Doona Trilogy Omnibus

by neetha Napew

  “What is Hurrhee doing here?” Mllaba demanded in an annoyed undertone to Hrrto. “He’s a scientist, not a trader.”

  “He is here at my command,’ Hrrto murmured back, protruding the claw of his fifth digit to indicate the need for discretion.

  Suddenly Milaba became extra alert and leaned as far across the table as possible to get a view of the slate. Under the table, Hrrto pulled her roughly back. She nearly hissed at him so great was her indignation but one look at her superior’s eyes and she obeyed, though stiff with the insult just given her. Hrrto ignored her manner.

  Nothing must indicate to the Gringg how important the purralinium was to the Hrrubans.

  Although Kodiak and his partner, a black-and-white Gringg whom the children called Big Paws after zOdd’s sister’s cat, were speaking very clear Middle Hrruban, modulated into audibility by the voders, the edge given by the subsonics of Gringg speech wore on Hrruban nerves.

  Hrrto wondered how long he would have to remain in such an ambience.

  “Yes, you do have goods that might form a trade currency,’ banker Hrrouf said with extreme affability, his tailtip switching. Ah, Hrrouf had noticed the purralinium, too. And, in his high position in the financial world, he would have access to the knowledge of the lack of new supplies of the metal. “What is it you would require in exchange?” Big Paws regarded the Hrruban amiably and folded his enormous hands on the table.

  “You appear to be comfortable without the clothes used by Hayumans to cover their skin. We Gringg also do not need coverings. We admire the way that the Hrrubans adorn their natural fur with the most striking ornamentation. Most especially I like these harnesses of hide.” The black and white Gringg put out a claw and plucked at the strap of the handsome harness Hrrouf was wearing. “The variety of these and of other pretty stuffs are most desirable to us. Such will be need to be made much larger to fit Gringg, but we wish to trade for quantities of harness. Plain and with many sparkle stones.”

  “What?” Hrrouf demanded, unable to believe his ears.

  Other Hrruban representatives were equally astounded and, if Hrrestan and Hrrin managed to hide their amusement, few of the others expecting to trade advanced technologies of all kinds to the bears saw the humour of the announcement.

  Second Speaker sputtered, his headache forgotten.

  “Garments? Jewellery? Ornaments? You must be joking!”

  “What is joking?” Kodiak asked, looking up from his electronic keypad.

  He turned to Hrrestan for clarification.

  “He asks if you tell him something that is not true to make him laugh,’ Hrrestan explained solemnly.

  Kodiak returned his dark-red gaze to Second Speaker.

  “Morra, very, I do not joke.”

  “This is what you wish to receive in trade from us?

  Not technology?” asked Nrrena. “Hrruban technology is famous.

  You must have observed the transport grids -“

  “Sst!” Hrrouf hissed at her in a high whistle. The manufacturer stopped, embarrassed.

  “Ah, yes,’ Kodiak said casually, observing the byplay.

  “The transport system. But it does. not interest us. We travel fast enough and are comfortable doing it. Items of wear and personal adornment are more important. And we insist to be told new styles and modes.” Hrrto wondered at Kodiak’s dismissal of the “transport system’.

  Could it be that they knew the special use for purralinium and had matter transporters on their own worlds? And if they did, would they trade any of that precious commodity to the Hrrubans? Many of the Gringg had used the grids, getting about Rraladoona but no reports had been made by any of the operators that the Gringg had shown any interest at all in the workings of the grid: or had even looked closely at either the purralinium columns or the floor grid though these were, in any case, thickly coated by the conducting material.

  “This is outrageous,’ Nrrena said in a growl, rising from the table. Her tail swished angrily, lashing her sides, and her eyes all but shot sparks. “I was made to understand that this was a high level trading conference, not a fashion show. I have the honour to wish you a good day.” The Hrruban made a bow to Second Speaker and strode stiffly from the room. Second was glad to see her go. She would report back to Fifth that the conference had been a charade. When Hrrto arranged for substantial quantities of purralinium, she would look a fool, Fifth would lose face and Hrrto gain it in the contest for the Speakership.

