"Why didn't one of us think of that aspect?"

"Calm down, Dad,' Todd said, grabbing his father's fist. "You haven't warp-jumped half as much as Hrriss and me, and you haven't logged in enough s.p.a.cetime to know how it disorients you.

You know we didn't come into your office that day s.h.a.gged.

Ken shook his head from side to side, still blaming himself for not seeing so plain a verification that they could not have been plucking items from so many different systems during that controversial Hrrethan flight.

Todd gave his father a clout with his fist. "Stop it, Dad, no time for recriminations now. If Captain All gets an independent, and well-witnessed, overhaul of the Albie's engines, and we get statements from everyone who saw us working all hours of the day to organize the Hunt, that still only proves we couldn't have made those side trips.

It doesn't prove who did. And that. . ." Todd glanced at Hrriss as he began s.p.a.cing his words in an implacwe. . . have able one, "is . . .

what to. . . find . . . out!"

"You're right about that, son,' Ken said. "From the way the Treaty Controller was handling the hearing, not to mention the smug look on Rogitel's face and that sycophant Varnorian, proof that you didn't smuggle is not as important as doc.u.mentation of who did."

"Right. Then let's figure out how to go about getting the proof." Todd pulled his father to the dining room table at which so many happier conferences had been held, snagged a chair back, and guided his father to sit. He and Hrriss sat down in the same instant beside each other while a grinning Lon Adjei and Robin joined them.

"By any chance do we have bolos of those items we're supposed to have stolen?" Todd asked.

"Hrruvula should have been given copies of all the evidence against you,' Ken said.

"Rrrobinn,' Hrriss said, "please brrring us the star maps and the handoomp. We must calculate prrrecisssely."

"Kelly's good at that,' Robin said. "And she'd want to help." He didn't glance in his brother's direction but there was a twinkle in his eye.

"Both Kelly and Nrrna will be here shortly,' Pat said, bustling in with platters piled with sandwiches.

"We owe those girls a lot,' Todd said, reaching for a sandwich.

The appet.i.te which had deserted him during his separation from Hrriss had returned, doubled.

"Well, don't tell me,' his mother said archly.

"Tell them!" Astonished at her tone, Todd watched her leave the room. Then shook himself.

"We've also got to find out who could have possibly a.s.sembled such a variety of items, how much they'd cost on the black market-I figure Kiachif might know-' "And I will inquirre of Hrruban sssourrrccs for those which came from ourrr interdicted planets. . ." Hrriss was making notes, too.

"Any word from Linc Newry about launches?" Todd asked, remembering another detail.

Ken shook his head. "But all the ranchers are looking for burnfls and other illicit corrals. Those hides aren't as important.

"Oh, yes, they are, Dad,' Todd replied. "Every single element has to be sifted, sorted, and sewed up.

"Could Kiachifisms be contagious?" Robin asked, his face screwed up in a grin.

Rogitel did not move from his seat when Reeve and his feline friends left the Council chamber so noisily. The bailiff closed the door and returned to his post. Once order had been restored, Poldep Officer DeVeer took up where he had left off, deferring to the s.p.a.cedep official.

"If s.p.a.cedep has any further objections, I hope it will inform Poldep,' DeVeer suggested politely.

"We would be happy to cooperate in any interdepartmental inquiries." Rogitel was already considering the ramifications of the Poldep official's words. He wondered what other data Reeve had uncovered that caused Poldep to intervene on their behalf. There might be a leak in s.p.a.cedep's own offices. Internal security checks must be promptly initiated. "None at this time. s.p.a.cedep is grateful for Poldep's interest."

"Then, honored Council members, and gentlemen, I must take my leave. There is much to do in the next four weeks." DeVeer left the chamber. It seemed larger without him there. Rogitel felt less pressured. Beside him, Varnorian had fallen asleep.

