juveniles escorted them. With powerful legs and feet too big for their still immature bodies, they tumbled and fell over one another in their eagerness to accompany the strange visitors. Only when dense vegetation closed in around the humans did the pack fall back, in twos and threes, toward their home. Their playful, high-pitched singing followed Pulickel and Fawn for long moments thereafter.
“You did pretty good for a first encounter.” She stepped over a hollow that had filled with rainwater. “Just the right mix of conviction and understanding. I was afraid the stiffness and formality of your character would carry over into your fieldwork.”
“But it didn’t,” he responded, “which means I’m just stiff and formal the rest of the time, right?”
“Not exactly,” she demurred, trying to backtrack.
“It’s all right. I know that I’m something of a cold fish. Like I said before, I relate much better to aliens. There are no preconceptions on either side.”
She changed the subject. “I know it’s premature, but do you have an opinion of the situation so far?”
He shrugged. “If this Jorana is a typical big person, then I don’t foresee any further extensive delays. They’re stubborn, but they seem to enjoy debate. Any creature that will talk with me is one I can eventually persuade to see reason. I sense exploitable openings already. Conclusion? It will take more time than I’d hoped but less than I’d feared.”
She shoved a branch out of her way. It promptly exuded a cloud of perfumed dust. Since she walked right through it, Pulickel saw no harm in doing likewise. For adelightful moment, the world smelled of sandalwood and myrrh.
“Jorana’s right, of course. If the Parramati give their consent to a full treaty, much of their traditional kusum will eventually be overwhelmed.”
“I know that.” He stumbled awkwardly down a slight slope. “But the alternative is for them to fall under the influence of the AAnn. Better the Commonwealth than the Empire.”
“Certainly. Unless they choose the third option and elect to remain unallied with either side.”
He moved up alongside her and gazed flatly into her face. “There is no third option, Fawn. Not for primitive aliens. I’m not sure there ever was.”
6
“Why do I have the feeling?” he asked as they prepared to reboard the skimmer, “that there’s a lot more to the Parramati and their kusum than you’re telling me? You keep insisting that they’re different. Of course they’re different; they’re aboriginal aliens.”
Both hands on the ladder built into the vehicle’s flank, she paused. “I’ve told you, Pulickel. I can’t quite put my finger on it. Sure their society is unique among organized seni groups, but it’s more than that. There’s an assurance, a contentment that you can’t find among the Eoluro or the Semisant, or even the Ophhlians. It’s easy to see but hard to quantify.” Effortlessly, she boarded the skimmer.
He followed and settled himself into the passenger seat. “I think you may be making too much of them, Fawn. The Parramati may be different from other social groupings on Senisran, but they don’t strike me as particularly unique. Reactionary, yes, but not unique.”
“I expect you’re right.” She powered up the skimmer’s engine. In response to the rising whine, something with a tail three times the length of its body went screeching off through the trees. With wings that were feathered in front and membranous in the rear, it had the appearance of a marvelous kite whose string was being given random jerks and pulls by a mischievous child.
The skimmer rose and pivoted to face the water. Fawnspoke without looking up from the console. “One thing I am sure of: we’re never going to convince the Parramati to sign a treaty with us as opposed to the AAnn unless we can find a way to convince them that our road is the better one.”
He blinked at her. “Our ‘road’?”
The skimmer
“You did pretty good for a first encounter.” She stepped over a hollow that had filled with rainwater. “Just the right mix of conviction and understanding. I was afraid the stiffness and formality of your character would carry over into your fieldwork.”
“But it didn’t,” he responded, “which means I’m just stiff and formal the rest of the time, right?”
“Not exactly,” she demurred, trying to backtrack.
“It’s all right. I know that I’m something of a cold fish. Like I said before, I relate much better to aliens. There are no preconceptions on either side.”
She changed the subject. “I know it’s premature, but do you have an opinion of the situation so far?”
He shrugged. “If this Jorana is a typical big person, then I don’t foresee any further extensive delays. They’re stubborn, but they seem to enjoy debate. Any creature that will talk with me is one I can eventually persuade to see reason. I sense exploitable openings already. Conclusion? It will take more time than I’d hoped but less than I’d feared.”
She shoved a branch out of her way. It promptly exuded a cloud of perfumed dust. Since she walked right through it, Pulickel saw no harm in doing likewise. For adelightful moment, the world smelled of sandalwood and myrrh.
“Jorana’s right, of course. If the Parramati give their consent to a full treaty, much of their traditional kusum will eventually be overwhelmed.”
“I know that.” He stumbled awkwardly down a slight slope. “But the alternative is for them to fall under the influence of the AAnn. Better the Commonwealth than the Empire.”
“Certainly. Unless they choose the third option and elect to remain unallied with either side.”
He moved up alongside her and gazed flatly into her face. “There is no third option, Fawn. Not for primitive aliens. I’m not sure there ever was.”
6
“Why do I have the feeling?” he asked as they prepared to reboard the skimmer, “that there’s a lot more to the Parramati and their kusum than you’re telling me? You keep insisting that they’re different. Of course they’re different; they’re aboriginal aliens.”
Both hands on the ladder built into the vehicle’s flank, she paused. “I’ve told you, Pulickel. I can’t quite put my finger on it. Sure their society is unique among organized seni groups, but it’s more than that. There’s an assurance, a contentment that you can’t find among the Eoluro or the Semisant, or even the Ophhlians. It’s easy to see but hard to quantify.” Effortlessly, she boarded the skimmer.
He followed and settled himself into the passenger seat. “I think you may be making too much of them, Fawn. The Parramati may be different from other social groupings on Senisran, but they don’t strike me as particularly unique. Reactionary, yes, but not unique.”
“I expect you’re right.” She powered up the skimmer’s engine. In response to the rising whine, something with a tail three times the length of its body went screeching off through the trees. With wings that were feathered in front and membranous in the rear, it had the appearance of a marvelous kite whose string was being given random jerks and pulls by a mischievous child.
The skimmer rose and pivoted to face the water. Fawnspoke without looking up from the console. “One thing I am sure of: we’re never going to convince the Parramati to sign a treaty with us as opposed to the AAnn unless we can find a way to convince them that our road is the better one.”
He blinked at her. “Our ‘road’?”
The skimmer
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