WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:05.440 Missing Link by Frank Herbert. The Romantics used to say 2 00:00:05.519 --> 00:00:08.160 that the eyes were the windows of the soul. A 3 00:00:08.240 --> 00:00:11.839 good alien xenologist might not put it quite so poetically, 4 00:00:12.519 --> 00:00:15.960 but it can if he's sharp, read a lot in 5 00:00:16.039 --> 00:00:21.000 the look of an eye. We ought a scrape this 6 00:00:21.239 --> 00:00:25.960 planet clean of every living thing on it, muttered Umbo Stetson, 7 00:00:26.480 --> 00:00:31.000 Section Chief of Investigation and Adjustment. Stetson paced lembed in 8 00:00:31.079 --> 00:00:36.320 control bridge of a Scout cruiser. His footsteps grated on 9 00:00:36.439 --> 00:00:38.719 a floor that was the rear wall of the bridge 10 00:00:38.840 --> 00:00:42.840 during flight, but now the ship rested on its tail fins, 11 00:00:43.479 --> 00:00:47.000 all four hundred glistening red and black meters of it. 12 00:00:47.880 --> 00:00:50.359 The open ports of the bridge looked out on the 13 00:00:50.479 --> 00:00:55.479 jungle roof of Vaina three, some one hundred fifty meters below. 14 00:00:56.399 --> 00:01:01.560 A buttery yellow sun hung above the horizon, perhaps an 15 00:01:01.640 --> 00:01:07.480 hour from setting. Clean as an egg, he barked. He 16 00:01:07.560 --> 00:01:10.959 paused in his round of the bridge, glared out the 17 00:01:11.040 --> 00:01:15.519 starboard port, spat into the fire blackened circle that the 18 00:01:15.599 --> 00:01:20.239 cruiser's jets had burned from the jungle. The IA Section 19 00:01:20.480 --> 00:01:25.840 chief was dark haired, gangling, with large head and big features. 20 00:01:26.439 --> 00:01:31.000 He stood in his customary slouch, a stance not improved 21 00:01:31.519 --> 00:01:37.120 by the sack like patched blue fatigues. Although on this 22 00:01:37.280 --> 00:01:40.560 present operation he rated the flag of a division admiral, 23 00:01:41.239 --> 00:01:46.319 his fatigues carried no insignia. There was a general unkempt, 24 00:01:46.920 --> 00:01:51.959 straggling look about him. Lewis Orne junior I, a field 25 00:01:52.040 --> 00:01:56.239 man with a maiden diploma, stood at the opposite port, 26 00:01:56.840 --> 00:02:00.840 studying the jungle horizon. Now and then he glanced at 27 00:02:00.840 --> 00:02:05.400 the bridge control console, the chronometer above it, the big 28 00:02:05.519 --> 00:02:10.120 trancelike map of their position tilted from the opposite bulkhead. 29 00:02:10.840 --> 00:02:15.199 A heavy planet native. He felt vaguely uneasy on this 30 00:02:15.319 --> 00:02:20.439 Vgiina three, with its gravity of only seven eighths n standard. 31 00:02:21.319 --> 00:02:24.960 The surgical scars on his neck where the micro communications 32 00:02:25.039 --> 00:02:32.840 equipment had been inserted, itched maddeningly. He scratched haw, said 33 00:02:32.879 --> 00:02:38.759 Stetson politicians. A thin black insect with shell like wings 34 00:02:38.800 --> 00:02:42.879 flew an Orn's port, settled in his close cropped red hair. 35 00:02:43.759 --> 00:02:48.159 Orn pulled the insect gently from his hair, released it again. 36 00:02:48.319 --> 00:02:51.800 It tried to land in his hair. He ducked. It 37 00:02:51.879 --> 00:02:56.280 flew across the bridge out the port. Beside Stetson. There's 38 00:02:56.360 --> 00:02:59.759 a thick muscle, no fat look to Orn, but something 39 00:03:00.319 --> 00:03:05.919 his blocky, off centered features suggested a clown. I'm getting 40 00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:12.039 tired of waiting, he said, you're tired. Ha. A breeze 41 00:03:12.159 --> 00:03:15.520 rippled the tops of the green ocean below them. Here 42 00:03:15.560 --> 00:03:19.479 and there, red and purple flowers jetted from the verdre, 43 00:03:19.919 --> 00:03:24.800 bending and nodding like an attentive audience. Just look at 44 00:03:24.840 --> 00:03:30.240 that blasted jungle, barked Stetson them and their stupid orders. 