Part 22 (1/2)
”But that's impossible. I saw it launch. There has to be traces of that!” ”I'll patch Linc through to you,' Lon said, and Todd was too enraged to bother to hold the handset from his ear to avoid the high-pitch squeal as the patch to the Launch Center was made.
”I know you think you saw something, Todd,' Newry said apologetically but firmly. ”But no s.h.i.+ps took off Doona today at all and none were scheduled to land.”
”Linc, I know what I saw! I know what I see about me right now-three dead yearlings with nails driven through their skulls because one had a broken neck and two had broken legs. Check your readouts, will ya? Check your equipment Todd almost suggested that Linc check for tampering but that would be premature.
He knew Linc Newry too well to suspect the man was in league with Doona's detractors, but this was the time to stand pat and let someone with clout, like DeVeer, handle that end of the business.
”Todd, I'm serious. Nothing came through the atmosphere. All readings are normal. But you can be sure I'll keep my eyes peeled to the gauges.
Could be they only up-and-overed. Maybe they had another rendezvous but they won't leave Doona without my seeing ”em tonight.
”You're probably right. They up-and-overed.
Thanks, Linc. Over and out!” He held the radio away from his ear as the connection ended, then dialed Lon again.
”Ouch,' Lon said. ”I didn't disconnect. I heard what he said, Todd, and I heard what you said.
Fardling b.a.s.t.a.r.ds! When I get my hands on ”em . - Give me your whereabouts. We'll join you to film the evidence. Got any idea whose they were rustling?”
”The one with the broken neck is a leopard Appaloosa,' Todd said, his shoulders sagging at the irony.
Uncharacteristically loud voices echoed in the Council room of the Speakers of Hrruba. Third Speaker raised his voice to be heard above them all. He was getting old, but fury gave his throat the power to shout down his opponents who were arguing over his tirade against Rrala. Only the banging of the gavel of First Speaker Hrruna put an end to the snarling and growls.
”That is enough,' First Speaker said in a very soft voice. ”Third Speaker, will you give substance to your demand that Rra}a be disbanded?”
”You have all read the report from the Treaty Controller,' Third said, raking his fellow administrators with a glare which stopped short just before it fell on First Speaker. ”One of our most prominent young diplomats is involved in a disgraceful situation, in which he is accused of capital crimes, in violation both of the Treaty of Rrala and of Hrruban Law. Hrrss theft! Robbery from interdicted worlds! He has been corrupted by his Hayuman companion. I have been getting full reports from my representatives on Rrala, and none of it is good news.
It would seem that this is not an isolated case. Honorable, honest citizens are being lured into a life of crime by these animals who walk like Hrrubans! Rrala must be closed to Hayumans, or all of society will suffer!”
”Surely responsibility for reporting the actions on Rrala falls to Second Speaker for External Affairs,' Hrruna said, indicating Hrrto, seated to his right.
The First Speaker's mane had gone entirely white, but his eyes were as keen as ever. ”I have already had his report, and it gives me the same information you offer.
”This information affects Internal Affairs,' Third Speaker said doggedly. ”Now that the date draws near for Treaty Renewal, when the Hayumans hope to have it extended, there is a chance to painlessly end these harmful influences before they do more ill unto the youth of Hrruba. I have been besieged by special interest groups here on Hrruba.
This young Hrruban, Hrriss, has been implicated in crimes committed solely to profit a Hayuman. We cannot support corruption of this kind. It is an ill example for our young people. We must withdraw our support for the continuation of the Treaty.” There was more shouting, and the First Speaker applied his gavel to its stand.
”I have heard also from Hrruvula, counsel for the accused. He is adamant that his clients are innocent of the charges brought against them and must be allowed to clear their names. I find that I agree with him. Hiriss and Zodd have always acted in honor before.”
”A ruse!
Never did trust bareskins.” Seventh Speaker for Management was the newest member of the Council, and of the narrowest stripe. As a result, he tried harder than any of the others to follow a, clear mandate from his const.i.tuency rather than make risky decisions on his own. He was diligent and the trade figures continued to rise. So much so, in fact, that the higher the balance from the benefits of trading under the Treaty conditions, the more certain he was that the Hayumans were stealing profit from Hrruban interests. ”They will destroy us.”
”I disagree,' said the Fifth Speaker for Health and Medicine. ”1 have close a.s.sociations with many Hayuman pract.i.tioners in my specialty.
They have provided us with knowledge and techniques we could not have developed on our own. They have done nothing but improve our standards. You cannot deny that mental outlook and physical health have been on the upswing since the Rrala Experiment began. Rrala has moved steadily out of what could have been a terminal situation in the younger generations, in the main due to interaction with another speaking, thinking race. Why,' he said, trying to lighten the mood, ”if only for the fresh food alone, the Rralan Experiment should not be ended-certainly not because of a situation involving one single Hayuman.”
