"The outer planet of this system."
"Oh, yes. We call it Guzzum. I had heard that some sort of creatures
had established a settlement there, but I confess I pay little note to
such matters."
"We're wasting time, Retief," Magnan said. "We must truss these chaps
up, hurry back to the boat and make our escape. You heard what they
said."
"Are there any Qornt down there at the harbor, where the boats are?"
Retief asked.
"At Tarroon, you mean? Oh, yes. Planning some adventure."
"That would be the invasion of Smorbrod," Magnan said. "And unless we
hurry, Retief, we're likely to be caught there with the last of the
evacuees!"
"How many Qornt would you say there are at Tarroon?"
"Oh, a very large number. Perhaps fifteen or twenty."
"Fifteen or twenty what?" Magnan looked perplexed.
"Fifteen or twenty Qornt."
"You mean that there are only fifteen or twenty individual Qornt in
all?"
Another whistle. "Not at all. I was referring to the local Qornt only.
There are more at the other Centers, of course."
"And the Qornt are responsible for the ultimatum--unilaterally?"
"I suppose so; it sounds like them. A truculent group, you know. And
interplanetary relations _are_ rather a hobby of theirs."
Zubb moaned and stirred. He sat up slowly, rubbing his head. He spoke
to his companion in a shrill alien clatter of consonants.
"What did he say?"
"Poor Zubb. He blames me for his bruises, since it was my idea to
gather you as specimens."
"You should have known better than to tackle that fierce-looking
creature," Zubb said, pointing his beak at Magnan.
"How does it happen that you speak Terrestrial?" Retief asked.
"Oh, one picks up all sorts of dialects."
"It's quite charming, really," Magnan said. "Such a quaint, archaic
accent."
"Suppose we went down to Tarroon," Retief asked. "What kind of
reception would we get?"
"That depends. I wouldn't recommend interfering with the Gwil or the
Rheuk; it's their nest-mending time, you know. The Boog will be busy
mating--such a tedious business--and of course the Qornt are tied up
with their ceremonial feasting. I'm afraid no one will take any notice
of you."
"Do you mean to say," Magnan demanded, "that these ferocious Qornt, who
have issued an ultimatum to the Corps Diplomatique Terrestrienne--who
openly avow their occupied world--would ignore Terrestrials in their
midst?"
"If at all possible."
Retief got to his feet.
"I think our course is clear, Mr. Magnan. It's up to us to go down and
attract a little attention."