45 00:03:30.840 --> 00:03:34.360 A call bell tinkled on the bridge control console. The 46 00:03:34.400 --> 00:03:38.479 red light above the speaker grid began blinking. Stetson shot 47 00:03:38.520 --> 00:03:44.960 an angry glance at it. Yeah, how ok, stets orders 48 00:03:45.039 --> 00:03:49.039 just came through. We use planned C Tom Goo says 49 00:03:49.479 --> 00:03:52.560 to brief the field man and jet out of here. 50 00:03:53.639 --> 00:03:57.719 Did you ask them about using another field man? Orne 51 00:03:57.759 --> 00:04:02.120 looked up attentively. The speaker said yes. They said we 52 00:04:02.319 --> 00:04:05.520 have to use orn because the record's on the del 53 00:04:05.599 --> 00:04:09.520 fine us. Well, then will they give us more time 54 00:04:09.560 --> 00:04:14.919 to brief him? Negative? It's crash priority. COMO expects to 55 00:04:14.960 --> 00:04:20.600 blast the planet anyway. Stetson glared at the grid, those 56 00:04:20.800 --> 00:04:27.519 fat headed, lard bottom pig brained politicians. He took two 57 00:04:27.560 --> 00:04:37.199 deep breaths, subsided. Okay, tell them, we'll comply. One more 58 00:04:37.319 --> 00:04:43.959 thinks that what now I've got a confirmed contact. Instantly, 59 00:04:44.079 --> 00:04:46.920 Stetson was poised on the balls of his feet. Alert. 60 00:04:47.199 --> 00:04:53.959 Where about ten kilometers out section AaB six? How many 61 00:04:54.600 --> 00:04:59.199 a mob you want? I should count them? No? What 62 00:04:59.360 --> 00:05:03.959 are they doing making a bee line for us? You 63 00:05:04.040 --> 00:05:08.879 better get a move on. Okay, keep us posted right. 64 00:05:09.720 --> 00:05:14.360 Stetson looked across at his junior field man. Orn, if 65 00:05:14.360 --> 00:05:16.839 you decide you want out of this assignment, you just 66 00:05:16.920 --> 00:05:20.000 say the word I owe back you to the hilt. 67 00:05:20.839 --> 00:05:23.639 Why should I want out of my first field assignment? 68 00:05:24.600 --> 00:05:29.160 Listen and find out. Stetson crossed over to a tilt 69 00:05:29.199 --> 00:05:33.160 locker behind the big translant map, hauled out a white 70 00:05:33.160 --> 00:05:37.920 cover all uniform with gold insignia, tossed it to Orn 71 00:05:38.439 --> 00:05:41.120 get into these while I brief you on the map. 72 00:05:42.240 --> 00:05:46.199 But this is an R and R U nut began 73 00:05:46.480 --> 00:05:51.680 orn get that uniform on your ugly frame, Yes, sir, 74 00:05:52.000 --> 00:05:55.920 Admiral Stetson, sir, right away, sir, But I thought I 75 00:05:56.040 --> 00:05:58.879 was through with the old rediscovering re education when you 76 00:05:58.959 --> 00:06:02.319 drafted me off the hand em into the IA. Sir. 77 00:06:02.800 --> 00:06:05.199 He began changing from the IA blue to the r 78 00:06:05.199 --> 00:06:09.360 and are white. Almost as an afterthought, he said, Sir. 79 00:06:10.800 --> 00:06:16.480 A wolfish grin cracked Stetson's big features. I'm so happy 80 00:06:16.560 --> 00:06:20.879 you have the proper attitude of subservience toward authority. Orn 81 00:06:21.000 --> 00:06:26.959 zipped up the coverall uniform. Oh yes, sir, sir okay Orn, 82 00:06:27.000 --> 00:06:31.120 pay attention. Stetson gestured at the map with its green 83 00:06:31.279 --> 00:06:36.519 superimposed grid squares. Here we are. Here's that city we 84 00:06:36.639 --> 00:06:40.399 flew over on our way down. You'll head for it 85 00:06:40.480 --> 00:06:43.360 as soon as we drop you. The place is big 86 00:06:43.480 --> 00:06:47.120 enough that if you hold a course roughly northeast you 87 00:06:47.360 --> 00:06:53.759 can't miss it. Where again, the call bell rang? What's 88 00:06:53.759 --> 00:06:58.439 it this time, hal Bart Stetson. They've changed to Plan 89 00:06:58.839 --> 00:07:04.920 H Statt new orders cut. Five days. That's all they 90 00:07:04.920 --> 00:07:08.560 can give us. Comgo says he can't keep the information 91 00:07:08.839 --> 00:07:13.680 out of High Commissioner bull One's hands any longer than that. 92 00:07:14.519 --> 00:07:18.959 It's five days for sure. Then is this the usual 93 00:07:19.199 --> 00:07:24.560 arn ar foul up? Asked Orn. Stetson nodded. Thanks to 94 00:07:24.639 --> 00:07:29.199 bull One in company, we're just one jump ahead of catastrophe. 95 00:07:29.560 --> 00:07:33.199 But they still pump the bourgeois into the raw raw boys. 96 00:07:33.759 --> 00:07:37.839 Back at dear old unigalactica. You're making light of my 97 00:07:37.959 --> 00:07:41.720 revered alma mater, said Orn. He struck a pose. Well, 98 00:07:41.720 --> 00:07:45.319 we must reunite the lost planets with our centers of 99 00:07:45.399 --> 00:07:50.879 culture and industry and take up the glorious onward march 100 00:07:51.279 --> 00:07:57.480 of mankind that was so brewtally can it snapped stetson. 