He stared in awe at the multicolored, brightly illuminated surface of the mudflats. “Yes, it’s pretty, Cherpa. Very, very pretty.”
“Lots of nights I’d sneak to the edge of the docks and try to count all the colors. I like the night.” Barely visible above the mud, her upturned face was the placid nexus of a maelstrom of tiny living stars and nebulae. “Most of the time I like it, but not always. Sometimes it eats.”
Alarmed, he lay back down, once more submerging his upper body fully beneath the surface. “You mean the lights?”
She laughed softly, at once childlike and adult. “No, silly. The night. The night eats.”
He considered pressing her for details but decided against it. If anything more dangerous than the diminutive light-emitting mud dwellers was nearby, it was just as well he remained ignorant of its presence. With escape being foremost in his mind, they had been forced to flee the outpost without a weapon. All he had to defend himself and Cherpa against an attack were his hands and feet. Though hardly proficient with either, he determined to place himself between any hostile lifeform and the girl. If they were assaulted, it could eat him first. He smiled grimly to himself. Had Bac’cul, Cor’rin, and the other Myssari scientists been present, they would have heartily approved his decision.
Meanwhile they could only chat quietly, wait to see what the dawn would bring, and float in the warm, slick mud, suspended between stars above and stars below.
* * *
—
The neosone was not interested in lights, either of the distant thermonuclear or the proximate organic variety. It was interested in food, a potential source of which had manifested itself close by. Drawn by the unusual set of vibrations in the mud, it had homed in rapidly on the source. It skimmed along just above the surface, propelled and supported by the electrical field generated by specialized cells within its broad but paper-thin body. Upon locating its prey, it would stun it with a powerful electric shock before contracting around it and enveloping it like a blanket. Then digestion could begin.
As it neared the source of the disturbance, it slowed, hovering just above the greasy surface. A line of primitive eyes along its front end could discern shape and color but no detail. Of one thing it was immediately certain: the two organisms floating before it were like nothing it had encountered before. Large and dense, they emitted no light whatsoever. Protein they possessed in plenty, but it was of a composition unfamiliar to the neosone. It hesitated. The two organisms were lying virtually motionless. A successful attack would require little effort.
The predator was not concerned should their substance prove indigestible. That it might be dodgy, or even toxic, was of more immediate concern. The only way to find out would be to taste. It moved closer, virtually indistinguishable from the mudflat itself. Still the prey creatures did not stir.
Then it perceived that the lesser of the potential victims was clutching a third, still smaller shape. In outline it perfectly mimicked the larger pair. But instead of potentially edible proteins, the third figure gave back no indication that it was composed of organic materials. Unable to fathom this discrepancy, the neosone held back. It could not understand why of three otherwise identical shapes, two should be patently organic and the third not.
In light of such confusion it determined that caution outweighed any hunger pangs. Expressing a stronger repulsion field, it rose slightly higher, accelerated, and shot off in search of safer, more familiar prey.
Lying on his back in the mud, his face turned skyward, an increasingly relaxed Ruslan noted what appeared to be a wispy cirrus cloud as it passed rapidly over him, momentarily obscuring the stars.
* * *
—
The Vrizan were far too clever to employ lethal weapons. Killing even one of the Myssari would have ignited trouble that would have led to repercussions far beyond Daribb. Every sidearm they carried was designed to stun or otherwise incapacitate its target, not to kill. Equally aware of the larger issues at stake, the Myssari responded in kind. The result was a pain-filled but ultimately bloodless battle that ended with the Vrizan in control of the outpost.
A pack of them confronted Twi’win, her top advisors, and the two visiting researchers in the upper conference chamber. The curved wall on one side had darkened considerably in response to the rising sun. All of the Myssari had been disarmed. Deprived of weaponry, Twi’win took the initiative with words. Just in case there should be confusion over the use of any particular invective, automatic translators were present on both sides.
“This outrage will not go unreported! You have attacked a station whose mandate is solely for peaceful scientific purposes.”
“You have been visited by the personnel of a Vrizan installation whose mandate is solely for peaceful scientific purposes.” In echoing her accusation, the commander of the Vrizan force was plainly not in the least troubled by Twi’win’s outrage. “However, when another species flaunts their illegal presence on a world whose exploration rights have long since been awarded to the Vrizan Integument, that species should not expect the owners of those rights to demonstrate eternal patience.” A hand gestured at their surroundings. “By treaty, this outpost should have been dismantled and abandoned long ago. Instead, it bears every hallmark of having been strengthened and expanded.”
Turning to one of her advisors, Twi’win conferred with the intermet before replying. “This outpost was established before the terms of the treaty to which you refer was agreed upon. Its continued presence is therefore validated by precedence.”
“It is not.” The Vrizan commander was struggling to keep a leash on his anger.
Twi’win cleared her throat, which resulted in a high-pitched whistle bouncing through the chamber. “If you will scan Section Four, Subsection Twenty-two, of the treaty in question, it quite specifically states that—”
In a visually arresting display of alien circulation, the Vrizan commander’s horizontally elongated cranium flushed crimson at the center before the intensifying tint spread outward toward the opposite ends of his head. At the same time, the row of small fleshy appendages atop his skull rippled like brown seaweed in a strong current.
