"Oh, come now, the captain masses no more than some of those "visitors" you've been bringing in all week,' Todd said, cocking an eyebrow at her. Then he pointed to the schedule hung above her control board. "You've got an opening of almost ten minutes before you receive the next pallets. Captain Grzzeearoghh is a person of importance.

She shouldn't have to hang about here with you, now should she?"

"No, sirrrr, no!" the Hrruban gasped. "Step up on to ze platform, most honrrrred guests, please!" She gestured the Gringg between the slim transmission pillars and fumbled to key in the coordinates.

"I know you'll enjoy your visit, Captain,' Todd said, waving.

"Kelly will be waiting for you!"

"G'bye!" Weddeerogh said, waving both his paws energetically. As the mist rose and began to swallow him up, he squealed on such a note that the grid operator laid back her ears.

The conference room which Todd entered on his return was providentially carpeted, floor and walls, in a warm, burnt orange that complemented the golden woods of the furniture frames. The pading on the walls would baffle some of the more annoying overtones of Gringg speech.

The chairs, upholstered in the same handsome colour, were set around a polished table of a golden hardwood.

Several computer monitors on swivel boards occupied positions on the tabletop and could be turned to face any direction.

Someone had brought in the cushions on which the two Gringg were seated on one side of the large square table.

Ken Reeve, the merchant captains, Sumitral and Jilamey and some Hayumans Todd didn't know were occupying the chairs on the opposing side. Todd was annoyed to find Commander Greene also present: Barnstable having his cake in the space port discussions and eating it, too, with Greene here to listen to trade talks. Todd did recognize several Doonarralan representatives of the craft and farm collectives.

These men and women were trying not to appear awed by the company in which they found themselves.

"Are you comfortable now?" Sumitral was asking. "I would be happy to sit on the floor. We could move the table."

"Eye to eye, please, is Gringg way,' Eonneh said, politely. "Sofas are fine for Gringg, chairs for you, thank you." The translator had picked up the unfamiliar word, "cushions,' and given the Gringg the closest equivalent it had. "New friends, I am Eonneh, named Honey by a child of this world. I approve the name, as I consider it the first step to close links with your people. This is Krrpuh. You may call him Coypu - easier to say.

Todd had to restrain a broad smile. He recalled, and cherished, the memory of the Gringgs being assigned "bear' names by his twins and Hrriss's two eldest. The youngsters took the naming responsibility very seriously, having made a list of every synonym or cognate for "bear' that could be found in Terran philology. He remembered Hrrunival being peeved that his planet had no corollary creature. They matched names as closely as they could to the Gringg sounds, delighting the recipients.

"We welcome you, Honey and Coypu,' Todd said formally and started introducing those present. He could hear the rapid footsteps on the marble floors as late comers hurried to the new venue.

As he recited their names, the Gringg sniffed subtly in the appropriate direction, obviously pairing scent with face. Sumitral raised the corner of his mouth in a wry smile as he realized what they were doing. Horstmann was the only one who seemed slightly uneasy.

Jilamey, seated at the far corner beside Honey, winked as Todd named him. The tool-and-die maker from Rompiel was frowning abstractedly, trying not to stare at the two Gringg. Commander Greene spoke in low, urgent tones to Horstmann who turned a shoulder on him, then the navy man stared piercingly at Todd. Todd tried to ignore Greene. The man's blatant Human chauvinism grated on him.

Todd had had a furious discussion about Greene with Barnstable after returning to the Hamilton, concerning Greene's near-disastrous antics on the Gringg ship. Not only was Todd sure the aide had been responsible for initiating the intruder probe, but defied all reason by carrying an explosive device on to a vessel assumed to be peaceful.

Todd had pointed out that either act could have compromised matters beyond recall. He had insisted that Greene be left behind on the flagship whenever Barnstable came groundside. The Admiral refused, demanding his right to such escort as he required. He resented Todd's criticism of a member of his staff, and pointed out again that Doonarrala's priorities and Spacedep's were not identical. Todd hoped he wouldn't have to go all the way to the Amalgamated Worlds Council to keep Spacedep from causing more trouble.

During the weeks of reearch on the voder, Greene had been around and about on Doonarrala, always maintaining his distance from Todd, but always there, like an annoying itch Todd couldn't get rid of. Since none of the ursine guests had mentioned Greene, Todd decided that they hadn't noticed the burly commander, or were choosing to ignore his surveillance. The Spacedep officers hadn't been subtle when following the Gringg, as if they'd hoped for some kind of incident which would allow them to step in and take command.

Nothing had happened and Todd hoped Greene and his spies had got bored stiff.

Honey seemed to be in good spirits. He had visited Doonarrala nearly every other day, touring schools, factories and farms, and spending much time in the villages.

He was easily the most recognizable of the Gringg. His companion, who moved with a ponderousness dilatory even for a Gringg, seemed to be older than Honey, with a majestic, slow, bass voice that was so low it rumbled through Todd's very bones. Both of them had small computer devices with sculpted depressions which were probably operated by the rhythmic manipulation of claws, something like the device used by an old-time court reporter. As usual, Honey held his ubiquitous tile-like tablet. Jilamey, at Honey's elbow, was keeping a close eye on the Gringg, waiting for him to draw or write something with the double-looped pen that lay atop it on the table.

By then, the tardy had arrived, slightly breathless, and more time was taken up by introductions.

Of the seven newcomers, five were clearly alarmed by the size of the Gringg and, although they were wearing voders, only one had practised with his device. And Todd instantly marked Emil Markudian, a swarthy faced man with a prominent, hooked nose and black eyes, as trouble.

His companion, for the man seemed unwilling to move away from Markudian's side, was Boris Iskoffski and he was not only plainly terrified by the aliens but also his eyes had the glitter of the xenophobe.

When he noticed them darting quick glances at Greene, he decided they bore close scrutiny. Well, he should have expected something like this after Barnstable's little confrontation of assorted blow-ins at Kate Moody's office.

The others who had arrived in the wake of Markudian seemed to be legitimate since each carried portfolios with the logos of major diversified Terran or Colonial companies. Two found Jilamey's presence distinctly unsettling. Remembering how chuffed Jilamey had been about his coup, Todd grinned to himself and then turned the meeting over to Admiral Sumitral, seated directly opposite the Gringg envoys.

Once introductions of the new arrivals had been made, there was a perceptible pause. Todd sensed an electrical tension rising among them, veiled excitement. 1 feel as if we're about to start a high-stakes poker game, he thought.

Who's going to bluff whom?

"We begin from ignorance,' Admiral Sumitral said, rising to address the Gringg. "You have been among us for many days now and seen us going about our work and play. We know nothing about your world and desire similar information."

"Ah,' said Coypu, resting his paws on his large belly, "very kind of you to ask. Our world is much like this, gravity heavier and more water in many big pools. We are four ships to explore. Long, long, long,' and he nodded his head to emphasize the span, "looking. It is good, great news to find two at once!" He dropped his jaw and looked about him, his eyes twinkling.

"You say your objective is to trade, yet you admit that you are very far from your home world. How can you possibly trade profitably over long distances?" Commander Greene wanted to know.

"Big ship,' replied Coypu succinctly. "We come prepared with offerings. Trading is good with peaceful people. You have much here which will be tradable."

"Such as?" Greene demanded sarcastically.

"You are out of order, Commander,' Sumitral said, turning slightly so that his body shielded him from the Gringg. He had covered his voder and spoke in a low but carrying tone, somehow managing not to move his lips very much. "As Spacedep personnel, you are present only to observe!"

"We have seen much here on Doonarrala that will be very appreciated on our world,' Honey added. "We are peaceful traders." "It's very easy to say that you come in peace,' Markudian spoke up, his deep voice smooth but holding an edge.

That statement elicited quiet gasps around the table.

Todd had seen no signal from Greene but that didn't keep him from suspecting the two might be acting in concert.

Sumitral regarded Markudian with an expression of mild surprise and astonishment but it was Coypu who answered.

"It is easy to say what is true,' Coypu said, either not offended or deliberately not understanding Markudian 5

implication. Now he lifted his paws. "We come far from our home world, seeking new worlds, hopefully new peoples."

"You are peaceful types, also,' Honey said, looking around the table and nodding his appreciation of that fact.

"It is very good for Gringg to see that two different species can live in peace without acchggt-spppput - "He turned to Coypu as his voder could not give a suitable translation of the Gringg word.

Without tearing the collar?" Coypu suggested.

"Tearing the collar?" Sumitral asked, pointedly asking for an explanation.

Coypu touched his ornate neckpiece with one delicate claw. "Yes, to tear off the collar of a Gringg is to start fight, but only if there is no other honour choice."

"Oh, similar to throwing down a gauntlet .

. . a glove - - - a hand protector,' Sumitral said, ignoring the mutters from some of those nervous about this discussion. "Of course, duels with lethal weapons have long been considered against the law as well as against common sense." Coypu seemed oddly pleased to hear that.

"With us, too, the custom has declined. There are nearly always other choices. We enjoy peace. Gringg do not like to exert themselves.

Peace takes much less energy than combat, do you not agree?" Todd laughed at the beautiful simplicity of the statement. "War is too much trouble?"

"War?" Coypu asked, for the word had been carefully omitted from the voder's lexicon.

"War,' Greene said, jumping at the opportunity, "is when many tear the collar and join a fight: the winners take all. A great exertion,' he added sarcastically.

"War is a thing of the past for both species. It was always a useless exertion,' Sumitral said in such an icy voice and with such an icy stare directed at Greene that the commander subsided, more in surprise at the AIreldep Admiral's intensity.

"Good! Good!" Coypu said seriously. "I tire if I think about it.

Cooperation takes so much less work."

"Then Gringg have had wars?" Markudian asked, leaning forward.

"Long ago: Honey said negligently, "to protect the family pool and the landing place, and our young when there was not enough to eat." That mildly delivered statement brought quite a reaction around the table. Todd and his father exchanged concerned glances.

"Then, during the Great Heat, we were forced to seek refuge in the deepest caves. It was then that we were forced to eat many other things than the beasts which had been our natural food,' Honey went on, blithely unaware of the effect his first statement was having.

"When we emerged from the caves, we turned to the sea and began to hunt the big fish. Little ones, too, which are often very tasty."

"But you were cannibals?" Markudian demanded with such an air of superiority that Todd knew the man was there to cause whatever trouble he could.

Unforùtunately Honey had just handed him exactly an opening.

As Sumitral was trying to explain the word to Honey, Todd leaned towards Markudian.

ù"The emphasis was on a trade vocabulary, Mr Markudian.

-We cannot, and will not at this time, accept the discussion of side issues." When Honey and Coypu finally understood, they both looked mournful.

"When we were very young beings, long, long, long ago, before we learned to think what we were doing, before we learned how much easier it was to work together instead of separately,' Honey said, leaning forward, paws crossed over his chest in humility, "we did many stupid things we do not like to remember that we Gringg did. Perhaps this happened to Haynmans, too, when your species was learning wisdom?"

"Not cannibalism,' Markudian said firmly.

Sumitral gave a droll chuckle. "Mr Markudian, you are obviously not much of a student of Terran history or you would realize how wrong you are on that point." Then Sumitral bent a stern look on the man.

"But you cannot be so young as to be ignorant of the Siwannah Tragedy in which humans caused an entire race to suicide. I also feel that you speak out too hastily, Mr Markudian, and I advise you to think very carefully the next time you feel obliged to criticize." Then he turned to Honey and Coypu.

"We also had to learn to cope with famines. I trust there is no famine on your home world now that has sent you out on your long journey."

"No, not famine,' Coypu said. "We wish to find new worlds.

We wish to trade with same peaceful people."

"Let's get back to trade talk, shall we?" asked Jilamey a bit impatiently and gave Markudian a very jaundiced look for his interruptions. "Let's talk about what sort of payment we'll use for trade items.

"Excellent idea, my dear Landreau,' Sumitral said. He turned to the Gringg. "In trading with our Hrruban friends, we use certain minerals and metals on which we have agreed a value."

"Do you not use symbolic currencies?" Coypu asked, surprised. There was a murmur of surprise among the merchants.

"Yes, of course we do,' Jilamey said, "but our credits would be worthless to you in your own system so let us find other values for barter." Ken Reeve said. "Eonneh and I have discussed molecular structures of certain metals and minerals that we would like to acquire in moderate quantities. What mediums have value for you?"

"We discuss a common trade currency?" Honey asked mildly, rattling his claws in the holes of his device. "Held perhaps on this planet in a central place for all three to use? With . . ahccccgg . . . writings that can be strictly kept accurate?" Iskoffski looked stunned: jumping from cannibalism in a distant past to modern finance was too big a leap for him. Markudian's expression became darker than ever.

"A banking system is, of course, an excellent idea,' Sumitral said, raising his eyebrows in silent query at the two who blinked agreement.

"If you become permanent trading partners with us, Jilamey began, slowly, allowing the possibility to sink in, "a central place would simplify all transactions."

"Trading partners for a long time we want,' Honey replied, and gave them a huge, white grin.

Kiachif whistled. "For critters who've never seen other aliens before you sure take the long view." Honey bowed to Kiachif, inclining his long torso. "We are hopeful creatures and in that hope much discussion occupied our long travels and what to do if we find others." He hiked one shoulder in a very Human gesture. "It passed the time and now we discover that it was wise to plan for such acchtgg . . .

possibles. For now,' and he spread his big paws, "we put theory into practice. It is not much different to the trading we do between our home world and its young.

"Young? You have colony worlds?" Sumitral said.

"Or subjugated worlds?" Greene asked, his eyes glittering.

Honey looked down at his voder and Coypu looked puzzled.

"Acchgg?" Honey asked in query.

"That's quite enough from you, Greene, Sumitral said with the first flash of temper Todd had ever seen in him.

"You have set up colonies of Gringg on your young worlds? Yes, both Hayumans and Hrrubans have done the same. Have you found worlds with the different species?" Ken asked quickly, smiling.

"You are the two first we have ever met. The other worlds were empty of intelligent lifes,' Coypu said and even the voder echoed the regret in his manner. "Creatures with no thought of more than full stomachs or things that were inedible, even for Gringg. Each has its place on that world. We do not interfere unless threatened."

"And if threatened, what do you use to protect yourself?" Greene asked, ignoring Sumitral's exclamation of aggravation.

"We are able to defend ourselves, Honey said, blandly, and unsheathed his claws. Coypu retracted his lips, uncovering his white fangs. "We are larger than any edible creature we have met."

"And not as dumb,' Jilamey said, giving Greene a look of pure disgust.

"How many colony worlds have you now?" Sumitral asked before Greene could continue.

Honey held up four fingers. "Four! One with very good water." His jaw dropped and he gave himself a wiggle that suggested total approval of it.

"Far from here,' Coypu added. "A very long journey but not impossible to make for Humans."

"We are translating our maps to yours,' Honey said.

"Slow because of vision differences and because we are far from the star patterns we know and guide our ships by."

"Let's stick with trade values,' Todd said, and leaned across the table to Honey with the table he had been making on his keypad. "What's of value to you might not be as valuable to us, so we'll need to establish the variables and work out percentages of increased value for temporary rarity of stock and other factors. This one time, I hope you will accept the values we use to pay for traded things between Haynmans and Hrrubans. We think the values are fair."

"It is just what I expect of the peoples who live together in peace,' Hqney replied. His simple frankness drew mutters from the other delegates.

Todd was relieved that two Gringg had evidently not caught the blatant animosity in Greene's words and manner. "We can discuss in more detail at the end of the meeting so you can key it in your own language." Suddenly Horstmann, who had been growing more impatient, slapped both hands down on the table to divert attention to him.

"Let's also cut this confounded cackle.

Let's find out what commodities you Gringg are interested in? And what you have to offer us? Those resonators Cardiff used in these va,;lers would make a good start.

Small, powerful and I haven't ever seen anything like "em from Terra nor Hrruba. Can we do a deal on them?"

"Any technological items will first have to be cleared by the Scientific Council of Amalgamated Worlds,' Greene said.

Jilamey brushed that contingency aside. "Not according to the Doonarrala Treaty, they don't, Greene. Look, Honey, you've had time over the last weeks to see just what's available on Doonarrala, which I think is a fair sampling of goods drawn from both Hayuman and Hrruban.

Technology? Medical or scientific processes?

Tools?"

"We have many desirable commodities to trade, as well as the product of our skills,' Eonneh began, ponderously.

"Good,' Kiachif said. "My ships don't like to make the trip back to al' Terra empty. Give us a fr instance or two, friend."

"Also, our four young - colony - worlds have many valuable minerals in quantity.

To trade here are listed molecular-patterns with Gringg names.

Some I do not see in use here or do not recognize. Maybe we bring you new stuff?" Honey dropped his jaw, suddenly a little like Kiachif, anticipating a major trade deal. Todd put his hand to his mouth to hide a smile. "Our friend Chilmeh has spoken to us also about gaining credit from the sale of drawings and works of art. We are pleased to see that you consider these things to be of value. Culture has value on your planets even as it has on ours. We feel that we may also learn technology stuff from you, sharing information. Already we have share technology,' and he tapped the voder with the tip of one claw, "with Lootcardiff." Sumitral, Ken and Todd openly grinned at the combination of rank and name. "We are happy to share information freely in exchange for also you share freely with us." Greene and Markudian both began to protest but Iskoffski was eager for information about what.

"You can't want just cultural things and to share,' Jilamey said.

"That could be very one-sided and we insist on giving equal value to trading partners." Honey inclined his head. "You give equal value sharing with us the delights of this planet of Doonarrala. .

Todd could see Greene interpreting that to mean acquisition and hastily intervened.

"Peaceful people deserve proper hospitality when their intent is good,' Todd said and Sumitral stared Greene back down into his seat.

"The matter has been discussed thoroughly among the captain's staff and by space-transmission with the motherworld,' the golden Gringg said. "What we search for most earnestly - besides peaceful people - is a source of protein for,' and now he turned his deep-red eyes on Markudian, "we are civilized peoples who do not eat meat of each other. Especially when here you have many delicious proteins." Greene's mouth was open in amazement at Eonneh's dry humour.

Eonneh showed all his teeth. "Haynmans seem to have the most superior idea of what is a good thing to eat."

"Well, as it happens, Honey,' Jilamey said, beaming from ear to ear, "we process a lot of protein in nutritious and delicious forms and I happen to represent a large consortium which can provide you with a wide range of truly delicious and healthful comestibles . . ." His voder faltered on that word. "Stuff to eat - eatables, edibles,' he hastily explained.

Coypu gave a startlingly deep grunt, signifying pleasure for he had dropped his jaw. "Good. We wish to import to our world bulk or packaged largenesses of snakemeat, fishes, beef, poultry, and, of course, the stuff you name popcorn. It is not high in protein but it is most entertaining to watch it cook and can be seasoned in many flavours."

"Food?" Sumitral asked weakly. "You want food? Not technology?"

"Morra,' Eonneh assured him. "If at all, some forms of Gringg electrics -, "Electronics,' Todd corrected.

"-Electronics are more efficient than yours."

"You think that?" Markudian said, indignantly.

"Our scientists know what after talking with yours, Honey replied.

"Scientific fact is fact for all of us."

"A science conference just is not possible at this point in time,' Greene said flatly.

"Discuss food all you want.

That's safe enough."

"Non-aggressive science is also safe,' Sumitral said with equal firmness. He put his hand over his voder.

"If they have no ordnance, Greene, then why not discuss science?

Now that we know what their need is, I think you can step down from that red alert you're on."

"Just long as we're not the food resource they have in the back of their minds,' Greene said but he also had covered the voder as he added in a savage tone. "These peaceful people of yours are not as peaceful as they've all conned you into believing." With that he rose from his chair and stalked from the room.