101 00:07:57.920 --> 00:08:00.920 We both know we're going to rediscover and planet too 102 00:08:00.959 --> 00:08:06.160 many someday rim wore all over again. But this is 103 00:08:06.199 --> 00:08:13.439 a different breed of fish. It's not repeat, not a rediscovery, 104 00:08:14.040 --> 00:08:22.839 orange sobered alien. Yes, a l e n a never 105 00:08:23.439 --> 00:08:28.639 before contacted culture. That language you were force fed on 106 00:08:28.720 --> 00:08:33.879 the way over, that's an alien language. It's not complete. 107 00:08:34.799 --> 00:08:39.639 All we have off the minis, and we excluded data 108 00:08:39.639 --> 00:08:44.519 on the natives because we've been hoping to dump this project, 109 00:08:45.000 --> 00:08:51.559 and nobody the wiser. Holy Massoo twenty six days ago 110 00:08:51.919 --> 00:08:55.840 and I a search ship came through here, had routine 111 00:08:55.879 --> 00:08:59.919 minie sneaker look at the place. When he combed in 112 00:09:00.200 --> 00:09:03.360 his net of sneakers to check the tapes and films. 113 00:09:03.960 --> 00:09:09.600 Lo and behold he had a little stranger one of theirs. No, 114 00:09:10.279 --> 00:09:15.639 it was a mini off the Delphinus Rediscovery. The Delphinus 115 00:09:15.720 --> 00:09:20.679 has been unreported for eighteen standard months. Did it crack 116 00:09:20.759 --> 00:09:24.840 up here? We don't know if it did. We haven't 117 00:09:24.879 --> 00:09:27.720 been able to spot it. She was supposed to be 118 00:09:27.960 --> 00:09:31.759 way off in the ballandine system by now, but we've 119 00:09:31.799 --> 00:09:34.879 something else on our minds. It's the one item that 120 00:09:35.039 --> 00:09:38.360 makes me want to blot out this place and run 121 00:09:38.399 --> 00:09:43.879 home with my tail between my legs. Weav a again. 122 00:09:43.960 --> 00:09:49.440 The call bell chimed. Now what, roared Stetson into the speaker. 123 00:09:50.320 --> 00:09:54.200 I've got a many over that mob'stet they're talking about us. 124 00:09:54.879 --> 00:09:59.679 It's a definite rating party. What armament? Too gloomy in 125 00:09:59.720 --> 00:10:02.840 that jungle? To be sure? The infra beams out on 126 00:10:02.960 --> 00:10:06.759 this many looks like hard pellet rifles of some kind. 127 00:10:07.320 --> 00:10:11.679 Might even be off the Delphinus. Can you get closer? 128 00:10:12.600 --> 00:10:15.919 Wouldn't do any good. No light down there, and they're 129 00:10:15.960 --> 00:10:19.279 moving up fast. Keep an eye on them, but don't 130 00:10:19.279 --> 00:10:23.080 ignore the other sectors, said Stetson. You think I was 131 00:10:23.120 --> 00:10:26.840 born yesterday, barked the voice from the grid. The contact 132 00:10:26.879 --> 00:10:31.360 broke off with an angry sound. One thing I like 133 00:10:31.399 --> 00:10:36.480 about the IA, said Stetson. It collects such even tempered types. 134 00:10:37.039 --> 00:10:39.799 He looked at the white uniform on. Orn wiped a 135 00:10:39.919 --> 00:10:43.159 hand across his mouth, as though he tasted something dirty. 136 00:10:44.440 --> 00:10:51.759 Why am I wearing this thing? Asked Orne disguise, but 137 00:10:51.919 --> 00:10:57.480 there's no mustache. Stetson smiled without humor. That's one of 138 00:10:57.519 --> 00:11:02.639 IA's answers to those fat keystones politicians. We're setting up 139 00:11:02.639 --> 00:11:05.960 our own search system to find the planets before they do. 140 00:11:07.039 --> 00:11:10.039 We've managed to put spies and key places at R 141 00:11:10.120 --> 00:11:15.120 and R any touchy planets. Our spies report we divert 142 00:11:15.200 --> 00:11:20.679 the files. Then what then we look into them with 143 00:11:20.799 --> 00:11:24.200 bright boys like you, disguised as our and our field men, 144 00:11:25.720 --> 00:11:29.600 goody goody. And what happens if our in R stumbles 145 00:11:29.639 --> 00:11:32.519 on to me while I'm down there playing patty cake? 146 00:11:33.600 --> 00:11:37.279 We disown you. But you said an I A ship 147 00:11:37.360 --> 00:11:40.919 found this joint? It did. And then one of our 148 00:11:41.000 --> 00:11:44.960 spies in our are intercepted a routine request for an 149 00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:50.279 agent instructor to be assigned here with full equipment requests 150 00:11:50.279 --> 00:11:56.519 signed by a first contact officer name a distant of 151 00:11:56.639 --> 00:12:01.919 the Dell fine us. But the doll yeah missing. The 152 00:12:02.039 --> 00:12:05.279 request was a forgery. Now you see why I'm mostly 153 00:12:05.320 --> 00:12:08.480 for rubbing out this place. Who dare forge such a 154 00:12:08.519 --> 00:12:11.480 thing unless he knew for sure that the original left 155 00:12:11.519 --> 00:12:16.360 C officer was