Starbridge (39 page)

In a way it was easier when all I had to worry about was whether I'd be alive to wake up each morning.

Four hours to go until the meeting. I wish I could stop counting the minutes.

Rob and Shirazz were in the Mizari's office, talking. The doctor sat on the floor, cross-legged; the Guest Liaison was draped over a series of brackets fastened to the wall. There were walled, padded cubicles surrounding him that served the aliens as places to support their coils should they decide to rest in one place--the Mizari equivalent of chairs.

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But Shirazz was like a human who paced as she thought; she kept adjusting the draping of her coils over the brackets, resulting in a slow, steady progress around the room.

Rob discreetly edged around on his backside to follow her restless movements. "It was Raoul's last comment that made me begin thinking about it," he admitted.

"Raoul-Lamont? The Captain of your vessel?"

"Yes. Do
you
think I'm doing the right thing?"

Shirazz hung poised on her brackets for a moment, evidently considering.

Even her halo of scarlet, orange, and black tentacles barely moved. Then her wedge-shaped head turned, and she regarded him with her pupilless unblinking eyes. "Yes, I agree with your decision," she said. "I believe you will be doing the best thing. But I can recognize that this was a most difficult conclusion to reach, Doctor-Gable."

"Please, call me Rob. Yes, it was a hard decision," he admitted, "but now that I've made it, I feel much better. Thanks for your advice, it helped a lot."

"Feeling better after coming to a difficult decision appears to be a trait our peoples share," she said. "Now, if I may, Rob, I would like to ask you a personal question."

He glanced up at her, startled, then shrugged inwardly. Mizari were extremely curious beings and, notwithstanding their customarily diplomatic patterns of speech, were capable of bluntness when the occasion warranted.

"Go ahead," he told her. "What do you want to know?"

"Do you like children, Rob?"

Completely taken aback, the doctor wondered for one wild moment whether he was about to become the recipient of the first interspecies proposal, then he gave himself a mental shake.
Don't be silly, Shirazz is married, and
Mizari are monogamous.
"Children?" he repeated, considering the question.

"Yes, I like children. As a matter of fact, I considered specializing in pediatrics--the treatment of children--before deciding to take up colonial medicine."

"All ages of children?" she persisted.

What's this about?
Rob wondered, completely mystified. "Yes, all ages," he said. "Having had younger sisters, I can change diapers with the best of them."

A brief exchange concerning the meaning of "diapers" occurred, then she inquired, "What about young people of

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approximately Dhurrrkk's age? Those who are poised on the edge of adulthood?"

"That's one of my favorite age groups," he replied. "I enjoyed working with adolescents and teenagers very much."

"You have had experience dealing with this age group, then?"

"Yes, I did quite a bit of counseling with young people when I was taking my psychology degrees. I was younger than the other counselors, so many of the kids seemed able to relate to me better than they could the older therapists."

Don't pat yourself on the back too hard, Rob,
he thought.
Remember how
insensitive you were with Mahree.
He sighed.
But she wasn't a patient,
either. Be fair to yourself. There were other considerations operating when
you were with her, even if you weren't consciously aware of them at the time.

"I am very gratified to hear that, Rob," Shirazz said, sliding down off the brackets, coil by coil, and gliding over to face him. "I know you are wondering why I wished to know, but I cannot tell you at this time. If, later, I become able to do so, I promise that I will."

Rob nodded. "I'll be content with that, then," he said. Glancing at his watch, he said, "I must get back, Shirazz. We've talked far longer than I'd realized. I ought to eat something before I give my testimony." He smiled wryly.

She inclined her head in one of her people's graceful gestures-- almost a nod of acquiescence. "You have my respect, Rob," she said formally. "I will come to escort you to the hearing in two of your hours."

He stood up. "We'll be ready."

"How disgusting--a pimple! Of all the rotten things to happen when we're about to be presented to the CLS as prime specimens of humanity ... I have to get a damn
zit!"
Mahree muttered in a furious undertone, gingerly probing her chin. She and Rob were standing outside the door to their quarters, waiting for Shirazz and Dhurrrkk'.

