perfumes emanating from the fur wafted into his area again.
“Dreveney, do I detect a change in the odor emanating from your fur? It seems different from the smell of previous?”
“Aralians have many odor glands buried shallow under the skin. Depending on our mood, different glands are opened and different fragrances are emitted.”
“Sounds like a useful addition to my next volume of Protecting the Being . On Earth we have some rare species that emanate foul odors to protect themselves. Can Aralians do that?”
“Sad to say, no. All the glands emit soothing bouquets, some more appealing than others. I came to say that I depart for Aralia tomorrow, Coombs. I wanted to come in person and wish you success and tell you how grateful the High Council is that you have accepted this challenge.” His lips were a deep ruby. “Please visit me at my home on Aralia if your travels lead you there. I know that you have been instructed to operate independently, but I extend an invitation of my Aralian hospitality if you should come to our planet. I have given the coordinates of my estate to the Owlers.”
“Thank you.” Deacon already knew that he would not accept the invite. It seemed critical to operate independent of the High Council.
“I also came to sternly warn you. Travers has many friends throughout the Alliance, so choose your allies wisely. Many Aralians choose to admire him with enormous pride. Aralians are a passive people but are very passionate about Travers, who retains hero status. Travers has served as an admirable ambassador abroad and has been bestowed, as you probably discovered, with many national awards recognizing his accomplishments in new trade treaties, new trading routes, and new friends for Aralia. His father was also a very renowned trader. If you find yourself in danger at any point in your journey, please don’t hesitate to summon me. I have given the Owlers my contact information.”
“I will keep your gracious offer in mind, Dreveney, but at present I know not where the quest for evidence leads. The days here have been fruitful. Interesting facts have surfaced.”
“Ah, very good. Such as?”
“Independence, dear Dreveney, as you have said. I find one of my most powerful tools is my silence.”
“I am very disappointed that you cannot share developments with me, but yes, I understand very well what you say.” The two discussed Aralian customs, and Dreveney presented Deacon with a guide to Aralia and a chronology on the key historical events in the planet’s history, which were self-authored. Deacon in return presented Dreveney with a chip on his most memorable crimes, self-edited. Dreveney again cited the confidence that the Council had in Deacon, bestowed a prolonged Aralian hug on him, and then departed. Deacon thought about what he had just done. He had left Dreveney with the idea that he had made some interesting discoveries. He had planted seeds. He was counting on Dreveney to spread that news to other High Council members. Deacon was engaged by the Council; it was time now to use the Council to his advantage.
Deacon’s last day at the library arrived. Jim loaded the metro car and transported their belongings, complete with all their research findings, to the Heritage while finalizing flight plans for their departure. Gem remained behind to copy and transfer selected data for Deacon’s analysis during the journey, and then store them in the Owler’s housing. Deacon ambled around the library amid the towering blocks of information. He stopped at a section on the horrible nuclear wars on Earth, extracted a rare disc volume, transferred the contents to his handheld device, and then retreated to an elevated cave underneath the great balcony that had comfortable seating. He read of the cold wars leading to the crisis, in particular reading excerpts from the frustration of world leaders to resolve religious and political conflicts while wily dictators spoke in doubletalk. As he
“Dreveney, do I detect a change in the odor emanating from your fur? It seems different from the smell of previous?”
“Aralians have many odor glands buried shallow under the skin. Depending on our mood, different glands are opened and different fragrances are emitted.”
“Sounds like a useful addition to my next volume of Protecting the Being . On Earth we have some rare species that emanate foul odors to protect themselves. Can Aralians do that?”
“Sad to say, no. All the glands emit soothing bouquets, some more appealing than others. I came to say that I depart for Aralia tomorrow, Coombs. I wanted to come in person and wish you success and tell you how grateful the High Council is that you have accepted this challenge.” His lips were a deep ruby. “Please visit me at my home on Aralia if your travels lead you there. I know that you have been instructed to operate independently, but I extend an invitation of my Aralian hospitality if you should come to our planet. I have given the coordinates of my estate to the Owlers.”
“Thank you.” Deacon already knew that he would not accept the invite. It seemed critical to operate independent of the High Council.
“I also came to sternly warn you. Travers has many friends throughout the Alliance, so choose your allies wisely. Many Aralians choose to admire him with enormous pride. Aralians are a passive people but are very passionate about Travers, who retains hero status. Travers has served as an admirable ambassador abroad and has been bestowed, as you probably discovered, with many national awards recognizing his accomplishments in new trade treaties, new trading routes, and new friends for Aralia. His father was also a very renowned trader. If you find yourself in danger at any point in your journey, please don’t hesitate to summon me. I have given the Owlers my contact information.”
“I will keep your gracious offer in mind, Dreveney, but at present I know not where the quest for evidence leads. The days here have been fruitful. Interesting facts have surfaced.”
“Ah, very good. Such as?”
“Independence, dear Dreveney, as you have said. I find one of my most powerful tools is my silence.”
“I am very disappointed that you cannot share developments with me, but yes, I understand very well what you say.” The two discussed Aralian customs, and Dreveney presented Deacon with a guide to Aralia and a chronology on the key historical events in the planet’s history, which were self-authored. Deacon in return presented Dreveney with a chip on his most memorable crimes, self-edited. Dreveney again cited the confidence that the Council had in Deacon, bestowed a prolonged Aralian hug on him, and then departed. Deacon thought about what he had just done. He had left Dreveney with the idea that he had made some interesting discoveries. He had planted seeds. He was counting on Dreveney to spread that news to other High Council members. Deacon was engaged by the Council; it was time now to use the Council to his advantage.
Deacon’s last day at the library arrived. Jim loaded the metro car and transported their belongings, complete with all their research findings, to the Heritage while finalizing flight plans for their departure. Gem remained behind to copy and transfer selected data for Deacon’s analysis during the journey, and then store them in the Owler’s housing. Deacon ambled around the library amid the towering blocks of information. He stopped at a section on the horrible nuclear wars on Earth, extracted a rare disc volume, transferred the contents to his handheld device, and then retreated to an elevated cave underneath the great balcony that had comfortable seating. He read of the cold wars leading to the crisis, in particular reading excerpts from the frustration of world leaders to resolve religious and political conflicts while wily dictators spoke in doubletalk. As he
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