The Inheritors - A. Bertram Chandler [14]
"Yet," said Grimes.
"If ever," said Kane.
"I was sent here by the Federation . . ." Grimes began again.
"To claim this planet—possibly against the wishes of its people?"
"To conduct a survey."
"Then conduct your survey. I'm not stoppin' you."
"But I'm responsible for your safety, and that of your ship, Captain. You're a citizen of Austral, a Federated World, and your vessel's port of registry is Port Southern, on that planet."
"I don't need any snotty nosed Space Scouts to see me across the road."
"Maybe you don't, Captain Kane—but you're here, and I'm here, and I am obliged to carry out my duties to the best of my ability."
"Cor stiffen the bleedin' crows!" swore Kane disgustedly. Then, to somebody who had come in silently and was standing behind Grimes, "Yes, Myra?"
Grimes turned. So this was the Myra Bracegirdle of whom Hayakawa had talked. She was a tall girl, but thin rather than slender (this Southerly Buster must be a poor feeding ship), her face with its too prominent bones, too wide mouth and too big, dark eyes framed by silky blonde hair.
She said, "A word with you, Captain. Alone."
"Oh, don't worry about the Space Scouts, Myra. They're here to look after us. We have no secrets from them."
"They are on the way here, Captain. They saw the ships land. They have heard about spaceships, of course, but have never seen one . . . ."
And what about Corgi? Grimes asked himself. But she could have landed on the other side of the world from here.
He said, "Captain Kane, do you mind if I call my ship?"
"Go ahead, Commander. This is Liberty Hall; you can spit on the mat and call the cat a bastard."
But as Grimes was raising his wrist transceiver to his mouth it buzzed sharply, then Saul's voice issued from the little instrument. "First lieutenant here, Captain. Mr. Hayakawa reports that parties of natives are approaching the landing site from both villages."
"I'll be right back," said Grimes.
"Don't let me keep you," said Kane. "Mr. Dreebly, please show these gentlemen off the premises."
"Oh, Captain," Grimes said, pausing in the doorway, "I shall take a very dim view if you act in a hostile manner toward the natives."
"And what if they act in a hostile manner toward me?"
"That," said Grimes, "will be different."
8
Grimes did not hurry back to his own ship, neither did he dawdle. He would have liked to have hurried, but was aware that Kane would be watching him. He walked at a moderately brisk pace, with Philby at his side and the other Marines marching after them.
"Sir," asked Philby, "do you think they'll be hostile?"
"Corgi's crew didn't find them so, Captain Philby. But she landed on another part of the planet, among different people. We'll just have to play it by ear . . . ."
"A show of force . . ." murmured the young officer, as though he were looking forward to it.
And he was, thought Grimes. He was. He glanced at Philby's face—young, unlined, features, save for the strong chin, indeterminate. A Marine Corps recruiting poster face . . . . There was no vice in it—neither was there any sensitivity, or imagination. It was the face of a man who could have written those famous lines—and without ironical intention: Whatever happens, we have got The Maxim gun—and they have not.
"Don't forget," said Grimes, "that this is their world, and that we're interlopers."
"Yes, sir, but we're civilized. Aren't we?"
"Mphm."
"And these people, out of the mainstream for so long, need to be taught the Federation's way of life . . . ."
Was Philby joking? No, Grimes decided, he was not. He said mildly, "The Federation's way of life as exemplified by whom? By the crew of Seeker? By Captain Drongo Kane and his crew? Or by Captain Danzellan and Corgi's or Schnauzer's people? Kane and Danzellan are Federation citizens, just as we are."
"Yes, sir. I suppose so. But . . . "
"But we have the superior fire power. Not all that superior. From what we saw aboard Southerly Buster I'd say she packs the wallop of a young battleship. And I should imagine that Schnauzer could show her teeth