’t doing us any

  good. Let’s start thinking in terms of and when. If we trust the Hrrubans, we trust them; up to and including Todd.” She turned tear-filled eyes up to him.

  “Pat,” he said sternly, “you let Todd go to Mrrva, right here on Rrala, didn’t you? Because you liked her and trusted her, right?”

  “Yesss.”

  “Then continue to trust her. She hasn’t changed just because she’s

  removed from the village.”

  “Well, if you put it that way,” Pat conceded, straightening.

  The homing beacon lit up.

  “Who could be coming now?” Pat wondered.

  “Well,” Ken drawled, scratching his head, “we’ve got quite a

  choice: Hrrubans, Alreldep, Codep, Spacedep and who knows who all else is interested in Rrala-Doona?”

  “Whoever it is is not going to be comfortable with snakes in their laps,” Buzz said. “I’m going to get the plastic out to the pass, Ken. You make like a welcoming committee until I can bring Hu Shih back.”

  The copter had long since dwindled to a speck by the time the incoming ship was visible. It was a much larger vessel than the previous visitors; in fact too large to comfort the watching women.

  “You don’t suppose Codep is actually sending transport to take us off,” Kate Moody remarked, shooting an anxious look at the Reeves.

  “That is a possibility,” Ken heard himself answering calmly. “And if it is transport to take us off Doona, we got more to worry about than the snakes.”

  “But why do we have to leave Doona now?” Kate exclaimed. The