missing or dead. What the jumped up 156 00:12:16.480 --> 00:12:21.679 mazou are we doing here, Stet asked Horn. Alien calls 157 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:25.399 for full contact team with all that, it calls for 158 00:12:25.519 --> 00:12:31.399 one planet buster bomb buster in five days unless you 159 00:12:31.480 --> 00:12:34.559 give them a white bill. In the meantime, High Commissioner 160 00:12:34.600 --> 00:12:38.279 Bull one will have word of this planet by then. 161 00:12:38.559 --> 00:12:42.360 If Jina three still exists in five days, can't you 162 00:12:42.480 --> 00:12:46.840 imagine the fund the politicians, Ma, Ma, Mia, we want 163 00:12:46.879 --> 00:12:51.440 this planet cleared for contact or dead before then. I 164 00:12:51.519 --> 00:12:58.039 don't like this, Stet. You don't like it, look, said Orn, 165 00:12:58.399 --> 00:13:02.600 there must be another. Why when we teamed up with 166 00:13:02.679 --> 00:13:07.320 the Allaranoids we gained five hundred years in the physical 167 00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:13.279 sciences alone, Not to mention the the Aleroanoids didn't knock 168 00:13:13.360 --> 00:13:17.159 over one of our survey ships. First, what if the 169 00:13:17.240 --> 00:13:21.360 Delphinus just crashed here and the locals picked up the pieces. 170 00:13:22.399 --> 00:13:25.320 That's what you're going in to find out, Orn, But 171 00:13:25.440 --> 00:13:29.919 answer me this. If they do have the Delphinus, how 172 00:13:29.960 --> 00:13:32.559 long before a tool using race could be a threat 173 00:13:32.600 --> 00:13:37.759 to the galaxy. I saw that city they built, Stet. 174 00:13:38.000 --> 00:13:41.159 They could be dug in within six months and there'd 175 00:13:41.200 --> 00:13:46.360 be no Yeah. Orne shook his head. But think of it, 176 00:13:46.840 --> 00:13:51.279 two civilizations that matured along different lines. Think of all 177 00:13:51.320 --> 00:13:55.360 the different ways we'd approach the same problems. Believer that 178 00:13:55.480 --> 00:14:00.200 had give us for you sound like a unigalactical lecture. 179 00:14:00.320 --> 00:14:03.559 Are you through marching arm in arm into the misty future? 180 00:14:04.600 --> 00:14:07.519 Orn took a breath. Why is a freshman like me 181 00:14:07.679 --> 00:14:12.120 being tossed into this dish? You'd still be on the 182 00:14:12.200 --> 00:14:15.279 del finest masterless as an R and R field man. 183 00:14:15.799 --> 00:14:19.679 That's important if you're masquerading. Am I the only one 184 00:14:20.320 --> 00:14:23.960 I know? I'm a recent convert? But you want out? 185 00:14:24.840 --> 00:14:28.120 I didn't say that, I just want to know why 186 00:14:28.159 --> 00:14:32.080 I'm because the Big Domes fed a set of requirements 187 00:14:32.120 --> 00:14:36.000 into their iron monsters. Your card popped out. They were 188 00:14:36.039 --> 00:14:44.840 looking for somebody capable, dependable, and expendable. Hey, that's why 189 00:14:44.879 --> 00:14:48.600 I'm down here briefing you instead of sitting back on 190 00:14:48.639 --> 00:14:53.000 a flagship. I got you into the IA. Now you 191 00:14:53.120 --> 00:14:56.360 listen carefully. If you push the panic button on this 192 00:14:56.440 --> 00:15:01.360 one without cause, I will personally flay you alive. We 193 00:15:01.440 --> 00:15:04.879 both know the advantages of an alien contact. But if 194 00:15:04.879 --> 00:15:07.840 you get into a hotspot and call for help. I'll 195 00:15:07.919 --> 00:15:10.440 dive this cruiser into that city to get you out 196 00:15:11.120 --> 00:15:16.799 or swallowed. Thanks Stett. I'm We're going to take up 197 00:15:16.799 --> 00:15:20.679 a tight orbit. Out beyond us will be five transports 198 00:15:20.679 --> 00:15:25.200 full of IA marines and a Class nine monitor with 199 00:15:25.360 --> 00:15:31.159 one planetbuster. You're calling the shots. God help you. First, 200 00:15:31.240 --> 00:15:33.200 we want to know if they have the dough fine 201 00:15:33.279 --> 00:15:37.000 us and if so, where it is. Next, we want 202 00:15:37.039 --> 00:15:41.600 to know just how warlike these goons are. Can we 203 00:15:41.679 --> 00:15:46.399 control them? If they're bloodthirsty? What's their potential in five days? 204 00:15:47.440 --> 00:15:50.639 Not a second more? What do we know about them? 205 00:15:51.120 --> 00:15:55.960 Not much. They look something like an ancient Terran chimpanzee, 206 00:15:56.000 --> 00:16:01.240 only with blue fur faces, hairless, pink skinned Stetson snapped 207 00:16:01.240 --> 00:16:04.440 a switch. The translate map became a screen with a 208 00:16:04.480 --> 00:16:08.519 figure frozen on it like that. This is life size. 209 00:16:09.360 --> 00:16:13.440 Looks like the missing link they've always hunted for, said RN. Yeah, 210 00:16:13.720 --> 00:16:17.440 but you've got a different kind of missing link, vertical 211 00:16:17.519 --> 00:16:21.320 slip pupils in their eyes, said Orn. He studied the figure. 