Dirge - Alan Dean Foster [41]
“We have no objection to such exchanges,” she reminded him. As she shifted in the seat, her barely covered golden alien backside only centimeters above the hot sand, he struggled to keep his thoughts focused on the current business. “We have already concluded numerous agreements permitting such contact.”
“Yes, but all of them call for Pitarian cultural groups to visit Earth, or one of the colonies. No permission has yet been granted allowing the equivalent human organizations access to either of the Twin Worlds.”
“It is just a matter of time.” This time when she smiled, it struck him as just a smidgen more genuine and less academic. Or was he reading into her expression that which he wanted to be there? “Your people have to understand, Minister Saluafata, that the natural reticence and shyness of my kind far exceeds their own. Confined as we are to the two homeworlds of our origin, we are intimidated by races that have spread themselves to other worlds, other star systems. This feeling is not restricted to humankind. We have yet to allow the thranx or any other newly contacted species access to the Twin Worlds.” Still speaking, she turned away from him to face the lagoon.
“I am sure it will come with time. But your government has to understand that access to the ancestral home of the Dominion is for us a most sensitive matter. Your people must be patient and not try to force the issue, especially when relations between us are maturing at such a satisfactory pace.” Reaching over, she touched the side of his forearm with long, lissome fingers. Though manifestly casual and anything but overtly erotic, the contact sent a shock through his entire expansive frame.
“It’s just that we don’t see any reason for your hesitation.” Despite his pleasurable unease, he refused to be distracted. “If true friendship is to be extended across the parsecs…”
She touched him again, and this time her fingers ran down his exposed skin from elbow to wrist. “Please, Minister Saluafata. It is very much such a pleasant day, and so good to—how is it said?—take a break from the relentlessness of duty. Do not spoil it by pressing me or my colleagues for a response we are not authorized to give. I can only reiterate that your people must have some patience with us.” This time he chose to believe that the scintillating smile came from the heart. “After all, we have not even been aware of one another’s existence for but a short time. Allow us our privacy.”
He grinned back. “It’s not for me to take away. I’m just doing my job by conveying the petitions of my superiors. Myself, I don’t care if your people choose to keep your homeworlds cloistered forever, so long as you come and visit us once in a while and we maintain amicable relations.”
“You are a gracious and understanding representative of your kind, Minister Saluafata. I can see why your people appointed you to such a significant position.”
“I’ve seen how your kind favor formality in interspecies relations.” He gestured amiably in the direction of the sand, the sea, and the tropical sky. “But just here, just now, couldn’t you break with your tradition for a few hours? Long enough to call me ‘Api’? It would please me.” His grin widened irresistibly. “Think of it as a diplomatic concession to improved relations.”
“‘Api.’” She considered him thoughtfully. “A small name for so large an individual.”
“It’s a common trait among my particular, very small tribe.”
“You are a tribe all by yourself, Api.”
It was the first time he, or perhaps anyone else, had heard a representative of the Pitar make a joke. He was encouraged beyond reason.
“I’m not involved with the extensive studies that have been undertaken and are still ongoing in attempts to resolve our respective biologies, but I have read