“We are not here to debate the fine points of a treaty that was agreed upon and sealed elsewhere! Your continued presence constitutes violation enough. That you seek to remove artifacts that, by that same treaty, are the property of the Integument represents an escalation of provocation that could no longer be ignored!”
To a watching Bac’cul and Cor’rin, Twi’win proceeded to demonstrate an unexpected talent for feigning ignorance.
“I am sure I have no notion whatsoever of what you are talking about.” Unable to blink, she executed the Myssari equivalent, which consisted of temporarily passing one hand across her eyes.
Once more the Vrizan commander was not taken aback. “A fool can play innocent only with another fool.” His tone grew sharper still. “Do not make the mistake of thinking you are engaging with a fool.”
“I would not presume to do so,” Twi’win replied with mock seriousness.
“The property to which I refer involves an example of local life located and recovered from the human city known as Dinabu. Specifically, a live human being.” Bac’cul and Cor’rin tried not to show their unease. Truly this Vrizan was no fool. “The report prepared by our automatics and reviewed by my staff suggests but does not confirm that it is an immature specimen. Enhanced imagery clearly shows it visible in the company of a mature example of the same supposedly extinct species.”
Unable to remain quiet any longer in the face of the Vrizan’s facts, Cor’rin spoke up. “The mature specimen’s name is Ruslan, he was found by one of our exploration teams on the human-settled world of Seraboth, and he has been the property of the Myssari Combine for many, many time-parts!”
The Vrizan looked at her out of the large, swiveling eyes located at opposite end
s of his elongated skull. “Your claim to the mature example of humankind is not in dispute here. We assert ownership rights only to the specimen that was found living on Daribb, in the city known as Dinabu, as is our entitlement by treaty.” A humming sound that might have been laughter emerged from the depths of the commander’s throat. “While your disagreeable continued presence here may have some basis in pre-treaty argument, our right to all archeological discoveries of importance is clear. The immature specimen—a female, I am told—belongs to us.”
Though caught off guard by the Vrizan’s entirely reasonable rejoinder, Twi’win recovered as best she was able. “The female juvenile will not be parted from the adult. Insofar as any of us knows, they are the last two surviving examples of their kind. Would you, who claim to be so much more civilized than us, so callously tear them apart?”
“Naturally we would prefer another course of action. What do you take us for?” The strange throaty humming sound came again. “You state that the Myssari have had possession of the adult human for a considerable period of time. Ample time, then, for you to have learned all you can from it. For the good of the juvenile, you should therefore commit both of them to our care.” He paused a moment. “Ponder this, and then instruct me again on who has the better right to be called civilized.”
It was a clever trap. Bac’cul knew that Twi’win could claim, truthfully, that she did not have the power to make such a decision. The Vrizan commander’s response would doubtless be that he and his colleagues could wait until she received it from the proper authorities. The researcher tensed. Surely Twi’win would not agree to such a proposal, not even to stall for time. She would know, as he and Cor’rin knew, that the need to preserve harmony between competing interstellar governments could easily result in far-off Myssari functionaries making very bad decisions.
Twi’win therefore opted to avoid the snare entirely. “The specimens to which you refer are no longer here.”
While startled by this pronouncement, Bac’cul and Cor’rin managed to conceal their surprise. The Vrizan rolled his eyes, an extraordinary sight. When they had ceased rotating at the ends of his skull, he spoke slowly and carefully.
“What did I just say about not thinking you were playing with a fool? Our automatics saw your heavily armed ‘researchers’ escort both humans into a driftec, which then lifted off and headed in this direction. This is the only Myssari infection on Daribb. No starships have entered this system since our own most recent resupply vessel.”
Twi’win was adamant. “I repeat: the specimens to which you refer are no longer at this outpost.”
“Then where are they?” The Vrizan made no attempt to hide his exasperation—or his rapidly diminishing patience. Though as interested in the answer as the Vrizan, Bac’cul and Cor’rin kept silent and waited.
The outpost director executed a gesture of complete puzzlement, which involved some intricate crossing of all three of her arms while slightly bowing her head toward the resultant geometric creation. “I am ashamed to admit that I do not know. None of us does. It is a terrible development that will reflect badly on all of our professional records.”
“Do you expect us to be—” The Vrizan caught himself. “Our respective peoples have known each other for a very long time. We are as familiar with Myssari physiology as you are with ours. Ways of ascertaining whether or not a Myssari is telling the truth are not unknown to us.” He paused to give Twi’win and her companions time to absorb the veiled threat.
Twi’win did not hesitate. As she reached out with her central arm, she extended the others to the sides. “As long as they produce no lasting adverse effects, we welcome whatever method of inquiry and interrogation you would like to employ. I offer myself as the first subject. You are also welcome to conduct a physical search of our facilities, which are entirely scientific and supportive in nature. I will provide guides to ensure that you miss nothing. If you feel that you are in any way being misled, please do feel free to point out in what respect that may be the case and your concerns will be addressed.”
