Starbridge (14 page)

"I'd say that's the understatement of the century," Rob muttered.

"Yes, it will please us very much to talk," Raoul said, making a formal ushering gesture toward the inner airlock door. "Would you care to come inside?"

85

Dear Diary:

It's been a busy week since the Simiu boarded
Desiree
for their first visit.

We're learning a lot.

While most Simiu technology seems on a par with our own, they have two VERY IMPORTANT advances we don't: the first is an FTL drive that's
twice
as fast as ours; the second is that they have a way of making FTL

transmissions.

The translation program is working better than we expected, but it's far from perfect, especially as regards technical words.

Everyone else seems resigned to the fact that we won't be able to speak directly to the Simiu. They're content to rely on the voders. But reading translations off those little screens drives me crazy; I like watching people's faces when they speak. So I keep going over and over our holo-vids of them talking, trying to understand what they're saying, even if I can't pronounce it.

It's tough going, but it's slowly paying off.

Simiu features are very mobile, though in a different way than ours. They never smile, and when Uncle Raoul grinned broadly at them, I noticed that it distressed them, as though he'd done something rude. They don't mind if our mouths turn up when we smile--just if we display our teeth when we do it. I told Uncle Raoul what I'd seen, and he warned everyone.

We try hard not to offend them, but it seems unavoidable. We keep running into taboos; for example, Jerry asked how far they

85

86

had explored this area
of
the Orion
Arm, only to be met with
polite
evasions. They are
graciously tolerant of our unintentional
transgressions,
and
we try to avoid repeating them.

I've spoken with the First Ambassador a few times. We
exchanged
polite greetings and a few cautious questions about each other's society. The last time we spoke, the F. A., Rhrrrkkeet' (her name sounds like a low breathy growl, ending with a soft squeal and a strange
click
at the end), asked me how old I am. I wonder why?

The connecting tunnel between
Desiree
and the Simiu space station was no longer a bare white expanse: it was scattered with portable tables and chairs the humans had brought, as well as the low, ottomanlike lounges Simiu used. The lights had been dimmed to be more comfortable to Terran eyes.

Mahree sat on one of the chairs, watching seven humans and twenty-odd Simiu mingle.

She saw her aunt and Paul Monteleon leaning over the chessboard, engrossed in their game. Six Simiu squatted in a circle around them, intent on the moves, obviously fascinated. Mahree smiled, thinking how relaxed her aunt had become around the aliens. Then a glimmer of blue-gray metal protruding from the tool sheath on the hip of her aunt's coverall caught her eye, and she sighed, her smile fading.
If only Joan could quit toting that
damned gun.

Mahree had argued the point with Raoul several times, but her uncle remained adamant; one crew member must be armed whenever the humans were in contact with the aliens.

The girl turned as she heard her name called. "Mahree! Come over here!"

Raoul beckoned. "The First Ambassador wants to talk to you."

Quickly she hurried over to the female alien. "Greetings, Honored First Ambassador," she said, making the formal gesture automatically to the Simiu leader.

Rhrrrkkeet' returned the greeting. "Greetings, Honored Mahree. Your uncle relates how you are traveling with him to be educated in a famous place of learning on Earth."

"That is correct, Honored Rhrrrkkeet'," Mahree said, trying to keep one eye on the alien's face, as well as on her voder's screen. She was pleased that she'd understood several of the spoken words.

"Why does education demand that you voyage so far?"

87

"My world has schools for the teaching of young humans, but not for the teaching of those who are about to be adult humans," Mahree replied, choosing her words carefully. "So I must travel to the home world of our species to receive an adult's education."

"I understand," Rhrrrkkeet' said. "Our people do not have to travel to be educated, though."

"Honored Rhrrrkkeet'," the girl ventured, "how many of your people are there?" The humans had no idea of the population of Simiu, and she thought she saw an opportunity to find out.

The First Ambassador hesitated for nearly a minute.
Uh, oh,
Mahree thought,
is this another taboo subject?

"There are many of us," the F.A. said, finally. "I do not know exact number."

Mahree nodded. "Forgive me, I did not mean to offend."