After Greene's ominous remark, Todd was relieved to see the back of him. He was undoubtedly going off to report to Admiral Barnstable.

Greene's crack about the Gringg eating Humans was asinine especially when the snakes were larger, more numerous and far tastier.

"You don't require metals?" Markudian asked, surprised.

"Yes, some metals are in short supply with us and please to give us samples of all you use,' Honey said. "But mostly we need foods,' and he leaned forward, an earnest expression on his face. "Already, many on the home world are most eager to try Doonarralan snake meat.

Having heard the praise it has from those who have taste it here, it will be a much sought-after delicacy. Perhaps you can show us how to breed the snakes on one of our worlds.

One can feed several Gringg. As we learn to know each other better, I am sure there will be other goods we want, but for the present, we are eager to obtain largenesses of Hayuman-manufactured eating stuffs. That is all."

"Unbelievable,' Markudian said, staring perplexed at the Gringg.

Jilamey threw back his head and let out a delighted laugh. "After all of our posturing and careful management, timid questions and demand for sureties, food is what they need!" The Reeves and Kiachif chuckled with him.

As the Hayumans and the Gringg left the room, Hrrto was for a long moment too annoyed to gather his thoughts.

The only advantage to the new arrangement would be the privacy to mention purralinium - if the Gringg had it.

There wasn't an Hrruban here who didn't realize how vital it was to replenish the supply of that transuranic ore. Even Hrrin would appreciate that. But Hrrto saw that he would have to remain here longer than he had anticipated, to be sure the negotiations secured them at least the hope of the grid metal. Mllaba was also irritated.

It wouldn't be her notion to be stuck discussing trade when she considered the space port conference a better place for Hrrto to show his merits. But her irritation also stemmed from the presence of the two Gringg across the table from her who were settling their big haunches into their cushions.

Beside Hrrto, Hrrin sat with folded arms, watching as if he expected the Gringg to spring in an assault.

The subsonics in their'voices were not entirely masked from the keener Hrruban hearing by the voders, so the buzz and annoying vibration was still present, heavy in the air. At Hrriss's tactful reminder, the Gringg had been careful to modulate the volume of their speech, but they could do nothing to cushion the impact of their mere presence. Hrrto was rapidly developing a painful headache, one of the first in a long and healthy life. He tried to concentrate on what Hrrestan, who chaired the meeting, was saying.

Hrrestan was assisting the Gringg in their translations when the limits of the vocabulary programmed into the voders failed. Hrrto felt some respect for the colony leader's ability to retain what sounded to him like the roars and sputtering of malfunctioning motors. He was feeling yet another painful twinge when Milaba leaned toward him, her hand over the voder input grille.

"I dislike the uncouth way they sniff at us, Speaker,' Mllaba hissed under her breath. She spoke in a very high-pitched whisper which the Gringg were unlikely to hear. "So primitive." All the home world Hrrubans attending the trade meeting were initially disturbed by the Gringg behaviour, but as the aliens had proved to be affable and intelligent, they began to relax. Hrrto did not: torn between the need to introduce purralinium and memories of that tape. He wanted to be able to at least warn these Rraladoonans, since they were in the final analysis also Hrruban, that the Gringg were dangerous: warn them not to rush into discussions that would display their vulnerability to the Gringg: warn them to learn as much about Gringg customs and culture as the Gringg about theirs. But he could not yet speak of that tape, not until the combined navies were in position. They were still some days away. Until then, Hrrto was forced to dissemble. He also had until then to discover the coordinates of systems that might produce purralinium. With difficulty, Hrrto turned his attention to the proceedings.

While Hrrestan was basically a sensible Hrruban, he appeared to be badly infected with young Rrev's enthusiasm. Perhaps, Hrrto thought, it might be wise to tell Hrrestan about that damning tape. Hrrestan was of an old Stripe and did not deserve the fate that might await other Rraladoonans when their apparently cultured and civilized visitors showed the violent side of their natures.

But Hrrestan was so honourable a Stripe that he might feel obliged to impart that information to Rrev. No, no warning to anyone until the fleet was in place.

Then the aliens produced a computer program showing molecular diagrams of the minerals they were ready to use as trade mediums.

Hrrto shot a warning glance at Hurrhee who was already trying to see what was on offer.

"These ores are available in quantity now from our mining worlds,' said the one called Kodiak. "We have printed diagrams for you to compare with your molecular data. If you require any of these, we are please to offer them to you as goods for barter against our own requirements."

"I am sure we can come to agreeable terms for all parties,' Hrrestan said.

"Indeed we should,' Hurrhee murmured, flicking a confirming glance at Hrrto. "We have often found a use for this,' and he extended a nail to delicately single out one item, "impure as it is." Hrrto inwardly sighed with relief. They did have purralinium to offer.

"What is Hurrhee doing here?" Mllaba demanded in an annoyed undertone to Hrrto. "He's a scientist, not a trader."

"He is here at my command,' Hrrto murmured back, protruding the claw of his fifth digit to indicate the need for discretion.

Suddenly Milaba became extra alert and leaned as far across the table as possible to get a view of the slate. Under the table, Hrrto pulled her roughly back. She nearly hissed at him so great was her indignation but one look at her superior's eyes and she obeyed, though stiff with the insult just given her. Hrrto ignored her manner.

Nothing must indicate to the Gringg how important the purralinium was to the Hrrubans.

Although Kodiak and his partner, a black-and-white Gringg whom the children called Big Paws after zOdd's sister's cat, were speaking very clear Middle Hrruban, modulated into audibility by the voders, the edge given by the subsonics of Gringg speech wore on Hrruban nerves.

Hrrto wondered how long he would have to remain in such an ambience.

"Yes, you do have goods that might form a trade currency,' banker Hrrouf said with extreme affability, his tailtip switching. Ah, Hrrouf had noticed the purralinium, too. And, in his high position in the financial world, he would have access to the knowledge of the lack of new supplies of the metal. "What is it you would require in exchange?" Big Paws regarded the Hrruban amiably and folded his enormous hands on the table.

"You appear to be comfortable without the clothes used by Hayumans to cover their skin. We Gringg also do not need coverings. We admire the way that the Hrrubans adorn their natural fur with the most striking ornamentation. Most especially I like these harnesses of hide." The black and white Gringg put out a claw and plucked at the strap of the handsome harness Hrrouf was wearing. "The variety of these and of other pretty stuffs are most desirable to us. Such will be need to be made much larger to fit Gringg, but we wish to trade for quantities of harness. Plain and with many sparkle stones."

"What?" Hrrouf demanded, unable to believe his ears.

Other Hrruban representatives were equally astounded and, if Hrrestan and Hrrin managed to hide their amusement, few of the others expecting to trade advanced technologies of all kinds to the bears saw the humour of the announcement.

Second Speaker sputtered, his headache forgotten.

"Garments? Jewellery? Ornaments? You must be joking!"

"What is joking?" Kodiak asked, looking up from his electronic keypad. He turned to Hrrestan for clarification.

"He asks if you tell him something that is not true to make him laugh,' Hrrestan explained solemnly.

Kodiak returned his dark-red gaze to Second Speaker.

"Morra, very, I do not joke."

"This is what you wish to receive in trade from us?

Not technology?" asked Nrrena. "Hrruban technology is famous.

You must have observed the transport grids -"

"Sst!" Hrrouf hissed at her in a high whistle. The manufacturer stopped, embarrassed.

"Ah, yes,' Kodiak said casually, observing the byplay.

"The transport system. But it does. not interest us. We travel fast enough and are comfortable doing it. Items of wear and personal adornment are more important. And we insist to be told new styles and modes." Hrrto wondered at Kodiak's dismissal of the "transport system'.

Could it be that they knew the special use for purralinium and had matter transporters on their own worlds? And if they did, would they trade any of that precious commodity to the Hrrubans? Many of the Gringg had used the grids, getting about Rraladoona but no reports had been made by any of the operators that the Gringg had shown any interest at all in the workings of the grid: or had even looked closely at either the purralinium columns or the floor grid though these were, in any case, thickly coated by the conducting material.

"This is outrageous,' Nrrena said in a growl, rising from the table. Her tail swished angrily, lashing her sides, and her eyes all but shot sparks. "I was made to understand that this was a high level trading conference, not a fashion show. I have the honour to wish you a good day." The Hrruban made a bow to Second Speaker and strode stiffly from the room. Second was glad to see her go. She would report back to Fifth that the conference had been a charade. When Hrrto arranged for substantial quantities of purralinium, she would look a fool, Fifth would lose face and Hrrto gain it in the contest for the Speakership.

"Perhaps all should go, Hrrin suggested, sourly, "and put an end to this pretence."

"Have I offended?" Kodiak asked Hrrestan.

"No, friend,' Hrrestan assured him. "That Hrruban re resents manufacturers on our home world and elsewhere.

There is nothing in these current talks which interests her." Hrrestan also suspected that Nrrena would be grateful to get out of the range of Gringg speech. Kodiak accepted his explanation.

"Ah,' the Gringg said, returning a bland gaze to those left at the table. "May we then negotiate terms? It is now to work out equivalencies of value, against that which.

we offer for that which we want." He ended up facing Hrrestan, who gestured courteously toward Hrrto.

"I may not speak for Hrruba,' Hrrestan said. "I have lived on Rraladoona for over thirty years. It is the Second Speaker for External Affairs whom you must address." He bowed deferentially. Hrrto was pleased and mollified.

"Very,' Kodiak said, and turned to face Second. Milaba sat up straight beside him. "So you are empowered to act on behalf of an Hrruba in these matters?"

"I do not understand what he said,' Milaba snapped, turning to Hrrin. "Please translate once more." With a little less patience for her, Hrrin repeated the Gringg's question.

Ghotyakh's brow ridges lowered halfway over his eyes, concealing all but a crescent of angry red irises. "I believe that the delegate understood me,' he said, his voice shifting very slowly to a menacing growl. "We have come in good faith to this meeting. It is not the Gringg way to give offence or take insult. Lootcardiff caused this device to translate perfectly. As a Gringg scribe, my honour required me to practise diction until perfection came. Does this female have hearing problems? That is the only acceptable reason.

The word reason came out in as close to a snarl as a Gringg had so far mouthed. Mllaba jumped in her seat.

She glared at Kodiak, her yellow eyes ablaze.

"You wrong me,' she said, in a low, dangerous voice.

"My hearing is extremely acute and the roars you make injure delicate tissue. You know that certain sounds you make cause unpleasant reactions in we Hrrubans. Perhaps you deliberately use them to upset us."

"Enough!" Hrrestan said, raising his voice. Hand over his voder, he turned to Mllaba but his attitude was clearly cautioning.

"There is not a thing wrong with my hearing, Mllaba, and I think you are the one deliberately upsetting the smooth progress of this meeting." "Why should I?" Mllaba demanded.

"That I do not know,' Hrrestan replied sternly, "but as I am moderator of this meeting, I will have no further obstruction from you.

"I am assistant to "In this meeting,' Hrrestan said calmly but forcefully, "rank has been suspended to the greater benefit of all Hrruba. Or have you had trouble, honoured assistant to Second Speaker, which you are embarrassed to admit?" Mllaba drew a deep breath in through her nostrils at what was perilously close to a direct insult to the Second Speaker. Hrrestan waited, his eyes intent on Hrrto and she might not have existed.

"I have had no trouble understanding them, Second said, his eyes slitted. "I do find their voices and their presence oppressive." "Oppressive?" Hrrestan asked, with mischief in his eyes.

"How can you find oppressive a species which is so very interested in fashion?" Milaba's tailtip lashed.

"If the price is right,' Hrrin said, deliberately trying to lighten the tension in the room, "we Rraladoonans are delighted to supply as many harnesses as the Gringg wish.

Since,' and he turned to the disappointed representatives, "we supply our home world with many such items, we may need to import skilled workers to supply the demand."

"Then we have wasted our time?" asked the senior Stripe of the merchants.

Hrrestan bowed graciously. "Consider it but the first offering in a trade that may develop in unexpected directions and have the imagination to come forward with other examples of our culture,' and he gave that word considerable emphasis, "which might appear attractive or interesting to our large friends." Then Mllaba, using a coaxing and wheedling tone, spoke up, her manner so abruptly altered that Hrrto decided his clever assistant must finally have grasped the significance of Hurrhee's presence and remarks.

"Hrruban textiles are much admired by Haynmans since you are interested in adornment. A swift message and we can have many beautiful things to show you,' she said at her silkiest.

"We Gringg are content to see all you will offer,' Kodiak said, showing all his teeth in an affable smile.

"So,' Hrrouf began, "you will not object if we use metals, ores and such like to make payment for cloth, leather and jewels?" Kodiak lifted one shoulder. "Metals we have much of and can cheerfully trade them for what we wish of yours.

Shall we talk of relative values now for such bartering?" He turned his slate and held it up so that all could see it. Gringg symbols were on the left-hand side of the slate, Hrruban equivalents on the right. Purralinium was mid-list. "These are in order of value to us." Titanium was top, and Hrrto recognized the symbols for tin, zinc, germanium and platinum and some transuranics before purralinium. How many leather belts and neck pieces would be traded for enough purralinium to manufacture another grid? The very concept was bizarre!

He found himself holding his breath as weights and measures were being discussed. To his dismay - for surely Hrrestan knew the plight the co-leader was setting for too low a quantity of metal. Or was he merely being cautious? Then Kodiak mentioned bulk figures for finished leathers that nearly made Hrrto drop his jaw. There would be more than enough purralinium.

Now he worried that Hrrestan might ask only for that metal and signal its value to Hrrubans. But Hrrto had underestimated the leader's acumen.

Suddenly he began to fret that Hrrestan would get the credit for such dealing and he, Second Speaker, who had laid the groundwork in his initial conference with the Gringg captain, would not gain the face he deserved.

Restlessly he drilled claw tips on the table. Saw what he was doing and forced his fingers to be still. That precious metal in return for acres of cloth, no matter how beautifully woven it was, seemed almost indecent.

Could the Gringg really be so naive? Or their holdings so rich that they could make such ludicrous exchanges?

That was a possibility that hadn't occurred to him before.

Those rich in goods thought nothing of exchanging what they didn't need for what they coveted.

"We do not deplete your stores with such large orders?" Big Paws asked courteously. "We can space shipments so that each is full of what is required. With Hrrubans we trade for what the Hayumans do not show or seem to need.

Therefore no bad feelings may happen. We are peaceful folk. We wish for peace everywhere around us." Hearing those oft repeated words, Hrrto felt the pressing need for some air.

"If you will permit me to withdraw?" Hrrto asked and received a courteous nod from Hrrestan and a vague wave from Kodiak. He shot Mllaba a glance to signify she was to be careful and left the room.

In the hallway, where fresh air flowed lightly in from the doors and open windows, his head seemed to clear.

"Peaceful folk', "peaceful folk' "wishing for peace around them." The repetition made him nauseous. Perhaps calling the fleets was not a wise idea. The prospect of almost unlimited quantities of purralinium was worth a certain risk, was it not? At the least, the direction to search for the debris that would contain the metal. Ah, but with the navies in place, perhaps such information would be easier to obtain.

Yes, that was the way to move now. They could show the tape to the Gringg and force them to admit to these atrocities. Show them that their hypocrisy was discovered and make them reveal what weapons had caused such destruction. With the fleet pin-pointing one unarmed ship, surely they would accede to all demands.

Before another Gringg ship could reach the heliopause of Rraladoona, they would have built defences against such ordnance. ..

Why should Hrruba defend Rraladoona at all? The thought suddenly occurred to Hrrto. Why not evacuate all Hrrubans? If the Haynmans were foolish enough to wait for Gringg vengeance, so be it.

But what if the Gringg should discover the Hrruban home world?

Hadn't that fat captain been a whisper away from admitting that he knew where the Hrruban home system was? Hrrto had never fully subscribed to either the Decision or the Treaty, though he had been forced to give verbal agreement. Under his Stripe, he had known eventually they would live to regret it.

And what were the Haynmans wresting from the Gringg while Hrrubans were selling harnesses and collars?

Unable to resist, he found himself walking towards the other negotiating room. He heard voices ahead, and slipped forward, close to the wall.

He peered out from around a column and saw the small Hayuman, Landreau, in animated conversation with the fat and fair-haired trader, Horstmann. Horstmann was patting his protruding mid-section with satisfaction that, at this time of day, could have little to do with the pleasures of the table The trader 5 voice rang loudly in the empty hall. "Even calculating in the cost of fuel and modifications to the cargo space, we could clear a pretty bundle. If I can get impactors, freeze dry whatever, that'd increase space available. If we pack in drones, they'd take ores, refined or half, even raw for some of the unusual stuff and your principals'll be damned pleased with the results, Landreau."

"We can always use a steady new supp, Jilamey said, his eyes narrowed as he calculated. "Spaceships don't build themselves, you know, besides requiring hills of metal. So, if they'll trade us . . ." and, in a low voice, he began to enumerate items which Hrrto had to strain to hear. In shock, he thought he heard Jilamey name purralinium.

"That newest colony of theirs hasn't begun to deliver the quantities assays suggest are available. And they haven't even thought of the concept of in situ space refineries. We got a lot we can teach them." Half reeling with the shock of such infamy, Hrrto moved off towards the open door. The Hayumans were obviously being given the more important trade items while the Hrrubans were being palmed off with trifles. He could not return to the Hrruban conference until he had recovered his poise.

He was halfway there when he heard angry voices coming from the chamber where the space port talks were being held.

"It would be foolish not to consider Gringg facilities, Admiral,' Lorena Kaldonwas saying in an aggravated tone. "Much easier to start off with buildings suited to their needs . . "I am not discussing the Gringg,' Barnstable said angrily and Hrrto could hear him striding away, his booted steps echoing in the marble hall.

Hrrto heard Kaldon give a totally exasperated sound, the quick noise of steps and a door that was closed as firmly as a slam. He hurried back to the Hrruban trade conference, pausing to arrange his robes and wondering just how many lengths of such expensive cloth it would take to garb a Gringg. How many trmbla of weight made a new grid?

His return coincided with the end of the formal talk, Kodiak and Big Paws rising from their cushions with a grace that Hrrto envied.

They were bodily large but all too evidently athletic. Polite farewells were made, with Hrrestan and Hrrin doing the most of the talking, arranging additional meetings so that tomorrow the Gringg could see, and perhaps order, varieties of ceremonial harnesses.

Hrrto managed to drop his jaw as the occasion demanded and, by wrapping his tail about one ankle under his robes, managed to keep that appendage from giving any hint of his agitation.

As the others started leaving the room, he gave a little sign to Mllaba to wait and she made a show of gathering up her books, checking on items until they were alone.

"I think that the Gringg have given the Haynmans purralinium,' he told her, speaking in the merest whisper.

"Just as if they knew what Hrruba needed the most,' Mllaba replied in angry exasperation. "While they deal in harnesses with us,' and she stamped a foot while her tail violently switched.

"Is it possible the Gringg have developed matter transmission?" Hrruba asked, having to voice his worst fear.

"Really, sir,' and she spoke impatiently, "even our matter technology was a chance application. The circumstances are unlikely to be repeated by Gringg paws." He gave her an odd look. "And the Haynmans keep trying! Let us hope the scientists of both do not get together on such a project "Highly unlikely, not with Spacedep controlling all technology "I must have a few words with Hurrhee,' Hrrto said as he finished gathering up his own notes. "Catch him before he leaves." Hurrhee would tell him what the Haynmans did with purralinium and whether they used the pure or impure state of the metal. We must remain the only species in the galaxy with transport grids."

"As you say, Speaker,' Mllaba agreed.

