Doona Trilogy Omnibus

by neetha Napew

  Hrruna was settling himself gracefully in Hu Shih’s swivel chair, automatically compensating for its nimble action.

  “It is with deep regret that I find myself unable to reply in your language, noble Sumitral,” Hrruna was saying. Sumitral bowed, but a slight flexing of Hrruna’s finger stilled ready diplomatic reassurances. “I come only as an escort for young Zodd, to be sure he returned safely to his people.”

  Ken stared at Hrruna, aware of a slight frown on the Admirals face, relieved that the diplomat must have caught the significance.

  “With your permission, noble sir.” Sumitral turned to Ken. “Did I understand correctly what he just said?”

  “That he only came to escort Todd through the forest. That’s what he said.”

  “I didn’t understand but two words.”

  Ken blinked; tried to rephrase Hrruna’s words in Hrruban, only to

  come up with an entirely different sounding phrase. Hu Shih leaned over to the two men.

  “He’s using different inflections but I understood what he said and what he means. This is a purely social visit.

  Ken licked his lips and anxiously glanced toward the door. Lawrence had cleared the hall but there was too much congestion on the porch to see the Common. Suddenly Lawrence stepped aside and Todd squeezed through, imperiously beckoning someone to follow.

  Hrrula appeared, still gorgeously clad in red, although now Ken realized how much richer Hrruna’s finery was. Hrrestan followed closely and it was obvious both had been running hard. Hrrula hung back a little for Hrrestan to precede him. Both bowed with precision to Hrruna, made shallower bows to Sumitral, Ken and Shih.

  “I suspect your deep maroon is a fortuitous choice for Alreldep, Admiral,” Ken murmured under his breath.

  Sumitral raised his eyebrows slightly and opened his mouth to speak.

  “Dad,” Todd’s stage whisper was audible to the Common, “Hrrula says I’ve got to do the talking to Hrruna.” Todd hurried forward, glancing apprehensively up at Sumitral, flinching at the admirals expression. “You can’t sit either. He’ll be thirsty. He isn’t used to walking so far,” he added as an afterthought, and then asked Hrruna if the gracious noble sir would like some refreshment.

  Ken fumbled in the kitchen cabinets, came across a glass goblet that Mace McKee had blown as an experiment that winter. He put it on the nearest tray, added a pack of coffee, some chilled urfa milk and ice water in a pitcher. Hrruna smiled his gratitude and murmured a question to Todd, who was curiously at ease with Hrruna despite his formality.

  “This is the cold milk of the urfa beast of Rrala, gracious noble sir,” Todd said clearly and Ken suddenly realized that the boy was using the same unusual pitches that Hrruna had employed. “This is very cold water and this is a drink from our home world which is hot but everyone drinks it often. I’m too young.”

  At that moment there was the sound of heavy boots thudding up the porch steps. Ken caught sight of half a dozen Hrrubans filing quickly into the mess hall with the unmistakable dispatch of trained soldiers.

  Hrruna looked up calmly, nodded and gestured them to keep their distance before he smiled with great affection on Todd.

  Todd’s eyes were wide and he gulped before he spoke. “I think Mr.

  McKee made the cup. He’s very clever.”

  “McKee’s sapphire,” Ken whispered, his voice carrying to Shih and Sumitral “I’ve a feeling a gift of value is indicated.”

  “Can we leave here, though?” Shih asked and then inhaled sharply.

  Ken turned to see Todd raise the goblet of urfa milk to his own

  lips. He then carefully wiped the lip mark from the goblet edge, rotating it before he presented it with a respectful bow to the First Speaker. When the man accepted it, Ken and Shih both let their breaths out with relief.

  “Who in hell taught the kid all that protocol?” Sumitral’s muted voice reached Ken’s ears.

  Ken rolled his eyes toward Hrrestan and Hrrula. They both wore expressions of intense interest and deep amusement.

  “The urfa milk is very refreshing. A new taste for an old mouth,” Hrruna remarked, smiling benignly around. “There is much of value on this beautiful planet, is there not?”

  “Most gracious First Speaker,” Ken began, trying to remember the pitches which Todd had used, “may I be permitted to withdraw? There is another example of Rralan riches which you might like to examine.”