212 00:16:21.840 --> 00:16:24.240 It had been caught from the front by a many 213 00:16:24.279 --> 00:16:28.679 sneaker camera. About five feet tall, the stance was slightly 214 00:16:28.720 --> 00:16:34.399 bent forward, long arms, two vertical nose slits, a flat, 215 00:16:34.600 --> 00:16:40.399 lipless mouth receding chin, four fingered hands. It wore a 216 00:16:40.440 --> 00:16:43.799 wide belt from which dangled neat pouches and what looked 217 00:16:43.879 --> 00:16:49.360 like tools, although their use was obscure. There appeared to 218 00:16:49.440 --> 00:16:52.919 be the tip of a tail protruding from behind one 219 00:16:52.919 --> 00:16:56.840 of the squat legs. Behind the creature towered the fairy 220 00:16:56.919 --> 00:17:01.200 spires of the city they'd observed from the air. Tails, 221 00:17:01.840 --> 00:17:05.960 asked Thorn, Yeah, there are boreal not a road on 222 00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:09.400 the whole planet we can find, but there are lots 223 00:17:09.400 --> 00:17:13.680 of vine lanes through the jungles. Stetson's face hardened. Match 224 00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:20.200 that with the city's advanced as that one slave culture? Probably? 225 00:17:21.839 --> 00:17:25.720 How many cities have they? We found too, this one 226 00:17:25.759 --> 00:17:27.799 and another one on the other side of the planet. 227 00:17:28.240 --> 00:17:32.480 But the other one's a ruin? A ruin? Why you 228 00:17:32.640 --> 00:17:37.119 tell us? Lots of mysteries here? What's the planet like? 229 00:17:37.960 --> 00:17:43.119 Mostly jungle? There are polar oceans, lakes and rivers. One 230 00:17:43.200 --> 00:17:46.960 low mountain chain follows the equatorial belt about two thirds 231 00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:51.440 around the planet, But only two cities, Are you sure? 232 00:17:51.759 --> 00:17:55.240 Reasonably so? It'd be pretty hard to miss something the 233 00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:58.240 size of that thing? We flew over it must be 234 00:17:58.319 --> 00:18:02.640 fifty kilometers long and least ten wide. Swarming with these 235 00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:06.559 creatures too. We've got a zone count estimate the places 236 00:18:06.599 --> 00:18:13.519 of city's population at over thirty million. We you, those 237 00:18:13.559 --> 00:18:18.200 are tall buildings too. We don't know much about this place, worn, 238 00:18:18.440 --> 00:18:20.720 and unless you bring them into the fold, there'll be 239 00:18:20.759 --> 00:18:24.720 nothing but ashes for our archeologists to pick over. Seems 240 00:18:24.759 --> 00:18:29.559 a dirty shame, I agree, But the call bell jangled. 241 00:18:30.440 --> 00:18:35.480 Stetson's voice sounded tired. Yeah, how that mob's only about 242 00:18:35.480 --> 00:18:39.279 five kilometers out, Stet. We got Orne's gear outside on 243 00:18:39.359 --> 00:18:43.279 the disguised air sled. We'll be right down. Why a 244 00:18:43.400 --> 00:18:47.839 disguised sled, asked Horn. If they think it's a ground buggy, 245 00:18:48.160 --> 00:18:51.359 they might get careless when you most needn't advantage. We 246 00:18:51.440 --> 00:18:53.400 could always scoop you out of the air. You know 247 00:18:53.759 --> 00:18:57.799 what are my chances on this one's stet? Stetson shrugged. 248 00:18:58.200 --> 00:19:02.519 I'm afraid they're slim. These goons probably have the del finess, 249 00:19:03.119 --> 00:19:05.599 and they want you just long enough to get your 250 00:19:05.720 --> 00:19:10.960 equipment and everything. You know. Rough as that, eh, according 251 00:19:11.000 --> 00:19:14.039 to our best guess. If you're not out in five days, 252 00:19:14.079 --> 00:19:18.960 we blast Orn cleared his throat, want out? Asked Stetson. 253 00:19:19.680 --> 00:19:24.279 No use the back door rules sun. Always leave yourself 254 00:19:24.319 --> 00:19:27.880 away out. Now, let's check that equipment the surgeon's put 255 00:19:27.920 --> 00:19:30.880 in your net. Stetson put a hand to his throat. 