"That's true," said Orne.
"I like you, Orne," said Tanub. "You shall be one of my slaves. You will
teach me many things."
"How did you capture the _Delphinus_?" asked Orne.
"You know that, too?"
"You have one of their rifles," said Orne.
"Your race is no match for us, Orne ... in cunning, in strength, in the
prowess of the mind. Your ship landed to repair its tubes. Very inferior
ceramics in those tubes."
Orne turned, looked at Tanub in the dim glow of the cab light. "Have you
heard about the I-A, Tanub?"
"I-A? What is that?" There was a wary tenseness in the Gienahn's figure.
His mouth opened to reveal the long canines.
"You took the _Delphinus_ by treachery?" asked Orne.
"They were simple fools," said Tanub. "We are smaller, thus they thought
us weaker." The Mark XX's muzzle came around to center on Orne's
stomach. "You have not answered my question. What is the I-A?"
"I am of the I-A," said Orne. "Where've you hidden the _Delphinus_?"
"In the place that suits us best," said Tanub. "In all our history there
has never been a better place."
"What do you plan to do with it?" asked Orne.
"Within a year we will have a copy with our own improvements. After
that--"
"You intend to start a war?" asked Orne.
"In the jungle the strong slay the weak until only the strong remain,"
said Tanub.
"And then the strong prey upon each other?" asked Orne.
"That is a quibble for women," said Tanub.
"It's too bad you feel that way," said Orne. "When two cultures meet
like this they tend to help each other. What have you done with the crew
of the _Delphinus_?"
"They are slaves," said Tanub. "Those who still live. Some resisted.
Others objected to teaching us what we want to know." He waved the gun
muzzle. "You will not be that foolish, will you, Orne?"
"No need to be," said Orne. "I've another little lesson to teach you: I
already know where you've hidden the _Delphinus_."
_"Go, boy!"_ hissed Stetson. _"Where is it?"_
"Impossible!" barked Tanub.
"It's on your moon," said Orne. "Darkside. It's on a mountain on the
darkside of your moon."