Crisis On Doona (41 page)

“If I could believe that ...” Pat wiped her eyes with the doctor’s handkerchief and let out a sigh. She wanted that very scene to take place, and soon. She looked over at the bridge, hoping against hope that Ken and Todd would materialize from the grid. “I can’t blame people, Kate. If ... We’ll all lose our homes and everything we’ve worked for and we really don’t belong anywhere now but Doona. And why is it that both Todd and Hrriss have to be at the hearing? Hrriss has almost all the evidence. Why, that Mayday beacon being found on Earth, and Dr. Tylanio proving the log tape was doctored beyond recognition. That proves that the boys didn’t steal those things because they weren’t even near those planets, just as they’ve always said.” Pat had to stop to blow her nose. “And if Hrriss is innocent, then Todd is, too. Or that’s what Hrruvula assured me. And that’s how he’s going to present the documentation we have!”

Kate smiled at her. “Well, you’re a lot more generous with the fools than I’d be. Come on back inside. There’s a lot left to be done, and we need you. I know they’ve got almost all the evidence, but they may hang us all on the specific wording of the Speakers’ resolution. Both boys and all charges dismissed. No one could ever keep either Ken or Todd down for long. And you know it.” Kate lifted Pat’s chin and smiled at her. “So hold your head up and shame the devil.”

Pat managed a weak laugh. “My grandmother used to say that. If I just knew that they were both ... okay ...” She couldn’t bring herself to use any other word. “I feel so lost without them.”

“Well, you’re not lost, and you’re not alone. You have all of us. Let’s see if I can remind these doubting fainthearts of that.”

Kate pushed through the door and escorted Pat back to the cake-decorating station. With a firm hand, she sat her down on a stool and put tools in front of her. To the others who glanced at them in surprise, the pediatrician stated in a loud voice:

“Now let’s get something straight, you gaggle of gossiping grannies. No, you’re acting like preteens, and I’ve the right to kick sense into that age group. You know where to lay the blame for all the anxiety we’re experiencing, and it isn’t on Pat Reeve’s shoulders. It’s because her husband and her son haven’t turned up. Do you know them so little after twenty-five years that you’d honestly believe they’d leave us in a lurch?

“Well, I don’t, and there’re plenty of others who agree with me. Someone, or some group of ones, made sure Ken and Todd never made it to Earth. ’Cause there’s no way they’d go unnoticed there! Not those big-striding, proud-walking men. Can you imagine them mincy-mincing,” and she mimicked the short polite stride of the Terran natives, drawing a giggle from some quarters, “along Corridors and Aisles without being noticed? We know they’re not on Doona because where we Hayumans haven’t looked, we Hrrubans have! And any of us silly enough to believe that there aren’t some Hayumans and Hrrubans who’d both prefer never to set eyes on the Reeves again better take the next shuttle out of here.”

“We’ll have to anyhow, won’t we, if the Reeves don’t show up?” a woman murmured.

“Well, I got hopes on that score, too. We’ve got Hrruvula, no narrow-stripe mince-stepped poseur either, to present the documentation that has been assembled. And if Hrriss can be proved innocent then ipso facto, Todd Reeve is. And that ought to be good enough for everyone here and good enough to sway the Councillors.
And,
I don’t want to hear another sour word from anyone.” She clapped her hands vigorously. “We got a lot to do. Let’s do it. And with a few smiles to make the work go quicker.”

Few could argue with her facts or the good sense for which Kate Moody had always been noted. Flagging hopes revived again and soon a few smiles appeared on faces. Several people deliberately came up to Pat, giving her affectionate squeezes on her forearm or apologizing for their unkindness. Instead of seeking for something or someone new to blame, long glances passed between friends who were fearful that they would never see one another again. Work resumed at a more energetic pace with the renewed sense of solidarity.

Old Abe Dautrish, carefully decanting wines of his own recipes from herbs and local berries, spoke in reminiscence. “Remember that first winter? Ten months of misery. Living in one miserable plastic hut until we could get the others up. Remember what that was like? Who’d believe we could come so far?”

“And together,” said Lee Lawrence, smacking Hrrula on the back.

“All was bezzer when we became friends,” a Hrruban woman said, with dropped jaw.