  “Perhaps all should go, Hrrin suggested, sourly, “and put an end to this pretence.”

  “Have I offended?” Kodiak asked Hrrestan.

  “No, friend,’ Hrrestan assured him. “That Hrruban re resents manufacturers on our home world and elsewhere.

  There is nothing in these current talks which interests her.” Hrrestan also suspected that Nrrena would be grateful to get out of the range of Gringg speech. Kodiak accepted his explanation.

  “Ah,’ the Gringg said, returning a bland gaze to those left at the table. “May we then negotiate terms? It is now to work out equivalencies of value, against that which.

  we offer for that which we want.” He ended up facing Hrrestan, who gestured courteously toward Hrrto.

  “I may not speak for Hrruba,’ Hrrestan said. “I have lived on Rraladoona for over thirty years. It is the Second Speaker for External Affairs whom you must address.” He bowed deferentially. Hrrto was pleased and mollified.

  “Very,’ Kodiak said, and turned to face Second. Milaba sat up straight beside him. “So you are empowered to act on behalf of an Hrruba in these matters?”

  “I do not understand what he said,’ Milaba snapped, turning to Hrrin. “Please translate once more.” With a little less patience for her, Hrrin repeated the Gringg’s question.

  Ghotyakh’s brow ridges lowered halfway over his eyes, concealing all but a crescent of angry red irises. “I believe that the delegate understood me,’ he said, his voice shifting very slowly to a menacing growl. “We have come in good faith to this meeting. It is not the Gringg way to give offence or take insult. Lootcardiff caused this device to translate perfectly. As a Gringg scribe, my honour required me to practise diction until perfection came. Does this female have hearing problems? That is the only acceptable reason.

  The word reason came out in as close to a snarl as a Gringg had so far mouthed. Mllaba jumped in her seat.

  She glared at Kodiak, her yellow eyes ablaze.

  “You wrong me,’ she said, in a low, dangerous voice.

  “My hearing is extremely acute and the roars you make injure delicate tissue. You know that certain sounds you make cause unpleasant reactions in we Hrrubans. Perhaps you deliberately use them to upset us.”

  “Enough!” Hrrestan said, raising his voice. Hand over his voder, he turned to Mllaba but his attitude was clearly cautioning.

  “There is not a thing wrong with my hearing, Mllaba, and I think you are the one deliberately upsetting the smooth progress of this meeting.” “Why should I?” Mllaba demanded.

  “That I do not know,’ Hrrestan replied sternly, “but as I am moderator of this meeting, I will have no further obstruction from you.

  “I am assistant to “In this meeting,’ Hrrestan said calmly but forcefully, “rank has been suspended to the greater benefit of all Hrruba. Or have you had trouble, honoured assistant to Second Speaker, which you are embarrassed to admit?” Mllaba drew a deep breath in through her nostrils at what was perilously close to a direct insult to the Second Speaker. Hrrestan waited, his eyes intent on Hrrto and she might not have existed.

  “I have had no trouble understanding them, Second said, his eyes slitted. “I do find their voices and their presence oppressive.” “Oppressive?” Hrrestan asked, with mischief in his eyes.

  “How can you find oppressive a species which is so very interested in fashion?” Milaba’s tailtip lashed.

  “If the price is right,’ Hrrin said, deliberately trying to lighten the tension in the room, “we Rraladoonans are d
elighted to supply as many harnesses as the Gringg wish.

  Since,’ and he turned to the disappointed representatives, “we supply our home world with many such items, we may need to import skilled workers to supply the demand.”

  “Then we have wasted our time?” asked the senior Stripe of the merchants.

  Hrrestan bowed graciously. “Consider it but the first offering in a trade that may develop in unexpected directions and have the imagination to come forward with other examples of our culture,’ and he gave that word considerable emphasis, “which might appear attractive or interesting to our large friends.” Then Mllaba, using a coaxing and wheedling tone, spoke up, her manner so abruptly altered that Hrrto decided his clever assistant must finally have grasped the significance of Hurrhee’s presence and remarks.