The corridor was lined with windows along this edge of the building. Opposite the doors of the computer lab was a view of a stand of picturesque forested hills overlooking the landing pad. Frill could see the great hulk of the Gringg shuttle on the tarmac, an ostrich among chickens. There was someone lurking around it with a furtive air. Frill went out to investigate.

From the door, Frill could see that the man snooping around the shuttle wore the uniform of a Spacedep officer.

"Lieutenant!" the commander bellowed in his best parade ground voice. The man turned slowly. Frill didn't recognize him. He must have been one of Barnstable's suspiciously increasing entourage.

"Sir?" The lieutenant said, tapping his brow diffidently.

"I don't think you're supposed to be touching that, son,' Frill said. "Come on inside."

"Yes, sir!" the marine said. He snapped off a more creditable salute and strolled, not too quickly, into the building. "Good day, sir!" he said, marching purposefully up the long corridor.

"Carry on,' the commander said, vaguely, and turned away. He glanced back over his shoulder at the retreating lieutenant, but the man was gone. Puzzled, Frill went back to the conference.

Recalled from a more pleasant occupation to be an observer, Commander Frill found himself growing sleepy through the talk of electronics, and the endless displays on the small computer screens of circuit diagrams which to him looked all alike. It wasn't really his subject. He excused himself for a breath of air and wandered out of the computer lab.

Chapter 8

BY MIDAFTERNOON, EXCHANGE RATES HAD BEEN decided and some groundwork laid for an exchange board.

Honey was also deftly inquiring what sort of warehousing would be available for the goods until sufficient had been accumulated to make a voyage to the home world profitable.

Ali was trying very hard to negotiate a contract but Honey was sidestepping him neatly, suggesting that they would prefer to build their own facilities on Doonarrala if some deserted space could be found. There was much still to be learned, and language skills perfected. By dinnertime, Todd had a deep respect for Honey's skills as a negotiator.

He fought hard for concessions with the Amalgamated World-based traders, and won a few, even from Ali Kiachif, whom Todd thought would never yield.

"Such a facility not being currently available, we meet you halfway and do ship-to-ship transfers at designated points in space,' Honey said in conclusion. "It will save transit time. From here it is far to the Gringg worlds."

"The same goes on our side,' Kiachif said.

"No trip, no tax or tariff. That's fair. But there's still a need for full transits, or else how are we to meet your folk and find out all about you for ourselves?" Honey grinned, showing his fangs.

"Reh,' he said, noting the terms on his tablet. "We seek only equity." "None of this is final until we check with Earth,' Markudian warned, not for the first time. "It's subject to approval by the trade authorities and the Amalgamated Worlds Council."

"As you say, as you say,' Honey said, nodding his great head. He had been incredibly patient with the man s continual complaints and criticisms.

Todd wondered why Barnstable and Greene had picked so obvious an agitator. Even Honey had displayed brief annoyance at Markudian's constant interruptions and trivial complaints. But, Todd supposed, that's why the man was there, to try and disrupt the meeting as much as possible. That Markudian had failed was due as much to the Gringg's unshakeable affability as Todd's own determination not to let such ploys develop.

A loud, insistent clicking sound arose from the vicinity of the Gringg's collar.

"Communication device?" Ken whispered to Todd.

"Sounds more like a timer,' Todd said. "I'll bet Kodiak and Big Paws just heard one of those, too." Todd's surmise was correct. Honey carefully finished the last of his hieroglyphs and glanced up to nod at the assembled Hayumans.

"That is all I may do today, friends,' he said. "I thank you most very. I will be able to give you final numbers when I have presented these terms to Captain Grzzeearoghh. She is who decides what is best for Gringg." Todd rose and bowed to the Gringg. "On behalf of the people of Terra and Doonarrala, I thank you for coming, Honey and Coypu." "Doonarrala,' Honey said. "Have I not heard the Hrrubans say Rraladoona? Which name for your world is right?"

"Both, really,' Todd admitted. "Each of our species had their own name for the planet: Hayumans called it Doona, the Hrrubans, Rrala. Now we each use both names combined but putting the one from the original language first." Honey pursed his rubbery black lips. "You defer in all ways regarding a common language to the Hrrubans, it makes sense to settle on one name, everyone use it."

"You know, Honey, you're right,' Todd said, nodding.

"Possibly we've just hung on to both names to please our respective over-governments. We really should be concentrating on unity. It's an acknowledgement that we're all one world, after all.

Calling people Doonarralans or Rraladoonans is just another way of identifying them as Hayumans or Hrrubans, and that shouldn't be a consideration any more. It was a point that hasn't arisen before.

From this moment, I'll only use Rraladoon." Iskoffski looked astonished and Markudian glowered.

"Really, Reeve, I think you take too much on yourself."

"No, he's right,' Sumitral put in. "The name ought to have been standardized a long time ago. I agree we should be calling this colony by the Hrruban-derived name. I don't think Reeve's co-leader Hrrestan will object,' he added with a grin.

"Then so will the Gringg, Honey agreed. He and Coypu arose with more grace than their lumbering bodies suggested they were capable of.

"We will speak to you again soon." Without further ceremony, they withdrew.

The Hayumans remained in place. Markudian was still out of sorts, drumming his fingers on the tabletop.

Looking worn out, Iskoffski stared out the door after the Gringg.

Even Ali Kiachif was subdued. Jilamey glanced up at Ken and Todd with bemusement.

"Did I just negotiate a concession for half an ocean of canned fish?" he asked. "For a small fortune in rare minerals?" Ken pushed back his chair and stretched his long arms toward the ceiling, listening to his ribs crack. "One man's trash is another's treasure.

I don't know about you, but I'm desperate for a cup of coffee,' he said.

"Seconded,' Jilamey said at once. "We've been here hours. Let's see if there's anything left to eat in the dining hail."

"Dammit,' Horstmann said fervently, "I hope there's something to drink."

"I could swim a sea of miada and never sink, if you get me, friends,' Kiachif agreed.

The urge for refreshment had prompted the Hrrubans as well. A few of the delegates from the space port conference stood in a corner, eating from plates heaped with cold meat and salad. They gravely acknowledged the Hayuman entries. The rest, locked in a deep discussion with Second Speaker, paid no attention to the new arrivals.

Someone tapped Hrrto on the shoulder. Surprised, the Speaker turned to face Admiral Sumitral.

There was an awkward pause of a few moments.

Sumitral recovered first. "A most fruitful afternoon, wouldn't you say, Speaker?" he asked amiably.

"Most interrrsting,' Hrrto said. "Ze Gringg are most skilled at ze arrrt of negotiation, zough zis is not zeir native language." His voice displayed signs of strain.

"I trust you won some concessions from them?" Sumitral asked, delicately. "Your own skills are not to be decried."

"You are most kind,' Hrrto replied, bowing.

"Somebody find me a drink,' Barnstable said plaintively, sinking down at a table. "Jonny?" Greene stood up, looking about him for a refreshment cabinet. Todd rose to get drinks for the party, listening closely.

"Did you find their terms favourable?" Sumitral asked Hrrto.

"I am surre as much as you yrrrself did,' Second replied, the equal of Sumitral's courtesy. Now that he had the chance to ask what the Gringg had offered the Haynmans, his nerve failed him. He could not stand the humiliation of admitting what the Gringg had asked of them. He kept his eyes fixed on Sumitral's niild grey eyes, hoping he would speak first.

Todd found the wet-bar cabinet and poured out a good shot of Doonan-distilled whiskey for the Admiral. The sight of open bottles attracted a number of the negotiators, and Todd found himself at the centre of an eager and grateful group, dispensing liquid comfort.

Hrriss gave him a drop-jaw grin from the edge of the throng, and held up a jug of plain juice. Todd nodded enthusiastically.

"A spot of mlada,' Kiachif requested, with a pretended whine like an old man. "Not too small, and don't you dare dilute it, laddie." In the centre of the room, the careful manoeuvres went on, the tension growing. Greene hovered at Sumitral's elbow as if to snatch back any incautious statements the head of Alreldep might make.

"Might one ask what commodities were discussed?" Sumitral suggested.

"I do not zink I am at liberty to reveal zat at zis time,' Second said, blandly. Mllaba stared open-eyed at the Haynmans.

"Perhaps I should not, then, either,' Sumitral said, but Todd could tell his curiosity was aroused. Hrrto was being more than usually cagey.

Ken and Hrriss stood next to the drinks cupboard as Todd poured another draft for Ali Kiachif. The captain inhaled that libation and held out his glass for a reffil.

Jilamey broke away from the group in the centre of the room.

"I can't stand it any longer,' Jilamey said to Hrriss under his breath, watching the two senior administrators waltz around one another. "What did they ask for? You must have got some humdingers."

"In a way,' Hrriss replied, but his big, green eyes were brimming with mischief. "But change yrrr expectations down rather zan up!"

"You, too?" Todd asked. "The Gringg asked us for food!"

"Not what anyone was expecting,' Ken said, "but I was charmed by it and trust Landreau here to have food processors and big freezer units in that consortium of his. The Gringg don't want our technologies: they seem content with their own. But they do want rather basic, simple items we have in quantity, and cultural things. Is that why Hrrto can't get the words out of his mouth?"

"Yes,' Hrrestan replied, with a fit of low, grunting laughter. "Hrruba has been requested to send this yearn's fashions in hrrnss and jewelled szraps, and the heavy cloth of which Hrrto's r9bes are made. Custom-made size gigantic, please, in quantity." Kiachif grinned, his narrow, bearded jaws opening in amusement. "They were ready to say no to bombs and bullets, but they didn't have a position prepared on beef or baubles!"

"I am sure zey would have classified it as potenzially dangrrrous and not fit for exprrt if zey had considrrred it,' Hrrestan said, his voice hoarse with merriment.

Jilamey exploded in a fit of the giggles. "And when you look at the two of them out there, neither one able to spit it out-' he said, waving a hand, unable to continue speaking. He watched them for a moment, then his voice changed. "On second thought, I don't think this IS so funny." "Neither do I,' Todd said, breaking away. Hrrestan, with a nod of agreement, followed him.

"I'll have to put the matter to the Amalgamated Worlds Administration on Earth before we can discuss this further,' Sumitral was saying. "In the meantime, I am glad to see we continue with the spirit of cooperation that has characterized this world of Rraladoon for over thirty years." "Pardon me,' Todd said, edging adroitly between the two diplomats, "I see little evidence of cooperafion in your faces but a lot of wariness. Speaker Hrrto, would you like to know what the Gringg asked for in our talks?"

"Reeve, no!" Markudian cried, outraged.

"Markudian, yes!" Todd said, rounding on him. "I see this as a real test of Rraladoonan integrity, not Haynman/Firruban competition.

Consider this,' he went on urgently, looking around the circle, "one of the reasons the Gringg thought we were a single species was the way we worked together. I was delighted by that because it showed we'd learned to trust each other. But the first stir of the pot from outside, and we separate into distrustful and greedy - strangers." Todd stared at each one in turn, his glance gliding over Greene's smug expression. "So let's reinstate the honesty we have always used in dealings on Rraladoon.

"Prrrhaps if we begin again,' Hrrestan suggested, "knowing zat we arrre among friends, who will not judge against you no mazzer what occurred?" Sumitral was silent for a long time, then he bowed deeply to Second Speaker. "Hrrto, old friend, I don't know whether I've been gulled or not. The Gringg asked us to ship them tons of comestibles from Earth and its colonies. They want fish, and beef, and chicken.

Oh,' he added, with a wry grin at Todd, "and popcorn." Hrrto cleared his throat and ground his back teeth a moment before he could bring himself to reply. "From us,' and the words seemed reluctant to leave his mouth, "zey wish fine cloth, leather and jewels for zose collars zey prize so much."

"At that you got the best of it,' Jilamey said, "jewels cost more than popcorn and fish." The tension in the room melted away like fog. Todd relaxed and grinned at Hrrestan.

"You should not have admitted such,' Milaba said, glancing at Hrrto but careful not to let Todd or any of the others catch her eye.

"I agree with the little lady,' Barnstable said to Sumitral.

Todd grinned. "The truth is we all feel a little absurd.

Right?"

"Ze Gringg do not wish Hrruban technology,' Hrrto said, his tail giving an emphatic switch.

Sumitral grinned. "They didn't want any of ours either.

Not even for purposes of comparison. I admit that I'm a little puzzled."

"Maybe they are satisfied with the technology they have,' Captain Grace Castleton suggested from the fringe of the group.

Neither of her superiors seemed to agree.

Todd thought it was a faij assessment.

"Don't be so naive, Grace,' Greene put in acidly. "Any objective observer could see that, by asking for such trivia, they are determined to allay suspicion." Todd glared at him. "Greene, you're not what I'd call an objective observer,' he said. "On the other hand, you are extremely suspicious from the get-go. Have you any reason which you're not sharing with us?"

"Grrrene is not ze only one who does not believe zeir asserzhons of peace,' Hrrrv said, breaking in. "To me,' and he put his fist against his chest, "zey are so very not curious about our technology zat zat alone makes me suspicious.

Or have zey been given prrivate brrriefings?" He stared a challenge at Todd who felt his hands balling involuntarily into fists.

Hrrrv stared coldly, awaiting action.

Hrrestan immediately stepped between them, putting a hand, claws sheathed, on each.

"Captain, I find such an accusation as insulting as Zodd,' Hrrestan said in high Hrruban. "For this one Hayuman, the safety of this planet has always come first nor would he ever, ever, jeopardize it. You wi withdraw the remark. Now!" Unobtrusively, Hrriss had moved to one side of his friend; Hrrin, too. For one tense moment, Hrrrv looked as if he would disobey but the nod of withdrawal was the briefest courtesy permitted.

"We beg your pardon for the intrusion,' a booming voice said from the door. Hrrestan's hand fell away, and Todd spun. The Gringg had returned. Honey stepped forward, gesturing to two of the other males to enter the dining room. Between them dangled a Spacedep lieutenant, struggling and angry. His uniform was mussed and he had a bruise on his cheek. "We return this Hayuman male to you. He had unaccountably found his way on to our ship."

"He what?" Todd exploded.

"He was concealed behind a storage hatch,' Kodiak said, apologetically. "But we smelled him. I knew immediately which Haynman he was. I had smelled him before. He walks behind that one." Kodiak pointed at Greene.

Putting up his hands to quiet in the room, Hrrestan came toward the Gringg. He touched the arms of the two holding the man, and they released him. With a tight grip on the Spacedep lieutenant's arm, he bowed to Honey and Kodiak.

"We thank you for rrrsstoring him to us. He surely became lost and disoriented. We will see zat he does not wandrrr again." Fortunately, the Gringg chose to accept Hrrestan's explanation.

"Then we wish you good day,' Honey said, with a toothy smile at the assembly. The Gringg left, and the room seemed suddenly larger.

As soon as the door closed, Lieutenant Bouros shook off Hrrestan's grip and stood at attention. Greene eyed him with annoyance.

"Detected by smell,' Hrrrv said in disgust. "A fine job of concealment, Terranmale. No Hrruban would have been so stupid."

"What in hell did you think you were doing concealing yourself on the Gringg shuttle in the first place?" Todd demanded, looming over him.

"I don't answer to you, sir,' the marine said, staring straight at the wall ahead of him.

"Reeve, this is a Spacedep matter,' Barnstable said, pulling Todd aside and lowering his voice. Greene and Ken closed in on them.

"If he answers to you,' Todd turned to coniTont B a table, "did you order him to invade the Gringg ship? pying on them is no way to establish trust between our two peoples."

"The more we know about them, the more secure we feel in forming closer relationships,' Barnstable said, his brows drawing down over his eyes.

"Ev, that's Alreldep's job, not yours,' Sumitral said, mastering his irritation. "And to allow him to go without neutralization of body odour?" Sumitral rolled his eyes.

"Have you learned nothing about the Gringg? Even the kids here know the Gringg have a keen sense of smell.

Or don't they issue deodorants in your navy?"

"Reconnaissance seems an obvious course with unknowns like the Gringg,' Bouros said, still staring straight ahead.

"The ship wasn't secured, sir. It was easy to do a recon."

"A recon might have been acceptable,' Sumitral said, though his expression was dubious.

"But you had hidden, hadn't you?" Todd said. "Intending to remain on board. For what purpose? To fumigate them into submission with your body odours?"

"Now that was uncalled for,' Barnstable said, indignant, though clearly he wasn't happy that one of his men had been apprehended.

"So was this marine's illegal entry. You may be under the Admiral's orders, but by all that's holy, while you're on this planet, you are also under mine as planetary leader,' Todd went on, his fury unabated. "The next time, mister, you overstep yourself, you'll be subject to my authority."

"And mine,' Hrrestan said with equal threat.

The marine kept his face carefully expressionless.

"Have we made ourselves clear, Admiral?" Todd added, turning to Barnstable but looking at Greene, too. "We're trying to forge an alliance with these beings and there are to be no more juvenile wargames during the proceedings."

"Has it never occurrrred to you,' Hrrestan went on, "zat ze Gringg will likely tell you morrre zan you could ever discoverr by spying?"

"With all respect, leader,' Greene said, "I doubt that very much."

"I wish zo know morrre about ze Gringg zen zey have told us,' Hrrrv muttered sulkily. "As yrrr prrrecious Hayumans say, "Know yrr enemy."' "Better, recognize who is your enemy,' Todd said to the Hrruban captain, and swung a fierce gaze towards the Spacedep officers. That gave Todd the satisfaction of momentarily startling Hrrrv. He did catch the odd glint in Hrrrv's eyes but he couldn't interpret it. "If you'd realize there are no enemies here at all, we could progress on all fronts!" He eyed the Spacedep officers with the same fierce gaze, but clearly, he'd taken much of the wind out of their sails. He allowed his temper to cool. He'd said enough, and to the point, for one day. He'd best withdraw.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have other matters to attend to." With a bow to the assembly, Todd left the dining hall.

"A little strong, was that not?" Hrriss asked, mildly, following Todd toward the grid. His naturally quicker pace kept him abreast of the Hayuman who was still dissipating his anger.

"Aargh!" Todd said, stopping and twining his hands into his hair.

"I wish they'd all pack up and go home, and let us handle the diplomatic relations. We'd achieve fair terms and a treaty, and they'd never have to leave Terra!"

"Or Hrruba,' Hrriss said, thoughtfully. "I don't know how zings went with ze trade discussions, but ze space port talks were constantly interrupted by Barnstable's objections. I zought he was an advocate." Todd grinned. "Only if Spacedep's allowed its little bureaucracies. And with the Gringg a new factor, he's likely to insist on a heavy Spacedep presence.

Hrriss shook his head. "No, it's somezing else. We know zey do not trrrust the Grringg but zeir paranoia is worse zan just mistrrust."

"And probably all a part of why Greene had an agent infiltrating the Gringg shuttle." Todd flattened his lips into a grim line. "I shouldn't have been so glad to see Greene leave our trade talks where, I might add, he and that Markudian lackey of his were doing their damnedest to mess things up."

"He objected to selling zem food?"

"As much as Hrrto ornaments from Hrruba The two old friends grinned at each other.

"Greene had a notion that perhaps they wanted us for food,' Todd said, with a shadow of distaste at being reminded of that incident.

"Ho! So long as you promised zem Rraladoona snake, y6u skinny creatures are safe,' Hrriss said with a laugh.

"All fooling aside, Hrriss, I think the Spacedep personnel bear closer watching. But come on,' he said, with a sudden lightening of mood. "We've got to get the lists of teams drawn up for the Hunt, or you'll see a hell of a hullabaloo when the snakes swarm!" He grinned at his best friend. "I wonder if the Gringg would like to participate.

Not that we've a horse up to such weight."

"Ze way zey move, zey don't need a horse,' Hrriss replied.

Todd's eyes twinkled. "Speaking of moving, c'mon!