If Bac’cul and Cor’rin had been surprised by Twi’win’s response thus far, her latest pronouncement left them shocked. No longer able to deny the existence of the two humans, was she now attempting to bluff the Vrizan commander? He did not seem a type who would be vulnerable to such an approach. His prompt reply confirmed it.
“We accept your offer. I promise that my people will disturb nothing beyond what is necessary to satisfy our interest, and that compensation will be offered for any damage that inadvertently transpires.” Turning, he murmured to one of his two aides. The officer departed, presumably to organize the search.
“Barring any interference on the part of your staff, this scrutiny should not take long. We have lifeforce proximity detectors that will reveal the presence of any large beings even if they should be temporarily sealed within a wall or beneath a floor. I assure you that wherever you have hidden the specimens, they will be found.” The smooth, sweeping gesture he executed bordered on the elegant. “Be assured that when they are found, no opprobrium will accrue to you. Were our positions reversed, I would myself try as hard as possible to secure such valuable specimens for future study. But they will be found and the juvenile, at least, removed. As to the fate of the mature individual, that can be discussed further once he has been recovered.”
Cor’rin could stand it no longer. “You speak of him as if he is something to be studied under a microscope, like a slime mold! These surviving humans are as intelligent as any of their species. They are independent beings who possess the right to determine their own fate and future!”
Eyes set far apart locked on the researcher. “A fair and honest appraisal. In that light I will be certain to remind the adult of his options. I have been informed that such were presented to him on Treth, but that the manner and circumstances in which said choices were offered might not have been the most agreeable. I will try to do better.” The Vrizan’s command of Myssari sarcasm was commendable. “As ‘civilized’ beings, naturally you will offer no objection if, when presented with an alternative to living the rest of his natural life among the Myssari, he opts to voluntarily come with us and the juvenile.” His tone hardened again. “The juvenile is Vrizan property. Her future is not negotiable.”
Leaving behind one aide and a subordinate, the commander and his adjutant exited the conference chamber. Outside, the sun had risen high enough to turn the perpetually beleaguered sky a sick, sad shade of yellow-orange. In the conference chamber the Myssari gathered near one high, curving transparent wall. While never taking their eyes from them, the two Vrizan guards relaxed slightly.
Switching to a dialect less likely to be understood by their watchers even if they had the capability to overhear conversation at such a distance, an anxious Bac’cul immediately confronted the outpost director.
“What do you mean, you do not know where the humans are? If they are not in Ruslan’s quarters, then they must be somewhere else within the outpost.”
“Perhaps they heard or saw the Vrizan’s arrival and, correctly interpreting their intentions, hurried themselves to the best hiding place they could imagine,” an equally apprehensive Cor’rin added.
It did not bolster their confidence to see that Twi’win, now freed from confrontation with the Vrizan commander, suddenly appeared as uneasy as the two researchers.
“It is much easier to defy a captor when one only has to speak the truth. Unfortunately, that is the situation. I truly do have no idea where the humans have taken themselves. When the Vrizan appeared and made their intentions clear, the first thing I did was send armed personnel to watch over the specimens. They found them fled. As to their present location”—she gestured with all three hands—“what I told the foul Vrizan was true. I do not know where they are or where they might have gone.”
“Somewhere deep within the station.” Bac’cul felt no re
lief in his conviction. “Attempting to conceal themselves among the hydrologics, perhaps, or even the by-products treatment facilities.”
“It will not matter in the end.” A distraught Cor’rin was slowly resigning herself to the possible loss of at least one if not both of the two irreplaceable specimens. “You heard the commander. His intentions as well as his species may be distasteful, but the Vrizan are undeniably competent. They will find the humans.”
“Do you think the adult will opt to go with them?” Twi’win wanted to know. “If so, it will be a bad thing. Very bad.”
“A serious loss to Myssari science,” Bac’cul concurred. “He refused their blandishments on Treth.” Despite this observation the researcher did not sound confident. “This Vrizan strikes me as more persuasive. I cannot say what Ruslan’s decision might be. He has become settled with his life among us. But if they insist on taking the juvenile, I cannot envision a scenario where he would abandon the only other living human he has encountered since his youth on Seraboth.”
“Kel’les might know.” Cor’rin eyed her companions thoughtfully. “Where is Ruslan’s handler now?”
Under guard, they could not leave the conference chamber to look for the intermet whose permanent assignment was to look after the human. In any event they would not have had much time to search, because the Vrizan commander rejoined them much sooner than expected. The agitated rustling of his leaflike cranial appendages as well as the darkened color of his elongated visage reflected his frustration. At any moment his annoyance threatened to spill over into anger. His second-in-command and two additional armed aides appeared no less irritated.
“Your honesty is most irksome.” Though far from expert in the interpretation of Vrizan expressions, which were nearly as diverse as those of humans, Bac’cul felt that it was with great effort that the commander was withholding a desire to shoot one of the restrained Myssari. Any one of the restrained Myssari.