  Hrruna graciously dismissed him and, with a second nod, indicated Hrrula might join him.

  Ken could barely wait to get the Hrruban out of earshot but he had to wait until they had passed the obvious bodyguards poised unmoving around the hall, before he felt it safe to speak.

  “What has been happening?” he asked in Hrruban.

  “Too much,” Hrrula answered in easy Terran, “but do you mean to get

  the big blue stone of Mace? Blue is very prized on Hrruba.”

  Ken looked around for Chaminade, somewhat bewildered to find that the Common was also crowded with Hrrubans soldiers.

  “Where’d they all come from?”

  Hrrula hissed out his chuckle. “Something like this has never

  happened. I cautioned you against violence. No, I understand it was impossible to avoid it with a man like Landreau, but the instant it was reported to the Speakers, all hope of an alliance was lost. Then the messenger arrived, saying you had called out in Hrruban that we were in honor bound to help you. Zodd started to cry that he wanted to go home.

  Hrruna remarked quietly that this was no longer a time to hide cowardly:

  honor was at stake. He took Zodd by the hand and left—with all the Speakers staring after him. He had himself transmitted back to the village before anyone knew what he was about to do.” Hrrula wheezed in another paroxysm of laughter. “Hrrestan and I leaped after him. vowing to protect him with our lives, the bodyguard was right behind us but got lost in the forest and all this is being seen throughout Hrruba right now.”

  Ken spied Chaminade as Hrrula talked, and beckoned him over, deriving a small satisfaction as the fat figure waddled obediently to his summons.

  “Remember that sapphire someone snitched from McKee? I want it now, Chaminade, for the Hrruban leader.”

  The little eyes narrowed speculatively. “It does belong to the Hrrubans, I guess,” the Codep man agreed and snapped an order to his wrist unit. “Those bare-chested catmen are armed, Reeve,” he remarked, looking Hrrula directly in the eye.

  “We are protecting our First Speaker from you barbarians,” Hrrula replied in his fluent but oddly accented Terran.

  Suddenly Ken realized that Hrrula accented the wrong Terran syllables at times and retained his own pitched inflections. If you missed his first words you missed most of the sentence.

  “Let me explain quickly, Rrev. Zodd must remain by Hrruna. No talk of treaty or anything, for this is a social visit,” and Hrrula wheezed briefly. “Zodd has been trained in the protocol of formal Hrruban and, since every circuit on Hrruba is turned onto this scene, our people must receive the best possible impression of yours. It can still reverse opinion in our favor!”

  “But a kid—“ Chaminade protested.

  “Already that Sumitral has made several errors—understandable,

  because no one in our village used the formal tones, but few on our planet will make that allowance. They will only see discourtesy toward our First Speaker. I agree it is wonderful that Sumitral tries to speak Hrruban but he does not speak well enough yet.”

  “From the mouths of babes,” Chaminade sighed.

  Unexpectedly Hrrula grinned. “It is a saying on our world that if

  one wishes to hear the truth, let him ask a child. That child of yours may deliver us this planet. He is the best advocate you possess. However, while we have the view-screen coverage we have tried so often to secure, let us use every argument. I saw only part of that unfortunate stampede. Was the black hrrss injured? Very good. Please will you ask Ben to bring him and the
pretty red mare here, saddled and ready to be ridden. They are an important argument because on our worlds we have sacrificed every living species but our own. Now it is regretted.”

  Ken called Bill Moody over and gave him the message just as the guard brought the jewel which Chaminade immediately passed to Ken.

  “Be sure to give the jewel to Zodd,” Hrrula whispered as they

  re-entered the hall.

  “Sumitral is going to hate talking through Todd.”

  “Is not expediency a diplomatic thorn on Terra?” inquired Hrrula

  mockingly.

  Ken awarded him a long look before he followed his example and bowed low as they re-approached the First Speaker. Sumitral was evidently relieved by their reappearance.

  “Todd,” Ken began in low-voiced Hrruban, “would you present this properly to the gracious noble First Speaker? Say it is a poor example of what else is to be found on Rrala.”