Race you to the grid!" Forgetting for the moment that they were adults, with children and responsibilities, the two abandoned themselves to the familiar contest of their childhood. Todd was laughing by the time he caught up with Hrriss at the pillars.

After Todd had stalked out, most of the other delegates found excuses to leave. Jilamey Landreau collared Admiral Sumitral and led him away, talking excitedly about the tons of fish and snake which the Gringg would need. Hrrestan was deep in discussions with the craftsfolk about the availability of large quantities of well-tanned leathers and they all left. Only Castleton, Barnstable, Greene, Second Speaker, Hrrrv, and Mllaba remained.

Greene spoke to Bouros. "You're dismissed, man.

Report back to Earth." He turned to Barnstable. "We can't use him again now that Reeve and the others have seen him."

"Stupid way to be caught,' Castleton said with a halfsmile. "Especially after we saw them use their olfactory senses to differentiate between us."

"Bouros is not a clumsy operative,' Greene replied, annoyed at her comment.

She shrugged.

"Well, Castleton, see what your specialists can do to overcome that problem,' Barnstable said, giving her a sour glance. That startled her but she nodded her head in acceptance of the commission.

"Somehow or other, we have got to gain more evidence against the Gringg that will hold up in World Court. Grace, have we gotten anything new from the exploration ship?"

"Nothing yet, Admiral,' Castleton said. "I renewed the request with an urgent tag on it through secured transmission again this morning.

"Confound it, we need that data. Barnstable pulled a chair away from the dining table and sank into it.

"Trivia!" Second Speaker burst out suddenly. Grace stared at him, wondering if he was accusing them. The Hrruban began to pace, showing all the agitation he had concealed while S\1mitral and the others were present. The Speaker's tail lashed back and forth. "The Gringg ask us for trivia. What does it mean?"

"It means,' Barnstable said, "that they intend to keep up this charade until the last minute. The pretence is wearing my nerves to a nubbin." He sat back in his chair and wiped his face with a handkerchief. Castleton knew predsely how he felt. After weeks of maintaining the Hamilton in a continual state of yellow alert, she was tired. Shore leave to the surface of Doonarrala was limited, and the crew were taking it hard. Frail Frill, one of her most loyal officers, had asked to be released from his duties planetside because it was causing jealousy among the personnel who had been denied permission to downside. Grace had been grateful for the presence of Jon Greene, who had lent her his deep well of strength. He was the most zealous patriot she had ever met. All his actions and decisions were considered in the light of what was best for Humanity.

Grace admired him, but found herself unable to agree completely with him about the treachery of the Gringg. Still, she watched the computer scopes every day, tracking the approach of the Spacedep squadron. It was still too far away to be picked up on sensors. Nor was anything else, which took care of the notion that the Gringg were waiting for reinforcements.

"What are the Gringg waiting for?" Mllaba asked, her yellow-green eyes wide.

"A display of physical aggression?" Castleton suggested.

"They don't act, they react. If we don't press them, they might never attack us." Barnstable waved away the notion. "How far off is the fleet now?"

"Six to seven more days, sir."

"Right. From now on, tighter security. But I still want a look at what they're hiding on that ship!" "I have an idea how to accomplish that, sir,' Greene said, "if you'll allow me a free hand."

"What? All right, Greene. Carry on.

Castleton paused, wondering how to phrase her feelings. "Sir, after having listened to them today, I hesitate to admit it, but I . .

. I like the Gringg. Hearing them talk, it's hard to believe that they caused the destruction of an entire planet. Their behaviour differs so greatly from what appeared on that tape. If I hadn't seen it, I'd never be convinced that they are dangerous.

"Besides that, they are so big!" Hrrto exclaimed. "And so loud!' Barnstable planted a firm finger on the tabletop. "Cunning, too. All that openness and charm right up to the moment they're ready to take over this planet!" Such an emphatic pronouncement silenced the others.

"Only a week, maybe less,' Hrrrv said in a tone of some desperation, "and we'll have a superior force in Rraladoonan skies.

Zen we will have ze authority,' he paused and drew his lip back from his teeth, "zat will supply ze zruth from these "bears"!"

"Reeve and Hrrestan can he removed as planetary leaders,' Barnstable said, rubbing his hands together in anticipation, "as unfit to govern. . .

since they've allowed hospitality to so clearly a menacing species, endangering the citizens of both species."

"Speaker Hrrto and Captain Hrrrv, you would of course support this move for any doubting Hrrubans,' Greene put in. "With an intelligent and dedicated administration, we'll soon put things to rights. We might even consider removing the Reeve family from Doonarrala as subversive to the well-being of the colony since they seem to be forever leading-it into dangerous situations." Just thinking of that possibility gave Greene a certain measure of satisfaction. Grace Castleton regarded him with shock. She had no idea his dislike of the young planetary administrator went that deep.

"And Hrrestan with him,' Mllaba said, "since he also espouses zese same courses."

"I do most respectfully suggest that you act only on provocation,' Grace Castleton said. "This is an independent and autonomous planet. We still don't have proof that these Gringg pose a threat to the planet or either of our worlds."

"I don't like hearing such sentiments from you, Castleton,' Barnstable said, eyeing her fiercely.

She inclined her head a moment. "I am, of course, required to comply with any orders you may give me, Admiral,' the captain said in a colourless voice, "but I would not be acting in your best interests if I do not play devil's advocate."

"Oh? Well, there's that,' Barnstable said, mollified.

"The Gringg protestations of their pacific nature are hypocritical,' Barnstable went on, "and the basis for trade with them ludicrous. Only consolidates my distrust of "em.

I'll have conclusive proof all too soon that they're dangerous!

Why, the size of them alone makes them physically superior . - I mean - - - well, you know what I mean!

We've got to make these fool Doonarralans see that these bear types are the most dangerous species Mankind has ever encountered.

Why, they could dominate the known galaxy. That cannot be allowed!"

"It will not, sir,' Greene assured him.

By the time Todd reached home that evening, he was tired and wanting nothing more than a quick dinner and enough time to review the day's tumultuous and astonishing incidents. He could smell the dinner but, as soon as he swung in the door, he felt the atmosphere crackling.

"Oh, Lord, what've I done wrong now?" he murmured.

The house only felt like this when Kelly was ready to scalp him.

"AH!" and she leaped from the kitchen and stopped abruptly in the middle of the room, fists dug into her hips. ""Would you mind entertaining Captain Grizz and her son, honey?"

" She did a good imitation of him and that further warned him of being in deep trouble with her.

Oh, all I have to do is entertain them this afternoon, show them how we live?"

" She said, mimicking her own wifely reply. "But,-' and now she advanced on him, her head down, her glower intense, "does my beloved husband drop me one little word of the essential difference between the bears I've met and our noble Captain Grizzly? No, nary a word does he say!" With a practised flick of her hand, she caught his outstretched hand with the hard edge of a whipped tea-towel. It stung and, even as he began retreating, she flicked the towel again, catching him even harder on the leg.

"Now, honey "Don't "now, honey," me!" She cast the towel again and this time he ducked because she was aiming at his neck and she'd had too much practice at that art. "Only one phrase just one phrase was necessary. "Honey, the females are bigger than the males."

"But you knew that,' Todd said, reaching the door to put it between him and her attack. "You knew that! We told you she was immense . . . that the males are tercels.

I know we said it."

"But you didn't say it then!" With unexpected force she jerked the door free of his grasp and he stood there, feeling vulnerable.

"Honey, you're good at remembering details - he began. Then panic swept through him. "Nothing happened, did it? With Orizz and Weddeerogh?" Surely someone would have got word to him about that.

Kelly turned on her heel. "No, nothing happened except Nrrna, Mrrva and I were paralysed with shock for five minutes. Even the grid operator was affected . . ." And then Kelly couldn't maintain her angry pose any longer.

She burst out laughing, doubling up with the strength of her spasms.

"I don't think Grrirl will ever forgive us,' she said, wiping her eyes on her former weapon, "because he really did lose it. . . even if Nrrna and Mrrva pretended he hadn't.

Even if you'd said something in your message, we still would not have been prepared by the size of Grizzly and Teddy." Her phrases were less interspersed with giggles.

"He's adorable! All I could think of was "a Bear of Very Little Brain .

"Huh?"

"You know, Winnie-the-Pooh." She stared at her husband.

"My mother read me those stories when I was a kid and I read them to ours . . . don't you remember?

Eeyore "And the tail that's all he's got,' and Todd now remembered the charming stories. "What name did the kids give Weddeerogh?"

"Teddy,' Kelly said firmly, "Not my idea. Winnie ought to have been obvious but those kids of yours latched on to Teddy Bear and there was no arguing them out of it.

My word, but he can eat. "Sing ho for a Bear, sing ho for a Pooh",' she sang, ""I'll have a little something in an hour or two".

He can move in here any time his mother's away Swims like a dolphin.

So does she. . ." Another burst of laughter, and tears were now streaming down Kelly's face. "Thank goodness you dredged the lake last year or it wouldn't have been up to her knees and she does so love to float, flat out. We've got to go to the seashore next time she's free or perhaps demonstrate how we shoot the river rapids." Kelly collapsed back into the couch; then patted it for him to sit beside her "Sorry, love, but I had to get it out of my system. I mean,' and she shook her head in remembered amazement, "I didn't think the grid could take anything that big!"

"That particular grid, as you well know, can handle a whole village. So, what was the captain's reaction? She wasn't offended?"

"I believe she thought we weren't sure how to greet her appropriately and instructed us,' Kelly said, snuggling up to him now which is what he'd wanted all along but he didn't feel quite like responding to her just yet. "And Teddy was no problem at all especially after he saw Hrrunna. After that, when he wasn't in the water, he was rocking her. Thank goodness they eat anything, and almost everything. I'll have to do a major resupply tomorrow. Another thing, Grizz wouldn't come in here she figured our floors weren't up to her weight .

but she looked in through every window. On tiptoe she could even see into the dormer rooms." She stifled another bubble of laughter.

"She seemed to approve - but mainly of the lake. Thank goodness you and Hrriss dredged that lake!" And Kelly tittered. "How did your day go?" "Well, now that you mention it, I am glad we dredged the lake,' he replied at his most casual. If she had seen fit to take her own turn first, he'd make her wait for his report. "Gringg love water sports.

There's the ocean, too.

I'm not sure they have tidal seas "Yes, but what do they want to trade?" Todd affected a very serious expression. "Not what we expected at all." He wondered how long he could play this one out before he told her the "awful truth' Once the details of trade items became public knowledge, there was great competition to show the Gringg what Rraladoon craftfolk and farmers had to offer. Since the old Hall would be even more inadequate than ever with even a few Gringg within, every village offered its green as marketplace. Nearly half the Gringg on board the Wander Den wished to participate actively in trading so that no village had a chance to feel deprived or neglected.

Other Gringg were interested in other facets of life on the planet. Their wishes were accommodated despite continued vehement protests and ominous warnings from Spacedep. Gringgs were "adopted' for a day by people in every line of work. With scrupulous impartiality, Kelly and Nrrna acted as secretaries for such engagements. So it was not surprising that, when Shhrrgahnnn asked to see more closely some of the four-footed beasts which were in such continuous use by Hayuman and Hrruban that Kelly asked her brother to oblige him.

"Only if the smell of a Gringg doesn't freak my patients out,' Mike Solinari replied.

"The Gringg smell pleasant,' Kelly remarked, a trifle sharply, "and my house pets and our horses have exhibited no reaction to their presence." She didn't add that dogs pretended the mountain of flesh wasn't there and the cats remained well beyond the range of even Teddy, but they hadn't exhibited a "physical' reaction.

"Well, sick stock doesn't respond normally. That voder contraption unnerves me,' Mike said, "and I understand its purpose.

However, Kelly did agree to wait and be sure that the Gringg didn't freak out his patients. So, early on the scheduled morning, Kelly Reeve delivered the guest at the hospital.

"Now, Bra,' Kelly said, introducing the Gringg, "your niece and nephew have renamed him Cinnamon.

"I can see why,' Mike replied affably. "He's got hair the same colour as we do. Mike's poll was fiery red, much brighter than Cinnamon's though both could be termed "red'. Where Kelly was dainty and slenderly built, Mike's features were heavier and his frame carried extra bulk. He had a willing, open face that wore a grin of anticipation as the Gringg climbed awkwardly out of the Reeve family hovercraft.

"Cinnamon, this is my brother, Mike,' Kelly said, holding on to his arm. Then she gestured towards a tall, hollow-chested Hayuman with black hair and a broad, blunt nose and the narrow-striped Hrruban.

"Bert Gross, who's also a veterinarian, uh, animal doctor, and Errrne.

He's an intern. Studying to be an animal doctor."

"Fardles, he's a monster!" Bert muttered, nevertheless extending a hand to the Gringg.

"Greetings, or whatever." The Gringg touched his claws gently to the middle of the man's palm. Bert drew back, pretending to make sure all the fingers were intact.

"I am most pleased,' Cinnamon said after the usual preliminary growlings came through the voder. He showed his long, white teeth, and all three males swallowed.

"Bet he brrush zem a lot,' Errrne quipped weakly.

"I've never seen anything with red eyes before that wasn't stark raving mad,' Gross added.

"All right!" Kelly said, keeping an affable grin on her own face, just as glad that neither Bert nor Eurne had voders. "Let's see what effect Cinnamon has on the stock.

Today I've got to touch a lot of bases!"

"I dunno,' Bert Gross said, muttering under his breath.

"I've been hearing rumours that these guys are pretty dangerous.

"Oh, horseapples,' Mike said. He liked the Gringg on sight.

Cinnamon seemed friendly and curious, not threatening as some of those in-flow visitors from Earth had suggested. The Gringg stood looking around him, sniffing the air, nostrils wrinkling ever so slightly.

"I guess the barn does smell kind of pungent,' Mike said, with a grin and wondered if the voder translated the tone in which words were said, or meant. "It's a warm day, and we haven't mucked out our patients' stalls yet,' he explained to the Gringg. "Come along. You don't have to do any of it, but we can talk to you while we work." The isolation stables were in a big airy barn that had ventilators along the roof line, to circulate air through the building without chilling the patients below. Sensing the visitors, sick horses and mules started to whicker, somewhat nervously: one kicked its side partitions.

Promptly Mike marched Cinnamon out again, while Kelly exclaimed in some dismay until Mike re-entered the Barn with Cinnamon through the downwind door.

"Can't be too careful,' he explaine to his slightly puzzled guests, keeping his tone low, hoping the voder translation would be quiet, too. It was. "Horses are delicate. There are a couple of high risk mares in foal.

I don't want them to abort. Say, here's a fellow who's only in for a sore leg. Have a look." He beckoned the Gringg close as he leaned over the stall door.

A low hiss of admiration escaped between Cinnamon's lips as he gazed at the young bay horse standing on the straw. The animal looked up from the hay it was lipping, wisps hanging from its lips as it gave the unusual shape a long stare before it started to chew again, but it didn't panic. It twitched its dark satin skin here and there as if ffies troubled it. It raised the white-bandaged leg, curling the hoof under the protection of its body.

"See? No reaction at all,' Kelly said, "I'm off!" and she departed before anyone could delay her.

"The creature is very beautiful,' Cinnamon said, speaking more softly through the voder than Mike could have thought possible. "What is such an animal used for?"

"We ride them,' Mike explained, gritting his teeth as the voder squawked back. The gelding switched ears and rolled eyes apprehensively but didn't do more since it also heard Mike's familiar voice. "We use them as non-polluting - well, non-toxic-polluting - transportation around here. They run on hay instead of batteries, and besides, they can be good friends to you.

Some of this type,' and he pulled Cinnamon across the aisle to a sick cow, "are reared as food animals and their hides are used for other things.

Cinnamon gave the cow a most cursory glance and went back to admire the horse. "They are like gentleness and night and wood,' Cinnamon said, struggling for Hrruban words to express his admiration.

"Hrrrsses must surely be the most lovely creatures on Rraladoon,' he pronounced with a trill that enhanced the Hrruban word.

"Well, we kind of like them, too,' Mike said, a little overwhelmed to be on the receiving end of poetry so early in the morning. "Stay and see how we care for them. I've got to spend some time in the surgery this morning. Bert, you have the comm." He passed his voder over so that any queries Cinnamon had could be understood. Then, with a nod at the others to begin their work, he left for his office.

Cinnamon watched intently as Mike and Bert hauled out soiled straw and spread fresh, doled out medication, checked bandages, and generally cared for the ailing hoofed animals. When the round device on the wall had its two indicators pointing directly skyward, work ceased, Mike returned to collect him.

"Do you have any questions about what you've been seeing today?" Mike asked.

Consideringly, Cinnamon rolled his fleshy lower lip. "I want to know what is the purpose of this place. I have watched you. Why have a vet-er-i-nor-y hospital when you eat animals? Why not just eat the ones who can no longer serve you?" Errrne and Gross thought this was the funniest thing they'd ever heard. Mike shut them up with an eloquent glance.

"You don't farm animals, do you?" Mike asked rhetorically "Morra.

Only plants such as grain, vegetables and fruits.

All of our meat is caught wild. There is plenty of game around us, and we are good at preserving that which is uneaten,' Cinnamon replied.

"Well, there are more reasons to have animals than for food,' Mike said. "Not all animals make good eating."

"Can you show me some?"

"No, I can't. Every beast we raise on Rraladoon has a double purpose.

These, for instance,' Mike said, drawing Cinnamon to the sheep-fold, "we raise for the fleece on their backs which makes our clothes." Capturing one of the merinos, he showed Cinnamon the depth and fineness of the wool and then demonstrated the difference with a hardier mountain sheep. The Gringg gingerly felt of each fleece, nodding as he appreciated the different textures.

"The captain will want to know about these,' he said.

The Gringg was careful to input all new vocabulary into the memory of the voder at his throat. By the end of the morning, he could discuss what he had learned with intelligence and a measurable degree of clarity.

"These bruins are smart,' Bert commented, impressed.

"Tape-learning,' Errrne said, shrugging his plush-covered shoulders. "He is amassing a bluffrrr's guide, zat is all." Errrne was puzzled when Cinnamon shoved away the chair beside their table in the lunch room. Then he realized that the Gringg was quite capable of reaching the table even parked on the floor beside it. Not knowing how much a Gringg ate, Mike had made arrangements with the cafeteria cook for double quantities of everything.

As he watched the Gringg eat, though daintily enough for all his size, Mike was a little sorry that he hadn't made that triple.

Cinnamon exclaimed with pleasure over everything he tried, and ended up consuming as much as all three Rraladoonans put together.

When his plate was empty, he was unobtrusively though politely looking around for more "You eat more than my brother Sean,' Mike said, with respect, leaning over to speak through the voder around Bert's neck.

"I didn't think anything short of a Great Big Mamma Snake could pack it in tighter."

"Everything had a most delicious flavour,' Cinnamon said, rolling back on his tail and running the tip of a claw between his teeth for stray morsels. "I admire also the variety of textures and aromas." Mike grinned. "The grub is good here. What's Gringg food like?"

"We eat protein, carbohydrates, starch coming from different sources. I will show you some of our eatables at another time. Now I must be curious about all aspects of our new friends, who are so very different from Gringg."

"You can say that again,' Bert said, surveying the alien with a narrowed eye, forgetting that he was wearing the voder.

"Why must I repeat it?" Cinnamon asked, drawing his brows together over his snout.

"Uh,' Bert said, and looked to his friends for help. Mike guffawed.

"It's a colloquialism,' Mike explained, taking hold of voder by the cord around Bert's neck and bringing it to his mouth. "He means he agrees with what you said."

"Would it not be simpler to say "I agree?"

"Cinnamon asked, and the men laughed again.

