Phylogenesis - Alan Dean Foster [122]
“It’s a naturalist,” Cheelo informed them without hesitation. “Part of a small survey and study mission. But it’s not authorized. So if this one turns up missing, the others can’t go public for help. They’re probably searching for him right now.”
The other poacher reflexively glanced skyward. “If it’s part of some alien science project, why would it come along quietly with us?”
Cheelo took a deep breath. “Because it wants to learn about humans. It trusts me. If I tell it we’re going to go someplace where it can learn a lot about humankind, it’ll take my word for it. Its cooperation will spare you a lot of trouble. By the time it catches on to what’s going on, you’ll already have it sold, crated, and shipped. Then it won’t matter what it thinks.”
Desvendapur listened to this exchange in silence. It was clear that his human companion was making up his story to forestall these two exceedingly antisocial types from shooting them. In this he so far appeared to be succeeding admirably. Meanwhile the poet kept silent and, as Cheelo had explained to the poachers, devoted himself to learning about humankind, a subject that was at present forcefully on display. He did not have to worry about either of the antisocials interpreting his hand movements because they were wholly unfamiliar with their meaning. As for them reading an expression, the inflexibly faced thranx had none to give away his true feelings.
“Why are you offering to be so helpful, cabrón?” The nearest poacher was studying him shrewdly. “What makes you think we won’t kill you after we’ve sold the bug?”
Cheelo did his best to affect an air of disinterest. “I’d rather live for as long as possible. Besides, maybe whoever buys it will want to talk to it. That’d mean including me as part of the deal.”
“You’d go along with that?” The other poacher was openly dubious.
“Sure, why not? The police are after me anyway.”
“No shit? What’d you do, man?”
“Killed a tourist I was skragging. Bad luck, but that’s not much of a defense in court. So you see, I’m probably on more wanted lists than you guys.”
“And you think that maybe makes us some kind of brothers or something?” the nearer poacher asked.
Cheelo eyed him coldly. “No. If you thought that, I’d think you were pretty stupid.”
For the first time, the poacher’s expression softened. “You’re okay, man. Twitch the wrong way and I’ll still blow your stinking head off, but you’re okay. All right. Explain to the bug that we’re, um, collectors authorized to cull certain Reserva species that have bred to excess. We’re carrying weapons to protect ourselves from dangerous forest predators. Tell the bug that we sympathize with its aims, that we’ve no love for the Reserva rangers who sometimes interfere with our work, and that we’re going to take him to a museum.” He glanced over at his colleague and chuckled. “A museum where he can learn a lot more about humans. Explain that it’ll be well looked-after, and that you’re coming along to translate. Tell it that after a couple of days we’ll bring it back here so it can rejoin its colleagues. It’ll have lots of swell stories to tell.” He gestured with the rifle. “Tell it.”
Turning, Cheelo stared into those expressionless compound eyes and began making snaky motions with his fingers. Would the bug understand? It had heard everything, but would it comprehend the need to keep silent and go along with the story? If not, at least one of them wasn’t going to leave this patch of rain forest alive, and it would in all likelihood be the one with the fewest appendages.
He need not have worried. Desvendapur understood the situation quite well. He had no intention of speaking out. Clearly his human acquaintance had something in mind, a plan that would result in their salvation from these two virulently antisocial representatives of his own species. What that might be he did not know and could not imagine, unfamiliar as he was with the myriad mysterious workings of the human mind. Meanwhile he was delighted to observe and to listen. Already the experience had generated raw material enough for an