Алан Дин Фостер - Relic

To a watching Bac’cul and Cor’rin, Twi’win proceeded to demonstrate an unexpected talent for feigning ignorance.

“I am sure I have no notion whatsoever of what you are talking about.” Unable to blink, she executed the Myssari equivalent, which consisted of temporarily passing one hand across her eyes.

Once more the Vrizan commander was not taken aback. “A fool can play innocent only with another fool.” His tone grew sharper still. “Do not make the mistake of thinking you are engaging with a fool.”

“I would not presume to do so,” Twi’win replied with mock seriousness.

“The property to which I refer involves an example of local life located and recovered from the human city known as Dinabu. Specifically, a live human being.” Bac’cul and Cor’rin tried not to show their unease. Truly this Vrizan was no fool. “The report prepared by our automatics and reviewed by my staff suggests but does not confirm that it is an immature specimen. Enhanced imagery clearly shows it visible in the company of a mature example of the same supposedly extinct species.”

Unable to remain quiet any longer in the face of the Vrizan’s facts, Cor’rin spoke up. “The mature specimen’s name is Ruslan, he was found by one of our exploration teams on the human-settled world of Seraboth, and he has been the property of the Myssari Combine for many, many time-parts!”

The Vrizan looked at her out of the large, swiveling eyes located at opposite ends of his elongated skull. “Your claim to the mature example of humankind is not in dispute here. We assert ownership rights only to the specimen that was found living on Daribb, in the city known as Dinabu, as is our entitlement by treaty.” A humming sound that might have been laughter emerged from the depths of the commander’s throat. “While your disagreeable continued presence here may have some basis in pre-treaty argument, our right to all archeological discoveries of importance is clear. The immature specimen—a female, I am told—belongs to us.”

Though caught off guard by the Vrizan’s entirely reasonable rejoinder, Twi’win recovered as best she was able. “The female juvenile will not be parted from the adult. Insofar as any of us knows, they are the last two surviving examples of their kind. Would you, who claim to be so much more civilized than us, so callously tear them apart?”

“Naturally we would prefer another course of action. What do you take us for?” The strange throaty humming sound came again. “You state that the Myssari have had possession of the adult human for a considerable period of time. Ample time, then, for you to have learned all you can from it. For the good of the juvenile, you should therefore commit both of them to our care.” He paused a moment. “Ponder this, and then instruct me again on who has the better right to be called civilized.”

It was a clever trap. Bac’cul knew that Twi’win could claim, truthfully, that she did not have the power to make such a decision. The Vrizan commander’s response would doubtless be that he and his colleagues could wait until she received it from the proper authorities. The researcher tensed. Surely Twi’win would not agree to such a proposal, not even to stall for time. She would know, as he and Cor’rin knew, that the need to preserve harmony between competing interstellar governments could easily result in far-off Myssari functionaries making very bad decisions.

Twi’win therefore opted to avoid the snare entirely. “The specimens to which you refer are no longer here.”

While startled by this pronouncement, Bac’cul and Cor’rin managed to conceal their surprise. The Vrizan rolled his eyes, an extraordinary sight. When they had ceased rotating at the ends of his skull, he spoke slowly and carefully.

“What did I just say about not thinking you were playing with a fool? Our automatics saw your heavily armed ‘researchers’ escort both humans into a driftec, which then lifted off and headed in this direction. This is the only Myssari infection on Daribb. No starships have entered this system since our own most recent resupply vessel.”

Twi’win was adamant. “I repeat: the specimens to which you refer are no longer at this outpost.”

“Then where are they?” The Vrizan made no attempt to hide his exasperation—or his rapidly diminishing patience. Though as interested in the answer as the Vrizan, Bac’cul and Cor’rin kept silent and waited.

The outpost director executed a gesture of complete puzzlement, which involved some intricate crossing of all three of her arms while slightly bowing her head toward the resultant geometric creation. “I am ashamed to admit that I do not know. None of us does. It is a terrible development that will reflect badly on all of our professional records.”

“Do you expect us to be—” The Vrizan caught himself. “Our respective peoples have known each other for a very long time. We are as familiar with Myssari physiology as you are with ours. Ways of ascertaining whether or not a Myssari is telling the truth are not unknown to us.” He paused to give Twi’win and her companions time to absorb the veiled threat.

Twi’win did not hesitate. As she reached out with her central arm, she extended the others to the sides. “As long as they produce no lasting adverse effects, we welcome whatever method of inquiry and interrogation you would like to employ. I offer myself as the first subject. You are also welcome to conduct a physical search of our facilities, which are entirely scientific and supportive in nature. I will provide guides to ensure that you miss nothing. If you feel that you are in any way being misled, please do feel free to point out in what respect that may be the case and your concerns will be addressed.”

If Bac’cul and Cor’rin had been surprised by Twi’win’s response thus far, her latest pronouncement left them shocked. No longer able to deny the existence of the two humans, was she now attempting to bluff the Vrizan commander? He did not seem a type who would be vulnerable to such an approach. His prompt reply confirmed it.

“We accept your offer. I promise that my people will disturb nothing beyond what is necessary to satisfy our interest, and that compensation will be offered for any damage that inadvertently transpires.” Turning, he murmured to one of his two aides. The officer departed, presumably to organize the search.

“Barring any interference on the part of your staff, this scrutiny should not take long. We have lifeforce proximity detectors that will reveal the presence of any large beings even if they should be temporarily sealed within a wall or beneath a floor. I assure you that wherever you have hidden the specimens, they will be found.” The smooth, sweeping gesture he executed bordered on the elegant. “Be assured that when they are found, no opprobrium will accrue to you. Were our positions reversed, I would myself try as hard as possible to secure such valuable specimens for future study. But they will be found and the juvenile, at least, removed. As to the fate of the mature individual, that can be discussed further once he has been recovered.”

Cor’rin could stand it no longer. “You speak of him as if he is something to be studied under a microscope, like a slime mold! These surviving humans are as intelligent as any of their species. They are independent beings who possess the right to determine their own fate and future!”

Eyes set far apart locked on the researcher. “A fair and honest appraisal. In that light I will be certain to remind the adult of his options. I have been informed that such were presented to him on Treth, but that the manner and circumstances in which said choices were offered might not have been the most agreeable. I will try to do better.” The Vrizan’s command of Myssari sarcasm was commendable. “As ‘civilized’ beings, naturally you will offer no objection if, when presented with an alternative to living the rest of his natural life among the Myssari, he opts to voluntarily come with us and the juvenile.” His tone hardened again. “The juvenile is Vrizan property. Her future is not negotiable.”