It was impossible for anyone passing through the lunch room to miss the shaggy hulk of the Gringg. A few eyed Cinnamon warily and passed on hurriedly. Mike recognized those as interns from Earth.

Most of the usual Rraladoon staff, however, stopped to be introduced.

Cinnamon's head kept turning back and forth, trying to follow multiple conversations. Mike decided he was happy to be in the midst of everything. One by one, the medics and visitors recalled appointments, and disappeared, leaving the four of them alone at their table.

"OK,' Bert asked. "So, Cinnamon, what do you want to do this afternoon?"

"I wish to learn more about the pretty hrrrsses,' he said eagerly.

"You and everybody else,' Mike said, pushing away from the table with a mock sigh of exasperation. "Come on. We've got Mrs Lawrence's hunter gelding in for an abscess on his rump. He's pretty calm. I don't think he'll spook at the sight of our pal here." In the treatment barn, Mike greeted Nita Taylor, one of their veterinary assistants, who was washing out a bucket under the pump at one end of the horse barn.

"Got a visitor here to see Amber." Nita glanced over her shoulder, then stood up to take a full-faced stare at the Gringg. She was a willowy girl of middle height with light-golden skin and dark brown eyes and hair. The things most people noticed about her were her perfect cupid's-bow lips, and the fact that she was as shy as an urfa.

She nodded, tilting her head towards the stall.

"No problem,' she said, collecting her wits. "Like you ordered, I changed the dressing before feeding this morning so it might need replacement.

The chestnut horse stood half asleep in the sun. Mike hopped over the fence and approached with soothing sounds, running one hand down the back and to the rump. Its eyelids fluttered as it shifted a leg, denoting it was aware of Mike.

"Hey, watch he don't cowkick you, Mike!" Bert said, nervously, "if he catches sight of Cinnamon?"

"He's all right,' Mike said, turning to catch the tie-rope and halter in one hand.

The horse came fully awake and nosed at Mike's chest.

He pushed away the gelding's muzzle.

"You're almost better, fellah,' he said, affectionately "Another couple of days and you can go home." Cinnamon walked halfway around the fence to get a better look at the animal's face. Mike noticed the visitor was being very careful to stay downwind.

"We call horses the wealth of Doona,' Mike explained, patting the gelding's cheek. "No one in the galaxy raises better stock than we do: jumpers, hunters, or just riding hacks."

"How is it ridden?" Cinnamon asked.

"I will show you,' Errrne volunteered, taking another headcollar and lead rope from those on the peg of the turn-out field. As the Gringg watched, the Hrruban quietly approached an animal grazing just beyond the - sick gelding. Deftly he slipped on the halter, tied the rope on to the far side to make a impromptu rein. Then, with the ease of long practice, Errrne leaped to the gelding's back and coaxed it into a walk.

"You hold on with your knees,' Mike explained. "You don't need a saddle unless you're riding a long distance.

Then it's vital for your comfort and the mount's. They've got sharp spines.

"Ah,' the Gringg said, his eyes glued to the graceful form of horse and rider. Errrne coaxed the beast to a fast trot, then into a canter which increased to the gallop stride.

"That Hrruban rides like he was part of the critter,' Bert said, admiringly. "He breaks horses freelance."

"He does what to hrrrsses?" Cinnamon asked, anxiously, tapping the voder. Bert laughed as he tried to explain.

""Break" is not the direct translation,' Mike said, his eyes dancing.

"Hello?" someone called.

"Back here!" Mike shouted back.

Footsteps ticked and scratched on the concrete floor of the barn.

Nita blushed suddenly. Mike noticed her reaction with a grin. If she knew those boots just by sound, the wearer had to be Robin Reeve.

The younger brother was a smaller, slighter copy of Todd. He had the same intense blue eyes, dynamite with the engaging grin that got him out of trouble as often as it got him into it.

"Afternoon,' he drawled, then noticed the visitor. "Well, him!' he greeted the Gringg. "I'm Robin. Which one are you?"

"I am this one,' Cinnamon replied. "I am called Cinnamon.

"Welcome, well met, and well named,' Robin said, cheerfully. "As our old friend, Kiachif, would say. Are you enjoying Rraladoona so far?" "Reh! Very especially the hrrrsses,' Cinnamon said, enthusiastically.

"Glad to hear it,' Robin replied. "We're all horse-crazy here."

"Robin is my brother-in-law, Mike said. "His brother is married to my sister-' "A most complicated explanation of a simple relationship,' Cinnamon observed.

"Sometimes, it's very complicated,' Robin agreed. "Say, Mike, I've got a sow in the flitter out front. She's due to farrow any time now, but she's running a temperature.

I'm afraid she'll lose the htter."

"How in hell did you get a sick, pregnant pig into a hover?" Mike demanded.

"It's only because she knows she's my favorite that she trusted me enough. I have this way with women. Oh, hi, Nita,' he said, mischievously peering at her sidelong from under his sweeping black lashes. Nita bent the bow of her delicious-looking lips into a shy smile, then retreated to the isolation stall.

"I'd better take a look at your pig then,' Mike said, grinning.

"I hope she hasn't decided to give birth right in your car.

Robin looked alarmed. "I hope not! It's my sister Nessie "5

car." Cinnamon barely noticed the two Hayumans depart, so entranced was he with the ruddy-coated gelding. He was mentally composing a poem to the species, and to this specimen in particular, when the Hayuman Bert Gross pulled at his forelimb fur.

"If you want to see some more horses, we've got a whole bunch of them in a corral over to the other side of the building,' Gross said, studiously casual.

"Reh!" Cinnamon exclaimed, picturing a sea of the beautiful animals. "I would be most grateful." The Hrruban pulled Gross to one side. "What are you up to?" Errrne said in a low voice.

"I'm gonna show our guest,' Gross said, with careful emphasis, "a whole lot of horses.

Errrne, understanding the joke at last, dropped his jaw in a big grin. "Let us go!" The paddock contained some thirty animals, huddled together near the feed troughs. One tiger-spotted Appaloosa stood near the gate, scratching the side of his nose on the post. It glanced at the Hayuman and Hrruban without interest, but started violently and snorted at the sight of the Gringg. As Cinnamon came closer, the horse retreated until it was well within the crowd at the other side. It wheezed a warning sound. All the others in the pen looked up, and stared with wary, brown eyes at the stranger.

"These are all two-year-old geldings,' Gross said.

"They are not hrrrsses?" Cinnamon asked, puzzled.

"When is a hrrrss not a hrrrss?"

"Is that a joke?" Bert asked, elbowing his Hrruban companion. "Uh, when a horse - ah, forget it.

Yeah, they're horses. Nice, aren't they?"

"Reh,' Cinnamon breathed.

He felt a deep affection rising in him for the big, liquid eyes, slender limbs, and smooth pelts of these animals. Oh, what very attractive creatures they were. "I understand why Rraladoon prizes them so."

"Why don't you just go in and get acquainted with them?" Bert asked, opening the gate and standing back to gesture him courteously through. "They're all wellhandled."

"Oh, I would like that,' Cinnamon said. He stepped into the paddock. Bert shut the gate behind him.

"What if he hurrrrts zem?" Errrne whispered.

"Don't worry,' Gross muttered back. "They won't let him get anywhere near "em." The veterinarian's prediction almost came true.

Wearing a beatific expression, Cinnamon walked towards the herd.

Instantly, it split into two groups and cantered past him toward the opposite side of the corral.

The Gringg was disappointed that the animals were so shy around him. His new friend had assured him that they were friendly. Perhaps he was just too unfamiliar. If he allowed them to smell him, they would become used to him and come close enough to touch.

Extending one paw forward very slowly, Cinnamon walked towards them again. For the first ten paces, they stayed where they were, watching him approach.

He had not observed before that their huge brown eyes were edged with white under the lids. He took another step. One of the bigger animals tossed its head. That seemed to set off the others, who cantered away in a bunch, skittering and neighing, leaving the Gringg facing nothing at all. Patiently, he turned about and tried his approach again.

Try as he might, Cinnamon could not get close enough so that any of the lovely animals could sniff at his paw.

Intent on his task, he could hear the gasps and bursts of sound made by the Doonarralans behind him, but he did not see them slapping one another on the back. He tried another approach. When the herd was downwind of him, he stood still, allowing the slight breeze to carry his scent to them.

The musk of his fur made a few of the horses rear and toss their heads, but they did not bolt or show other signs of alarm. In a few moments, they calmed down completely except for a twitch here and there. Slowly, very slowly, Cinnamon moved closer with his paw out.

As before, as soon as he was within a Gringg-length or two, the herd melted to either side of him and fled. Patiently, Cinnamon tried again.

"We could let this go on all day!" Gross said, red-faced with laughter. Errrne grunted breathlessly beside him.

Over and over, the same actions repeated themselves.

The bear-like Gringg walked towards the herd, which split up and ran away from him. The Rraladoonas were enjoying themselves immensely.

It was funnier each time it happened, and the Gringg's disappointment increased their pleasure. Then one of the horses in the paddock began to rear and whinny. Its eyes showed wide arcs of white, and its nostrils were flared.

"What's with that one? It's spooking badly now,' Gross said, pointing. "I don't want it jumping the fence." At first there seemed to be no reason for the horse's growing anxiety. As the herd split one more time, the two men outside the pen saw why.

"A mare's in zat bunch,' Errrne cried.

"Oh, fardles, and her colt is there, too,' Bert said, hurrying to jump the fence. The mare cut out of the herd and made straight for the Gringg, swinging her head back and forth, showing her teeth.

"Cinnamon, get out of there!" he yelled. "Back off!" The Gringg stood waiting for it, his eyes wide with joy.

Even trained as he was for accurate recall, Cinnamon was not ever able to describe exactly how the collision came about. One of the horses came out of the herd, directly toward him. Welcoming, he put out a paw for it to sniff, but greeting him was not what it intended.

He saw a flash of eye, then teeth, then hard, round hooves flailing at his face. It cut his muzzle, making him bleed. The hooves struck him in the shoulder, the chest.

Cinnamon's paw came up to protect his face, and hit the mare's head instead. Her neck broke with an audible snap.

As Cinnamon watched stunned, she sank to her knees and, rolling to one side, lay still. A half-grown horse trotted out of the herd and, stopping uncertainly halfway there, it emitted a tentative whinny, which grew sharper when there was no reply. Cinnamon realized with horror that this was her young. He had killed a mother horse and left an orphan.

He threw back his head and wailed his grief. Then the horses began to stampede!

The instant the wild howling started, Mike and Robin exchanged a look and raced towards that side of the building. They'd never heard such a sound before - a cross between a siren and a foghorn, a very insistent and unhappy foghorn - but they knew it meant trouble.

In the stableyard, there was a penful of hysterical horses hammering themselves against the far fence, and Mike's two junior associates staring with horror at the Gringg.

"What happened?" Mike demanded, looking from one to the other.

"Why's he yelling like that?"

"That beast killed a horse,' Bert Gross said, pointing wildly at Cinnamon, who was sitting on his haunches in the corral beside the body of the dead mare. "They're dangerous! He broke her neck with one swipe!" He hoped that Mike would take his story at face value. Neither he nor Errrne wanted to confess their part in the tragedy.

"Better get Todd,' Robin said grimly.

The Hayuman and Hrruban traders, chafing from their enforced idleness while waiting for the outcome of the postponed conference, had spent a lot of time in the pub of the Space Centre. It wasn't a large one, though additions had been made as trade to Doonarrala increased.

In fact, there was more pub' than space port facility. The ambience of this small cramped complex was a thousand light years different from the mild village it bordered, and the pub was a further remove yet.

Ali Kiachif made it a point to drop in at least once a day and swap lies with whoever was hanging about. Any of his captains who needed to drop a private word in his ear could find him there and many potential problems were quietly defused in that milieu.

Fred Horstmann and a couple of the others involved in the conference were having an afternoon drink with Kiachif.

The subject, as it had been for weeks, was the Gringg.

"I can't guess whether they're funning us or not,' Morwood said.

He was a middle-ranker, a Codep shipper who had been out a fair number of years. He wanted most of all to get a cargo to ship and leave the planet. He'd been here far too long.

"Fun? For fish, flesh, or fowl?" Kiachif asked, ripping the seal off a fresh bottle of mlada and pouring himself a glassful. "I'd say they're telling the truth."

"But it sounds like a joke,' Horstmann offered, taking a pull from his beer. "Hard to believe they'd settle on such simple stuff, if you understand me." The other traders grinned.

"You've been around Kiachif too long,' Captain Darwin said, looking open and innocent when the Codep chief turned a surprised glare on him.

"Not so simple, but it's a foot in the door, to be sure, a foot in the door,' Ali said. "Nothing will do but fresh and new, which will keep our ships in the space lanes.

I like that well enough, if you follow my reasoning, and you do." The debate went on, with about two thirds of the spacers firmly in the Gringg's corner, and the others uncomfortable and unsure of the new aliens' motivations.

It was shaping up to a fine brawl when Kiachif spotted Jon Greene walking through the security gate towards the landing bays.

Thank the stars I outrank him, Kiachif thought. I dislike him more than I hate stale bread and water. And I thought he was sweeties with Grace Castleton, though you'd think a lass of her rank would have better taste. Hate to warn her off when she's been looking so happy.

Greene was sure set on roiling up ill-feeling and Kiachif knew, from his special sources, that the commander'd come an aIm's ace to making an intergalactic incident happen. Which would have been bad for new trade possibilities and that was not on in Kiachifs lexicon.

It's time he had a piece of my mind handed him, Kiachif thought.

He gulped what was left in his glass and excused himself.

"I'll be back,' he called to the publican. "Another bottle of the same, to be waiting." The man snapped the towel he was plying on the inside of a glass pitcher, and nodded.

The mlada was burning a pleasant warmth in his stomach as he made his way through the chilly concrete corridors. Kiachif told himself he preferred a quiet life, but a good mill always helped the blood run warmer. If Greene didn't tell Kiachif why he was trying so hard to queer things, it wouldn't be for want of persuasion - of one form or another. He might even persuade him to show good manners.

Around the corner, the corridor was empty. His prey had a good stride on him, Greene must be pretty far ahead.

Kiachif passed the control room. He waved a hand in the door, and kept walking. One of the female technicians, a young woman with chocolate-dark skin, nodded to him. She was having a quiet talk with someone who wasn't visible from the doorway. A lover's chat, perhaps?

Kiachif slowed down as he recognized the man's voice: the importunate Commander Greene.

He doubled back and put his ear next to the door-post.

Whatever was going on in there, it wasn't love talk. He heard Greene say something about sensors, followed by a low and indistinguishable question. The woman shook her head.

"No, sir. It's all been by the book, I swear,' she said.

She sounded panicky, and her skin had a moist look of stress Kiachif did not like to see.

"And the records of the scans have all been filed under coded seals?" Greene's voice was smooth and low, but there was an unmistakable threat in it.

"Yes, sir." The woman's throat constricted on the second word, sending it up an octave. Kiachifs eyes went wide.

"Blank that screen!" Greene commanded. Hastily, she reached for the control, and the sensor pattern she'd been monitoring vanished.

Kiachif hadn't had time for a good look at it, but he fancied he could reconstruct it, given time. There'd been three ships on the screen three ships with the yellow data prints of heavy weaponry.

Heet ships? But where bound, and why?

"It's a crime to reveal secure data to anyone without the correct classification,' the commander said, continuing his harangue.

"I know that, sir,' the technician said. "I'd never do that, sir." "Good,' Greene said, standing up and moving into Kiachifs line of sight. He leaned over her in an ominous fashion. That he scared her was obvious from her distraught expression. "See that you don't. You are to keep me or Admiral Barnstable posted on any change, but no one else, do you understand me? An infraction of the regulations could put you into a one-by-two cell in a military prison on Earth for ten years.

The woman's eyes widened until Kiachif thought they'd pop right out of her head.

"Well, if that gall don't grease a goose's gizzard,' Kiachif muttered. Abandoning his listening post, he strode boldly into the office.

"Afternoon, pretty lady,' Kiachif began cheerily, as if he hadn't a care in the world. "I've got a ship coming in from Tau Ceti way.

Wondered if you could give me a vector and an ETA. If it's no trouble, that is. Oh, hello, Greene. Leaving, are you?" The Spacedep commander fixed Kiachif with a hostile stare. He was clearly unhappy to have been interrupted before he had totally cowed the poor girl.

"I was just going,' he said. "Remember what I said,' he told the technician. "Security!"

"Yes, Commander,' the technician said, unhappily. She watched Greene leave, then turned to Kiachif, beads of sweat visible on her forehead. "How may I help you, Captain?" she asked, placing her hands ready on the keyboard at her station. Her voice petered out, and she swallowed.

"Is that rattlesnake giving you trouble, my dear?" Kiachif asked kindly, sitting down on the edge of the chair Greene had just vacated.

"Oh, no, sir,' she said quickly.

"Now, now, you know, I don't believe you at all, if you follow me,' Kiachif said, his voice soothing. "That one has no manners. I'm sure that asking nicely would have gotten him the self-same smiling service from a nice lass like you.

He glanced up at the digital. "Ah, you're nearly off shift, aren't you?" With a grateful look of near-fainting relief, she glanced the same way. "Fifteen minutes,' she said with a sigh and a sagging of her shoulders.

"Well, now, you wouldn't think of joining an al' space captain for a tot or so of miada, would you? A sort of thank you for checking up on my ship? You look like you could do with a jolt, if you know what I mean." She shot him a tentative smile. "I don't know as I should "Why not? Your shift will be over, duty done, and a little relaxation's in order. You've been under quite a strain, with all the shipping in and out, and many's the glass I've had that's taken the weariness out of me in such a situation. So I recommend it highly to you, if you know what I mean." After Greene's manner, the kindly old captain whom she'd known for years soothed her rattled nerves. A drink or two in pleasant company was just what she needed right now. She swiped back her hair with a shaking hand. "Oh, captain,' she said, in a low voice suffused with desperation.

"I'd like that very, very much."

Chapter 9

Sic EVERYONE ON BOARD THE WANDER DEN was so busy that there wasn't even company for swimming, Weddeerogh asked his mother if he could visit the young people at the Double Bar Gemini Ranch. Grzzeearoghh thought that an excellent idea and immediately inquired of the Hayuman Zodd if this could be arranged. Todd asked Kelly, adroitly in the presence of Alison and Alec, but fortunately his wife was amenable to the notion without the need to use the pressure of the kids' pleas.

"I told you Teddy could come any time,' she said. "Pop over and tell Nrrna, will you, kids? Is Grizz coming, too?" she added, immediately cataloguing what she had already prepared in the freezer.

"No, just Teddy,' and Todd grinned. "With all the adults out and about trading, or kibbutzing, the little feller's likely to be lonely." "Little feller?" Kelly mocked, grinning, and raised her hand to her ear level.

"Comparatively,' Todd said with a grin. "Buddy'll drop Teddy off right here. Save you a trip into town."

"Fine by me, as I thought the air cushions on the flitter would burst the day we collected t little feller and his sweet mommy from the grid." Kelly favoured her husband with a sardonic look for the surprise she'd had when all of Grizz and her not-so-small cub had emerged from the mist.

"I'll clear up as much as I can in my office tomorrow, Todd said, "so I can join in the fun."

"Ha! Where were you when I needed you!' she said, rolling her eyes but grinning. "Teddy's no problem but what should I fix for him to eat this time?"

"Ask the gang,' Todd suggested as he left.

News of Teddy's imminent visit sifted through other items of interest so that when Buddy skilfully landed the big Gringg shuttle, there were unofficial observers, too, as the eager five young bounded to greet Weddeerogh. He had put on his best fish-scale collar and, on his dam's urging, had brushed his fur until it gleamed. He had also shortened the cord of his voder so that it no longer prodded his ear or the back of his head.