"I would not wish it to be understood that the department is unwilling to cooperate,' the s.p.a.cedep subchief said, addressing the board. "Admiral Landreau will be happy to a.s.sist in any way he can to fulfill all our wishes." He met the Treaty Controller's eye, and the Hrruban nodded almost imperceptibly. Landreau was correct. The Controller was willing to form a dtente to prevent the renewal of the Treaty of Doona. Little did Treaty Controller realize that his actions would displace his fellow animals and leave the entire planet in the possession of its rightful owners, the Human race.

"I am convinced that we both want the same thing,' the Controller said. He will help me, the Treaty Controller thought. And then he and his bareskin cohorts will be expelled, leaving only Hrrubans here on Rrala. The unnatural colony would be disbanded. He and Rogitel smiled at each other companionably over the conference table.

CHAPTER 8.

CAPTAIN HORSTMANN FOUND DEVEER and whisked him off to Portmaster Martinson's office, where that official was in a state of dithering shock. For one thing, he had every s.p.a.cefaring captain and every chief engineer of the many ships on landing pads in his facility crowding his office and the adjacent hall.

"Make way! I got "im,' Horstmann bawled, and bellies were sucked in, toes splayed, to allow the pa.s.sage of two more large men. "Special delivery!

Live cargo!"

"Now, will you tell me what this is all about?" DeVeer demanded, for he was unused to being manhandled without explanation, and his temper, exacerbated by the hearing, was becoming shorter with every pa.s.sing second.

"They say . the engines will show wear and tear,' Martinson said, gulping in anxiety and waving his hands about. "But I can't let them in unless I have proper authorization. They absolutely refused to let me contact s.p.a.cedep or Codep . . ." He flinched as ba.s.s and baritone rumbles reinforced that prohibition. "Inspector DeVeer, I can accept your authorization to unseal the Albatross?" It was more entreaty than query.

"It's like this, Inspector,' and a swarthy, hooknosed wiry man with a stubbled chin, bleary-eyed, stepped forward. He wasn't a large man, but he exuded an air of authority that DeVeer related to immediately, accepting him as spokesman for this crowd. "Ya see, Todd and Hrriss are supposed to have made these nine warp jumps in the Albie on their way back from that Hrrethan do. They say they didn't. The engines in a ship that has been tightly sealed since that s.p.a.cedep chair pilot charged "em with all that piracy will show to this impartial'-and a long stained hand waved at the crowd silently listening- "jury of experts just how much wear and tear those engines took since their last service." He hauled flimsies which DeVeer recognized as maintenance records. "We got these from Martinson here and the Hrrethan s.p.a.ce Authority, dated, sealed, and all legal-like, as proof of the most recent service checks the aforementioned Albatross had. You sign the authorization.

We all take a look, write up official reports, and I'd bet you credits to cookies, we'll all discover- not to our amazement but what we all know without having to check-that those engines'll prove those boys didn't take no nine warp jumps in that vessel like they're accused of doing. whaddaya say?" DeVeer had had to concentrate to follow the rapid-fire explanation in a hot cramped s.p.a.ce. It took him a moment to absorb the points.

"It will not prove who did, 0' course,' the captain went on before DeVeer could respond, "but those engines will prove those boys didn't!

Hear you got word the Mayday beacon turned up, if you know what I mean?" The captain winked. "By the way, I'm All Kiachif, skipper of the White Lightning,' and he offered DeVeer his hand.

Absently DeVeer accepted and the slender fingers were as strong as his own though the hand was half the size of his.

"I believe that could prove a profitable investigation, Captain Kiachif." DeVeer turned to Martinson, who was wiping the sweat from his face, looking haggard and hara.s.sed. "Can you supply me with the proper doc.u.ments, Mr. Martinson?"

"All made out, ready for your John-c.o.c.k on the dotted line,' Kiachif said, wiping out a second sheaf of official-issue flimsy and spreading it out on the one clear portion of Martinson's desk.