  “Hrruban textiles are much admired by Haynmans since you are interested in adornment. A swift message and we can have many beautiful things to show you,’ she said at her silkiest.

  “We Gringg are content to see all you will offer,’ Kodiak said, showing all his teeth in an affable smile.

  “So,’ Hrrouf began, “you will not object if we use metals, ores and such like to make payment for cloth, leather and jewels?” Kodiak lifted one shoulder. “Metals we have much of and can cheerfully trade them for what we wish of yours.

  Shall we talk of relative values now for such bartering?” He turned his slate and held it up so that all could see it. Gringg symbols were on the left-hand side of the slate, Hrruban equivalents on the right. Purralinium was mid-list. “These are in order of value to us.” Titanium was top, and Hrrto recognized the symbols for tin, zinc, germanium and platinum and some transuranics before purralinium. How many leather belts and neck pieces would be traded for enough purralinium to manufacture another grid? The very concept was bizarre!

  He found himself holding his breath as weights and measures were being discussed. To his dismay - for surely Hrrestan knew the plight the co-leader was setting for too low a quantity of metal. Or was he merely being cautious? Then Kodiak mentioned bulk figures for finished leathers that nearly made Hrrto drop his jaw. There would be more than enough purralinium.

  Now he worried that Hrrestan might ask only for that metal and signal its value to Hrrubans. But Hrrto had underestimated the leader’s acumen.

  Suddenly he began to fret that Hrrestan would get the credit for such dealing and he, Second Speaker, who had laid the groundwork in his initial conference with the Gringg captain, would not gain the face he deserved.

  Restlessly he drilled claw tips on the table. Saw what he was doing and forced his fingers to be still. That precious metal in return for acres of cloth, no matter how beautifully woven it was, seemed almost indecent.

  Could the Gringg really be so naive? Or their holdings so rich that they could make such ludicrous exchanges?

  That was a possibility that hadn’t occurred to him before.

  Those rich in goods thought nothing of exchanging what they didn’t need for what they coveted.

  “We do not deplete your stores with such large orders?” Big Paws asked courteously. “We can space shipments so that each is full of what is required. With Hrrubans we trade for what the Hayumans do not show or seem to need.

  Therefore no bad feelings may happen. We are peaceful folk. We wish for peace everywhere around us.” 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? At the least, the direction to search for the debris that would contain the metal. 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. Show them that their hypocrisy was discovered and make them reveal what weapons had caused such destruction. With the fleet pin-pointing one unarmed ship, surely they would accede to all demands.

  Before another Gringg ship could reach the heliopause of Rraladoona, they would have built defences against such ordnance. ..

  Why should Hrruba defend Rraladoona at all? The thought suddenly occurred to Hrrto. Why not evacuate all Hrrubans? If the Haynmans were foolish enough to wait for Gringg vengeance, so be it.

  But what if the Gringg should discover the Hrruban home world?

  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 Haynmans wresting from the Gringg while Hrrubans were selling harnesses and collars?

  Unable to resist, he found himself walking towards 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 mid-section with satisfaction that, at this time of day, could have little to do with the pleasures of the table The trader 5 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’ll be damned pleased with the results, Landreau.”

  “We can always use a steady new supp, 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 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 towards 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 space port talks were being held.

  “It would be foolish not to consider Gringg facilities, Admiral,’ Lorena Kaldonwas saying in an aggravated tone. “Much easier to start off with buildings suited to their needs . . “I 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 bodily large but all too evidently athletic. Polite farewells were made, with Hrrestan and Hrrin doing the 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 wrapp
ing 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 Haynmans 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 violently switched.

  “Is it possible the Gringg have developed matter transmission?” Hrruba 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 Haynmans 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 Haynmans did with purralinium and whether they used the pure or impure state of the metal. We must remain the only species in the galaxy with transport grids.”

  “As you say, Speaker,’ Mllaba agreed.

  The corridor was lined with windows along this edge 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.