Not that the voder could handle the shrieks and shouts of delight from the two Hayumans and three Hrrubans.

He didn't even try to say the phrases of gratitude his dam had had him prepare.

"C'mon,' and the Alec one grabbed his hand and started pulling him away from the house. "The (garble) just hatched and you've never seen baby (garble) before, Teddy." Alison, Hrrana and Hrrunival either pushing or pulling him started him on the way to the barn while the smallest Hrruban followed, wide-eyed.

"I must give your parent . . ." Teddy began, the voder stuttering at first until the Hrruban came out.

"Mom said you'd want to see the (garble)!" Alec said, tugging harder.

Teddy could see Kelly on the porch, waving for him to go with the children so he felt completely excused from the courtesies his dam had insisted he perform in acceptance of family hospitality.

He found the newly hatched "chickens' (and he dutifully added that noun and "bantie' as "mother of chicks' to the vocabulary), delightful creatures although he couldn't hear them peeping, as the others could, no matter how he fiddled with the voder.

Then he was taken on the tour of the horses in the barn and he pleased everyone by remembering the names he had been given on his previous visit. He wondered how long it would be before he could mention swimming in the lake again but no, there were other newborn creatures for him to meet. . . katzz and kitthhhhens. He did know the word "katz' . . . small furry being. Well, he must uphold the honour of his father, who was one of the most renowned scribes on their home world, so Teddy girded himself to remember the personal names of these new species. It wasn't easy to pick up new words: the Hayuman children talked so fast and the Hrruban brothers and sister interrupted them constantly, making it difficult for the voder to keep up.

"Here they are, Teddy,' Hrrana said, beating the others to show the place where the katz had kitthhhens.

Four tiny four-legged animals swarmed over Teddy, their mouths opening and closing though the voder didn't pick up the sounds. Hrrana lifted one up to him and instructed him on how to handle the soft, squirmy things.

It sniffed at him as was proper so he sniffed, very carefully, at it.

"(garble) behind the ears,' Hrrana said and demonstrated. He asked her to repeat the first word and then added it to the rapidly increasing line of new vocabulary.

He gently extruded one claw, because his digits were much larger than Hrrana's, and applied the appropriate pleasure. He could feel a rumbling through the palm of his hand.

"She's prrrring,' Hrrana told him proudly and he took this to mean the small creature accepted him.

"What is this kitthhhen? How big does it grow?" Teddy asked just as a larger, black-and-white creature of the same species came bounding over the hay-strewn place to investigate him. It sniffed at his feet and courteously he squatted and got his head down to its level to get its scent.

"That's how big it grows,' Hrrunival said. "Cats are from Earzz and are not intelligent."

"They are so,' Alec replied with some heat.

"Kasha's very intelligent."

"For a cat,' Hrrana agreed, shooting a quelling glance at her brother.

"At least as intelligent as you, Hrrunival,' Alec went on, tauntingly.

As he evidently expected, Hrrunival charged at Alec who lithely twisted Out of the way and streaked for the wide open barn door, Hrrunival in close pursuit. Clucking (rather like the chicken had), Alison removed the kitten from Teddy's hand.

"We'd better make sure the fight's fair, she said and, with Hrrana and Ourrh who hadn't yet addressed the Gringg cub, followed the boys.

The little Gringg had no choice but to follow as fast as he could waddle. At the door Alison looked back.

"Wait, Hrrana! We're leaving Teddy behind!"

"Ooops! He can't run verry fast, can he?" Hrrana observed, slowing down.

"He's doing the best he can,' Alison replied.

Alec suddenly remembered his manners and grabbed hold of Hrrunival, evading the punch that came his way.

"C'mon, let's do something that's fun for all of us. Hey, Teddy, what do you want to do?" he called Out.

"I would like to swim,' the cub said. "Swimming here last time was much pleasure.

"Should we try the creek this time?" Alec asked his twin.

"No, he wouldn't get very wet in the creek,' she replied, scanning the girth of their guest.

The ducks on the farm pond scattered with noisy pr tests when the children, stripped naked, waded into the water and started to splash one another. Teddy unfastened his collar and laid it and his voder on those of his hosts.

"Confirmed,' Lieutenant Gallup whispered, crawling on his knees and elbows into the ditch where Lieutenant Walters crouched. His long, sallow face was filmed with sweat under the camouflage make-up, and his brush-cut black hair was dusty. "The Gringg cub is there with the Reeve and Hrruban kids. They're swimming in the pond, mother naked."

"And the pond right out in the open,' Walters said, squinting through the tall grass into the sunny yard. His light blue eyes were two pale spots in an irregular stripe of black grease-paint. Raising his scope, he scanned the grounds of the Reeve and Hrriss farms. "D'ja see anyplace we can grab him alone?" Gallup shook his head. "Not so close to the houses. The kids'll set up a ruckus. We'll have to wait until they're further away. Too bad the pond's visible cause they've all stripped off comms and voders. Damn!"

"Let's ooze down there anyhow.

That fancy collar of the cub might be interesting to examine.

Wouldn't know what sort of technology's hidden in it. All the bruins wear something of the sort all the time they're downside." Under a sky bluer than any he had ever seen, Teddy dived and swam and played with his new friends in water that smelled of fragrant grasses and weeds.

It tasted unusual but very nice.

The Hayumans and Hrrubans taught him games by demonstrating between themselves how they were played.

One required each swimmer to keep away from one chosen to be "tagger'. Alison lost that draw and the game required lots of splashing and swimming and shrieking for those eluding the tagger.

Another made use of a coloured ball which the players were required to catch with hands. He had to be careful of his claws which inadvertently unsheathed to make the catch. Where his clawtips touched, the surface indented. He realized how fragile Rraladoonan toys were, as were the persons of Rialadoon, too. It was also very difficult to throw the squishy ball any great distance, depriving Teddy of the advantages strength and speed gave him in the other contests, to the evident joy of the younger Hrruban.

Hrrunival was so determinedly competitive that Teddy started losing on purpose to keep the young felinoid from feeling bad. The object of the game was to get the ball over cross poles at each end of the relatively oval pond. After a certain number of these objectives had been attained, Hrrunival gestured Teddy and the others to him at his end of the pond. He pantomimed that they should now swim as fast as possible to the other end. Teddy wished that the voder was waterproof. He was losing valuable words which he was certain no other Gringg would collect.

The children quickly discovered that though Teddy couldn't move as quickly as they could on land, none of them could touch him for speed in the water. His big paws scooped waves out of his way, and his powerful tail gave him extra thrust. No matter what kind of a head start he allowed the others, he was always at the other side of the pond before any of them were halfway across.

"No fairrrr!" Hrrunival cried, spitting out a mouthful of duckweed at the end of another unsuccessful race. "He's got a ruddrrn behind!' "You've got a tail, too,' Alec told him. "Use it!"

"Mine does not wrrrk zat way. Also, all my furrr is so wet it holds me back. Your bare skin is an advantage."

"Teddy's got fur, too,' Alison said, shaking her black mop out of her eyes. "Lots more than you do, that holds litres more water.

"I'm tired of losing, Hrrunival said, pouting, splashing with his arms. "What if we have a test whrrr Teddy swims, and we run on ze bank? We'll see who's fastrrr all over.

This motion was carried as a good idea and the alteration explained to Teddy. He never objected to staying in water. The Rraladoonans climbed out of the pond and shook the water from their skins and fur. Taking his voder from the pile, Alec named himself as official starter.

"OK, once around the pond to this point here,' the boy said, drawing a line in the soft earth down to the water-line with his toe.

"If anyone falls down or gets hurt, the race stops right there.

"Agreed,' Teddy said. This Hayuman was most careful of the safety of others.

"OK,' Hrrunival said. The girls nodded.

Teddy braced his toes in the thick mud. The others bent down with one foot behind,their hands touching the ground on either side of forward foot.

"On your mark, get set, GO!" Alec shoved off running.

His long legs gave him an immediate lead over the two Hrrubans and his sister. Teddy thrust off powerfully from the bank and ploughed across the pond.

Alec was a swift runner. Hampered by having to avoid reeds and water plants, Teddy needed to concentrate closely on his stroke to keep up with him. He could hear the Hrruban boy yards behind them grunting with frustration as he drove his short legs to their fastest pace.

A small fish, disturbed from its hiding place among the reeds, leaped into the air like a rocket directly underneath Teddy's face.

Thinking of the predatory fish on his motherworld, he jumped up to avoid it. It fled him.

Sputtering, he rolled over in the water to clear his nose and mouth. Alec gained a few paces and Hrrunival was closing faster now.

Teddy kicked to right himself on to his round belly, and paddled furiously to regain the lead. He was nicely buoyant, but the water plants all around him were dragging at his fur, slowing him down.

Only a few lengths to go. He spat weeds out of his face and sucked in a deep breath of air to sustain himself for one final burst.

In three strokes, he crossed the shallow line etched in the bank.

Alec was still right beside him.

Alison and Hrrunival were nearly together, coming in second.

Hrrana was dead last. Teddy heaved himself out of the water and stood dripping to congratulate Alec.

"It's a tie!" Alec said, slapping him on the back and splashing all of them. "You're fast." Teddy reached for his voder and put it on.

Alec repeated his last words.

"You are fast, too,' Teddy said. "I worked hard, but we both won." He turned to Hrrana. "I am sorry.

He meant to console her for losing, but Hrruban words failed him.

The girl seemed to understand his intentions perfectly well. She shook her head with cheerful resignation. "It is all rrright. I nevrrr win,' she said, "so it does not bozzer me.

Hrrunival was not such a good loser, but he tried to cover his disappointment. "Well, that. . . was a good contest!" he panted, not yet recovered his breath. "Wanna zry miding hrrses?"

"Yes! But I do not know how, Teddy said, looking around for his collar. Surely he had put it right with the voder. No, there it was on the bush. He shrugged, not too concerned that it was other than where he thought he had left it. The children finished dressing and strapped on their voders and belt radios.

"I'll teach you,' the young Hrruban said, condescendingly patting Teddy on his arm.

"Hrrrrrrunival,' Hrrana said, fuming with embarrassment at her brother's tone. "You haven't ze patience to teach anyone to hop." Not looking back, he twitched his tail at her and led Teddy away, water still dripping off their furs. Alec and Alison followed, grinning.

"Close, but no luck, Gallup muttered under his breath as they watched the children leave the pond. "Didn't have long enough to check anything on that collar. Good thing I got it to hang on the branch." He and Walters had been within metres of the pond when the children climbed out.

"Commander Greene wants that little bear stat,' Walters said.

"Figures questiOning the kid's our best chance to find out what the Gringg are really doing here. He might even be our ticket aboard their ship, if his folks want him back safely."

"The Hrruban kid said they're going riding."

"Couldn't be better,' Walters said, grinning.

His teeth glinted. "We'll let "em get clear of the yard, jam the kids' comms and be ready to snatch the bear. He's sure to fall off a time or two and we ought to be able to isolate him from the others. The ffitter's waiting for us just this side of the woods." Teddy had already been introduced to Tornado and Fairy, the twins' mounts. From among the other mares and geldings, Alec and Alison chose one for their guest while the Hrrubans went back to the stables for their ponies.

They came back, mounted, before Alec and Alison had decided who suited Teddy best.

"We need something so bomb-proof you could drop a Big Mamma on its back and it wouldn't spook,' Alec decided.

"That's Teabag then,' Alison said.

"What saddle, though?" Alec asked, critically examining their guest's body.

"Gotta idea,' Alison said. "Hrrana, you saddle my grey for me, please?" "Zure,' the obliging Hrruban said and expertly threw a pad and then a saddle over Alison's grey pony mare.

Hrrunival went so far as to help bridle her. Teddy stood to one side watching, feeling considerable respect for his new friends.

Little Ourrh was holding the reins of the Hrruban mounts, looking completely at ease though the animals towered above him.

Teddy was unused to the idea of having pets larger than he was.

Yet the hrrrsses, who stamped an occasional heavy and dangerous-looking foot down on the concrete floor of the building, seemed content to serve. There were no longer large animals on his home world, though his dam had told there had once been many and different kinds.

How lucky were Rraladoonans to have such a variety.

Then Alec came out of the barn with his bay animal.

"Now, Teddy, watch me! This's how you mount,' Alec cried and sprang into the saddle, wiggling from side to side to show how secure his saddle was. "There! See how easy that is?"

"Alec, you nit,' his sister admonished him. "Teddy couldn't vault that. He'll need to mount from something."

"Yeah, I guess he would' Alec said, simply, dismounting, looking around him for a suitable surface. "Sorry, Teddy, we were just about born into the saddle." The mental picture this elicited for Teddy made him gasp. He could not picture his dam awkwardly poised over the back of an animal. Surely it could not be true! Alec caught his expression of open-mouthed horror and started to laugh. Teddy realized his statement had been a joke, and added sheepish staccato grunting to the merriment.

Alison looked him over with a measuring eye.

"And Teddy's a different shape to us, not much leg.

There's no way he could rise at the trot,' she said, turning to her twin. "But old Teabag's a pacer, isn't he? And he'd bomb proof, too.

"Say, wouldn't a pack saddle give Teddy a lot of support? I mean, remember when we used them for jousting saddles when we played knights and ladies?" Alec said.

"Ze very zing,' Hrrana said. "We can pad it with extra blankets and a sheepskin."

"Worth a try,' the redheaded boy said. He jumped off his horse and ran up to the end of the barn. He came back laden with a strange contraption and an assorted of blankets and numnahs.

Together, the twins prepared his mount, the goldenbrown horse named Teabag. The children explained that Teabag was a "single-foot,' which confused Teddy who could see that the animal had four legs, just like all the other hrrrsses. He was a bigger animal than the children's ponies. And his back, where Teddy was to sit, was higher off the ground.

"Daddy always gives Teabag to people who've never been on a horse before,' Alison explained with gay reassurance. "He knows more about riding than we do,' and she giggled.

His preparation complete, she signalled Teddy to approach. Teabag turned his head to eye this unusual form and he breathed noisily between his lips. Each time the small Gringg attempted to get close to the horse, he edged his backside away. Then Alec pulled sharply on the reins.

"Get up there,' and the horse sidled close to bales of hay which had been piled in the form of a mounting block for Teddy's benefit.

"Jump up on these, Teddy, and we'll get you in the pad. We've even got a neck strap for you to hang on to. No one's ever fallen off Teabag.

"Safe as houses,' Hrrunival said, snickering a little as Teddy dutifully climbed up on the bales.

"Throw your right leg over,' Alec said, pushing against Teabag's right side so the old horse couldn't dodge his would-be rider.

Teddy managed that, though he could feel himself stretching the skin between his legs. Maybe Gringg were not meant to ride horses, even if Hrrubans could. Still, it was not uncomfortable and there was support for his lower back and a slot for his tail to fit through, too.

"Yeah, the pack saddle even has a tail hole,' Alec told the others. He grinned up at Teddy. "Now, these are called reins. Reins.

They guide the horse. Pull left and he'll go left, pull right and he'll go right. Pull both reins back hard and he'll stop.

"Ol' Teabag'll stop more zan he starts,' Hrrunival said with another snigger.

Teddy nodded, trying to assimilate the knowledge while the horse moved from side to side under him.

Inadvertently he clutched both reins back, leaned back and convulsively tightened his legs against the sides of the animal.

"Whoa, there, Teabag,' Alec said, grabbing at the bridle by the bit. "Hey, you did just right then, Teddy, leaning back and tightening your legs. You'll be a rider in next to no time. Just sit deep in the ahemm . . . pack saddle.

Grab on to the cross piece, here,' and Alec showed him the leather-covered bar. "All you have to do on al' Teabag is sit and let your body move with the horse!"

"I will try,' Teddy said.

"Oh, Alec, I'm not sure if he'll be able to stay on,' Alison said, frowning at the shortness of Gringg leg about Teabag in stirrups shortened as far as there were holes in the leathers.

"He'll do fine, Alec said, nodding his head with assurance. To justify such confidence in his abilities, Teddy determined that he would.

"Here we go! said Alec as he once again vaulted to Tornado's back. As soon as he saw the others were mounted, he dug his heels into the flanks and Tornado moved forward. Teddy, right behind him, followed his example. To Teddy's absolute delight, Teabag immediately obeyed, forcing Teddy forward. Startled, Teddy grabbed at the cross piece and that gave him a feeling of more security. Then they were all out of the barn and walking briskly away from the yard. To his surprise, Teddy enjoyed the movement. It was exciting. The horse smelled good, too, always a propitious sign. He felt that it might not be a bad thing after all to be born into the saddle.

"Where do we go?" he asked.

Alec swivelled around in the saddle. "How about just down to the river and back?" he suggested. "We'll go near the marsh. Maybe see some drrr-frogs?"

"Towards the marsh,' Gallup said, scrambling out of the hollow on hands and knees. "Ready to deploy the jammer." Walters was right behind him. Keeping their distance, they trailed the string of horses. The six young riders kept their horses to a slow steady pace, moving farther and farther away from the security of the ranch houses. When they were far enough away, the two Spacedep men dropped away to one side, pacing silently through the standing crops until they were parallel to the little group.

"Be ready to grab him,' Walters said.

The path was a worn ribbon of earth drawn through flower-strewn meadows, skirting golden cropfields and going over green hills. Where it was level with the surrounding terrain, the horses walked abreast.

Alec and Alison sat so naturally in the leather cradles that they appeared to be part of the animals. Hrrunival would occasionally hurry his horse forward ahead of the others, then turn back to rejoin the formation. Nobody minded the pudgy Hrruban's plunges and darts, least of all Teabag. It was a peaceful day. Avians winging in the sky sang sweet chirrups, and the breeze smelled delicious and intriguingly different. Teddy felt happier than he could ever remember. He wanted to stay on Rraladoon for ever and ride horses every day until he rode as easily as Hrrunival did. The children chatted and laughed, asking Teddy about life on his world and matching his experiences with some of theirs.

"I am sad,' said Teddy. "I am sad to know that in the future I will be too big to ride these beautiful creatures.

This is more fun than anything I have ever done!" The other four children regarded him with sympathy.

"Would plough horses be big enough?" Alison asked her brother, eyeing the young bruin.

"Uh. . ." Alec said, measuring Teddy with an eye. "Not for a really fully grown-up Gringg. Not Captain Grizz's size, for sure. But Teddy is a male and will never be that size."

"What was it like to come all this way in a starship?" Alison asked then.

Teddy's Hrruban vocabulary did not include many superlatives soit was difficult to find the words to explain.

"I was not yet born when the voyage started,' he said, no longer aware of the hesitation in the voder turning his Gringg into their Hrruban, "but I have been travelling all my life. Always stars around us, some very bright and big. Some dim. We came to one place where there was nothing but big rocks in orbit. My sire said that the sun had burst open in one great whoosh. We have orbited several planets but I was told they were not right for Gringg. Then I had to learn what was right for Gringg which is right for Hayuman and Hrrubans, too.

Much more fun to see than to learn." And he made a broad gesture, dropping his jaw to show them how happy he was. "Were you born here on this planet?"

"Yup, all of us, Alec said. "Mom was, too, but Dad was born on Earth. And hated it."

"Earzz?" asked Teddy.

"Yeah, Hayumans originate on Earth and "Hrrubans come from Hrruba,' finished Hrrunival.

"But you are Rraladoonans?"

"We all are,' Alison said from where she rode slightly behind Teddy. "Let's see if Teddy can manage to trot a bit, OK?" When they pushed their horses to faster movement, Teddy made a tentative grab for the cross piece but Teabag seemed to flow forward and soon Teddy released his hold, leaning back so his tail would keep him steady.

"Hey, Teddy, you're doing just great,' Alison called but somehow Teddy did not trust his balance enough to turn around and thank her.