He inspected the afflicted area narrowly. "It's not that bad. Quit touching it, you'll make it worse."

"I thought having sex was supposed to clear up your face," she grumbled, giving him a sidelong glance.

"Good grief, is that ancient fable still hanging around?"

"Sure," she said, straight-faced. "You mean it isn't
true?

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Those guys who told me that were
lying!
I'm shocked!" She sobered. "Be honest, do I look awful?"

"No, you look great. It looks like a beauty mark."

"Now
you're
lying, but I love you for it." She paced, tugging her dark blue pants and pale blue tunic straight, pushing the rippling fall of her hair back off her shoulders. "Maybe I should've put my hair up. I'd look older."

Rob chuckled. "Most of these people have never seen a human before, so how do you expect them to judge your age? Quit fretting! You're making me nervous."

"Good. You perform admirably under stress."

He grimaced. "You're the one who speaks their language."

"They've got the translation program," Mahree pointed out, making a herculean effort not to finger her chin.

Rob shifted restlessly, jamming his hands in his pockets. "Yeah, the translation program," he muttered sourly.

The doctor paced the width of the corridor, then turned back again. "Look, now you've got me doing it. I wish I had something better to wear than an ordinary ship's coverall. You should've made me bring something."

"You're lucky I brought you."

He gave her a strained smile. "I am, aren't I?"

The door beside them opened, and Dhurrrkk' joined them. "Hello, my friends," he said. His grooming efforts had paid off; every hair in his mane was in place, and his dappled flanks gleamed under the bright lights as though they'd been polished.

"Dhurrrkk', you look very nice," Mahree said.

"Thank you, FriendMahree," he said. "I was nervous, and grooming is soothing."

Hearing the faint whisper of scales sliding over polished flooring, they turned to see Shirazz, and gave her the Mizari greeting, which the CLS Liaison returned.

"Shall we go?" the alien said, gesturing with half her tentacles.

Via walkway and lift, the travelers were guided deeper into the gigantic station than they had ever been before, until they had reached the innermost hub of the gyroscope.

"The Council chamber is directly above us," Shirazz said, signaling open the portal to a bare, circular room and waving them past her. "We will be occupying the center section. In addition to ourselves, and the Simiu Councillors, there will be the Secretary-General, as I believe the term would translate. She

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is a Drnian named Fys, and you may address her as 'Most Esteemed Fys.'

Also present will be the League's Chief Mediator, Esteemed Ssoriszs. The Councillors from each world will be seated around us."

"This Ssoriszs . . . he's a Mizari?" Rob asked.

"Yes," Shirazz said. "He conducts the proceedings, and renders judgment, when needed."

"First Councillor Ahkk'eerrr will be in the center with us?" Dhurrrkk' asked, sounding apprehensive.

'Yes, along with the entire Simiu delegation. You may choose to join them, or you may remain with the humans."

Dhurrrkk' glanced up at Rob and Mahree. "I will stand with my friends," he said, without hesitation.

"Very well," Shirazz said. "Each of you will be given a chance to speak. If you humans prefer to use your native language, the translation program is enabled."

"And after the Councillors hear our testimony?" Rob asked, in careful Simiu.

"What then?"

"They will decide whether Honored Dhurrrkk's people will be permitted full membership status, and the increased representation in the League that accompanies that privilege."

She dipped her head to Rob and Mahree slightly. "Then, after your testimony, you will be officially welcomed as a new sentient species. Many of the Councillors may wish to extend good wishes and ask questions. Feel free to reply as fully or as briefly as you choose. The Councillors know that you are here informally, as our guests, not as official representatives."

"After the meeting is adjourned," Shirazz continued, "there will be a ...

reception, a social gathering. The Councillors who are comfortable in your environment will attend. They may ask whether your people are interested in joining the League."

"There are obvious benefits," Rob said.

"For our peoples as well as yours. Are you ready?"

Mahree moved closer to Rob's side, and he took her hand. When she extended her other hand to Dhurrrkk', her friend sat back on his haunches and gripped her fingers with his own. She could feel the silky brush of the flame-colored hairs on the back of his broad, leathery palmed hand. "We're ready."

