Decision at Doona

Chapter XXII. DELAYING TACTICS

KEN AWOKE the next morning, sore and stiff. Gradually he became aware of the unusual silence at a time when Pat should be bustling about. He slid carefully out of bed and padded quietly down the short hall to the kitchen. Pat was sitting at the kitchen table, her shoulders sagging in an attitude of hopelessness.

Suddenly he regretted yesterday's rebellion and the bright hope of coexistence. He wondered how many others were uncertain in the clear light of day. Then he pulled his shoulders back. Damn it, he'd've been a coward to knuckle under either to Landreau or Chaminade. If he'd believed in himself – and the Hrrubans – last night, he had better not vacillate today.

He cleared his throat to give Pat a chance to collect herself.

She turned with a smile of determined cheerfulness. Ken bent to kiss her and her responsiveness communicated her pride in him.

As he straightened up, he caught sight of a familiar figure racing up the path.

“Oho, here comes our little harbinger of bad news,” he declared as Bill Moody skidded to a stop at the door. “You'll make a long distance runner yet, Bill!”

“Mr. Reeve,” Bill gasped, trying to grin, trying to grab enough breath to get his message out. “Snakes!”

“Oh, Christ, not before coffee,” Ken groaned. “Where?”

Pat was already galvanizing into action, handing him her full coffee cup, sliding a dish of bread his way.

“You're going to eat something first,” she scolded as she picked up the dish of brna eggs and made for the stove.

“Mr. Eckerd spotted giant snakes on the plain beyond the valley,” Bill panted out, slipping into the empty seat.

“On the plain? Then the snakes aren't close enough to stampede the urfa?”

“Mr. Adjei wants to herd the urfa across the bridge to the other side of the . . .”

Bill broke off, gawking at Ken's black expression.

«Across the river? Christ!» Ken swore savagely. «Ben ought to know better!» Even if he had to straddle a horse – Ken shuddered at the thought – and herd the urfa himself, they were not going across that river!

Bread in one hand, coffee cup in the other, Ken stormed down to the barn, his rapid strides jolting sore flesh and muscle.

“Ben, what's this about crossing the river?”

Ben turned, eyes wide with surprise.

“We can't have the urfa stampeding through the grain. The horses'll need it next winter.”

“And we can't encroach on the Hrruban's domain. Not one jot or tittle. Particularly now!”

«What's the matter?» asked Gaynor, appearing from inside the barn. «Why can't we move the herd across the river? It's mutual defense against a common enemy – those snakes.»

Ken groaned but the veterinary nodded slowly with comprehension.

“I understand. We will move the herd far down the valley. The prevailing wind sweeps away from there and they will be unable to smell the snakes.”

“Well, I don't get it,” Sam replied sourly.

Ben put a restraining hand on Reeve's arm as he began to answer Gaynor hotly.

“Sam, it has been understood that across the river is Hrruban territory. Ken is right when he believes that it is an act of aggression for us to cross the river with our possessions.”

“Hell, we don't own the urfa.”

“It's the principle of the thing,” Ken exploded, slopping half the coffee out of his cup with his emphatic gesturing.

“Not another goddam principle to foul things up?”

“The urfa stay on this side of the river,” Ben said in a flat non-arguable voice. “Besides, the grass is better on our side.” The big veterinary waved his team out of the stable yard.

Ken watched Lawrence, taking his place for the day, awkwardly hunching in the unaccustomed saddle, bouncing ignominiously as the mare's gait accelerated. For Lee's sake, he hoped the horses were adjusted to the sight of urfa today.

Unfortunately, the other cattle and Socks, who remained in the corral, were not downwind of the snakes. And Socks had had enough experience with that scent to become hysterical. She raced round and round the high corral, communicating her terror to the cows and the bull, the pigs and the people. The neighing and lowing brought out the rest of the colonists. That was fortunate because Ken immediately suggested reinforcing the corral which Socks was trying to kick down. They couldn't get near enough to her to get her back into the barn where, presumably, her panic might lessen.

By noon she was foam-covered and so exhausted she could barely stagger. So Ben led her into her stall, tying her tightly just as the other horses took up where she left off.

