Dirge - Alan Dean Foster [17]
“So are the thranx.” Despite the human’s persuasive reasoning, the councilor knew that her superiors were far from ready to concede the Pitar’s benevolence. “It is not that we are distrustful or even especially suspicious. We are simply more cautious in our dealings with other species.” She shifted her position on the log bench. “This is not only a racial characteristic. Some of it certainly arises from our delicate dance of disharmony with the AAnn that has been ongoing now for more than three hundred and fifty of your years.”
Adjami could not resist a dig. “We’ve been dealing with the AAnn for less than a hundred years and we’ve managed to get along. Sure, there have been occasional misunderstandings and minor confrontations, but we’ve always managed to smooth things over.”
“The AAnn are spontaneous. In that they are far more like you than us. But when it suits their needs and aims they can also show patience. They are like a recurring virus that will not go away.” All four hands gestured simultaneously. “We desire only to make certain that in the Pitar you have not encountered a species that is even more patient than the AAnn.”
“A nicely diplomatic oblique damnation.” Bending forward, Adjami picked up a long, thin leaf and chewed experimentally on the stem. It had a slight minty flavor characteristic of many of the alkaloid-laden plants that grew in the vicinity of the colony. “We’re being careful.”
“No you are not.” Hathvupredek’s atypical bluntness caught the visiting diplomat by surprise. “You are overcome by these Pitar, who so nearly resemble physically idealized visions of yourselves. You are dazzled. We are more analytical, more systematic in our appraisal of other intelligences.”
Adjami spoke around the stem of the leaf that protruded from between his teeth. “So you’re saying we’re being naïve.”
The councilor’s ovipositors flattened slightly, the lowermost curl pressing against the back of her abdomen. “We think you are too welcoming. An engaging trait, but a dangerous one.”
Adjami laughed gently. “We’re not as ingenuous as you seem to believe. Sure, we’ve received the Pitar readily, even enthusiastically. But that doesn’t mean they’ve been given the run of the planet or the colonies, or that the appropriate agencies aren’t keeping an eye on them.”
“We hope so.” Hathvupredek’s antennae abruptly snapped forward. “What is that?”
Adjami allowed his gaze to be led by the councilor’s. “I don’t see anything.”
“Neither do I,” his companion of the morning admitted, “but I smell it. Humans, coming this way. Many of them.”
Scanning the trees, Adjami found himself unable to suppress a smile. “You’re sure they’re not Pitar?”
Hathvupredek missed the sarcasm. Or perhaps the councilor simply chose to overlook it. “Your bodily odors differ significantly. That of humans is much…stronger.”
“Yes,” Adjami confessed a bit reluctantly. “The variance has been noted.” He continued to gaze into the forest. “I wonder what a large group is doing here? I’d think that researchers interested in the Reserva’s wildlife would avoid the colony site, now that they know it’s here.”
“They do.” Compound eyes and weaving antennae continued to take the measure of whatever was approaching. “As you are aware, visitation to the colony is strictly monitored and is restricted to accredited representatives of your governmental and scientific agencies. Random tourism is neither permitted nor encouraged.”
Detecting a rising rustle of leaf litter being crushed underfoot, Adjami rose from his cross-legged seat. “Then I wonder who these could be?”
Man and thranx found out together when the band of perhaps thirty men and women emerged from the trees. The grim, focused expression on each camouflage-painted face was not encouraging, nor was the especially wild-eyed look worn by more than one. Their jungle clothing was in keeping with their obvious desire to blend into the rain forest background. While unsettling, none