Writing implements were offered by eight or nine different obliging hands. DeVeer, for once feeling completely overwhelmed, twitched the nearest one free and poised it over the quintuplicate form. He was far too experienced an executive to sign what he had not scanned, but he was a speed-reader. The form had been filled in properly,- and when he actually started to sign, a deafening cheer resounded from office and corridor"You must of course be present during the unsealing and the investigation, Inspector,' Kiachif said, seizing the form and separating its sheets, crumbling the first one, which he fired at Martinson, shoving a second into DeVeer's hand, and, waving the rest over his head, pushed his way ou of the office while the cheers still echoed. Realizin that DeVeer was not on his heels, he paused an beckoned urgently for him to follow.

Several hours later, the truth of Captain Kiachif: allegation was proved beyond question. In al particulars, the engines were in excellent runnin1 order, no wear, tear, or abuse visible: rather n more than was consonant with a journey to an from Hrretha, and this was verified not only by th( Hrrethan s.p.a.ce Authority maintenance check hu by nine fully qualified warp-drive engineers anc nine fully qualified s.p.a.ce captains of impeccablc integrity. In order to prove their qualifications anc allegations, DeVeer learned more about the workings of warp-drive engines, fuel capacities, gauges the pitting of ship skins from forced warp jumps and the condition of lubricants, greases, flux levels and rocket tube encrustations than he would evei again need. He fully appreciated why Martinso had looked so fraught: he felt rather wrung out hiniseff.

"Ah, Inspector, I see you are in need of sustenance,' Kiachif said, folding away the sheaf 0 formal declarations from captains and engineers.

"Lads, we can't let this fine gentleman suffer a moment longer." DeVeer had no option but to accompany the jovial group to the pub. He also had no memory o how he got back to the accommodations he had been a.s.signed on the Treaty Island. Some thoughtful soul - possibly All Kiachif- had left a small vial and a brief note where he could not fail to see it the moment his eyes could focus. "Drink this!" the note said. He did and rather more quickly than he thought possible, his condition improved.

Others had celebrated during that evening of which DeVeer had few lucid memories. For immediately upon finishing the scrupulous inspection of the Albatross, All Kiachif had informed the Reeve family.

"Don't fret too much about the smuggling charge either,' Kiachif said. "Got friends working on that, too, if you know what I mean.

It'll take a bit more time "cause we've more to check."

"All, you must be calling in favors by the container load,' Ken said, immensely grateful.

"Give a little, take a lot's been my motto for decades, Reeve.

And, like I say, we all got a lot at stake, same's you Doonans.

You keep on tracking down livestock. That's where your expertise lies.

I'll keep on prodding, poking, and producing where mine'll do us good. Have a drink on me, you hear me?" Kiachif hadn't waited for an answer and Ken was staring at a crackling handset.

As everyone had heard Kiachif's inimitable voice on the radio, cheers rose from around the dining table. Kelly and Nrrna executed a triumphant dance routine before careening into a table.

"One by one, the charges are being dismissed,' Hrrestan said while Mrrva nodded as if she had expected no other outcome.

"Down to two-identifying who purchased the artifacts and who's playing Todd and Hrriss offplanet,' Ken said.

"No, three,' Todd said. "We've got to find out how the security satellites have been fixed."

"Is not Inspector DeVeer investigating that?" Hrrestan asked.

Ken and Todd both frowned, increasing the resemblance between them so much that Pat, Kelly, and Inessa grinned.

"DeVeer would need s.p.a.cedep authority to check the satellites,' Ken said, shaking his head over the improbability of a.s.sistance from that source.

"Would he?" Hrrestan asked, stroking his chin.

"Would he not have authority over Martinson?"

"He must have some, to get clearance for All to check the Albatross engines,' Ken replied, but he wasn't all that certain that DeVeer might not press the issue.

"But Linc Newry's got a separate authority and reports only to s.p.a.cedep."

"The inspector wants to help us,' Kelly said. "And he practically got Klonski to admit that he had."

"You didn't mention that,' Todd said bluntly.

