Tella looked at Jim with no discernible expression.
“They don’t have the kind of parties that I get invited to,” Jim joked.
“Perhaps we should throw one ourselves?”
“What? Are you kidding?”
“No. I am serious. We should encourage them. We could invite them to meet us, since we are doing the same for the government. Perhaps we could even have some sort of sharing of food or entertainment—something to help them feel comfortable with us?”
“How? Where?”
“This you must know. Where can we land in the Regdenir area?”
“There’s one good place. Where Sopha met me.”
“Then that is clear. The choice then is whom to invite.”
“I’ll think about it,” said Jim, shaking his head. He felt his relationship with Tella was only progressing in fits and starts. It was bad enough working for Liz, who did not think the same way he did, but working for someone he had to refer to as “it,” and who had a truly alien mind was, at times, disturbing.
***
Jim spent the next day reviewing the message traffic he had recorded from Regde99. Tella seemed in a strange mood—not that it involved any change of expression, merely a withdrawing for long periods into a kind of trance.
Late that night, Tella came alive again. “Now, have you chosen the Regdenir?”
“I guess so. There are two who I think would at least consider an invitation.”
“Let us draft the message with care.”
“Can’t it wait until the morning? I was about to go to sleep.”
“Jim, you’ve done nothing but laze around all day! Come, let’s get to work!”
It took three hours before Tella was satisfied with the wording of the message. Jim’s only comfort in the process was the thought that Tella could out-nitpick even a Regdenir.
#
angaraVmyournVregde1Vapp
dlaviVherucVregde3Vopp
Greetings, Angara Myourn and Dlavi Heruc.
We have corresponded before on the topic of off-world technology. Dlavi Heruc, you were most helpful in our search for Sopha Luca, for which we send thanks.
We now write more openly as James Able of Earth and Tella of Neraff, two visitors from two planets of other stars.
We officially represent the people of Earth and greet you on their behalf.
We will meet shortly with representatives of your world’s government and with Madhar Nect, who allows us to use this message-ID.
We wish to meet you as representatives of the Barottin Regdenir.
We believe our visit will not be complete until we meet you, though you may wish to have others meet us in your place.
Our desire to meet with you is based on our appreciation for the antiquity and nobility of your beliefs. We have learned that you treasure Beauty. Perhaps we too may learn something of Beauty by our meeting.
We regret to add that our meeting must also address a serious matter regarding Sopha Luca who, in ignorance and misled by a criminal, has in his possession a stolen machine. This machine could cause injury to Sopha Luca or to others. It is our most urgent desire to avert any harm.
We suggest that our meeting take place at the retreat house used, until recently, by Sopha Luca. It stands at the head of the valley, east of the tallest mountains, in the forest north of Oppudim. We will arrive there on the morning of the third day from now.
g101VnectVlatsinVux
#
g101VnectVlatsinVux
Greetings, James Able of Earth and Tella of Neraff.
Perhaps my heart burns with a proper curiosity, and my desire to meet with visitors from so far is a small part of Beauty.
Then I would need to neglect my duties, and my teachers would have to hold their wisdom until my return.
Alas, this cannot be.
Rest in Beauty at your meeting and on your return to your homes.
dlaviVherucVregde3Vopp
#
g101VnectVlatsinVux
Greetings, James Able and Tella.
Perhaps your first visit to our world was not to your profit.
Perhaps your meeting with Sopha Luca was not enough to satisfy your ambitions.
Then you return to speak with more of us, to find those with views more inclined to your own.
If Sopha Luca has acquired a dangerous machine, be sure to address the matter with Sopha Luca. It is he who knows of such things, not I.
angaraVmyournVregde1Vapp
#
Jim shook his head.
“I told you this wouldn’t be simple. They are so closed.”
Tella was silent, reading and rereading the messages.
“We swim in waters that have many currents. There is much unsaid in these words.”
“Beats me where we go from here,” said Jim.
“He knows about your visit. He knows it did not end well. He knows Sopha Luca is...What was your expression about a cannon?”
“A loose cannon.”
“Yes, this he knows also. I think he will meet with us.”
Jim laughed. “How can you tell from that flat rejection?”
“By the absence of rejection. This is an obstacle, not a closed door.”
#
angaraVmyournVregde1Vapp
Greetings, Angara Myourn.
Perhaps you are correct, and the visit was neither to our profit nor yours.
Perhaps you know much of what transpired during the prior visit of James Able.
Perhaps you know of the attempt of Sopha Luca to imprison James Able to prevent information from being available to Madhar Nect.
Perhaps you know of Sopha Luca’s departure in haste from your world.
Then also know that our return signifies no hostility on our part. Our return signifies a desire to overcome the misunderstandings that colored the prior visit.
You realize that, in any early dealings between peoples, misunderstanding gives way to understanding, incomprehension gives way to comprehension, and lack of appreciation of Beauty gives way to appreciation of Beauty.
g101VnectVlatsinVux
#
g101VnectVlatsinVux
Greetings, visitors.
It is not our practice to think of extending our ways to those outside.
Your understanding, your comprehension, your appreciation are matters for yourselves to address. Do not look to the Regdenir for your salvation.
The comings and goings of Sopha Luca are likewise matters for ourselves. We do not look to you for help in this matter.
angaraVmyournVregde1Vapp
#
Jim threw up his hands in defeat. Tella bent over the monitor, shaking his head.
“Jim, you must think more clearly. There is only one topic of conversation here. Will he meet us or not? This is merely another obstacle; the door is not yet closed.”
Jim smiled wryly. He thought Tella
