have been in radio contact. “
The newcomers braced themselves .
Nonetheless it was staggering to hear: “ F or the past five years I have been an agent of the kzinti. Later I will justify myself to you, if your minds are not totally closed. It is not hatred for my species that drove me to this, but love and concern for it, hatred for the decadence that is destroying us. Later, I say. We dare not waste Hraou-Captain's time with arguments. ”
Regarding the faces before him, Markham made his tone dry. “ T he kzinti never trusted me with specific information, but after I began sending them information about hyperdrive technology, they gave me a general directive. I was to use my position as commissioner to forestall, whenever possible, any exploration beyond the space containing the human occupied worlds. That naturally gave me an inkling of the reason – t o prevent disclosure of their activities and it became clear to me that some of the most important must be in regions distant from kzin space. When hope was lost of keeping you from this expedition, I decided my duty was to join it and stand by in case of need. Not that I anticipated the need, understand. The star looked so useless. But when you did get those radio indications, I knew better than you what they could mean, and was glad I had provided against the contingency, and beamed a notice of our arrival. “
“ Y our parents were brothers," Ryan said .
Markham laid back his ears. “ S pare the abuse. Remember, by forewarning the kzinti I saved your lives. If you had simply blundered into detector range “ T hey may be impulsive," Tregennis said, "but they are not idiotic. I do not accept your assertion that they would reflexively have annihilated us." Markham trembled. “ S ilence. Bear in mind that I am all that stands between you and-It has been a long time since the kzinti in this project tasted fresh meat. ”
“ W hat are they doing?" Ryan asked .
“ C onstructing a naval base. They chose the system precisely because it seemed insignificant-the dimmest star in the whole region, devoid of heavy elements and impoverished in the light-though it does happen to have a ready source of iron and certain other crucial materials, together with a strategic location. They never expected humans to seek it out. They underestimated the curiosity of our species. They are ... cats, not monkeys. ”
“ U h -huh. Not noisy, sloppy, free-swinging monkeys like you despise. Kzinti respect rank. Once they've overrun us, they'll put the niggers back in their proper place. From here they can grab off Beta Hydri, drive a salient way into our space How many more prongs will there be to the attack? When is the next war scheduled for? ”
“ S ilence!" Markham shouted. “ H old your mouth! One word from me, and-" “ A nd what? You need us, Art and me, you need us, else we wouldn't be having this interview. Kill us, and your boss just gets a few meals." “ K illing can be in due course. I imagine he would enjoy your testicles for tomorrow's breakfast. ”
Ryan rocked on his feet. Tregennis' lips squeezed together till they were white .
Markham's voice softened. “ I am warning, not threatening," he said in a rush. “ I 'll save you if I can, unharmed, but if you don't help me I can promise nothing. “
He leaned forward. “ L isten, will you? Obviously you can't be released to spread the news , not yet but some years of detention are better than death." He could not quite hold back the sneer. “ I n your minds, I suppose. You're lucky, lucky that I was aboard. Once my status has been verified, the high commandant can let me bring home a convincing tale of disaster. Else he would probably have had to kill us and make our bodies stage props, as Saxtorph suggested. I think he will spare you if I ask; it will cost him little, and kzinti reward faithful service. They also keep their promises. But you must earn your lives. ”
“ T he boats," Tregennis whispered
The newcomers braced themselves .
Nonetheless it was staggering to hear: “ F or the past five years I have been an agent of the kzinti. Later I will justify myself to you, if your minds are not totally closed. It is not hatred for my species that drove me to this, but love and concern for it, hatred for the decadence that is destroying us. Later, I say. We dare not waste Hraou-Captain's time with arguments. ”
Regarding the faces before him, Markham made his tone dry. “ T he kzinti never trusted me with specific information, but after I began sending them information about hyperdrive technology, they gave me a general directive. I was to use my position as commissioner to forestall, whenever possible, any exploration beyond the space containing the human occupied worlds. That naturally gave me an inkling of the reason – t o prevent disclosure of their activities and it became clear to me that some of the most important must be in regions distant from kzin space. When hope was lost of keeping you from this expedition, I decided my duty was to join it and stand by in case of need. Not that I anticipated the need, understand. The star looked so useless. But when you did get those radio indications, I knew better than you what they could mean, and was glad I had provided against the contingency, and beamed a notice of our arrival. “
“ Y our parents were brothers," Ryan said .
Markham laid back his ears. “ S pare the abuse. Remember, by forewarning the kzinti I saved your lives. If you had simply blundered into detector range “ T hey may be impulsive," Tregennis said, "but they are not idiotic. I do not accept your assertion that they would reflexively have annihilated us." Markham trembled. “ S ilence. Bear in mind that I am all that stands between you and-It has been a long time since the kzinti in this project tasted fresh meat. ”
“ W hat are they doing?" Ryan asked .
“ C onstructing a naval base. They chose the system precisely because it seemed insignificant-the dimmest star in the whole region, devoid of heavy elements and impoverished in the light-though it does happen to have a ready source of iron and certain other crucial materials, together with a strategic location. They never expected humans to seek it out. They underestimated the curiosity of our species. They are ... cats, not monkeys. ”
“ U h -huh. Not noisy, sloppy, free-swinging monkeys like you despise. Kzinti respect rank. Once they've overrun us, they'll put the niggers back in their proper place. From here they can grab off Beta Hydri, drive a salient way into our space How many more prongs will there be to the attack? When is the next war scheduled for? ”
“ S ilence!" Markham shouted. “ H old your mouth! One word from me, and-" “ A nd what? You need us, Art and me, you need us, else we wouldn't be having this interview. Kill us, and your boss just gets a few meals." “ K illing can be in due course. I imagine he would enjoy your testicles for tomorrow's breakfast. ”
Ryan rocked on his feet. Tregennis' lips squeezed together till they were white .
Markham's voice softened. “ I am warning, not threatening," he said in a rush. “ I 'll save you if I can, unharmed, but if you don't help me I can promise nothing. “
He leaned forward. “ L isten, will you? Obviously you can't be released to spread the news , not yet but some years of detention are better than death." He could not quite hold back the sneer. “ I n your minds, I suppose. You're lucky, lucky that I was aboard. Once my status has been verified, the high commandant can let me bring home a convincing tale of disaster. Else he would probably have had to kill us and make our bodies stage props, as Saxtorph suggested. I think he will spare you if I ask; it will cost him little, and kzinti reward faithful service. They also keep their promises. But you must earn your lives. ”
“ T he boats," Tregennis whispered
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