By late afternoon, the men called a hasty conference.

“My wife's scared stiff,” Macy admitted. “She's got visions of us either being swallowed by the snakes, beds and all, or yanked aboard a transport for a quick trip to the mines.”

“The stench is terrible,” Gaynor said, rubbing his nose in a piece of toweling, sniffling uselessly. “God, it's everywhere; even makes the food taste snake. Ugh.”

“Look, that pass is narrow and it's the only entrance to our valley,” Eckerd suggested. “Let's just blast it closed and be done with it.”

''The Hrrubans might not want us to alter the landscape," Ken protested.

"Look, Reeve, I'm all for peaceful coexistence while Earth plays pass-the-buck,'' Lawrence said, "but I'm not anxious to be eaten by a snake as an interim project."

“And how in hell do we know those Hrrubans are coming back?” Gaynor demanded, then blinked as he noticed Reeve's tense look. “Yes, I know they've got your kid, Ken, but you'd better face the alternative.”

“I am firmly of the opinion,” Hu Shih stated, rising to his feet, “that the Hrrubans will return. The alternative is not consonant with the ethical standards they have exhibited, nor with our logical extrapolation of their future course. Had they not wished to continue to associate with us, they would have remained away the first time.”

«Have you logically extrapolated why they disappeared at all?» Gaynor inquired. «Let's face it – the traffic in and out of Doona's atmosphere has been congested. If they are so scientifically advanced that they can leave as they choose, maybe they have left for good this time. Maybe we've already failed those tests of theirs.»

«Yes, we may have,» Reeve agreed slowly, aware that his throat was dry. He had stubbornly refused to consider that the Hrrubans might not return – this time. «It boils down to a question of faith. Nothing in our relations with the Hrrubans so far can make me believe that they won't return – if only to bring Toddy back.»

“Do you think they know of the reptiles?” Ben asked.

Ken swore volubly. "I know damned well they do because I was watching Hrrula. Then that farting Codep ship homed in and he left.''

“You don't suppose their policy of peaceful coexistence extends to the snakes, do you?” Lawrence asked.

“They did settle across the river here, away from the reptiles' accustomed trek” Dautrish remarked. “And if these creatures follow the pattern of reptilian life on Terra, they would most certainly have territorial imperatives. My studies of the mdas prove that that species does. One can assume it applies to the reptiles as well.”

“Yes, but we are now in the snakes' back yard, and we've got to do something. Those things are too big for any weapons we have here.”

“I would prefer not to ask the Hrrubans' good opinion,” Hu Shih began.

“Let's not carry that Principle too damned far,” Gaynor growled.

“However,” Hu Shih went on, “as the Hrrubans are not loth to protect themselves from mda, as proved by Hrrula's slaying of the one that attacked Todd, we may take that as precedent. Eckerd, survey the pass with blasting in mind. How many men will you need? Ken, would you please go to the village in case the Hrrubans have returned?”

Ken was bitterly aware of Sam Gaynor's skeptical expression as he left the mess hall.

Goddammit, why had Gaynor brought up the alternative – 'if the Hrrubans return'? And what about the more unsettling corollary – 'if we're still here when they return'? Everyone had ignored Landreau's threat. Spacedep had precedence over both Codep and Alreldep. Yet Spacedep had turned Doona over to Alreldep which had cleared it for Codep – and the colony.

Ken gave a mirthless bark of laughter as he pounded across the bridge, grateful for the physical exertion as a release from the frustration, doubt and anger boiling up inside him. Christ, could they pull anything out of this fiasco besides the misery and anguish?

If the Terrans had failed the Hrrubans' test and they never returned, then the Terran colony could stay – if they could eliminate Landreau's threat. And if they could re-establish cordial relations with Chaminade and if – what if Todd . . .

Ken resolutely jogged up the slope of Saddle Ridge, unable to dwell on anymore if's.

The Hrrubans had not returned. The forest clearing was empty of any trace of them. Ken hadn't really expected anything else. He was used to hope deferred. He considered hanging around the site until it occurred to him that his very presence might possibly be inhibiting their return. He got as far as the edge of the forest before a second notion struck him so forcibly that he raced back to the clearing. It was not outside the realm of possibility that they had some kind of monitor system rigged in the clearing.