”He is representative of his race,' Third Speaker raged, unamused. He pounded on the table and pointed a claw at First Speaker.
”The one you considered to be most honorable, above all other Hayumans. Here, honor is at stake. what is cohabitation without trust? We were warned from the beginning of this unnatural colony, by this Zocid's own father, that one day Hayumans might try to take what is ours. what is more precious than honor?”
”Honor certainly is at stake,' Second Speaker Hrrto agreed. ”The honor of a Hrruban as well as a Hayuman. And Hrruban honor requires us to wait for the results of their trial before we condemn an entire society. That would be honorable behavior on our part.” There was more shouting, which First Speaker silenced by banging the gavel.
”Very well, we will put it to the vote,' Hrruna said. ”Those in favor of allowing Hiriss, son of Hirestan, and Zodd Rrev to be proved innocent, vote aye.” Third Speaker held up a hand to stay the voting.
”As a rider to this resolution, let us set a time period in which their honor must be proved. A significant date approaches: Treaty Renewal Day. If these two have not expunged the stain on their honor by that day, we must vote against renewal, for the sake of our youth.
Those on Rrala will not be penalized, for other planets have been opened,' he added, ”and they can make homes there, safe from Hayuman influence.” No one spoke to debate that rider, though several faces reflected dismay.
”Very well, the rider is allowed,' Hiruna said reluctantly, then called for the vote. It was overwhelmingly in favor of the motion.
Satisfied, Hrruna nodded. His eyes were bleak as he addressed Third.
”You may so notify the Treaty Controller of our decision. Third Speaker bowed. Probably to hide his true feelings, Hrruna thought sadly.
The Launch Center bar was the perfect place to hold meetings, All Kiachif thought as he entered the place. It had small nooks and obscure corners where private conversations could be held-and the proprietor debugged his rooms at random intervals.
Kiachif had most opportunely made a gap in his schedule for a long stopover at Doona; originally to discuss new rulings and profit principles with the captains who answered to him. He had acquired a second purpose which he diligently pursued, leading almost every conversation to topics that might help Ken Reeve and his boy.
”Well, look at you,' a man said, blinking, as his eyes became accustomed to the gloom in the bar.
”If I'd known you were already here, Kiachif, I'd have gone to the Centauris instead.”
”what for?” asked Kiachif airily, shaking hands with Captain Feyder. ”We've been there already, with all the best the colony worlds have to offer.
Tell ”em, never compel ”em, and you sell ”em, that's my motto.” The friendly rivalry between the independent merchant Rog Feyder and All Kiachif had gone on for years. Feyder sat down, and Kiachif signalled to the harman to bring bottles for them both.
”I've got a s.h.i.+pment of unrefined sugar for Doona. Special order.
Just unloading.” Feyder let Kiachif fill his gla.s.s, waited till All had filled his own, and then raised it courteously to his old rival.
”Your health.”
”Yours! Hear unrefined sugar used to make d.a.m.ned fine spirituous potables.4 ”Did it? Well, we make sure the customers get what they order, don't we? Though sometimes you wonder why they pay the freight charges.” ”Oh?” Kiachif had long since learned the art of subtle prompting.
”Sugar's the most ordinary thing I have on board.
The d.a.m.nedest things are getting s.h.i.+pped these days.”
”That they are,' Kiachif agreed. ”Last season, I carried a copper sculpture fifteen meters long to one of the outer agriworlds from Doona. A commissioned work by the governor to commemorate ten years of the colony, engraved with the name of every colonist and his accomplishments. It was a pain up the afterburners to handle, but orders are orders! I hate to see what he'll ask for when twenty-five rolls around, like Doona's is.” ”Aye, I wanted to come back for the big celebration, but I should be worlds away by then,' Feyder said. ”I'm just here on turnabout, starting me route over from the topside. No, when I say strange, I mean the epitome of strange, not ordinary strange. Listen to this one. Got a meteorite puncture on my way in from the outer worlds. After we sealed it up, I found a container cracked open in that bay, with the meteorite smack in the middle like a ball through a gla.s.s window.
Splintered the whole d.a.m.ned thing into pieces.
D'you know what had been inside?”
”Not an idea.”
”A beacon. An orbital drone beacon,' said Feyder, slapping his leg. ”No a.s.signment code. No idea where it came from. We checked its memory, and it was hollering Mayday like a pack of banshees. Did you ever hear such a thing in your life?”
”By all that's white, bright, and right,- All said, holding on to his excitement, ”that surely is a strange thing to report. Never heard its like in all my years in s.p.a.ce. And it didn't have no ID number. you say?” Feyder was not at all taken in by Kiachifs idle curiosity and gave him a long sly look. ”Now I can't rightly remember.”