The floor quivered, then rose slowly, as the ceiling irised open.

They were rising into an arena, a dome, that was the largest

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enclosed space she had ever seen. The topmost part of the huge half sphere was transparent, revealing the profusion of stars and portions of Shassiszss station outside. The vista was breathtaking.

The curved walls were opaque. There were seats, though none humans could have occupied comfortably. There were also cubicles filled with the glowing field that indicated the presence of different atmospheric conditions, concealing whatever was inside.

Shadgui and Chhhh-kk-tu were visible, and several winged, vaguely insectile-appearing beings, looking like pictures Mahree had seen of Terran bees, though they were larger--perhaps the length of her arm. Another section was filled with tall aliens shaped for all the world like clumps of broccoli--and they were shiny dark green with purplish undertones, which added to the impression of huge walking vegetables.

"Day of the Triffids,"
muttered Rob when she unobtrusively drew his attention to the broccoli-creatures. "You suppose they're really
plants?"

"Those are the Vardi," Dhurrrkk' told them softly. "A race who share characteristics with both plants and animals. They absorb nutrients from certain species of algae, but also produce chlorophyll through

photosynthesis. They communicate by scents. The 'clumps' on their heads are olfactory-sensing and scent- releasing organs."

"Doctor Blanket's a
fungus,"
Mahree reminded Rob, in a whisper. "That's even stranger than sentient plants."

As the platform and its occupants became visible to the beings waiting in the arena, Mahree saw that all the aliens who possessed identifiable optical organs were now gazing avidly at her and Rob. She caught sight of a creature that reminded her of a holo-vid of "Little Red Riding Hood." The being fixed her with hot yellow eyes in a furred silver-gray face. Its muzzle was pointed, and so were its many teeth.

As the platform neared the top, Rob suddenly glanced from her to Dhurrrkk', then back again, a grin spreading over his face--the wide, reckless grin that Mahree had always found irresistible. "I can hardly believe I'm actually here!" he exclaimed, glancing around at the assembled aliens. "There ought to be a John Williams score blaring in the background."

Mahree gave him a look that was both fond and exasperated. "John what
'

As the massive platform drew level with the floor of the

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Council chamber, Mahree saw that it was a fifth of the entire floor area of the arena. There were no tables or chairs, only Simiu loungers, one bench, and a podium behind which a Mizari, probably the Esteemed Mediator Ssoriszs, coiled.

Ssoriszs was brilliantly colored, his pale green iridescent scales patterned with diamonds of emerald green and amber. His pupilless eyes were golden. As he saw Mahree's gaze on him, the being graciously bowed.

Mahree poked Rob, who was busy not-staring at the sharp-toothed canisform, and squeezed Dhurrrkk's hand warningly, then all three travelers bowed to the Mizari.

Another alien stepped over to join the Mediator. Mahree decided this one must be the Secretary-General. Fys the Drnian was a tall, skinny, two-armed biped with dry, shiny, sable- colored skin. She was the first alien the humans had seen who wore clothing. A short, sleeveless green tunic was belted around an improbably tiny waist, and below the sticklike legs, her long-toed feet were shod with matching sandals. She also wore a necklace, wristlets, and earrings of the iridescent Rigel ian exudate.

Humanoid as the Drnian's body appeared, the faint resemblance ended with her face. Beneath coils of fine, wirelike hair as dark as her skin, the Drnian's forehead bulged out, a bulge matched by the one at the back of her skull, so that the top of her head was flattened. Her eyes were huge and red, half-covered with nictating membranes, and below them, instead of a nose, she had a sunken depression with two slits that Mahree assumed were nostils.

Fys' mouth was small, round, and wet-looking, and, as she watched the Drnian, trying not to stare openly, the young woman saw a tongue emerge--a pale pink tube of a tongue.

Remember the lesson the Rigellian Master taught you,
she thought.

The Secretary-General slowly, ceremoniously, made the Mizari greeting-bow, following it with a complicated gesture with her elongated fingers that Mahree guessed must be her native greeting. The three friends bowed together, then they walked over to the Drnian.