Soon they pulled the horses back to a walk for they had reached a forested area and could no longer ride spread out. Teddy's fur was beginning to dry in long rats and tangles. He combed at a few of the worst knots with his claws, fearing the thorough brushing at the hands of his sire if he arrived back at the ship so untidy. Eonneh was never unkind, but he was merciless with tangles in his cub's thick fur, and smoothing them out sometimes hurt Teddy. Eonneh threatened, not seriously, to plait all of Teddy's fur and leave it that way if he could not keep it neat. Working carefully with one hand, he undid a mass of stringy fur and extracted a strand of lakeweed. It smelled interesting, so he tasted it. Not bad.

Hrrunival was behind him now. He was careless and inclined to show off. Without a strong hand to control it, his horse had its snout almost up Teabag's tail, probably continuing some private argument on-going between the two animals. Teabag kicked backwards with one hoof to discourage the untoward familiarity. Hrrunival's mount reared and whinnied a protest, moving in again. Teabag stopped short, making Teddy rock violently forward in the saddle, and turned to snort, as if to demand the other horse leave him alone. Instead, he caught a sniff of hot, wet bear, and his eyes rolled white. The horse's neck arched and nostrils flared, and Teabag swung his head forward.

"What is he doing?" Teddy shouted, alarmed, clutching for the saddlehorn.

Alec turned to look, and his eyes went wide. "Hold him!

Hrrunival, grab his lead. Teddy, pull back on the reins!"

"It does no good!" Teddy bellowed.

The sound of the Gringg roar was the last straw. The spooked gelding shot off along the trail with Teddy bouncing on his back. The little Gringg struggled to hold on, gripping as hard as he could with his knees to keep from tumbling off. He pulled at the reins, but the horse refused to respond to the pressure. It was running away as fast as it could from the funny smell.

"Come on!" Alec shouted, spurring Tornado after the wailing Teddy.

"We have to stop them before they hit the marsh. There could be early snakes rising." The other three wheeled to follow. They were responsible for Teddy. How could they ever go home again if their guest got hurt? The ground in the swamps was notoriously unsafe. The horse could slip on the unsteady path, both mount and Gringg ending up in deep, viscous mud. As one, they urged their horses in fast pursuit.

What would they say to Grizz if Teddy got eaten by a snake?

"The horse bolted with him,' Gallup radioed to Walters, now a dozen metres behind him. "We've got him alone.

Deploying jammer.

"Following,' Walters said. "Stay out of sight. Radio silence, now!" Keeping their eyes open for the other children, the two men pelted down the hill, following the runaway horse and rider into the stand of young trees at the edge of the meadowTeabag charged off the path down into a deep gully, twisted down the sloped sides, then bounded across a narrow but fast-flowing stream. One of his hooves slipped on a stone in the middle of the brook, throwing Teddy forward.

Anchored by only his frantic grasp of the cross piece, the reins had somehow got wrapped about his arms, effectively tying him in the saddle with just enough slack to let him bounce with every jolt of the runaway horse.

"Help!" he cried and shifted one hand, his claws instinctively extending so that he clawed Teabag's neck. The horse, already frightened, now reached the stage of terror where all he wanted to do was rid himself of what was on his back. Teabag charged up a bank and headed directly into a thicket, hoping to brush the predator off.

Teddy had to cover his face with both hands to protect it against the thin branches which whipped past. The reins wound tightly around his palm jerked again and again as Teabag tossed his head wildly from side to side. He brushed against tree trunks and shot through bushes, snorting and neighing furiously. The Gringg, afraid of being thrown off, shifted his grasp to the cross piece again, digging his claws into the wood beneath the leather and shut his eyes tight.

"Hurry!" Alec shouted. Tornado crested the bluff overlooking the summer creek and came to a halt. The other horses cantered up beside him.

"Where's he gone?" Alison demanded.

Hrrana scanned the woods on the other side of the stream and pointed to where the bracken was disturbed.

"Zere!" she cried.

"We can't get zrough zere,' Hrrunival said, gawking. "It is solid forrrrst. Ze hrrses won't obey if we zry to force zem in."

"You're g, Alec agreed. "Teabag must have been scared so much he just went through like a rocket. We'll have to go around on the path and hope we catch up with them." He guided Tornado down the gully and up the other side so that they skirted the woods. They found the path, which was marked by yellow streamers tied around the two small trees flanking its entrance to show it'd been widened and cleared of dangerous plants. As she was the steadiest horse of the four, Alison urged Fairy in first, leaving Alec to bring up the rear.

Once under the roof of leaves, the group scanned away to their right, looking for evidence of Teddy's passage.

There was nothing moving in the woods except for an urfa that looked up, chewing, with tender leaves sticking out on either side of its narrow jaws. It fled when Hrrunival sat up high in his saddle and yelled.

"Teddy! Teddy! Can you heeaaaarrrr meeeee?" There was a slight echo as the trees caught his cry, but no answer.

Alison led them as fast as she dared. The path was narrow and wound to avoid big trees and fallen trunks.

Several small brooks cut through the floor on this side of the Bore River. The riders forded the streams, only centimetres deep.

The four took it in turns to call out. "Teddy!"

"Are you all right?" "Answer us!"

"Teddy!"

"Teddy!"

"If we don't find him soon, we'll have to call for help,' Alec said, peering ahead as he felt along his belt for his handset.

"Oh, no,' Hrrunival protested, as the boy pushed the signal button. "Do not. I will get in zrouble. It is all my fault. My hrrss made his nrrvous, and it rrran away. Please let us find him first."

"We'd better,' Alison said, looking at Alec, stricken.

She punched furiously at her handset. "My communicator's not working. "Neither is mine,' said Alec with an eloquent groan.

"Mom will feed us to the snakes!" Alec said. "Teddy!

TEDDDDIEEEE!"

"Can't . . . keep - - - up,' Walters called to Gallup. The horse with the young Gringg was well ahead of them, vanishing in the thick cover of shrubs and trees. "You go on. Going.

. . for car!" Walters slowed to a stop, and bent over to catch his breath.

"Aye!" Without looking back, the other Spacedep man shouldered his light pack and kept running.

The forest thinned eventually, fading away to whippy saplings and high grasses flattened where the deer and urfa slept at night. Alison led them around to the right towards, as Alec put it, "Teabag's probable trajectory.

Beyond the woods, the ground was soft and soggy. The riders skirted the edge of the bright green patches of bog hoping that by staying close to trees which their fathers instructed them liked "to keep their toes dry,' they would be able to stay out of the clutch of quickmud.

About a hundred metres from where the path left the woods, Hrrunival's sharp eyes spotted the first signs of Teddy's passage. A long streamer of dark fur hung on the point of a broken twig about two metres into the forest on their right. To the left, the mud was churned up.

Green-tinged water already filled hoofprints that pointed arrow-straight into the heart of the marsh.

"Forget the snakes. We've gotta find him,' Alec said, voicing what all of them were already thinking. Snakes could be anywhere. It was early, but even a Big Mamma Snake might be wriggling out there.

"If anyone's afraid, you'd better go home now. Get Mom, or Aunt Nrrna, or go call Uncle Robin or Uncle Dan.

"I'm not afraid,' Hrrunival said at once, though his green eyes were saucer-sized and his tail lashed.

"Nor I,' Hrrana cried. Alison just shook her head.

"OK,' Alec said, taking a deep breath. "Here we go." The land changed around Teddy. First, branches stopped hitting him in the face and feet. Then, stinking, sticky mud got thrown up at him by the horse's hooves. Suddenly, the mud changed to wet sand, then very dry sand. Teabag's feet foundered and slid. Teddy cried out as the horse fell down and roiled on top of him. He wasn't hurt because the sand was so soft but he was real scared with all that weight on him.

Suddenly it lifted, yanked the reins one more time and they ripped free of Teabag's bridle.

Teabag scrambled to his feet and shook himself vigorously, splattering sand everywhere. Realizing that at last he was free of his rider who was floundering in the sand beyond him, Teabag made straight for the safety of his home barn.

"Stop!" Teddy called to it. "Don't go! I am lost!" The Gringg roar only served to speed the gelding on his way.

Teddy pulled himself up out of the sand and brushed at his coat.

Now it was not only matted, but dust and grit were ground in all the way to the skin. He scratched at his belly, which emitted a deep, rumbling sound.

"They did not feed me yet,' Teddy said, wonderingly, "and I am hungry." Such a thing had never happened to him before. But what was there to eat in this hilly desert overlooking the smelly marsh, or in the big river he could see down the hill to his left? If his new friends were here, he could have asked them. This was their world.

They would know what to eat on it.

Wait, there was a smell! It was faint because the air was so dry, but he was sure he had caught it.

The breeze that carried it was coming from behind him.

He turned and clambered on all four paws up the dune.

At the top, he saw a dark-furred being with its head busy over its front paws. It was eating! Teddy was so excited that he scrambled towards it.

The crest of the dune gave, and tumbled him bawling with surprise into the bottom of a sandy cup. In the midst of the sandy nest of eggs, the mda looked up, startled.

When Teddy appeared at the top of the next dune, it met his eyes.

"Are you Gringgish?" Teddy asked hopefully. It was unlikely that more true Gringg had come here, but he might be one of the sort of Gringg that lived here. It was not impossible, he thought, remembering cats and Hrrubans. "I am Weddeerogh, of the Wander Den, cub of Grrzzeeraoghh and Eonneh. Can you help me? I am hungry and lost.

What are you eating? It smells good. Can I have some?" The mda, accustomed to living alone and avoiding creatures which talked, was taken aback to hear unfamiliar sounds emitted by another mda. It eyed Teddy with suspicion. This mda was fully his size, and meant to defend its find. But surely courtesy would require this Gringgish creature to share with him?

"Please. I am only a little Gringg. Will you not share?" Teddy waited politely. The strange Gringg did not reply, other than to start a low growling which reverberated in gibberish through the voder.

Confused, but unwilling to leave a source of food, Teddy rolled back on his tail and settled in to wait.

That calculated act suddenly unnerved the mda. Attack it could understand and knew how to defend itself. But the smell of this creature was different, subtly menacing and suddenly the mda decided that it had had enough egg.

Growling with annoyance, it picked its way gingerly across the hot sand and disappeared among the marsh plants.

That was a decision of sorts, Teddy realized, galumphing down and up the hill of sand towards the good smell. If the strange Gringg had none of his words, this was his way of telling him it was all right to share, and that he wouldn't measure how much food Teddy ate.

The stranger had already eaten many eggs to judge by the amount of shells strewn around but the nest contained many more, half-uncovered in the sand. Teddy picked one up carefully and it sagged around his handpaw. He sniffed and the smell was good, not tainted by unpleasantness.

His father had told him that most of the food the planet offered was good for Gringg to eat. Reassured by both smell and paternal remarks, he tore it open with his claws. He plunged his muzzle into the heart of the egg and drank the delicious yolk. Extending his long tongue, Teddy licked his lips and square muzzle with pleasure. There were enough eggs here to make several good meals for a small Gringg.

He would not be greedy.

He'd eat only enough to take the edge off his hunger. He picked up another egg and pierced one end of the shell and sucked the contents out. That way he would keep his face fur clean.

He had emptied quite a few eggs in this fashion when he heard hoofbeats. He stood up and, peering over the dunes, saw Alec approaching on Tornado. He pulled so hard on the reins that Tornado stood up on two hind legs which delighted Teddy.

"He's here!" Alec cried and the others quickly joined him. "But you're in the dunes! Teddy. "We've got to get you out of here! It's dangerous.

"You've found him?" Alison cried in relief. "And Teabag, too? Is he all right? What's he doing?" Alec squinted at the little round figure, who was waving something white at him. "Teabag's not here but Teddy's eating snake eggs.

They climbed up to meet him, panting in the dry air.

Teddy was ecstatic that his friends had found him.

"Have some!" he said. "These eggs are good to eat, and I am so hungry. The strange Gringg let me have some. Are you hungry?"

"Well, yes,' Alison admitted, but looked queasily at the raw egg. "But we usually eat these cooked."

"Ooh, cooked!" Teddy opened wide, red eyes.

"That would be good, also!

"I like zis little guy, Hrrunival said. "He's got class!"

"Wait,' Alec said, squatting down beside Teddy. He, too, refused the egg so Teddy felt obliged to eat what he had opened. Then Alec looked at him queerly. "What other Gringg?" Teddy swallowed a mouthful of yolk and pointed the way the stranger had gone. "He never spoke to me, but that is not unheard of,' he said.

Hrrunival scrambled to look at the tracks that led away from the snake nest. "It was a mda!" he gasped. "And it left you alone?" His voice cracked on the last word.

"Reh. It did not speak to me, but we have not been introduced." Alison was laughing. "Mda can't talk. They're not intelligent."

"Like the katz?" Teddy asked.

"Not like cats at all,' Alison said, her face screwed up in earnest. "Mda're dangerous carnivores, Teddy."

"What is carnivore?"

"It eats meat!"

"So do I eat meat!" the young Gringg protested.

Hrrana, ever cautious, was checking the perimeter for snake signs.

"I see no tiddlers, but zere are ozzer nests already made. We should go away as quickly as possible."

"It's zoo caurly for anyzhing but tiddlers,' Hrrunival said, holding his head up to sniff the breeze.

"Snake Hunt is only dayz away,' his sister reminded him.

"But not yet." Since no one moved away, Teddy went back to eating eggs. They were so delicious, he could not understand why his friends did not want to share them. Nor why they kept looking around them nervously at the dunes.

Gallup spotted the white-eyed horse with the torn pack saddle plunging towards him on the swamp trail. The young Gringg had been thrown off then. He had only to find the cub now. The horse saw him and shied away, continuing its panicked gallop down the track.

Gallup palmed sweat out of his face and kept moving.

He surveyed the path for footprints, but there were none except those the horse had just left. It must be heading for home. All he had to do now was follow its tracks back to the cub. The stink of the marsh was dying away as the terrain sloped up and into less fertile soil. Ahead of him were the snake dunes. Spacedep maps warned him against going into the desert unarmed. The big Rraladoon snakes were capable of eating an entire horse, let alone a winded lieutenant.

As he topped the next rise, he looked down on to the dunes. And there, on the top of one of the sandy hillocks was the little bruin.

Alone, too! A perfect opportunity!

Gallup reached for his sidearm. If the kid agreed to come quietly, Gallup wouldn't have to use force, but after a chase like that one, his patience was gone. The kid was looking down, busy with something messy. Gallup crept around the edge of the dune, staying just out of sight.

Behind him, he heard rhythmic pounding on the sand.

He jumped into cover just in time to avoid being seen by the five youngsters riding out of the woods. The little bear glanced up and waved. Gallup snorted in annoyance at the lost opportunity. By mere seconds. He hoped Walters would get to him quickly with the flitter.

He checked his tracer stud to see that it was still working. This was their last chance to grab the Gringg. He and Walters would have to take the bear off in the full view of the other children. If they protested, he'd have to take care of them, too.

Kelly was busily preparing a big lunch for the kids who'd surely be hungry after swimming. It was only as she walked into the living room that she realized there were no sounds coming from the direction of the pond. She had also just realized that there was a horse tied up to the door post and a hovercar on the drive when the doorbell rang.

"Who -?"

"Kelly, my dear!" She opened the door to see Jilamey Landreau, finger poised over the bell for a second stab.

If she had thought that Jilamey had toned down his wardrobe in the years since she had first met him, she was profoundly wrong. He was dressed in bright, bull-angering red that stood out from the surrounding landscape like an out of season poppy. Still, when Kelly considered it, the colour was perfectly becoming to him. She didn't know why she thought men shouldn't wear bright colours.

"Hello, dear Jilamey,' she said, leaning over to collect a kiss.

"Barrington, this is an occasion." The gentleman's gentleman waited down beside the hover. He was clad in sober brown, a colour which blended into the scenery as thoroughly as his master's garb didn't.

"Mrs Reeve." Kelly thought for a horrible moment Barrington would bow to her, but he only nodded.

"Old Caution there insisted on following me here in the car,' Jilamey said, plaintively. "You see why I don't bring him to Rraladoon very often? He mothers me, Kelly.

Make him stop." Kelly shook her head. "You need it sometimes, sweetheart. Come in, both of you. Where are Todd and Hrriss?" Jilamey laughed. "Oh, likely in their office in the government building,' he said. "I thought I heard something about "too much to do before Snake Hunt" as they left."

"Sometimes, I wish they were both twins,' Kelly said, her hands on her hips. "I love having these visitors, but I wish that things would calm down a little so I could see my husband once in a while." She sighed. "I can't damn the man for having priorities, but it does get a little lonely." Jilamey laughed and seized her hand.

"Now I know you're telling a fib, beautiful lady. Where are the children?"

"I'd just realized that it was too quiet out there,Kelly agreed. "Teddy, Grizz' cub, came today. With all the mighty discussions at full spate, no one has time for the youngster. Well, they won't want to miss their favorite uncle."

"Good!" Jilamey said.

"I have a special present. It finally arrived from Terra on the latest shuttle."

"Good heavens,' Kelly exclaimed, going over to the communit and punching in the twins' codes. "What is it?"

"A model airplane, made from blueprints centuries ago.

It really flies! I tried it from the roof of Alreldep block."

"Only you could get away with that, too,' Kelly said, all too aware of the repressive character of Terran society.

"That's funny. There's no answer. She punched in the code again, thinking she had gotten the signal wrong.

"Nothing." Nrrna arrived with her sleeping cub, greeting Jilamey graciously before she saw the anxious expression on Kelly's face.

"Somezing is wrong?"

"I told those children to take their radios!

No, they did take them,' Kelly said, glancing at the rack which held only one, hers. "I remember the Cats picking them up as they went out the door."

"So why do zey not answerrr?" Nrrna asked, anxiously.

"I don't know,' Kelly said, biting her fingers. "Oh, wait, maybe they're out in the barn. No need to turn them on there. Only surely, we'd hear them . . ." She looked anxiously at Jilamey.

"Barrington? Search the barn for the youngsters, would you?" Jilamey said and his servan moved with great alacrity, covering the distance to the main barn in seconds.

"He keeps fit,' Jilamey remarked as he gently extracted the communit from Kelly's hand and punched in a sequence.

"Just a little trick I learned . . - to see if the units are broadcasting. Ah, that's odd. There's a jammer in operation somewhere."

"A jammer?" Kelly cried, really alarmed now.

"Could be natural "Maybe David's seen them,' and Kelly regained possession of the unit and called the ranch manager. "He hasn't seen them at all,' she said, severing the connection.

"I wonder. . . ." She punched in another number. "Todd?

Hi. Are the children with you?"

"No,' Todd's voice replied. "Are they on their way here?

I'll keep a look-out for them." Kelly winced because suddenly she was sure that the kids were in trouble, only Todd had broken the connection before she could tell him that. Then Barrington mounted the steps to the porch.

"I'm sorry to report that there is no sign of the children in the barn or the pond. Further, six stables are empty.

Would that be significant?"

"It would! Oh God,' Kelly said, "they should have told me they were going riding. And with a total novice in tow, too."

"There is the vehicle which could be used to search,' Barrington offered.

"And I can summon my personal heli from the house,' Jilamey added.

"We'll find the children in next to no time, Kelly. Don't you bother your head." He took the communit back and dialled for his pilot to bring the heli immediately to the Double Bar Gemini. Then he strode to the wall where the big map was tacked. "Hmmm, let's see. Where do the children usually ride, Kelly?" Kelly shrugged. "They ride everywhere." "But not everywhere with a complete novice like Teddy-' Kelly frowned, glancing at Nrrna for help. "No, they would probably go across the meadows and into the forest "Well, that would require the heli.

