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Ireta is too rich a plum to be plucked by the fardling heavyworlders! Let
them find high-gravity worlds where their mutation is useful.
It would be quite valuable, then, to discover if a group has been organizing
these piratical ventures?
Lunzie asked.
Invaluable, my dear great-great-great-great-grandmother Lunzie, invaluable.
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Have you any ideas?
One which I see no point in discussing prematurely. It s just that something
you said is twitching a memory. Lunzie flung up one hand in disgust at her
inability to recall it. I d like to assist this Intelligence man of yours, if
I may ... and her glance took in Varian and Kai as well as the commander.
Varian shrugged and looked to Kai.
It would afford me considerable pleasure, he said, if we could thwart the
planetary pirates.
A discreet rap on the door was immediately acknowledged by Sassinak and a
slim, swarthy man eased into the wardroom. After one quick glance around the
table, he gave all his attention to his commander.
Dupaynil, how would you like to pose as an Iretan, eager to admit the
heavyworlders to this planet?
The very thing to while away my tedium, Commander.
I apologize for the abrupt end to this exceedingly pleasant evening, ladies,
gentlemen, Sassinak said as she rose, her manner brusque, no longer suited to
the elegant gown that swirled about her legs. Lunzie, may we avail you of
your offer? Ford, see our guests to their transport?
You will keep us informed of developments, Sassinak? Kai asked, rising
slowly and carefully.
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Indeed, she will, Lunzie said with a little smile. I m a firm believer in
ancestor worship.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The next morning Varian and Kai called together all the survivors to explain
their move back to the original campsite. The only one to protest was Aulia,
and she did so at the top of her lungs, hysterically proclaiming that they
were being transferred to their deaths where those hideous animals were ready
to charge at them again, not to mention the things that had eaten Kai. At that
point, even the insensitive Aulia became aware of the disapproval from all
sides. Her monologue subsided into a rebellious mutter.
Commander Sassinak has equipped us with attack-repulse force screens, Kai
said, and a device which is new to us but infallible in detecting aggression
from any source. I think we can return in good heart. That site is, after all,
where ARCT-10 will search for us.
Kai, Arcteen, you can t honestly think we ll ever see them again, do you?
Aulia s voice was quite shrill.
The three youngsters tensed and looked intently at Kai, waiting for his
response.
Yes, I can honestly believe that the ARCT-10 will return for us. This is an
instance where no news can be construed as good news. Neither Captain Godheir
nor Commander Sassinak found anything in their data banks about the loss of an
EV. And such a loss would have been news galaxy wide. Commander
Sassinak has requested a Sector update with specific references to a position
report on the ARCT-10.
In forty-three years the ARCT-10 could be in another galaxy. Maybe that s why
no one has heard of it.
By the same token, Lunzie called in a dry taunting voice, it could have
taken forty-three years to maneuver out of that cosmic storm.
Eager to continue the attack, Aulia took a deep breath which she exhaled on a
gasp as Portegin pinched her upper arm. Rubbing it, she turned to Triv. When
she saw the set of his jaw and the irritation in his expression, she subsided
into a petulant sulk.
Now, we d best organize the removal. The Zaid-Dayan people will be meeting us
at the campsite at
0900. Let s get cracking.
Lunzie pointed a very stern forefinger at Kai. You will be executive director
of the proceedings. Seated here! Her forefinger then indicated the stool by
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the hearth.
Kai grinned at her and made a show of assuming his command position.
It did not, in fact, take much time to secure the sparse furnishings in the
shuttle, nor to pack oddments in the sleds. Varian was going to retain a
two-man sled for her own use and keep a few basic necessities in the cave, to
allow her to continue her observations, if weather and circumstances ever
permitted. Kenley then arrived with other crew members from the Mazer Star to
assist in the removal.
Triv was to pilot the shuttle, and firmly grasping the unrepentant Aulia by
the elbow, propelled her into the shuttle. Lunzie followed to deal with her,
if necessary, the medic said in angry aside to Varian.
Portegin brought up the rear, looking as glum as Aulia but for a different
reason. Dimenon was to take
Trizein, Terilla, and Cleiti in the four-man sled, along with Trizein s
accouterments. Trizein was full of
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directions to the girls on what should be recorded on their outward trip,
while Dimenon would take one of the smaller sleds, giving Bonnard a driving
lesson which, Bonnard allowed vehemently, was long overdue for a man
fifty-eight years old. Margit and Kai were taking the other small sled, packed
with whatever was left over.
When all were ready to take off, Kenley went up the ladder to the top of the
cliff, determined to film the exodus and giff reaction to it. Weather
permitting, he sourly amended. A black squall line was making its way across
the inland sea. Varian, and another recorder would remain in the cave. She was
rather hoping that the Elder Three Giffs would enter the cavern, once the big
egg had flown away. The shuttle s take-off could pose quite a cultural shock
to the giffs, but its removal couldn t be helped. The shuttle was an essential
unit for the main campsite. Its departure would certainly give insights to
giff intelligence and perception, parameters which Varian was eager to
establish despite the considerable shock it would occasion the giffs.
The smaller sleds went first, bulleted a bit by the squall winds but flying
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