“We’ll fight this,” Phyllis Shih stated, whipping a bowlful of eggs with a vengeance. “They can’t throw us out of here. This is our home. We’ll take the appeal to the Amalgamated Worlds court ourselves if we need to.”

“That’s the old Doona spirit,” Kate Moody said with satisfaction. She winked at Pat.

All the preparations were complete by midafternoon. The First Village’s hunters, following Hrriss, returned with dozens of young snakes and a few wild fowl for the stewpot. Carcasses of dozens of urfas, pigs, and cows rotated over coals in the many roasting pits downwind of the kitchen.

The transportation grid was brought over the bridge from the Hrruban side and laid in front of the Assembly Hall’s big double doors. Its posts had been draped with floral streamers. Not long thereafter, diplomats of both races began to appear and were escorted into the Hall with much attendant dignity.

The weather was cheerful and bright. Doona’s long winter would arrive within two months, but there was no early chill which the organizers feared might mar the celebration. Some colonists from warmer climates shivered a little in the autumnal air. Every settlement, including Treaty Island, had lobbied to hold the celebration, but the honor was eventually returned to First Village, where the original accord had been signed twenty-five years before.

Depressing any misgivings, the population of the planet turned out in its best. All the Hrrubans wore the formal red robes: the males in heavy, opaque garments that fell to the tips of shiny black boots; the females in filmier garments of jewel-spangled gauze. The Humans wore monochromatic tunics with touches of white, and beautifully cut but simple ankle-length gowns. There was none of the cheerful cross-cultural dressing that was usually prevalent at most other big events. Today’s garments unexpectedly became a restatement of racial identity.

Hrriss stood tall beside his father just below the dais inside the Hall, hiding his emotions. In
a few moments, he must present evidence to prove his and Todd’s innocence of the crimes of which they were accused. On the basis of that proof or lack of it, the Treaty Controller might refuse to ratify the Treaty, and the colony would be dissolved.

What Hrriss had not been able to tell anyone was that the carefully gathered documentation had vanished from the Rrev home at about the same time Kelly had. He had worked night and day to duplicate the evidence from the files still remaining in his home. Dr. Tylanio had supplied him with a copy of his report on the tape’s alteration. He had the latter half of the Spacedep slush fund dispersals which Dalkey had procured but not the more important entries. Tylanio had gone off with Kiachif and so the expert was not available to present direct testimony to the Councillors. To be sure, the Mayday beacon had been discovered but the Speakers’ resolution required a total clearance of all charges—and Zodd’s presence! Would Hrruvula be able to make what they did have sufficient to clear all those charges even in the face of Zodd’s nonappearance?

One by one, the high-ranking officials of Earth emerged from the grid, some looking puzzled and taken aback by the process of transportation which they were experiencing for the first time. Most of them, nervous about suddenly being bereft of walls and ceilings around them, walked as quickly into the Hall as dignity permitted, without so much as a quick glance around at the beauties of the village green.

The settlers clustered in and around the building, their bows and smiles becoming more and more mechanical as time went on. Sampson DeVeer of Poldep, wearing the dress uniform of black with silver touches, emerged from the chest-high fog, accompanied by a slim, pale man wearing a plain uniform.

“My heart isn’t in this,” Lee Lawrence muttered, feeling the strain of smiling when he hadn’t any reason to do so.

“I am still determined to put the best face on the day,” Hu Shih said. Then he arranged his most benevolent smile on his face as he stepped forward to introduce the newly arrived Treaty Island Archivist to the other village elders.

“Perhaps the Treaty Council will still take what is best for Doona into account,” Abe Dautrish said quietly to Lee. “They shouldn’t pay too much attention to overworld councils, since we are supposed to be independent of both governments. We have proved ourselves capable and worthy of self-governance.”

“After all the accusations of the last few days, can you genuinely say that?” Lawrence asked.

“I want to,” the old man said humbly. “I keep it closely in mind. Ah, here is Admiral Sumitral and his daughter.”

“Good day, my friends,” Sumitral said, mounting the ramp with quick strides and taking Hu Shih’s hand. Age had done nothing to bow his proud carriage, but he bore the same heavy expression of concern that troubled the Doonan elders. He was still the greatest friend Doona had in the Terran government. “You know my daughter, Emma?” The tall girl smiled and nodded to each of them, then took her place among the colonists in the audience.

