Uhura's Song by Janet Kagan
Authors: Janet Kagan
Tags: Fiction, General, Science-Fiction, adventure, Space Opera, Performing Arts, Interplanetary voyages, Space ships, History & Criticism, Television, Star Trek Fiction, Kirk; James T. (Fictitious Character)
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had been not camouflage but harmony.
"Fascinating," said Spock. "It is clearly a permanent structure."
"Extremely fascinating," Kirk agreed. "Why would a people of such obvious sophistication choose to live in tents when they can build something as beautiful as that? Do you suppose we've stumbled on an outdoor festival of some sort, Mr. Spock?"
"That is an unlikely explanation, Captain. If you will recall, my orbital readings showed no indication of cities. I believe what we are seeing is characteristic of this culture."
"The tents are just as beautiful, Keptain," Chekov put in. "Hev you looked et them closely, sair? Each one is a work of art."
"Mr. Chekov is right, Captain. The tents show as much design sophistication as that structure." Spock indicated the low building.
Kirk shook his head in puzzlement. "You called it a temple, Uhura?"
"Only because I don't know what else to call it, sir," Uhura said.
As Kirk contemplated the structure, Winding Path emerged from within, accompanied by a female Sivaoan who was marked like a jester, half-orange, half-black. Deep in conversation, the two walked toward the clearing.
Distant Smoke rose, stepped to Uhura's side and said, "That's Stiff Tail to-Srallansre."
This was the Sivaoan to whom Winding Path had referred them. Kirk rose and gestured the rest of them up. Perhaps Stiff Tail was the leader in this community. "Heads up, people," he said. "Now maybe we can get some answers." He raised a hand to wave Wilson back, but Brightspot wrapped her tail around the doctor's wrist and tugged her straight to Stiff Tail to show her off.
Brightspot's tail still twined about her wrist, Evan Wilson displayed her claws to Stiff Tail. Stiff Tail returned the greeting and Brightspot, chattering excitedly, released her hold on Wilson to coil her tail about Stiff Tail's waist. Fetchstorm, Brightspot's nemesis, also joined them. Kirk could see the family resemblance. A little sibling rivalry there? he thought.
Stiff Tail was putting Evan Wilson once more through the poke-and-prod-and-tug routine when, without warning, Fetchstorm reached around Stiff Tail, grabbed the end of Brightspot's tail and yanked hard.
Hissing, Brightspot leapt free; her tail lashed furiously. With great care, she removed the tricorder from her shoulder and handed it to Evan Wilson, then- before Kirk even had time for exclamation- Brightspot sprang at Fetchstorm and knocked him to the ground.
Over and over they rolled, thrashing wildly. Stiff Tail drew Wilson out of the range of their flailing claws but, aside from that, she and the other Sivaoans stood calmly by and watched.
Kirk watched too, not nearly so calmly. He was getting a rapid education in just what Wilson had risked when she stepped into Distant Smoke's embrace. Although Fetchstorm and Brightspot ran through every other fighting position they knew, belly-to-belly was clearly the one they preferred. Foreclaws sunk into each other's back and teeth bared at each other's throat, they pounded each other in the belly with rapid-fire, pistonlike kicks- and Kirk could see that their hind claws were out and ripping. Fur flew.
Beside him, Spock said, "Their style of combat bears many similarities to that of Snnanagfashtalli." Uhura had her hand to her mouth.
As the fight rolled closer, there was a sudden squawk from one of the antagonists- it was impossible to guess from which. Stiff Tail moved so quickly Kirk almost missed it. Stepping into the middle of the fight, she said, "Enough!" and slapped them each soundly across the side of the head.
They stopped. For a long moment they both lay there blinking up at her, then they rose to their feet, tails still lashing angrily. They shook themselves off and, with one last glower, retired to opposite sides of Stiff Tail.
The next thing Kirk knew, Brightspot was once again telling the
"Fascinating," said Spock. "It is clearly a permanent structure."
"Extremely fascinating," Kirk agreed. "Why would a people of such obvious sophistication choose to live in tents when they can build something as beautiful as that? Do you suppose we've stumbled on an outdoor festival of some sort, Mr. Spock?"
"That is an unlikely explanation, Captain. If you will recall, my orbital readings showed no indication of cities. I believe what we are seeing is characteristic of this culture."
"The tents are just as beautiful, Keptain," Chekov put in. "Hev you looked et them closely, sair? Each one is a work of art."
"Mr. Chekov is right, Captain. The tents show as much design sophistication as that structure." Spock indicated the low building.
Kirk shook his head in puzzlement. "You called it a temple, Uhura?"
"Only because I don't know what else to call it, sir," Uhura said.
As Kirk contemplated the structure, Winding Path emerged from within, accompanied by a female Sivaoan who was marked like a jester, half-orange, half-black. Deep in conversation, the two walked toward the clearing.
Distant Smoke rose, stepped to Uhura's side and said, "That's Stiff Tail to-Srallansre."
This was the Sivaoan to whom Winding Path had referred them. Kirk rose and gestured the rest of them up. Perhaps Stiff Tail was the leader in this community. "Heads up, people," he said. "Now maybe we can get some answers." He raised a hand to wave Wilson back, but Brightspot wrapped her tail around the doctor's wrist and tugged her straight to Stiff Tail to show her off.
Brightspot's tail still twined about her wrist, Evan Wilson displayed her claws to Stiff Tail. Stiff Tail returned the greeting and Brightspot, chattering excitedly, released her hold on Wilson to coil her tail about Stiff Tail's waist. Fetchstorm, Brightspot's nemesis, also joined them. Kirk could see the family resemblance. A little sibling rivalry there? he thought.
Stiff Tail was putting Evan Wilson once more through the poke-and-prod-and-tug routine when, without warning, Fetchstorm reached around Stiff Tail, grabbed the end of Brightspot's tail and yanked hard.
Hissing, Brightspot leapt free; her tail lashed furiously. With great care, she removed the tricorder from her shoulder and handed it to Evan Wilson, then- before Kirk even had time for exclamation- Brightspot sprang at Fetchstorm and knocked him to the ground.
Over and over they rolled, thrashing wildly. Stiff Tail drew Wilson out of the range of their flailing claws but, aside from that, she and the other Sivaoans stood calmly by and watched.
Kirk watched too, not nearly so calmly. He was getting a rapid education in just what Wilson had risked when she stepped into Distant Smoke's embrace. Although Fetchstorm and Brightspot ran through every other fighting position they knew, belly-to-belly was clearly the one they preferred. Foreclaws sunk into each other's back and teeth bared at each other's throat, they pounded each other in the belly with rapid-fire, pistonlike kicks- and Kirk could see that their hind claws were out and ripping. Fur flew.
Beside him, Spock said, "Their style of combat bears many similarities to that of Snnanagfashtalli." Uhura had her hand to her mouth.
As the fight rolled closer, there was a sudden squawk from one of the antagonists- it was impossible to guess from which. Stiff Tail moved so quickly Kirk almost missed it. Stepping into the middle of the fight, she said, "Enough!" and slapped them each soundly across the side of the head.
They stopped. For a long moment they both lay there blinking up at her, then they rose to their feet, tails still lashing angrily. They shook themselves off and, with one last glower, retired to opposite sides of Stiff Tail.
The next thing Kirk knew, Brightspot was once again telling the
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