«If anyone is listening,» he called out, carefully pitching the Hrruban accents, «please tell Hrrula or Hrrestan that the colony may be taken from Rrala at any time. We are also in danger from the giant reptiles and must take steps to protect ourselves.» He paused, turning in a slow circle, willing his eyes to find some evidence of Hrruban reception. «Tell Todd – tell Todd we'll stay as long as we can. If you could just send him back – no, Todd's better off with you,» and Ken broke off, running halfway to Saddle Ridge.

He reached the mess hall in time to see the women helping Buzz Eckerd load the copter with the plastic explosive.

“We've got to seal that pass tight,” Eckerd told him, all the while swallowing nervously. “I did a sweep down that plain and snakes are all of a sudden everywhere.”

Pat came out of the stores shed and raced up to her husband, her face mutely appealing. He shook his head slowly and hugged her tight when she burrowed into his arms for comfort.

"Ken, what if – " she mumbled.

Ken gave her a little shake. “Look, hon, what if isn't doing us any good. Let's start thinking in terms of and when. If we trust the Hrrubans, we trust them; up to and including Todd.” She turned tear-filled eyes up to him.

“Pat,” he said sternly, “you let Todd go to Mrrva, right here on Rrala, didn't you? Because you liked her and trusted her, right?”

“Yesss.”

“Then continue to trust her. She hasn't changed just because she's removed from the village.”

“Well, if you put it that way,” Pat conceded, straightening.

The homing beacon lit up.

“Who could be coming now?” Pat wondered.

“Well,” Ken drawled, scratching his head, “we've got quite a choice: Hrrubans, Alreldep, Codep, Spacedep and who knows who all else is interested in Rrala-Doona?”

“Whoever it is is not going to be comfortable with snakes in their laps,” Buzz said. “I'm going to get the plastic out to the pass, Ken. You make like a welcoming committee until I can bring Hu Shih back.”

The copter had long since dwindled to a speck by the time the incoming ship was visible. It was a much larger vessel than the previous visitors; in fact too large to comfort the watching women.

“You don't suppose Codep is actually sending transport to take us off,” Kate Moody remarked, shooting an anxious look at the Reeves.

“That is a possibility,” Ken heard himself answering calmly. “And if it is transport to take us off Doona, we got more to worry about than the snakes.”

«But why do we have to leave Doona now?» Kate exclaimed. The Hrrubans are aliens, and the Principle of Non – "

“Yeah, Kate, but we don't happen to have a few Hrrubans around as proof. And no one trusts us!”

“Maybe it's Alreldep!” Pat suggested with simulated cheerfulness.

Ken shaded his eyes but the ship was still too high to make out more than the imposing size of her rocket flares.

“Kate, be a good kid and go get the binoculars and keep that thing in sight. If it is Alreldep, we're okay. If not, we've got to delay.”

He raced to the mess hall ahead of Kate, pulling aside the panel that contained the com-unit. Frantically he signaled for Buz to come in, cursing fluently when he realized that Buzz probably hadn't bothered to turn the copter's set on. They hadn't used it much.

If he could just get the men to scatter, on the chance that this was Spacedep or Codep, that would delay departure. Recklessly going on his theory that they were being observed, Ken spoke in a loud, clear voice.

“Hrrubans, if you're watching, there's a big ship landing and it may mean trouble. Please put in an appearance. Please bring back my son.”

Then he left the hall, at a run for the stable. He had to get to the blasting party. Socks, however, was not about to cooperate, tossing her head away from the bridle, dancing and heaving when he tried to cinch the girth. By the time he was able to lead her from her stall, he was ready to brain her.

“You can turn that beast loose,” a familiar voice ordered him as he emerged from the barn.

Ken whirled to see Landreau, leading a squad of space marines, approaching from the Common. Beyond them, Ken could see additional squads rounding up the women and children.

“Where're the rest of the men, Reeve?”

“You have no jurisdiction over us, Landreau,” Ken replied, glancing quickly at the marines. All they carried were the riot sticks, heavy-duty plastic clubs which had become all that was necessary to quell masses of apathetic citizenry. Was Landreau that confident of himself, of authority, of conditioning? Or was Landreau cautious?