256 00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:34.240 His mouth remained closed, but there was a surf hissing 257 00:19:34.319 --> 00:19:38.839 voice in Orn's ears. You read me sure, I can 258 00:19:39.880 --> 00:19:43.319 no hiss the voice, touch the mike contact, keep your 259 00:19:43.319 --> 00:19:50.559 mouth closed, just use your speaking muscles without speaking. Orn obeyed. Okay, 260 00:19:50.680 --> 00:19:53.920 said Stetson. You come in loud and clear. I ought to. 261 00:19:54.079 --> 00:19:57.279 I'm right on top of you. There'll be a relayship 262 00:19:57.400 --> 00:20:01.079 over you all the time, said Stetson. Now when you're 263 00:20:01.119 --> 00:20:04.519 not touching that might contact this rig, I'll feed us 264 00:20:04.599 --> 00:20:08.240 what you say and everything that goes on around you, too. 265 00:20:08.640 --> 00:20:13.559 We'll monitor everything. Got that, yes, Stetson held out his 266 00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:17.240 right hand. Good luck. I meant that about diving in 267 00:20:17.319 --> 00:20:20.279 for you. Just say the word. I know the word, too, 268 00:20:20.319 --> 00:20:25.559 said Orn. Hell hope, gray mud floor and gloomy aisles 269 00:20:25.599 --> 00:20:30.319 between monstrous, bluish tree trunks. That was the jungle, only 270 00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:34.079 the bareest week glimmering of sunlight penetrated to the mud. 271 00:20:35.039 --> 00:20:39.960 The disguise sled, its paragraph units turned off lurched and 272 00:20:40.119 --> 00:20:44.920 skidded around buttress roots. Its headlights swung in wild arcs 273 00:20:44.920 --> 00:20:49.119 across the trunks and down the mud. Aerial creepers, great 274 00:20:49.200 --> 00:20:53.440 looping vines of them, swung down from the towering forest ceiling. 275 00:20:54.079 --> 00:20:58.920 A steady drip of condensation spattered the windshield, forcing Orn 276 00:20:59.039 --> 00:21:03.400 to use the white in the bucket seat of the 277 00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:07.839 slug's cab. Orn fought the controls. He was plagued by 278 00:21:07.880 --> 00:21:12.480 the vague flow motion, floating sensation that a heavy planet 279 00:21:12.640 --> 00:21:17.079 native always feels in lighter gravity. It gave him an 280 00:21:17.160 --> 00:21:23.480 unhappy stomach. Things skipped through the air around the lurching vehicle, 281 00:21:24.039 --> 00:21:29.720 flitting and darting things. Insects came in twin cones siphoned 282 00:21:29.799 --> 00:21:36.000 toward the headlights. There was an endless chittering, whistling, talk talk, 283 00:21:36.359 --> 00:21:42.200 talking in the gloom beyond the lights. Stetson's voice hissed 284 00:21:42.240 --> 00:21:48.039 suddenly through the surgically implanted speaker. How's it look Alien? 285 00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:53.519 Any sign of that mob? Negative? Okay, We're taking off. 286 00:21:56.000 --> 00:21:59.039 Behind Orn, there came a deep rumbling roar that receded 287 00:21:59.079 --> 00:22:03.119 as a scout cruiser climbed its jets. All other sounds 288 00:22:03.200 --> 00:22:09.359 hung suspended, in the after silence then resumed the strongest first, 289 00:22:09.799 --> 00:22:13.279 and then the weakest. A heavy object suddenly arked through 290 00:22:13.319 --> 00:22:18.359 the headlights, swinging on a vine. It disappeared behind a tree. 291 00:22:18.519 --> 00:22:24.680 Another another ghostly shadows with mine pendulums on both sides. 292 00:22:25.400 --> 00:22:28.359 Something banged down heavily onto the root of the sledge. 293 00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:32.200 Orn braked to a creaking stop that shifted the load 294 00:22:32.279 --> 00:22:36.200 behind him. Found himself staring through the windshield at a 295 00:22:36.319 --> 00:22:40.640 native of Vgina three. This native crouched on the hood 296 00:22:41.319 --> 00:22:45.160 a Marked twenty exploding pellet rifle in his right hand 297 00:22:45.200 --> 00:22:48.880 directed at Orne's head. In the abrupt shock of meeting, 298 00:22:49.319 --> 00:22:53.319 Orn recognized the weapon, standard issue to the marine guards 299 00:22:53.319 --> 00:22:58.400 on all ron R survey ships. The native appeared the 300 00:22:58.440 --> 00:23:02.559 twin of the one Orne had seen on the translight screen. 