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was pulled to the ground by a couple of Hrruban cubs and shrieked happily,
coming up dusty to drag her friends over with her.
"Where do they get the energy?" Mrrva asked with a sigh as she gazed at their
spirited racings.
"It's not fair, is it?" Kelly said, shaking her head. "Ooops, there goes
Alison's shirt. Well, it was an old one,' she added. "Once they knew they
weren't going to school today, I had to fight the two of them into clothes,
and now they're half naked anyhow. "If Hrrana and
Hrrunival don't have to wear anything but belts, then why can't we?"
" Kelly piped, in a flawless imitation of Alec at his most difficult.
Nrrna chuckled again. The baby squirmed and let go of the nipple, licking her
tiny chops. Her mother repositioned her and, eyes still closed, she placed
her head on her front paws and went to sleep.
"Take joy in the differences, that is what I think they should do,'
Nrrna said in Low Hrruban.
"Try telling them that,' Kelly said, wryly, then shouted out the window at the
children. "You're playing too rough!
Look out for Heeranh's nose! Augh!" she exclaimed, and started pacing again.
"I don't know where they get the idea that they're indestructible."
"From their fathers, no doubt,' Nrrna said. Hrrunna twitched in her sleep,
and gave a squeaky little moan which brought a loving smile from her dam.
Nrrna glanced up at Kelly, who was biting her own thumb. "They will be all
right, you know that, Gelli. They always are when they are working together."
"I guess so." Kelly got up again to glance out the window, and recoiled in
shock.
"Mrrva!" she shrieked. "Get the snake rifle!" The Gringg stepped off the grid
in the midst of the Hrruban First Village and looked around them with great
interest. First they had been landed on this new world in full dark: now they
had entered twilight. But this was not a strange phenomenon for they often
had to travel long distances on their home world and were used to such time
dislocations. They were as glad to be able to see where they now were.
More Rroobvnnns had met them in the orbiting ship, including one very
quick-moving male clad in black, and many more Ayoomnnns. From the ship, they
had been transferred to a larger shuttle, flown by an engaging Ayoomnnn with
black-and-grey hair who showed his teeth frequently and spoke in a poetic
cadence. Once this vehicle had reached the surface of the planet, they had
been ushered into a large, white-stone cube of a building and down a corridor
which echoed when one trod on the floor. The Gringg had been obediently
foLlowing their guide to a small platform with pillars at each corner. When
they stood upon it, the room became misty. Suddenly, they found themselves
here.
Eonneh was impressed. This form of transport was much more effortless than
any he had previously encountered. The Gringg had much to learn from the
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Rroohvnnns.
A second group of four emerged from the mist. Genhh gestured to Eonneh and
Ghotyakh to be patient and wait.
By some of the scents, the Gringg decided that Rroobvnnn Rreshtanh lived here.
The smell of the green groundcover and some of the flowers had been in his
fur.
To one side, a high escarpment bounded the valley in which they stood, which
was rich with trees and flora.
Like the life-forms they had seen so far, even the trees seemed less
substantial here than on the Gringg world.
But it was a beautiful place, and the air smelled good.
In the distance, they could scent the musky odours of wildlife.
One creature, which must be a service animal, unlike the Ayoomnnns or
Rroobvnnns, stood tethered, calmly eating long strands of yellow herbage. It
had not noticed them, but many more Hrrubans had. They were coming out of the
little houses, staring and pointing at the
Gringg. Most of them did not react with fear, but with interest.
Eonneh found that to be heartening. Much more reassuring than the emotions he
had perceived on the large orbiting ship.
The Rroobvnnn Rreshtanh was much honoured here.
Most of the Hrrubans spoke to him before circling around to look at the two
aliens. Eonneh returned their gazes for a while, then because there was
little variation between one tawny-gold face and another, became more
interested in the scenery. There was much greater variation in colour among
the Ayoomnnns.
"Act as if there was nothing unusual in the way we were just transported,'
Eonneh said to Ghotyakh. "Though we have only seen a small part of this
world, I am relieved that we seem to have been taken into the living places of
these people. Even in the place where we first stopped, we have seen nothing
of the weapons carried by the guards on the ship. Accept anything they do
with padded claws. Let us be sure not to frighten them."
"Observe the shapes of the domiciles, Eonneh,' Ghotyakh said, turning a slow
circle. "Square roofs, as had that building into which we were first taken.
Everything is built using flat planes, and nearly all of them above ground.
Curious.
"It is so. They do not build as we do, in echo of the natural shelters of the
motherworid." Eonneh stared at one dwelling. "I would guess they have better
ventilation than our homes. Perhaps their seasonal changes are not as drastic
as ours. A very pleasant place." His tail wagged slowly. "I shall enjoy our
time here.
The gesture seemed to interest his hosts. Genhh had no caudal appendage, as
Eonneh had already observed. The angry male in black, who appeared to be
subordinate to the male wearing an ornate red robe, both of whom had remained
behind in the ship, had long, flexible tails that switched back and forth all
the time.
"What interesting creatures these are, he said, glancing at the
Rroobvnnns. "There is so much variation among the members of one sex.
And do you notice that all the males seem to live on one side of this place
and the females on the other? Look how many Ayoomnnns are coming from that
direction. None live here."
"Reh. It is most curious. Is there water about? I'm thirsty, but a swim is
even more necessary."
"I hear some running over there,' Ghotyakh said, peering in the direction from
which the Ayoomnnns were coming. "There is a bridge."
Curious to see a Doonarralan river, the two ambled towards the sound.
A shout from behind reminded them that they were not alone.
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"Oh, I apologize, Genhh,' Eonneh said, politely, turning to the Ayoomnnn
female. Her thin, nearly hairless skin was reddened from the effort of
running. Eonneh noted again how small and weak the creatures of this world
were. The tall being showed her teeth, and spoke. The Gringg listened,
catching a word here and there, but comprehending more from the accompanying
gestures.
"We will follow where you go,' Eonneh said agreeably.
"They speak so quietly, Eonneh! I will be so glad when we work out what it is
they are saying,' Ghotyakh said.
"They give every indication that they wish to learn our words, although it is
also clear they want us to learn their language. I am glad we at least are no
longer being watched by Ayoomnns carrying weapons, but this is in its own way
a threat."
"I, too, still worry that they do not trust us. It is vital that they see us
as harmless.
Let us continue to shield our reactions and walk among them to reassure the
small ones.
If Grzzeearoghh commands that to speak their language is the best thing for
Gringg to do, we shall do so, as we will deal with whatever else befalls us,'
Eonneh replied, following Ken into the heart of the Hrruban
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