“On the contrary, Reeve,” Landreau assured him arrogantly. “Spacedep has resumed its initial responsibility over Doona. The matter has been taken away from Codep and Alreldep. I have full authority to deal with the matter. Where are the rest of the men, Reeve?”

“Off on a visit.”

“Don't give me that Reeve. Where are they?” Landreau advanced menacingly, his shoulders hunched forward so that he appeared neckless and, Reeve thought, rather stupid.

Socks snorted suddenly, tossing her head nervously as a fresh breeze brought the unmistakable rank stench of snake. Distaste for the odor was reflected in the expressions of the stern marines.

“Smell that, Landreau? That's snake stink”

“Cut it, Reeve. I made that initial survey. There were no snakes, no natives. And I've been over every inch of that Phase II report which happens to include the forest you claim is inhabited by Hrrubans. Hrrubans!” Landreau sneered.

“Then explain that stink to the mare. She smells it. Care to probe her? She's seen Hrrubans too. Been ridden by Hrrubans in fact. Probe her!”

The mare was neighing and cavorting in full panic now, requiring all Ken's attention.

“Where are the men?” Landreau bellowed above her shrill complaints.

Ground shock rumbled underfoot, followed by the sound of explosion, the sight of a dusty cloud roiling up in the distance.

“Why are they blasting at the pass?” Landreau demanded.

“To block the non-existent snakes, Landreau.”

The spaceman fingered on a wrist radio.

“Launch the boat to the Pass and secure all colonists.”

In the instant Landreau had his eyes turned away, Ken, yanking hard on the bridle, brought the mare between himself and the spaceman. With an agility that amazed him, Ken swung into the saddle and dug his heels into her ribs. She took off with a squeal of rage, knocking Landreau aside and rearing away from the upraised clubs of the space marines. Fortunately, her wishes and his coincided as she raced in the direction of the river, across the open field.

As Ken shot a glance over his shoulder, he saw Landreau's wrist raised to his mouth again and had no doubt of the orders the spaceman was issuing to the ship. Instinct as well as pain in his buttocks made him crouch low against the mare's straining back. And when he felt the hot breeze of a laser bolt, he began to neck-rein Socks in zigzag patterns, all the time urging her to greater speed.

A bolt boiled the waters of the river just as the mare plunged into the swift current at a dead run. Ken let momentum carry him over her head, down into the water, safely ahead of her threshing hooves. He felt the sudden spots of warmth from other bolts and dug deeper into the current, hoping to get far across and down the river from his point of entry.

He derived what comfort he could from the notion that none of the three departments could write Rrala off until he and Todd had been recovered.

Lungs bursting with fire, he thrust for the surface, restraining the panicky urge to shoot up high into open air. It proved difficult enough to keep his head above water in the rapid current which bounced him around. He realized he was well past the landing field but far too close to the first of the lower falls. There was no sign of the mare, Ken hoped she'd had wit enough to get to shore safely – if she hadn't been bolted into roast meat.

The water was icy, its source the distant snow-clad mountains, and while it numbed saddle galls opened in his rough escape, it also began to numb arms and legs. Fearful now that he might become a real casualty, Ken struck out for the far shore.

When he had finally dragged himself up into underbrush, he was bruised, freezing and exhausted. Shivering, he worked his way back into the thick woods, wondering how he was going to survive the chill of a spring night on Rrala.

By the time he reached the wooded ridge that ran parallel to the river, it was growing dark. He shivered almost continually now, worried, hungry and angry! There were lights on in the mess hall but in none of the cabins set back in the woods. Landreau was presumably keeping all the colonists together. Ken thought he made out the angular silhouette of the copter in its parking space but he couldn't be sure, the usual Common fire had not been lit. But there was no mistaking the ominous bulk of the Spacedep launch.

He had to do something – besides wait and pray for the Hrrubans to return. He had to find some shelter for the night or risk illness. Where would he be least expected to go?

The answer was so ridiculous that Ken chuckled between spasms of shivers as he made his way farther up the river.