“Hrrestan, it is good to see you,” Sumitral said, turning to the younger Hrruban. “Hrriss, have you had any word from Todd?”

“No, sirr,” Hrriss said.

“It looks very bad that they haven’t returned yet,” Sumitral said. “Where could they have gone? And why? The Amalgamated Worlds court was well disposed to give them a fair hearing on the basis of their achievements.”

Hrriss burned with shame. “They would come if they could,” he insisted.

Sumitral eyed him curiously. “Do you know where they went?”

“No. But they would have returned if they could. Of that I am certain. They are held somewhere against their will.” He placed his hand on his heart, his upper lip, and his forehead to emphasize his stated belief.

“I fear you may be right. Neither has ever betrayed an ounce of cowardice. Defection does not fit their characters,” Sumitral declared. “You have searched Rrala?” Hrriss nodded. “I alerted all Alreldep offices. Can none of you Hrrubans search your own planet? They have to be somewhere.”

“If they are alive,” Hrriss murmured, for he had denied that possibility as long as he could.

Then he saw the slender frame of Admiral Sumitral stiffen. A hand touched his arm in apology and Sumitral moved toward Hu Shih.

“Come, Hu,” the Admiral said as he urged the man toward the platform where a small, thin, clean-shaven Terran in a white tunic descended from the grid. “May I introduce you to the representative of the Amalgamated Worlds Congress? Hrrestan, I am pleased to make you known to Dorem Naruti, of the AWC.” He continued to make introductions among the village elders.

At a signal from the Hrruban grid operator, Sumitral took his place beside the other Terran delegates. Third Speaker appeared from the mist surrounding the transport grid and, looking neither left nor right at those who bowed courteously to him, marched majestically into the Hall. The glow of triumph in his eyes was absolutely indecent. Many Rralans, seeing that look, growled quietly under their breath at his lack of restraint and the implications for them.

The rumors of dissolution spread from Rralans to Hayuman friends and neighbors. Hrriss fielded glares and blatant animosity from longtime acquaintances. Who was holding the Rrevs captive? No, which of the known antagonists to the Treaty had succeeded in denying the Rrevs the dignity of facing their enemies and confounding them?

As if in answer to his thoughts, Admiral Landreau in gleaming dress whites and an almost garish display of medals materialized on the grid. A moment earlier and he might have tread on Third’s tail. The Admiral was accompanied by Rogitel and two other aides. Landreau had arranged his features in an expression of pious serenity which would fool no one on Rrala, certainly not Hrriss. His demeanor added more discouragement to Hrriss’s depressed morale. Why didn’t Zodd appear, through the grid or out of the underbrush, with his document case in his hands, to wipe the smugness from the faces of Third and Landreau?

At last, Second Speaker Hrrto made his way from the grid through the hanging garlands of flowers to the platform. With his arrival, the complement of delegates from both sides was complete. Only the Treaty Council was yet to arrive before the ceremony would begin.

As the assembly of settlers held its collective breath, the Council appeared, clustered together on the grid behind the Treaty Controller, magnificent in flowing red robes. On his breast hung a medallion of two intertwined gold suns, studded with sapphires mined and cut from native crystals. It represented the interweaving on Doona of Human and Hrruban cultures. The light reflected from the jewel vanished abruptly as soon as the Treaty Controller stepped inside the Assembly Hall. Immediately behind the Council came two clerks, one Human and one Hrruban, each of whom carried a large leather-bound and gem-studded book.

Solemnly the Council ascended to the dais. Each member bowed to the assembled dignitaries. The Treaty Controller was the last to do so. He made an especially deep obeisance to Third Speaker, who returned a curt nod. The clerks moved silently to lay the huge books side by side on the table in the center of the stage. Without further hesitation, the Treaty Controller held up one hand.

“Hrriss, son of Hrrestan and Mrrva, stand forth! Zodd Rrev, son of Ken and Patrricia, stand forth!” he intoned. The purrs and growls of High Hrruban had never sounded so severe.

Hrriss stepped forward, holding his spine straight, and willing his tail to refrain from twitching with his inner turmoil. Hrruvula, clad in his official professional garments, joined Hrriss.

“Sir, Zodd Rrev has been unavoidably detained,” Hrriss said. “I speak for us both.”