got some little bitch back there. You’re tired of me. What's she like
then? Can she get it down past her tonsils?’
‘Clouis,’ he said tiredly, ‘there is no one else.’
‘Well, where do you £0 ?’
‘You see . . .’ he said, searching for words.
From the little island in the centre of the bay a plume of smoke or
steam was rising. Bernheddin’s eyes had strayed to it, and now as
they fastened upon something Clouis also looked that way. An
insect of metal had appeared, its flight accompanied by a whisper
still scarcely audible. It diverged from its straight approach to take
a wide sweep towards the volcanic island, then continued in their
direction.
Clouis was disturbed. ‘W hat do they want?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘We could hide, pretend we are away somewhere.’
‘I don’t think so.’
Instead Bernheddin stood and, followed by Clouis, went through
the cool dark maze of the house to the plaza beyond where the flyer
now landed, sighing on slender legs. A man, perhaps as old as
Bernheddin, and a younger woman descended the ladder. Clouis
stared at the woman. Her single garment, apart from metallic
sandals, was transparent, its folds opaqueing whitely as she moved.
Neither wore sunglasses; the windows of the flyer were blue-tinted.
‘Please come in,’ said Bernheddin, indicating the villa. He and
the girl moved forward together, then Bernheddin stopped
awkwardly to let her precede him through the door.
‘I’m sorry,’ she said. It was an alien voice. Bernheddin sought to
find its tones pleasant, and succeeded as he might find pleasant the
colours of a pebble on a strange world. Inside he invited them to sit.
The girl parroted his words twice, the man said nothing, then the
two newcomers looked expectantly at Clouis who became
Tim e andflowers
33
confused. Finally the girl laughed, again said she was sorry and
they all sat down. Now the man, to whom Bernheddin reacted as
an equal, leaned forward and placed a die on the table. His head
was large, his golden hair like a mane.
The die spoke. ‘Welcome to Earth. I am Vajo za Ainzon and this
is Ilena Bal.’
It was the man’s voice, that at least seemed clear to Bernheddin,
though the man’s lips had not moved. He said, ‘Thank you,’ and
waited.
The girl, Ilena, said, ‘You are Komptorier 3 Bernheddin Haase?’
‘Yes, sorry, yes. And my companion is Digitist Clouis Maralle.’
There was a pause. Then the die said, ‘You understand, we do
not meet many star people. I wish only to explain . . . Whatever
you may have heard about Earth, it is not a sanctuary. That is,
though you are welcome here we will not protect you from authorities of your own world.’
‘Yes, I see,’ said Bernheddin. He glanced from za Amzon to the
die and back. ‘You knew our names?’
‘Were you wondering about the vriek?’ asked Ilena.
‘The vriek?’
‘That.’ She indicated the voice cube.
‘Oh, well
‘Would you rather Vajo did not use it? It is an anachronism,
really, but as you probably know our culture is very stable.’
‘No, no, I don’t mind.’
‘In a way,’ said Ilena, ‘it is a courtesy to you. It indicates that Vajo
is not without distinction, that an Ereditar has come to confer with
you.’
‘I am honoured.’ Bernheddin quirked his lips and nodded at za
Amzon, who smiled back.
‘You mention that we know your names,’ said za Amzon through
the die. ‘Earth cybernex has known, of course, since before you
landed. But your world body had been in touch with us. They
wished us to extradite you. We declined. Then they wished us to
place you under house arrest. We declined that also. In fact I would
suggest that you remove yourselves from this house. The cone out
there is expected to erupt within half a year, but it could happen
sooner.’
‘Would it affect us?’
‘Its most spectacular effort, about 8000 years ago, blew the
m ountain that stood where the bay now is into the sea. Tidal waves
34
Anthony Peacey
and ash falls destroyed a primitive civilisation giving rise to an
ancient Earth legend of a lost continent called Atlantis.’
‘I have been saying we should move,’ blurted Clouis.
‘A pity.’ Bernheddin sighed. ‘There is a device here that I found
diverting, a time chair.’
‘Aha,’ chuckled za Amzon, ‘our toys amuse you. There
