Retief and Magnan topped a ridge and looked down across a slope
of towering tree-shrubs and glossy violet-stemmed palms set among
flamboyant blossoms of yellow and red, reaching down to a strip of
white beach with the blue sea beyond.
"A delightful vista," Magnan said, mopping at his face. "A pity we
couldn't locate the Qornt. We'll go back now and report--"
"I'm pretty sure the settlement is off to the right," Retief said. "Why
don't you head back for the boat, while I ease over and see what I can
observe."
"Retief, we're engaged in a serious mission. This is not a time to
think of sightseeing."
"I'd like to take a good look at what we're giving away."
"See here, Retief! One might almost receive the impression that you're
questioning Corps policy!"
"One might, at that. The Qornt have made their play, but I think it
might be valuable to take a look at their cards before we fold. If I'm
not back at the boat in an hour, lift without me."
"You expect me to make my way back alone?"
"It's directly down-slope--" Retief broke off, listening. Magnan
clutched at his arm.
There was a sound of crackling foliage. Twenty feet ahead, a leafy
branch swung aside. An eight-foot biped stepped into view, long, thin,
green-clad legs with back-bending knees moving in quick, bird-like
steps. A pair of immense black-lensed goggles covered staring eyes set
among bushy green hair above a great bone-white beak. The crest bobbed
as the creature cocked its head, listening.
Magnan gulped audibly. The Qornt froze, head tilted, beak aimed
directly at the spot where the Terrestrials stood in the deep shade of
a giant trunk.
"I'll go for help," Magnan squeaked. He whirled and took three leaps
into the brush.
A second great green-clad figure rose up to block his way. He spun,
darted to the left. The first Qornt pounced, grappled Magnan to its
narrow chest. Magnan yelled, threshing and kicking, broke free,
turned--and collided with the eight-foot alien, coming in fast from the
right. All three went down in a tangle of limbs.
Retief jumped forward, hauled Magnan free, thrust him aside and
stopped, right fist cocked. The two Qornt lay groaning feebly.
"Nice piece of work, Mr. Magnan," Retief said. "You nailed both of
them."
* * * * *
"Those undoubtedly are the most bloodthirsty, aggressive, merciless
countenances it has ever been my misfortune to encounter," Magnan said.
"It hardly seems fair. Eight feet tall _and_ faces like that!"
The smaller of the two captive Qornt ran long, slender fingers over
a bony shin, from which he had turned back the tight-fitting green
trousers.
"It's not broken," he whistled nasally in passable Terrestrial, eyeing
Magnan through the heavy goggles, now badly cracked. "Small thanks to
you."
Magnan smiled loftily. "I daresay you'll think twice before interfering
with peaceable diplomats in future."
"Diplomats? Surely you jest."
"Never mind us," Retief said. "It's you fellows we'd like to talk
about. How many of you are there?"
"Only Zubb and myself."
"I mean altogether. How many Qornt?"
The alien whistled shrilly.
"Here, no signalling!" Magnan snapped, looking around.
"That was merely an expression of amusement."
"You find the situation amusing? I assure you, sir, you are in perilous
straits at the moment. I _may_ fly into another rage, you know."
"Please, restrain yourself. I was merely somewhat astonished--" a small
whistle escaped--"at being taken for a Qornt."
"Aren't you a Qornt?"
"I? Great snail trails, no!" More stifled whistles of amusement escaped
the beaked face. "Both Zubb and I are Verpp. Naturalists, as it
happens."
"You certainly _look_ like Qornt."
"Oh, not at all--except perhaps to a Terrestrial. The Qornt are
sturdily built rascals, all over ten feet in height. And, of course,
they do nothing but quarrel. A drone caste, actually."
"A caste? You mean they're biologically the same as you?"
"Not at all! A Verpp wouldn't think of fertilizing a Qornt."
"I mean to say, you are of the same basic stock--descended from a
common ancestor, perhaps."
"We are all Pud's creatures."
"What are the differences between you, then?"
"Why, the Qornt are argumentive, boastful, lacking in appreciation
for the finer things of life. One dreads to contemplate descending to
_their_ level."
"Do you know anything about a Note passed to the Terrestrial Ambassador
at Smorbrod?" Retief asked.
* * * * *