Doona Trilogy Omnibus

by neetha Napew

  Most of the Hayumans and Hrrubans waiting near the landing pad were Rraladoonans, waiting eagerly to view the signing. Many had brought seating while others had spread blankets on the ground. There was a buzz of pleasant talk which stilled as the official escort arrived.

  To one side, however, Todd was dismayed to see yet another cluster of protesters. This bunch suddenly pushed their way through the scattered onlookers, right up to the boxy Gringg shuttle, waving their posters. These featured caricatures of Gringg, ill-drawn as well as defamatory as one showed a Gringg tearing apart a small body, obviously a Gringg cub. Another featured a mass of Gringg, wearing extravagant collars and harnesses trampling down both Havumans and Hrrubans, exaggerated paws reaching towards a table heaped with foodstuffs.

  Ken Reeve, Jilamey Landreau, and Ali Kiachif immediately stepped up to the shuttle hatch, daring the mob to start something. A phalanx of the commercial space crews emerged from behind the shuttle, their hand weapons still holstered but ready, and formed a sort of barrier.

  Jilamey waved to Todd and Hrriss and gave one of his outrageously cocky grins.

  “Damn!” Todd muttered under his breath.

  “Well, I didn’t expect this!” Sumitral muttered under his breath.

  “I did, after the crowd around my office. Kiachif and Horstmann dragooned their crews into guard duty,’ Todd replied out of the side of his mouth. “I’d hoped it was just talk. Damn “em for using pictorial insults.”

  “Since it’s all too well known that the Gringg have concentrated on spoken, not written language, that’s one way to make your points.”

  “And Eonneh’s in the shuttle and has probably faithfully drawn what’s on the posters for posterity’ Todd said, his tone savage with frustration. Even as he’d been speaking, he’d been surveying the faces in the ground of the orderly Rraladoonans, estimating the numbers.

  “Wait a sec!” He held up his hand to delay the others in the formal escort. Then he took another step forward.

  “You’re not citizens of this planet,’ he said, rapidly scanning the protest group to find the leader. “You have no right of protest here.” Then he turned to the friendlier faces and raising his voice, added, “I recognize a lot of you from previous snake hunts. How about removing the vipers in our midst? I think they need to go back to whatever hole they emerged from. Quietly! Out of respect for the rules of hospitality!” Before the protesters could rally effectively to defend themselves, their posters were confiscated and their persons bodily removed by willing hands. Some loud and outraged cries drifted back. Todd waited a bit, grinning at Sumitral.

  “All right, that’s out of the way. Let’s proceed with the scheduled formalities.

  As soon as Todd, Sumitral and Hrrestan approached the Gringg shuttle, the door slid open. A buzz started, this time a welcoming one.

  Waving cheerfully and with a pleasant smile showing all her fangs, Grizz alighted, her powerful legs making the long step easily. Todd sighed, hoping that the Gringg had not been there very long.

  Honey and Kodiak followed Grizz, turning to help Teddy down the tall steps.

  A hearty cheer rose from the crowd and some laughter.

  Grizz twitched her ears and seemed to scan the gathering but her fanged smile remained in place - a fanged smile that had been caricatured on one of the posters. Todd hoped that the Gringg might just dismiss those as bad Rraladoonan art. The Gringg and officials had taken no more than a few steps when suddenly a fist-sized rock winged past Todd’s head, ricocheting off the side of the shuttle. A clatter of pebbles hit the ground around them.

  Todd swung immediately in the direction of the assault.

  A man, tawny-skinned but with the sallow complexion that spoke of limited exposure to the sun, threw another rock straight at Grizz.

  Anticipating its trajectory, Todd jumped up with one hand high and caught the rock. He swore as it stung his fingers. Teddy squealed with fear. The Gringg immediately closed about the cub, hiding him from any further attack.

  There were cries of “Shame! Shame on you!” from most of the onlookers at such an assault and from agitated movements in the crowd, the pitcher was being chased.

  By all that was holy, Todd resolved, I’ll find some punishment to fit this crime, all quite within my authority as co-leader. A glance at Hrrestan told Todd that the Hrruban had the same uncompromising opinion. The sharp chunk of granite that he had caught would have done some damage had it reached its target, no matter how tough Gringg hide was.