301 00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:07.440 The four fingered hand looked extremely capable around the stock 302 00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:11.400 of the Mark twenty. Slowly, Orn put a hand to 303 00:23:11.440 --> 00:23:14.839 his throat, pressed the contact button. He moved his speaking 304 00:23:14.920 --> 00:23:18.839 muscles just made contact with the mob. One on the 305 00:23:18.839 --> 00:23:22.359 hood now has one of our marked twenty rifles aimed 306 00:23:22.359 --> 00:23:26.319 at my head. The surfacing of Stetson's voice came through 307 00:23:26.359 --> 00:23:31.279 the hidden speaker. Want us to come back negative stand by, 308 00:23:31.920 --> 00:23:36.839 he looks cautious rather than hostile. Orn held up his 309 00:23:37.000 --> 00:23:40.880 right hand palm out. He had a second thought, held 310 00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:45.559 up his left hand too, universal symbol of peaceful intentions, 311 00:23:45.960 --> 00:23:51.319 empty hands. The gun muzzle lowered slightly. Orn called into 312 00:23:51.359 --> 00:23:54.960 his mind the language that had been hypno forced into him. 313 00:23:55.720 --> 00:24:01.519 O cheero no. That meant the people ah, and he 314 00:24:01.640 --> 00:24:07.839 had the heavy fricative greeting sound for we gratzy, he said. 315 00:24:08.839 --> 00:24:12.599 The native shifted to the left, answered in pure, unaccented 316 00:24:12.680 --> 00:24:18.640 high galatys. Who are you? Orn fought down a sudden panic. 317 00:24:19.240 --> 00:24:24.039 The lipless mouth had looked so odd forming the familiar words. 318 00:24:24.839 --> 00:24:33.119 Stetson's voice hissed, is that the native speaking galactis Orne 319 00:24:33.160 --> 00:24:38.359 touched his throat. You heard him? He dropped his hand, said, 320 00:24:39.079 --> 00:24:43.519 I am Louis Orne of Rediscovery and re Education. I 321 00:24:43.680 --> 00:24:46.079 was sent here at the request of the first contact 322 00:24:46.079 --> 00:24:51.400 officer on the Delphiness Rediscovery. Where is your ship? Demanded 323 00:24:51.440 --> 00:24:56.279 vaginin it put me down and left why it was 324 00:24:56.359 --> 00:25:00.079 behind schedule for another appointment. Out of the corners of 325 00:25:00.119 --> 00:25:03.160 his eyes, Orn saw more shadows dropping to the mud 326 00:25:03.200 --> 00:25:07.079 around him. The sledge shifted as someone climbed onto the 327 00:25:07.119 --> 00:25:11.920 load behind the cab. The someone scuttled agilely for a moment. 328 00:25:12.440 --> 00:25:16.000 The native climbed down to the CAB's side step opened 329 00:25:16.039 --> 00:25:20.200 the door. The rifle was held it ready again. The 330 00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:25.599 lipless mouth formed Gallati's words, what do you carry in 331 00:25:25.720 --> 00:25:29.640 this vehicle? The equipment every R and R field man 332 00:25:29.720 --> 00:25:34.440 uses to help the people of a rediscovered planet improve themselves? 333 00:25:35.000 --> 00:25:37.839 Or nodded at the rifle. Would you mind pointing that 334 00:25:37.880 --> 00:25:42.720 weapon some other direction? It makes me nervous? The gun 335 00:25:42.799 --> 00:25:48.119 muzzle remained unwaveringly on Orn's middle. The native's mouth open, 336 00:25:48.240 --> 00:25:52.680 revealing long canines. Do we not look strange to you? 337 00:25:54.200 --> 00:25:58.079 I take it there's been a heavy mutational variation in 338 00:25:58.119 --> 00:26:01.519 the humanoid norm on this planet, said Orn. What is 339 00:26:01.559 --> 00:26:08.319 it hard radiation? No answer, It doesn't really make any difference, 340 00:26:08.359 --> 00:26:12.160 of course, said Oran. I'm here to help you. I 341 00:26:12.200 --> 00:26:16.519 am Tanube, high path, chief of the Gratzi, said the native. 342 00:26:17.039 --> 00:26:21.759 I decide who is to help Orn swallowed? Where do 343 00:26:21.839 --> 00:26:25.680 you go? Demanded Tanube. I was hoping to go to 344 00:26:25.720 --> 00:26:29.799 your city? Is it? Permitted? A long pause while the 345 00:26:29.880 --> 00:26:34.839 vertical slip pupils of Tanube's eyes expanded and contracted it 346 00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:39.440 is permitted. Stetson's voice came through the hidden speaker. All 347 00:26:39.559 --> 00:26:42.960 bets off, We're coming in after you. That mark twenty 348 00:26:43.079 --> 00:26:46.160 is a final straw. It means they have the Delphinas 349 00:26:46.240 --> 00:26:50.119 for sure. Orn touched his throat. No, give me a 350 00:26:50.119 --> 00:26:54.279 little more time. Why I have a hunch about these creatures. 