  Todd grinned broadly at his father as he took the sapphire. He bowed very low to the First Speaker to gain his attention, then carefully folded back the cloth in which the stone had been wrapped, presenting the gleaming jewel on both hands.

  “Oh, noble sir, my father asks that you accept what is humbly offered.”

  With an exclamation of unfeigned delight, Hrruna held the sapphire up so that the sunlight caught in the facets which Mace had skillfully cut into the huge blue stone. It was not of a perfect water, having a tiny flaw which cutting did not entirely excise, but it was a brilliant color.

  “This is much prized by us. Old eyes hunger for blues,” Hrruna said to the beaming child. “Truly Rrala has many hidden riches.”

  Why, the old showman, Ken thought, he wants his people to stay on Rrala.

  “Rrala is good for things from Terra too,” Todd remarked, suddenly peering excitedly outside.

  “Indeed?”

  “See? Hrrses!” and Todd pointed just as Ben, leading the black

  stallion, disappeared around the corner of the hall.

  “Gracious First Speaker,” Hrrestan interjected, bowing deeply, “you once expressed a deep interest in the animals which the Terrans brought with them.”

  “They are perhaps nearby?”

  “They await your inspection at the door, gracious noble sir.”

  Hruna rose with an alacrity that displayed his keen interest.

  Hrrula quickly stepped to one side, gesturing Todd to fall directly

  in behind the old Hrruban.

  “Every time I try to talk, either Todd or the other old one shuts me up,” Sumitral complained in a low voice. “Why?”

  Thank God for a reasonable man, Ken thought gratefully. “He’s been taught their formal speech. You’ve already insulted Hrruna by using vulgar Hrruban—not your fault, just their crazy customs. Hrrula says everything’s being beamed back and their whole world is watching.”

  Sumitral paled, swallowed hard.

  “Then I can’t get him to talk any treaty?”

  “Uhuh. This whole thing is completely unexpected, unprecedented and

  incredible. Hrruna wants an alliance and he took this tremendous chance to force publicity. We’ve got to make sure it’s all good!”

  Sumitral’s mouth formed an ‘o’ of surprised shock but he had recovered himself as they stepped out onto the porch and watched Ben and Hrrula display the horses’ paces. Hrrula, on the stallion. was grinning like a fool and taking extraordinary chances.

  By the time the exhibition was over, the sun was lowering in the west. The First Speaker gestured to one of the Hrruban guards who nodded solemnly and barked orders in a staccato howl. Hrruna turned to the Terrans, inclining his head in an expression of deep regret.

  “I have too long absented myself from the duties of my office, gentle friends. I must take my leave. My thanks for the courtesies of refreshment, and entertainment, and for this beautiful product of a lovely world.” He held up the sapphire which scintillated in the afternoon sun. Politely his eyes lingered briefly on each face. Ken was sure the man was amused and pleased with the outcome of his outrageous visit. But he was already sweeping down the Common with Todd his obedient shadow. Hrrestan signaled Hrrula peremptorily to leave the stallion. Ken hurried after them, but before he could catch up, the Hrruban guards cut him off politely but firmly.

  “What’s going to happen now?” Sumitral exclaimed, joining him.

  “Maybe Todd will know.”

  They watched, frustrated at the enforced passivity, as Todd stepped

  out of the procession at the bridge. The First Speaker and his guards crossed over. They saw him step onto a metallic grid that had been placed on the far side of the river at some point in the afternoon. A misty envelope hid him and then dispersed, leaving the bare grid.

  “So that’s their matter transmitter,” Sumitral murmured.

  “And that’s how they removed the village so quickly. I’ll bet their

  whole site is laid out on a huge grid.”

  “Think of the economy of such a system, let alone the convenience.”

  Four guards removed corner posts and rolled up the grid. Then the

  whole column, Hrrestan and Hrrula in its van, marched off into the forest, Toddy waving sadly after the disappearing backs.

  Chapter XXV

  VIGIL

  “AND STILL WE don’t know to go or stay,” Lee Lawrence remarked with a wry grin.