  “I’ll want to see that man when you catch him,’ Todd said aloud and gestured to two of the crewmen to officiate.

  Todd dropped the stone to the ground and, with his boot, ground it into the dirt.

  “My sincere apologies, Captain,’ he said in a ringing voice. “Let us proceed with the order of business.

  Then, flexing his stinging fingers, he raised his arms and gestured for the crowd to give way and a respectful aisle immediately opened up, wide enough for the Gringg and escort to proceed. That such an incident had occurred at all rankled deeply in Todd, marring what should have been a great occasion.

  With Kiachif, Jilamey, Ken and Hrriss flanking the aliens, they marched toward the Centre. The space crews then formed a guard behind them.

  The Treaty Chamber door swung wide to admit Hrrto’s erstwhile allies, the Havumans from Spacedep. Of those expected at the noon hour, they were the first to arrive.

  Barnstable, in his dress blues, nodded sharply to Hrrto as he slid into the chair opposite, and surveyed the room. The only other Occupant was Mllaba, who sat discreetly against the wall, allowing her senior to mull over his thoughts by himself. Greene waited discreetly as his senior seated himself, then escorted Castle ton to her chair on the other side of their senior commander.

  “Well, Speaker Hrrto?” Barnstable asked. “Anything to report?”

  “I have spoken to Hrrestan. Ze conference goes on unhindered, and a Zreaty seems imminent whether we will or will not apprrove,’ Hrrto said, but his voice was distant. “If we are right, zis means zere are only hours left.

  I can do nothing more. Despite all advice to the contrary, the High Council wants to trade with zese Gringg.” That was true enough for, once Hrrto had mentioned the existence of purralinium, the High Council would hear of nothing but any agreement that would augment the dwindling supplies.

  Mllaba, in her chair by the wall, glared at the floor with glowing yellow eyes, but said nothing. Hrrto had not requested her presence at that High Council meeting and he knew she was certain that he had mishandled that meeting. No matter. His conversation with Hrrestan had caused him to alter more than one long-held opinion. He had even altered his desire to win the upComing election: such crushing responsibility for all sorts of unexpected incidents had lost any appeal.

  “Withhold your approval,’ Greene said. “The Treaty will require signatures from all three governments.”

  “I am not sure zat will be possible,’ Hrrto replied. “Nor zat it will mazzer.

  “But it can,’ Barustable said urgently, his eyes glittering.

  “Think of it: the Gringg have given us a map of their systems.

  They have claimed hundreds of planets. If you don’t sign, all the provisions and the safeguards become null and void. Hrruba could take over valuable mining planets: even habitable worlds. Considering what they did on Fingal. the Gringg don’t deserve to colonize more worlds.” “No, Second said, wearily. “I am too old for war. Nor am I one to take anozzer’s worlds. We Hrrubans, too, have put such greed behind us. But ze others will sign ze Zreaty anyhow. It will not matter if I sign or not.”

  “It will matter, Speaker,’ Greene assured him. He held out a small datacube. “I have the tape from our exploration ship. It proves that the Gringg ship did fire on Fingal III, destroying at least one of the cities on the surface and several of the satellites. The weapons we have suspected all along must be hidden somewhere aboard that leviathan. Our combined fleets are hours away. They must n
ot hesitate to attack.” “Is zis wise?” asked Hrrto. “It is not us who will die.” And we are so close to gaining new supplies of purralinium.

  He closed his eyes in despair.

  “Too many will die if we don’t act. You saw that tape,’ said Greene through gritted teeth. “These Gringg are deceivers and vicious killers. I can sense it every time I’m close to one of them.” Grace Castleton, sitting by Greene, angled her body away from him. She was weary with trying to argue with Jon. He kept on the same theme and would see no other logic. For the first time since she’d received her own commission, she found her command onerous. Her private opinions could not interfere with her obedience to orders from the Admiral.

  Barnstable was as rabid against the Gringg as Jon, wholeheartedly willing to believe evidence she found spurious.