"You did not offend, child." Rhrrrkkeet' glanced around at the crowd of milling Simiu, and emitted a breathy growl. One of them, a male with a sorrel-colored coat, looked up, then came swiftly toward them.

When he arrived, the First Ambassador said, formally, "My" --alien symbols marched across Mahree's screen--"you would say, cousin-son, accompanied me to your most-excellent vessel in hope you would honor him by making his acquaintance. He is being much the same age as you, Honored Mahree. May I introduce you?"

Mahree glanced over at the young Simiu, who wore one of the Simiu voder-collars and ear-clips. "I would be honored to meet him," she said.

"Excellent!" the First Ambassador yipped. She turned to the young male.

"Dhurrrkk', this is Honored MahreeBurroughs, also a student.
She voyages
far so
that she may study at a Terran place of adult learning. Honored MahreeBurroughs, this is"--the alien symbols again--"cousin-son Dhurrrkk'."

Mahree repeated the greeting gesture, saying, "I am pleased and honored to meet you, Honored Dhurrrkk'."

The humans had learned early that Simiu measured things not as good or evil, moral or immoral, but as honorable or dishonorable. Individual honor, clan honor, planetary honor--even their system of exchange was based on honor.

"The honor is mine," the young alien responded, after his formal greeting gesture. He stole glances at Mahree's face with barely concealed curiosity.

88

Raoul put a hand on Mahree's shoulder.
"Cherie,
why don't you take Dhurrrkk' here on a tour of
Desiree?"

Mahree nodded. "I'd be happy to." She nodded at the newcomer. "Honored Dhurrrkk', would you like to visit our vessel? It would be an honor for me to guide you."

Dhurrrkk' nodded, and Mahree beckoned him to follow her.

Once inside
Desiree,
she escorted the Simiu through the ship, identifying the various sections for him. He gazed around with avid curiosity, though Mahree noticed that he seldom made eye contact with her. She decided that was out of politeness, not shyness--Dhurrrkk's bold strides certainly held nothing diffident about them.

"Do you like school, Honored Dhurrrkk'?" she asked, sitting on her bunk as he squatted in the middle of her cabin, gazing around him with bright-eyed interest.

The Simiu nodded. "Yes, I enjoy learning."

"Honored Rhrrrkkeet' mentioned that we are almost the same age. I'll be seventeen soon. If I may ask, how old are you?"

"I am being nine of my planet's years old," Dhurrrkk' said. "One more year and I will be mature for mating, should someone honor me with her selection. One more year, and I will be working each day, instead of studying."

That's right, Simiu females have only temporary sexual liaisons,
Mahree remembered. The basic family unit consisted of several related females, living with their children (of all ages, including adults), plus the females' male

"friends"--who might or might not be the fathers of any of their children.

Courtship was nonexistent. A female selected a male, then intercourse ensued immediately, lasting only a minute or two. The aliens apparently attached no more importance to mating in public than humans would to sharing an ice cream cone; several of their holo-vid travelogues had panned past mating couples.

Mahree beckoned and Dhurrrkk' followed her out of her cabin. In the corridor she glanced down at him as they walked. "What are you studying to be?"

"Pardon?" Simiu were invariably polite.

She tried again. "When you finish going to school, what job will you be prepared to do?"

"I have not yet made final selection. My studying has been to allow me to work in space." He thought for a moment. "Perhaps I will be a pilot. I am good at that."

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"Then I know you'll want to see our bridge."

Dhurrrkk' was obviously fascinated by Joan's piloting and navigation station.

Mahree described the controls as best she could. "And, finally, over here"--

she patted an instrument panel--"is the communications console. This is where we first received the radio waves from your world." She sat down on Jerry's seat, then asked, "Have your people explored other planets, Honored Dhurrrkk'?"

The Simiu looked away, his crest hair flattening until it was lying between his ears. Mahree knew instantly that she had touched on a taboo subject again.

Before she could apologize, he said, "I am not ... I must not . . . that is not something I can--"

Mahree interrupted hastily. "I am sorry, Honored Dhurrrkk'. Please forgive me. I did not mean to offend."

"I am not offended," he said, but he was silent as they left the control room.

Mahree kept quiet during the remainder of the tour, except to describe what they were seeing. She didn't want to chance upsetting the first Simiu she'd really had a chance to
talk
with.