Meanwhile, Barrington, you take the road towards the village in case they went that way. Your children are very resourceful, Kelly, Nrrna.

I wouldn't worry - yet! No sooner do we leave than they'll come back, having done a tour of the meadow for Teddy's sake-' Not quite convinced, Kelly and Nrrna nodded, for each could think of all the dangers that could befall six small children on Rraladoon so close to Snake Hunt time.

Just then, three things happened: a riderless horse clattered into the barnyard, Jilamey's heli arrived and so did the big Gringg shuttle.

Chapter 10

ALTHOUGH KELLY AND NRRNA WAVED FRANTICALLY at the shuttle, it took off once it had deposited Grizz.

"Oh, Lord! And that's Teabag coming in all a-lather, too." Kelly groaned, hiding her face in her hands.

"With a pack saddle on?" Jilamey inquired, mystified.

"When I get hold of those twins, I'll larrup them to within an inch of their lives,' she said so fiercely even Barrington regarded her in some surprise. "Jilamey,' and she pushed the entrepreneur towards the porch, "you meet the captain, be gracious, offer her food and drink, while I see what I can find out from Teabag."

"He talks?" Jilamey said to Kelly's back as she strode to intercept the gelding, wearily plodding towards the safety of his stable "No,' Nrrna said, her eyes flashing, "but ze mud on him and ze grasses caught in ze girt will tell us where he has been. The young Gringg cub'd be more comfortable riding a pack saddle zan a normal one. At least, zat Hrrunival cub of mine had some sense!" She was not one bit less annoyed than Kelly though her aggravation was expressed by the lashing of her tail.

As he obediently went to greet Grizz, Jilamey mused on the maternal trait that caused each to blame her own offspring for whatever had happened to Teddy.

He devoutly hoped nothing had for it might have a devastating effect on delicate negotiations now in progress.

"How nice to see you, Captain,' he said cheerfully.

"Didn't realize you were expected and Kelly's had to go tend to that loose horse,' he added, waving in that direction. "Are you hungry or thirsty? Kelly offers you hospitality. You've been here to the ranch before, I understand? Great place, isn't it?" Teabag, only too grateful to be home, allowed Kelly to approach him, especially as he had just stepped on the longer of the broken reins and answered the tug on his bit. But that was the least of the details she observed. The blanket under the pack saddle looked to have been sliced by a sharp object; Teabag's neck bore shallow scratches and his hide was sticky with half dried sweat so he hadn't come from all that far; the still-slightly wild white eye he gave her as she caught up the shorter dangling rein proved that his fright hadn't been that long ago. She soothed him as she examined the claw marks on the cross piece and noted the scratches on the thick leather of the reins but, apart from his scratches, there were no other bloody spots. Kelly tried to reassure herself that falling off a horse was part of learning how to ride.

Probably even al' bomb-proof Teabag found a Gringg too much to bear. A real all-out howl from a fallen Teddy might well have made Teabag bolt.

Nonetheless, spooking was most uncharacteristic of the docile Teabag.

She felt his legs warm but not hot, so no tendon damage. Her hand came away with swamp mud, the stink apparent even at arm's length.

"Well, clues of sorts,' she said, still trying to reassure herself that Teddy had merely fallen off. In the swamp - which Teabag would have avoided on his own - Teddy would at least have had a soft landing.

But WHY didn't the kids call in? Ask for reinforcements. Why were the communits dead? That was disturbing. Quickly then, she stripped off the saddle, dropped some feed in his manger and left Teabag in his stable to recover.

Jilamey and Grizz were booming at each other on the porch as she returned to the house and she gritted her teeth. The truth was always preferable, wasn't it, even if it showed her up as a less than careful guardian.

"I am so sorry, Captain. The children have all gone off, on horseback, I believe, though the last time I looked they were all in the pond,' she said and managed a smile. "I didn't realize you'd be able to join us or I'd have kept them about the place."

"Grrgggl. . .

the meeting ended sooner than expected,' Grizz said amiably, glancing towards the pond.

"And you thought of a swim, no doubt,' Kelly said, managing to act casually. "Well, while you're indulging yourself in a well earned relaxing swim, we'll just go back along the trail and hurry the kids in. Here's Nrrna, too, Captain,' and Kelly, turning her back briefly on the Gringg, beckoned furiously at the Hrruban to join them.

"How fortunate you came by heli, Jilamey,' and she firmly tucked her arm in his, elbowing him to fall in with her scenario.

"Easiest way to travel speedily,' Jilamey said on cue.

"This won't take long,' he added as he guided Kelly toward the vehicle where Barrington awaited.

"Any instructions?" Barrington asked as they began to board.

"Oh, would you please man the communications channels, Barrington?" Kelly said, scrambling into a window seat. "And keep trying the kids' frequency." She gave him the code and he bowed politely in acceptance.

The small craft lifted off and Kelly's heart did a flip as she saw Grizz, dwarfing Nrrna's slight figure, standing in the yard.

"Where do you think they went?" Jilamey called over his shoulder as they cleared the trees. The heli's engine was reasonably quiet, but no way to silence the whup-whupwhup of rotors tearing the air had ever been discovered.

"They must have taken a trail ride,' Kelly shouted back and remembered then to turn off her voder before she damaged her eardrums.

"Then they might just have turned their handsets off?" he asked.

"No, a call alert would get through. Nothing did,' Kelly said, disturbed by that. "Those units'll even continue broadcasting near high-power sources.

"Think they went mda-watching?" Jilamey asked.

"They wouldn't dare!" Kelly exclaimed, horrified. "Or maybe they would, the rascals. They were dying to show off the whole planet to Teddy.

"Would they have known to keep the pace slow for Teddy's sake?"

"Alison and Hrruna have more common sense than the three boys but Ourrh isn't up to much riding either so they'd have kept to a reasonable pace. Turn towards the swamps, Jilamey. It was swamp mud Teabag had on his legs." "Swamp? This close to Snake Hunt?"

"Yes, I know." Kelly grimaced. "But Teabag wouldn't spook at any old tiddler' "What about a Big Mamma?" Kelly shook her head impatiently. "I'll skin them, so I will, when I find them. Let's backtrack Tea's probable route home. He came in on the swamp road."

"No sooner said than done, milady,' said Jilamey.

"Look, where the terrain opens, can we skim to see if I can spot hoof prints?" Kelly asked, reached for the case that held binoculars.

Jilamey was a deft pilot and, in the soft ground of the track, Kelly could make out the darker colour of disturbed ground in the even pattern made by a single-foot. Skimming along as far as they could until the bushes grew too close, she could also see where the tracks were those of a gallop stretch.

"Well, he was still running scared here,' she said as Jilamey lifted the heli above the thick shore growth.

Now she scanned more widely as they passed over the marsh toward the dunes.

"This's getting all too close to snake hatching grounds, isn't it?" he asked.

"It certainly is,' Kelly said, leaning forward with the field glasses.

Jilamey had just angled the heli up and over another line of drifts, and a wide prospect spread before them. She caught her breath at the oh-so welcome sight of a handful of small figures crouched on a blanket on a dune ridge.

Slightly below them were five horses, apparently tied to a driftwood log. "And there they are, the scamps! Teddy's with them." Only then did Kelly admit to herself how terrified she had been that he'd be missing. "Set down!" With one eye on the tracer screen and the other looking out for riders, Walters drove the small flitter around the edge of the dune where Gallup was waiting. He killed the quiet hum of the motor, and the small vehicle coasted silently to a halt. Gallup gestured for him to climb out, and pointed up the hill at the six youngsters. Walters nodded and swung the pack off his back.

"This place is full of snakes,' he whispered. "Damn near stepped on one that was sleeping! They give me the creeps.

"Shh!" Gallup said, flattening himself on his belly on the hot sand. Together, they inched up towards the crest of the dune where the children were waiting.

The whupping of heli blades startled them. Hastily, Gallup and Walters burrowed into the sand and covered their heads with their arms.

The copter set down on the sand hill between them and the children.

"Aw, hell!" Walters exclaimed, slamming his fist into the hot, dry dust. "Commander Greene is going to be furious!" Gallup plucked at Walters's collar. "Come on, we have to get out of here before they spot us." He reached into his pack and switched off the jammer.

Together, the two men crept backwards down the hill to the ffitter.

"Snakes!" Kelly cried, pointing.

There were only a few, and relative tiddlers at that, but they were gathering just out of sight of the cluster of children. Kelly knew that the smaller reptiles wouldn't attack something big by themselves, but when they were hungry after laying their eggs, and there were a bunch of them, they'd been known to trap urfa or even small mda and rend the animals apart. Jilamey whirled the craft around so that the fine sand blew directly into the faces of the waiting snakes. Most of the snakes fled over the dunes and into the marshweeds before he landed.

Kelly sprang out, ducking under the still whirring blades. "There you are! Teddy, you're all right?" and fumbled to turn on her voder.

"You've had us worried half to death,' Kelly said, running a hand down Teddy's sticky matted fur before she turned on her twins. "Why didn't you let us know you were in trouble?"

"We tried, Mama,' Alison said, ducking her head in shame. "We tried "We did, Mom, Alec said stoutly, reinforcing his sister.

"And we made sure the red "charged" light was on before we took them off the rack. They just wouldn't work when we tried to call you."

"Well, you nearly caused an interplanetary incident, young lady,' Kelly said sternly, but she hugged her daughter and ruffled Alec's hair before she plucked Alison's radio out of the belt clip. She thumbed the switch and then stared at the unit. "It's working now." she added expressionlessly.

"It wasn't before, Mama, honest!" both twins clamoured, tugging at her arm.

"Alley tells ze exact truzz, Hrrunival said, twitching his tail in emphasis.

While it was like these rascals to stick together, Kelly knew that they were always truthful. Kelly compressed her lips tightly.

"Furthermore, you all know how dangerous the dunes can be at this time of year so why under the sun did you bring Teddy here of all places?" "We didn't bring him, Mom,' Alec began in an exasperated voice as if she had added insult to the injury of underestimating his common sense. "Teabag did, and Teddy didn't have much choice." Alec pressed his lips against a grin. "We followed."

"Well, then, young man, what spooked Teabag to run off?" Alec shrugged his shoulders. "I was leading, Alison behind me, then Hrrunival and Ourrh with Hrrana behind Teddy."

"Teabag just took off,' Hrrana murmured, obviously upset and feeling responsible.

"Well, no one has been hurt and Teabag got home.

Teddy, did Teabag actually run away with you?" Kelly turned back to the victim and only then saw that the yolk streaking the fur around his muzzle. It gave him a ludicrous "Pooh Bear' look: he'd had a little something this hour or two. The verse rattled unbidden through her mind.

Teddy shrugged, so reminiscent of Alec that Kelly had trouble keeping a straight face. "Grrbble . . . the hrrss did not like me on its back. It took time for it to fall me off as I clung tightly." Well, Kelly thought, since he's all right, there's no need to make an intergalactic incident out of this. "So you've found snake eggs, have you, Teddy? Do you like them?" and she grinned because his eyes sparkled and he dropped his jaw.

"Gracckle. Very tasty indeed. May I take some back?

My dam would find them as tasty as I do.

Alec gave an exasperated snort. "We've been trying to get Teddy to move, but he's stuffing himself."

"Can we get started home now?" asked Hrrunival. "It's not much fun sitting around watching someone else eat when you're hungry, too."

"You'll be hungrier by the time you've ridden home,' Kelly began, thinking that would be adequate discipline for this escapade.

Just then the horses neighed in alarm and began pulling at the reins which tied them to a driftwood log.

"Kelly, look out!" Jilamey cried, pointing violently even as he reached for whatever hand weapons the heli carried.

As swiftly and inexorably as a tsunami, a medium-sized tiddler boiled over the ridge of the south-facing dune, flowing its leaf-patterned sinuous body towards them with incredible speed.

Because they were beside her, Kelly gave her two children a shove towards the heli before she reached for Teddy who hadn't even risen at Jilamey's warning cry. Hrrunival and Hrruna each grabbed one of Ourrh's hands and began hauling him to safety. But Teddy first had to rock himself to his feet, even with Kelly yanking at him.

The snake, feeling the vibrations, moved in on them.

"Oh, fardles, Teddy, GET UP! That thing wants you for lunch!" Out of reflex she pulled out her belt knife, jumped in front of Teddy and faced the oncoming snake. She just hoped Jilamey had a snake rifle in his heli. The worst she could do to the snake with her knife was deflect it briefly.

But Teddy had to be protected.

Then the snake was close enough to stare directly in her eyes, pinioning her almost hypnotically. She didn't recall ever being this close to one on foot before or armed with the most inadequate of weapons. Kelly stared with helpless fascination as its maw opened, the jaw unhinged as it widened, showing its extraordinary gullet. Gunfire, deafening in the usual silence of the dunes, startled her and the snake. Sand kicked up almost in her face and there was the smell of explosive propellant in the air. The snake was distracted.

"Move away, Kelly, so I can get a clear shot!" Jilamey shouted.

He was sighting down a heavy calibre hunting rifle. "You know I'm a lousy shot."

"I'll forgive you,' she shouted back, "if you kill it!' Kelly and Teddy dodged, getting out of the direct line of fire. The entrepreneur fired again, this time catching the snake in the tail, causing it to thrash back and forth in pain. Then it raised its head and stretched wide its jaws again, moving toward Jilamey. Teddy needed little urging from Kelly now, as she hauled him to the top of the nearby ridge and slid down the far side. They both lost their balance in the loose footing and ended up rolling down into the next valley.

"Aaaaaaggghhh!" Teddy cried, his vodered voice echoing in her ears. Above, below, beyond, behind her, she heard the repeated boom of the rifle discharging.

She was still trying to spit sand out of her mouth and clear her eyes when Jilamey slithered down beside her, a wisp of smoke curling up from the bore of the rifle.

"It's OK. It's as dead as I could get it." Kelly got her eyes clear of sand but that didn't seem to help. She was at the bottom of a gully covered with sand, and there were a dozen people, their features foreshortened by height and darkened by the sun behind them. In a moment, they combined into four, then two, then one Jilamey. She released the fierce clutch she had on the Gringg cub and rose to her knees.

Teddy unrolled easily and waddled to his feet. "That was fun,' he said. "I want to come back here and roll down hills again."

"Teddy, not here!" Kelly said firmly. "This is the breeding ground for those snakes. You could have been killed."

"Why didn't you tell me to defend myself from it? I was not afraid and I am strong enough to have rendered it harmless,' the cub said calmly.

Kelly started to protest and then realized that the Gringg cub was probably a lot stronger than she and might well have been a match for the tiddler. But snake-killing was not likely to be considered a desirable occupation for a species that said it did not like violence.

"Well, I knew Jilamey had a rifle and I certainly don't tvant to risk your hide on any snake wrestling!"

"Oh, that is what one does with these snakes? Wrestles?

I like wrestling. I'm good at it,' and Teddy looked disappointed that he had not been allowed to show his prowess.

"Fardles!" Kelly muttered under breath and continued to desand herself. "Actually, Teddy, I think your dam expected you to play with our young, not wrestle the wildlife." She got to her feet and extended her hand to the cub. "But let's leave here now, because I really don't care to run into anything bigger than that one."

"How big do they come?" asked Teddy, intrigued.

"That one was small - a tiddler. Some of them are immense, the ones we call Great Big Mamma snakes are much, much bigger." She indicated girth with her hands.

"Oooh,' Teddy said, impressed.

When they got to the top of the dune, he exclaimed in dismay. "It smashed all the eggs." There was yolk all over the place and crumpled shells for, in its death throes, the snake's dead body had convulsed, completely destroying the nest.

"We'll find more for her another time, Teddy. Come on. Your mother's waiting for you at the ranch. Let's go.

Kelly gave him a gentle shove towards the heli.

"You didn't mention the mda,' Alison muttered at Alec as they watched the snake's death throes.

"Do you want to be grounded for the rest of your life?" Alec replied.

"Well, no "Then, shh!"

"Well?" Jilamey asked, steadying her through the sand to the heli.

"Well, what?" Kelly asked. There was sand down the back of her blouse, inside her trousers, and inside her boots. She was itchy and thirsty, and she didn't know whether to skin her children alive or just never let them out of her sight again.

"My second snake,' Jilamey asked, plaintively, pointing to the twitching corpse. The children were admiring it and arguing amongst themselves over its length and probable weight. "After nine hunts and not for want of trying, I have slain another snake. Might it count towards the Coming of Age ritual?" Kelly laughed, her voice echoing over the empty land.

"Oh, I'm afraid not, Jilamey. I wish it did, you were so heroic.

But it's got to be an official kill or capture during the Hunt itself, or we'd have poaching during the early season by obnoxious youths who want to make sure they qualify. Cheer up,' she said, seeing his crest-fallen expression. "It'll be good enough for a feast. We'll have a barbecue. Grizz'll enjoy fresh snake steak, and so will I. I only have to defrost the sauce.

Jilamey brightened. "I like barbecued snake!" When the snake's corpse finally settled to an occasional twitch, they heaved it into the heli. It exuded a slightly musty odour but the trip back to the ranch wouldn't take that long.

"You five go straight home, now,' Kelly said, shaking her finger at them. "No diversions, no detours. Got that?" Two "Yes, Moms' from the twins and meek "Yes, Aunt Gelli,' from the three Hrrubans.

She let a grin break the scowl of disapproval on her face. "I'm just glad you're safe,' she said, kissing each one in turn.

"I just wish they hadn't fibbed about those comms. This could have been very serious,' Kelly said softly to Jilamey as he lifted the heli. Teddy had his nose pressed tight against the plasglas, watching the kids ride off.

"They don't lie as a rule, Kelly,' Jilamey said. "Could there have been a minor malfunction?"

"I'd prefer that explanation but it doesn't work." She sighed. "Well, nothing really bad happened." At the house, Grizz was on her feet, a living tower, waiting for the heli to land. Making a most peculiar-sounding ululation, Teddy climbed out of the aircraft almost before it had set down and hurtled towards his dam.

She embraced him fiercely, throwing him up in the air without effort and neatly catching him as he squealed with delight. Jilamey whistled at the careless exhibition of strength.

"And we've got a special treat for you,' Kelly shouted over the slowing rotors as she walked towards the Gringg, "fresh Doonarralan snake, courtesy of Jilamey's hunting skills. We'll have a real feast tonight." The captain shook her head. "Morra. Please to take me immediately to the Government offices. I have had an urgent communication from Eonneh. There is trouble. I must be there."

"Quiet!" Todd shouted, waving the crowd down. "One person, tell me what happened." His office was full of angry people. Bad news had travelled all over the colony in the time it had taken Mike Solinari to inform him of the incident. Admiral Sumitral had come on the run from his office when he heard the commotion. Second Speaker arrived shortly afterwards, with Captain Hrrrv and several of the visitors from Hrruba behind him. The rest were Rraladoonans of both species, all arguing at the tops of their voices. In the middle of it all was the Gringg male, Cinnamon, who said nothing and sat despondently waiting for whatever would happen to him.

"Mike!" Todd said. "The rest of you, quiet!"

"My two assistants and I were showing Cinnamon around the veterinary hospital,' Mike began, shouting at first but lowering his voice as the others stopped talking to listen. Dr Adjei, head of Veterinary Services, stood at Mike's shoulder behind Robin. "He was our special visitor today. I had morning surgery so I left Cinnamon with my assistants, Dr Gross and Intern Errrne. They took him around the place and ended up at the corral where we were holding about thirty animals, mostly geldings. I heard a howl and came running. The Gringg, Cinnamon, was in the corral,' and here Mike shot a furious glance at his erring employees, "with the dead mare at his feet."

"He killed it,' Bert Gross burst out.

"With one punch!"

"You're out of order, Gross,' Todd told him sternly.