  The weary, confused colonists had asked the three departmental representatives to a meeting on the Common. It had been decided not to remove any of the Hrruban devices although most had been located. It seemed wiser, however, to hold the meeting on a ‘blind’ spot.

  “The Hrrubans are technically the owners of this planet,” Sumitral pointed out, “until we can assume, by their continued absence, that they have abdicated their rights. In either case, an apology is owed these fine people,” and he gestured to the colonists, “for the discourtesies, inconveniences and insults they have suffered.” He glared at Landreau and Chaminade. “They have earned their right to remain on Rrala.”

  “Yes, indeed,” Chaminade agreed easily, staring pointedly at Landreau.

  The spaceman rose, his manner truculent. “There were neither reptiles nor aliens when I landed here.”

  “Indubitably. According to Hrrestan, they are deep-sea creatures,” Dautrish put in. “They were quiescent at the time of the two surveys. And we know now that the Hrrubans are only in residence during the warmer seasons.”

  Landreau shrugged and sat down again but Ken hoped they would never require favors of Spacedep.

  “However, if the Hrrubans release Doona,” Chaminade clung stubbornly to Terran nomenclature, “to my colonists, they are under Codep authority,” and he had the gall to smile.

  Sumitral’s objection was indignant. “On the contrary. These people have made a fine, favorable contract with a highly civilized, technically advanced species. They have learned not only the language but its rigid and complex protocol.” He glanced briefly at Ken. “There is every chance that although the Hrrubans withdraw from Rrala now, events may bring them back at a later date. We have overlapped too often in our mutual space explorations. Some agreement, now or later, will eventually come to pass. Therefore Rrala, by edict of the Congress of the Amalgamated Worlds— check it if you must, Chaminade is under Alreldep aegis.”

  “Now wait a moment, Sumitral,” Landreau began belligerently.

  “Alreldep handles alien relations, but Spacedep handles defense and . . .”

  “Shut up, Landreau,” Ken snapped, rising. “We’d’ve been at a treaty stage if you hadn’t acted like a horse’s ass with your snake drive . . .”

  “See here, Reeve,” and Landreau advanced menacingly.

  “That’s enough,” Sumitral bellowed, staring the spaceman down. “And

  frankly, Landreau, if I thought we weren’t in danger of being observed, I’d let Reeve take you apart. But get this: defense is not indicated, a difficult distinction for your space boys to m
ake. The Hrrubans aren’t the cotopoids of Lyrae or the plague carriers of Zeta Algeiba. And they’re not Siwannese either. We’ve still got a chance to form a mutual coexistence pact with the Hrrubans and I will do everything in my power, including the use of a six-year-old boy as my chief of protocol if that can be achieved.”

  Sumitral looked a little startled when the colonists, led by Ken, began to cheer him.

  “My chief informed me—before he went to bed,” Sumitral continued with dry good humor, “that we’ll know tomorrow. That boy’s remarkable, Reeve, and I regret I had to monopolize him when he’s been away from you so long, but he was able to give me some valuable insight into Hrruban thinking. However, since their civilization makes full use of mass communications, we can assume that a popular vote can be computed overnight. If a popular vote was forced by the First Speaker’s superb strategy of this afternoon.

  “Now I’m for bed. I’m an optimist by nature and I want to be ready for tomorrow’s demands.”

  He departed, adroitly taking Landreau and Chaminade with him back to their respective ships.

  “How’d we ever turn up lucky with Sumitral?” Lawrence asked.

  “Third time?” Ken tendered.

  “No,” Hu Shih answered. “I know his reputation. He is a shrewd man

  but an opportunist. Our circumstances give him an unparalleled chance for promotion into the Executive Echelons—if he can bring off a treaty with the Hrrubans. He may not like the expedients but he is clever enough to use them. However,” and Hu Shih’s unexpected cynicism dissolved into a more characteristic smile, “he is forced to be as candid as a child and that is to our advantage—and Hrruba’s.”

  “I’m so tired, Ken,” Pat whispered plaintively. “They kept us up all night last night.”

  “I didn’t sleep much myself, honey he replied, “and if our shrewd admiral is seeking the sack, so will I.” He slipped an arm around her and, bidding the others good night, led her off toward their cabin.