  “We need more time,’ Mllaba said. “Just a few hours and ze fleets will be here to support our views. We need a diversion. Now is ze time to show Rrev and Hrrestan zat tape!”

  “And Admiral Sumitral,’ Castleton added.

  “Those confounded optimistic hand-in-friendship fanatics won’t believe it,’ said Barnstable, dismissing the leaders of Rraladoon with a gesture. “Alreldep is full of fools who can’t see a real threat when it weighs half a ton and has claws.”

  “Yes,’ Greene said promptly, “but showing them the tape buys us time. They’ll demand proof of its authenticity and we can drag that out as long as we want to. Let “em rant and rave a while. That’d be to our benefit. And I’ve arranged one more delaying tactic. Those should eat up the hours we need for the fleet to get into position.” Everyone nodded in agreement, and nervously settled back to wait.

  As soon as they were safely past the crowd, Teddy started to whimper, having managed to control his terror until the safety of the Treaty Centre was in sight.

  “Here, Teddy,’ Jilamey said, stroking his shoulder, handing the cub a handful of peppermint humbugs he happened to have in his pocket.

  “Can’t imagine how those layabouts got here! Must be some fringe nuts.” Far more reassured by something to put in his mouth, Teddy stuffed in as many as he could and so forgot the fright he had had.

  Having emerged unscathed from that obstacle, Todd was dismayed to find there was an even more substantial number of onlookers surrounding the meeting hall. But this time there were no placards nor stones.

  Disconcertingly, there were people carrying tri-d cameras and flashing legitimate reporter idents, who wanted to ask the Gringg questions: a tiresome but necessary interview.

  Todd tried to appeal to them to wait until after the formal signings but the protests were so loud that he relented. Voders were passed over to the reporters which Todd hoped would prove so irksome to use that the newsgatherers would depart. Instead there was a barrage of the inane questions, the kind of tripe that made Todd’s innards roil.

  “Captain Gringg, how did you feel discovering not one but two sentient races inhabiting this planet?”

  “Do we differ from other species you’ve encountered?”

  “How long was your jourriey here?”

  “From what part of space do you originate?”

  “What’s your home world like?”

  “How many cubs would you have in a life span and doesn’t it interfere with your professional duties?”

  “Why was Middle Hrruban used as the bridge language?”

  “I wasn’t informed that newsgatherers had landed here Todd murmured to Hrrestan.

  “Nor was I, but it is never wise to annoy zose who broadcast news,’ Hrrestan said.

  “If such broadcast is ever aired on Earth and Hrruba,’ Todd said, feeling uneasy about the unexpected delay. He glanced down at his wrist chrono. They were already late for the scheduled arrival time but he agreed with Hrrestan that it wasn’t politic to irritate newsgatherers. How many of those quickly flashed credentials might prove bogus?

  And how did so many arrive so propitiously? As if he needed to go far to find an answer to that question. What did Barnstable and his crowd think they’d achieve by these delaying tactics?

  However, when he and Hrrestan did suggest that the interview had gone on long enough, there was immediate protest.

  “This isn’t half enough of an interview, Reeve,’ protested one of the more aggressive Hayuman interrogators.

  “Our people, too, need to know ze facts,’ an Hrruban of very narrow Stripe chimed in.

  “What news channel do you represent?” Todd asked, holding out his hand for their credentials. “My office was not informed of your arrival and any interview should have been cleared with myself or Hrrestan. We could then have allotted sufficient time for a proper interview. Now, we’ve given you as much as we can. After the ceremony’s over, I’ll arrange a longer session for you with Captain Grizz and her crew Todd cast a significant look at the commander of the Alreldep honour guard and immediately his troops moved in to form a barrier between the Gringg and the newsgatherers. Then Todd and the others politely herded their guests into the building.

  “I know who planned that little diversion,’ he muttered to his father.

  “I don’t know why!”

  “The “why” worries me, too,’ Ken said.

  “I must check the records of ze grrrid operrators,’ Hrrestan said.

  “Zere have been too many unauzorized uses of zat facility!” He twitched muzzle and whiskers and his tail lashed in angry switchings.

