Part 65 (1/2)
He tamed away, moved in a manner that might have signified anything, an indecipherable gesture.
But at least he had responded to the question-affirm- atively, she preferred to think.
”That was caused by fear,” she argued with him.
”The universe is full of otherwise benign creatures that can be induced to kill out of fear. They must be, can be, studied.” She looked back over her shoulder.
271.
”I don't know what I'm going to do. Mother.” Ra- chael glanced over at Merced, who regarded her en- couragingly. ”I don't know what I'm going to do. Not now.”
”Think about it. Take your time,” Cora urged. ”I rushed you, maybe in the wrong direction. Maybe in the right. If you decide to continue on your present course of study, I could still use an a.s.sistant.”
”We'll see.” She was still looking at Merced.
Natural light, fresh and invigorating, poured through the submersible's ports. Huge shapes swarmed pa- tiently around them as the catodons escorted them the rest of the way to the surface. Their great bulks came close to, but never actually touched, the rising craft's hull.
Then a black and white shape was pressing against one port. Mataroreva pressed his own face against the gla.s.salloy from the inside, whale and man separated by a modest transparency.
Cora watched them closely.
”I think it's admirable,” Merced said to her.
”What is?”
”Your willingness to remain here to study so dan- gerous a life-form. I'm sure Commonwealth Adminis- tration will concur, and will give you all the support it can. The CunsnuC are as alien as any life we've yet encountered. You'll need funding.”
”I can provide whatever modest resources-” Hwo- s.h.i.+en started to say.
Merced cut him off. He did not have to speak only as a mere biologist now. ”You can do what you wish, Mr. Commissioner, but it's not necessary. I'll see that sufficient credit is provided.”
Cora looked at him appraisingly. ”Thank you. For all their size, these creatures fear us more than we fear them. What is needed here is understanding.”
Th submersible broke the surface. Mataroreva hur- ried to the double lock, opened the bottom one, and
272 CACHALOT.
squeezed his bulk through. Merced glanced out the port a last time, was surprised to see no sign of the catodons. Perhaps they already knew what had hap- pened in the Deep below and had gone on their nomadic way, indifferent to whatever the surviving hu- mans might have to say. So they had departed, secure in their vast, contemplative indifference that the CunsnuC now posed no threat to their way of life.
Had left to think their thoughts and to advance then- migratory civilization in whatever manner they thought best. Who are truly the strangers? Merced mused. The CunsnuC, or these huge, wallowing creatures related to us by blood and evolution?
Hwos.h.i.+en followed Mataroreva out. Cora was next, then Rachael, cradling her neurophon. Merced watched them ascend, enjoying the sight of Rachael climbing and smelling the fresh, oh so sweet air above. A faint splash reached him and he turned to the port.
Sam Mataroreva was cavorting with the two orcas, twisting and turning like a seal outside the submersi- ble. He clutched Latehoht's fin as she darted past, hung on as she bucked and squirmed in the water, trying to throw him off. There was more here to report on besides the CunsnuC, Merced mused. Cachalot was changing its inhabitants, as any world did. This aque- ous globe offered more than exports and oceanog- raphic studies. Changes in ways of thinking were tak- ing place here that might have far-reaching effects on all humanxkind. It might be well to encourage this trend.
”Hey!” Rachael leaned down and in. ”You going to stay down there forever, Pucara?”
”Be right out.” He watched her withdraw, leaving the flash of an inviting smile lingering in his memory.
He thought of their previous weeks together and of how the CunsnuC had almost destroyed the friends.h.i.+p he had worked so diligently to build. Intimacy was easily attained, but friends.h.i.+p-that was a rare find.
273.
He grinned. This was a world for enjoying oneself, for relaxation as well as research. It was time for some of the former.
Confident in himself and in the report he would file with his bureau, he started to climb out of the sub- mersible. Waiting was the bright sun of Cachalot.
Nearby drifted the suprafoil, anxious faces crowding its railing. Soon Hwos.h.i.+en would make a broadcast of his own, and anxiety would vanish from the faces of this world's citizens for the first time in months.
His wave was for those on the s.h.i.+p, but his eyes were for Rachael.