When they reached the medical lab, Dhurrrkk' froze, standing mesmerized by an inky shape curled neatly into the cushion of Rob's chair. "That?" he said, gesturing so excitedly that his double-thumbed hand was a blur Mahree's eyes could hardly follow. "Please, that is what? Animal?"

"Yes, animal," she agreed. "It is a pet."

"Pet?" His formality had vanished. "Please, what means 'pet'?"
He's really
interested in the cat,
Mahree thought, realizing that here might be a chance to recoup from her faux pas in the control room.

"Pet ..." She keyed the English word into her computer link, so he would be able to see it translated into Simiu as she spoke: "Pets are animals who live with humans. They are our friends. 'Friends,' " she repeated slowly, articulating the word for him, when she saw how intently he was watching her mouth. "This particular species of pet is a 'cat.' "

"We have pets, too," Dhurrrkk' told her. "If Honored" --several alien symbols raced by--"Rhrrrkkeet' will permit my return, I will bring image of mine. We learn from pets . . . how to get along with family, be considerate, kind ... to treat with honor those who are weaker and more vulnerable."

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Sekhmet chose that moment to wake up. She blinked trustingly at Mahree, but then she saw the alien. Her ears flattened against her skull, and she snarled loudly. "Easy, girl!" Mahree protested, but the cat was not reassured.

"I am frightening her," Dhurrrkk' observed, his crest visibly drooping again.

"Better I withdraw."

"No," she responded, "wait a moment. She's a young cat, she may be able to adjust. Just make yourself appear small, and be quiet while I talk to her."

The Simiu squatted down, moving slowly.

Mahree made soothing sounds. Finally Sekhmet's growls lessened, and her ears lifted a little. The girl hesitantly began stroking her, and, long minutes later, the cat relaxed enough to bump its black head caressingly against her hand. "That's it, that's it, Sekhmet," Mahree encouraged. "Now, this is Derrk"

--she gave a swift glance of apology to the Simiu for the way her pronunciation butchered his name, but he did not seem affronted--"and he wants to be your friend, too."

Sekhmet glared distrustfully at the newcomer.

"Give me your hand," Mahree said, holding out her own. After a moment, strong, leathery fingers with softly furred backs slid across her palm and closed over her fingers. It was a shock to feel their warmth, and, Mahree realized suddenly, she was the first person to actually
touch
one of the aliens. She forced her voice to remain steady and comforting.

"Now, Sekhmet, take it easy," she said, holding the Simiu's fingers firmly in her own, so the cat could catch both their scents. Sekhmet hissed, but gradually, as Mahree reassured her, she finally relaxed enough to sniff Dhurrrkk's hand.

"That's it, girl! Good, Sekhmet!"

Mahree let go of the alien's hand, and sat back on her heels, remembering just in time not to grin. Dhurrrkk' appeared pleased; his crest stood straight up. He made a low, crooning sound to the cat. "Much gratitude to you, Honored Mahree," he said. "Your 'pet' is a creature of much beauty."

"Her name is Sekhmet." Mahree keyed in the name. "Sekmet," she repeated.

"Thhhheekkmeet," Dhurrrkk' tried. He lisped terribly.

"No, with the front teeth together," Mahree corrected. "Like this. Sssss."

"Thhhh . . ." he tried again. "Thssss."

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"Better, much better!"

"Ssseekkmeet."

"That's terrific!"

"It is unfortunate that we cannot make each other's speech sounds easily,"

Dhurrrkk' observed. "It would be much improvement if we could converse without computer aid. I dislike not speaking directly."

"I feel the same way," Mahree said. "You know, if we practiced together, I bet we could learn to speak to each other.''

"That is possible."

"To begin with, I would like to be able to say your name properly. Will you help me?"

"I would be honored."

"Dherrk," Mahree said slowly, trying to lower her voice for the initial sound. It was difficult; human mouths and vocal cords just weren't designed to produce such a guttural growl. And that final
click--
!

"Much better!" he encouraged. Hesitantly, she tried the name several more times. She finally learned to reproduce the low, breathy initial growl, but the
click
following the "kk" sound remained beyond her. Still, Dhurrrkk' praised her efforts.