  When they reached their destination, Todd sighed with relief, thinking as he did so that maybe such relief was premature.

  “Who was so kind as to arrange a press interview?” he said, glancing around those already seated at the table.

  “There were no newsgatherers when we entered,’ Barristable said, glancing up casually from his personal clipboard. “Just the usual bunch of onlookers one would expect.”

  “Surely,’ and Greene grinned smugly, “you want as much publicity as you can get on such a momentous occasion?

  Surely you don’t wish to keep any of these negotiations secret?”

  “Surely you don’t expect me to believe you didn’t arrange it, Greene,’ Todd countered with an insincere smile.

  “Please, let us put aside rancour,’ Hrrestan said in Middle Hrruban, hand raised for silence. “Will you not all sit down? This is the final phase of our negotiations. I have here three copies of the Treaty worked out between Admiral Sumitral, Captain Grzzeearoghh, Second Speaker, Admiral Barnstable, myself, and Zodd Rrev. The suggestions and input comes from many quarters and has taken days to compile. I ask you all to glance over these documents to ensure that all the salient points discussed have been included to your individual satisfaction.” It was only when Hrrestan sat down that he realized half the room was more interested in the ornate timepiece at one end of the room - a fine piece of engineering since it registered the precise time on Hrruba, Earth and Rraladoon. He had the distinct sense that only the Gringg and Rraladoonans had paid any attention to his brief words.

  While he was not of a Stripe that took offence at minor snubs and slurs, he was decidedly uneasy about the atmosphere in the chamber. He glanced at Speaker Hrrto who had his eyes carefully averted.

  To Hrrestan’s surprise, the Spacedep commander asked to be recognized.

  He nodded to Greene, and the Hayuman rose.

  “The agenda of this meeting does not allow sufficient time to read every clause of this weighty document,’ Greene said, making a show of the effort it took for him to raise the weight of the thick document in Basic language.

  “There were many points that had to be discussed in great detail.

  We will need more time for a thorough reading than you have allowed.”

  “I must point out, Commander, that you are not an official member of the Trade Treaty Committee,’ Hrrestan said in Middle Hrruban for the voder to translate. “You were present only as an observer for the Admiral who was involved in another discussion.”

  “However, as the Admiral’s appointed
representative, surely I may speak to that point?” There was the slightest edge of smug superiority about Greene’s manner that irritated Todd. The commander was obviously initiating yet another delaying strategy. Why?

  was what was beginning to obsess Todd.

  “You attended all the meetings, that is true, Hrrestan said, replying with dignity. “You had ample opportunity to bring up any points then for clarification. Read!” As Greene quickly riffled a few pages, and then held the document open, it was clear to Todd that the man was totally familiar with the contents.

  “On page 14, clause 5, subsection 12, there is an ambiguity in wording that I feel ought to be changed,’ and he read it out.

  “I hear no such ambiguity,’ Hrrestan said, “and furthermore, he tapped the keys on the terminal nearest him, “here is a transcript of that particular discussion. You will note that the wording is exactly as it was decided upon at that meeting.”

  “Ah, I see that you are correct,’ Greene said, all affability even as he tuined pages again to a new section.

  “Would you also check Paragraph 9, clause 3, honoured co-leader?

  Now is that as it was decided? I really do feel there’s been an error in the quantity of lithium in respect of trade weights.

  Todd began to fidget but a glance from Hrrestan suggested to him that his colleague would allow only so much of Greene’s disputation.

  “No,’ Jilamey said bluntly, “that’s written as discussed, Commander. And you know it!” He pointed an accusing finger at Greene.

  “I do, Mr Landreau?” Greene asked, all innocence.

  “You forget, Greene, that I have an eidetic memory,’ Jilamey said.

  Captain Grizz raised her brow at the new word and Jilamey leaned across the table to clarify the term.

  “Ev,’ Sumitral said, turning to Barnstable, “what is all this in aid of?”

  “Well, you can’t expect me to sign a faulty or errorstricken Trade Agreement, now can you?” Barnstable said, raising his eyebrows at Sumitral. “And I never approve of a document I haven’t read thoroughly.”