351 00:26:54.599 --> 00:27:00.440 What is it? No time now? Trust me another long paws, 352 00:27:00.440 --> 00:27:04.720 in which Orn and to Nube continued to study each other. Presently, 353 00:27:04.759 --> 00:27:08.519 Stetson said, okay, go ahead as planned, but find out 354 00:27:08.519 --> 00:27:11.400 where the delphinus is. If we get that back, we 355 00:27:11.599 --> 00:27:15.039 pull their teeth. Why do you keep touching your throat? 356 00:27:15.119 --> 00:27:19.759 Demanded to Nube. I'm nervous, said Orn. Guns always make 357 00:27:19.839 --> 00:27:24.400 me nervous. The muzzle lowered slightly. Shall we continue on 358 00:27:24.480 --> 00:27:27.440 to your city, asked Orn. He wet his lips with 359 00:27:27.519 --> 00:27:30.720 his tongue. The cab light on to Nub's face was 360 00:27:30.759 --> 00:27:37.160 giving the jina an eerie, sinister look. We can go soon, 361 00:27:37.480 --> 00:27:41.759 said Tanube. Will you join me inside here? Asked Orn, 362 00:27:42.359 --> 00:27:46.480 There's a passenger seat right behind me. Toanube's eyes moved 363 00:27:46.720 --> 00:27:52.160 catlike right left. Yes, he turned, barked in order to 364 00:27:52.200 --> 00:27:56.960 the jungle gloom, then climbed in behind Orn. When do 365 00:27:57.039 --> 00:28:01.119 we go, asked Orn. The great sun will be down soon, 366 00:28:01.359 --> 00:28:07.319 said Tanube. We can continue as soon as Chirana Cheruso rises. 367 00:28:07.960 --> 00:28:13.559 Chirana cheruso our satellite, our moons, said Tanoub. It's a 368 00:28:13.559 --> 00:28:19.640 beautiful word, said Orn. Chirana cheruso in our tongue. It 369 00:28:19.759 --> 00:28:24.119 means the limb of victory, said Toanube. By its light, 370 00:28:24.279 --> 00:28:30.079 we will continue. Orn turned looked back at Tanube. Do 371 00:28:30.119 --> 00:28:32.119 you mean to tell me that you can see by 372 00:28:32.160 --> 00:28:35.680 what light gets down here through those trees? Can you 373 00:28:35.759 --> 00:28:41.640 not see? Asked Tanub. Not without the headlights, Our eyes differ, 374 00:28:41.759 --> 00:28:45.599 said Tanube. He bent toward Orn, peered the vertical slip 375 00:28:45.640 --> 00:28:49.400 pupils of his eyes expanded and contracted. You are the 376 00:28:49.440 --> 00:28:55.359 same as the others, oh on the delfinas pause. Yes. 377 00:28:56.480 --> 00:29:00.359 Presently a greater gloom came over the jungle, bringing a 378 00:29:00.400 --> 00:29:04.920 sudden stillness to the wild life. There was a chittering 379 00:29:04.920 --> 00:29:07.599 commotion from the natives in the trees around the sled 380 00:29:08.359 --> 00:29:13.559 Toanube shifted behind Orn. We may go now, he said, slowly, 381 00:29:14.160 --> 00:29:20.640 to stay behind my scouts right. Orn eases sled forward 382 00:29:20.720 --> 00:29:25.839 around an obstructing route silence. While they crawled ahead around them, 383 00:29:25.960 --> 00:29:29.839 shapes flung themselves from vine to vine. I admired your 384 00:29:29.880 --> 00:29:33.680 city from the air, said Orn. It is very beautiful, Yes, 385 00:29:33.759 --> 00:29:36.720 said Toanube. Why did you land so far from it? 386 00:29:36.920 --> 00:29:39.880 We didn't want to come down where we might destroy anything. 387 00:29:41.640 --> 00:29:45.640 There is nothing to destroy in the jungle, said Toenube, 388 00:29:46.240 --> 00:29:50.480 Why do you have such a big city, asked Orn silence. 389 00:29:51.039 --> 00:29:54.720 I said, why do you? You are ignorant of our ways, 390 00:29:54.759 --> 00:29:58.079 said Tonub. Therefore I forgive you. The city is for 391 00:29:58.200 --> 00:30:02.359 our race. We must bre and be born in the sunlight. Once, 392 00:30:02.680 --> 00:30:06.559 long ago we used crude platforms on the tops of trees. 393 00:30:07.279 --> 00:30:12.480 Now only the wild ones do this. Stetson's voice hissed 394 00:30:12.480 --> 00:30:16.319 in Orn's ears. Easy on the sex, lime boy, that's 395 00:30:16.359 --> 00:30:20.799 always touchy. These creatures are our viparous sex glands are 396 00:30:20.799 --> 00:30:24.279 apparently hidden in that long fur behind where their chins 397 00:30:24.319 --> 00:30:28.960 are to be. Who controls the breeding sites controls our world, 398 00:30:29.079 --> 00:30:33.200 said to Nube. Once there was another city, we destroyed it. 399 00:30:34.000 --> 00:30:38.920 Are there many wild ones, asked Orn, Fewer each year, 400 00:30:39.319 --> 00:30:44.519 said to Nube. That's how they get their slaves. His stutson, 401 00:30:45.799 --> 00:30:50.599