Coincidence, maybe. Or, perhaps, controlled coincidence, since the female of the species seems to he dominant and more aggressive. It could be concluded from the state of the society that since the adult females are the stronger, the ifflings carrying female genes or whatever would also he stronger, more aggressive, more likely to tackle an unfamiliar form of
life.
Yes, Alaxender.
I think it's interesting to find that the two life forms, Artonuee and Delanian, are so compatible that the ifflings could attack Rei’s life force.
A good point, and one which could have bearing on the relationship between Rei and Miaree. Now, a quick summation. Overall impressions. Leslie.
I think the most important fact which is presented—
Fact, Leslie?
Idea, then. I think it's quite impressive that the Artonuee galaxy should have two intelligent life forms.
But was it the Artonuee galaxy? Could not the Delanians have come from the colliding galaxy?
No, because the pictures showed their planet to be in a constellation long known by the Artonuee.
I am not saying that you are wrong, Leslie. No one can say that you're wrong. It is a question that still interests some of our best minds. It has a bearing on the origin of life throughout the universe. Let me put it this way. A race with the capacity of star travel could have moved into the Artonuee galaxy from the colliding galaxy. There is a theory that some unknown controlling force in each galaxy determines the direction of life.
But, sir, the Dead Worlds—
Ah, yes, Tomax, the Dead Worlds. Definitely non-humanoid. So different, so alien that a thousand studies have produced almost as many possible descriptions of the inhabitants. Actually, I mentioned the one-race theory to test you. We have proof, in our own galaxy, that two very dissimilar races can develop. So, I am not saying that the Artonuee and the Delanians were from different galaxies. I am merely mentioning that it is possible that the Delanians could have moved into the Artonuee galaxy from the rim of the colliding galaxy. But I agree with Leslie that it is a fascinating idea to think that one galaxy could produce two intelligent life forms. And that brings up an interesting question. Why are we so all-fired interested in contacting another intelligent race? Are we, like Artonuee females, still undecided about God? Do we need contact with another race, with a different background, to say, 'Hey, old fellow, about God... '
Tomorrow then, my young friends. I understand that we're having Vegan steak, eh?
Chapter Twelve
She stood with her delicate feet slightly apart, left foot advanced. Her feet were bare. One toe curled nervously. The purple silk gown moved lightly in the onshore wind, caressing her articulated ankles. The gown clung to narrow shoulders, bulged gracefully over folded wings, and the color showed through the thin material, iridescent blues, muted yellows. A pulse beat in her long, slender neck. The gossamer fur of her upper torso, exposed by the cut of the gown, was a lovely mixture of colors. And her eyes. Her eyes were the stars of the night, captured in individual facets in
deep blue. Her face, ovate, delicate, showed that formal little smile. He answered it with a broad grin, showing white teeth.
'Those,' he said, pointing to graceful antennae which sprouted from her forehead above the inner readies of each eye, 'are they sense organs?'
'They measure waves of the length of.'
He shook his head. Her speech reminded him of the music of home. But her attempts at the technical words left something to be desired.
'Forgive me,' he said. 'I am Rei, Captain of the Fleet. Native of.' To her, there was a gap, the strange sound losing itself on her ears. 'I come in peace and friendship. I bring best greetings from the Council of Worlds and our Joint Leaders. We come from—'
'We call it the constellation Delan.'
'I like the sound.'
'I extend the apologies of our worlds for having left you alone so long. It was felt—'
'That the alien knew more about healing himself than you?'
She lidded her eyes, paying compliment to his understanding. The soft velvet of her lids was an extension of her beauty. She was, to Rei, a lovely thing out of a fairy tale. A creature of sugar and delicate silken threads.
'You are female,' he said.
'Yes,' she said, in Artonuee.
'Yes,' he repeated. 'A beautiful language.'
'The sound is made thus,' she said, repeating it for him. 'High in the mouth.'
'There is a thickness to my tongue,' He said.
'There is time for learning,' she said. 'Now, we must go. A place has been prepared for us.'
She led the way. He followed down the crude, carved steps. In the small floater, he had to sit close to her.
'My companions were killed,' he said, as the floater pushed against the wind with silent force.
'It is sad.'
'The fleet,' he said. 'Have they contacted you?'
She glanced at him, her eyes turning a deeper shade of blue. Was it the light? He was to learn, later, that her eyes were reflections of her emotions.
'They send messages. The messages disturb us.'
'I can understand,' he said. He was beginning to realize that some of the sounds were unheard when she spoke. Interesting. Yet he understood. 'We come as uninvited guests. But you must know from what we flee.'
'Yes. We call them God’s Fires.'
'You understand our plight, then.'
'Are there not other worlds?'
'You are in space,' he replied.
She was silent. To reveal the lack of star flight in her technology would be to admit a weakness.
'At the moment.' he said, when he was sure that she was not going to volunteer any information, 'we are limited in our choices. The worlds between here and— how do you say it? Delan? Are limited. And, perhaps, we are afraid. Perhaps we seek the advice and the support of the only other intelligent race we have encountered. Although some of our systems are now unsuited for life, we, the Artonuee and Men, face the same threat. Should we not compare notes? Should we not work together?'
'You give us little choice,' Miaree said. 'The fleet signals.'
'Please understand,' he said, looking into her eyes. 'Our people are dying. Radiations are sweeping many of our worlds. On the rims of the galaxies two great globular clusters are already exchanging sheets of solar
flame among their outer members. When the critical moment is reached, and our science is not capable of producing an exact prediction, the worlds of Men will flame and smoke and die.'
'It is God’s will,' Miaree said, for lack of anything else.
'It is an accident of the universe,' Rei said, with some force.
The floater was some distance from the rocks. One crag protruded from the water, an offshore upthrusting. Miaree spoke quietly to the younger male crewman. He produced a small, hand-held weapon. There was a flash and the rocky crag glowed, fused, melted with hissing steam into the water.
Rei controlled his impulse to start. He looked thoughtfully back at the steaming water. Then he looked at Miaree, his face grave.
'The decision is made?' he asked.
'We Artonuee are a carefully molded society. We have learned from the ages of our existence that order, peace, planned progress are necessary. Our life form is delicately balanced by the forces of natural evolution. As it