"Well,' and she shook her spread hand to indicate uncertainty, "Klonski is known to have done that sort of security tinkering-Inspector DeVeer established that-So why else was s.p.a.cedep paying him, and putting him in their restricted "special services', category?"

"We still need more doc.u.mented evidence of who's behind what we may now call a well-planned and long-standing conspiracy,' Ken said, addressing everyone but looking at Hrrestan.

"I think they overdid the evidence bit,' Pat said.

"They might have made one charge stick but so many?"

"Ah, but that is where they have been clever, not stupid, Pat." Hrrestan said. "They have created a variety of charges, none of which can be ignored by one or the other of those departments of yourrs and ourrs that are involved. Rrala is to be torn apart by debates on which allegations are true and which might be specious. The fact that would, I fear, become lost in the mora.s.ss of true, half true, and false, is that our sons never committed any of the crimes of which they stand charged.

But by the time they can be cleared of all counts, any hope of renewing the Treaty would be lost and the colony forced to decamp." Nrrna shuddered and drew closer to Hrriss.

"But L'm positive Landreau is behind all of this,' Ken said.

"He's hated me and Todd since the first time you all disappeared and left us looking like firsicla.s.s liars." Firrestan and Mrrva bowed their heads. "We had no choice."

"Oh, I know that, Hrrestan,' Ken said, dismissing any implication of blame. "But it was Todd who kept us here because Hirubans would not leave a small child in a dangerous forest.

And it was Todd who brought First Speaker here, and Al Landreau has never forgiven him or me for that humiliation." Kelly and Hrriss grinned during Todd's obvious discomfort at that summary, but Nrrna was curious, not knowing all the historic details from that period.

Hrrestan sighed. "If only Third Speaker's a.s.sociate were not Treaty Controller this period .

"Another piece of deft planning on Landreau's part. I gotta give him credit for that,' Ken said with a hint of grudging admiration.

"Trrrue, for with another Hrruban as Controller, we would be able to lay before First Speaker the framework of this conspiracy . . -"

"Would First Speaker not be aware of that already, Hrrestan?" Mrrva asked, her hand lightly on her mate's thigh. "We know the pressures that are being exerted in the Speakers Council."

"This time,' Hrrestan said, "there is no child with a tail of rope to capture the hearts and minds of our people and swing a vote in favor of a Treaty of Cohabitation.

"I know this might sound silly,' Kelly began tentatively, "and forgive me if this question offends, but it's something that has never been addressed in Alreldep either: if the Treaty breaks down, which of us gets to stay on Doona? Or do we both leave, lock, stock, and block?" She tried to make a joke of it.

When everyone stared at her, she began to flush and ended up with her head down.

"No, no, Kelly,' Todd said, "that's a very good question indeed.

In fact, that might actually be the crux of the matter.

Kelly looked up, eyes shining and face alight with his genuine approval.

"Indeed, Kelly, that is a question which has not been asked,' Hrrestan said, "and one we should have considered long before now.

Have we all been looking at the forest without seeing the trees?" He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, his eyes slitting with the intensity of his thought. "You and I, Ken, like our sons, wish the Rralan Experiment to succeed. We both know in our minds that there are Hrrubans and Hayumans who do not wish that.

If the Treaty is not renewed, each sees this planet as a prize for the taking. As you once confided in me, Ken, twenty-four years ago on a hilltop, Haytimans get greedy. Well, so do Hrrubans.

There is indeed much more at stake than just this planet and which species gains control of it." Hrrestan paused, unwilling to follow that line of discussion to its obvious conclusion.

"An -interspecies war?" Todd exclaimed, horrified.

Nrrna gave a frightened yip and clung to Hrriss's arm. Kelly and Pat Reeve turned pale.

"I could go back to Alreldep,' Kelly said earnestly. "I may be only a junior but if I could present any proof whatsoever that this is what's going down on Doona . . ." Kelly's voice failed her as the permutations of a struggle between Hayumans and Hrrubans sank in. "Oh, no! We can't let that happen!" she said in a whisper.

Todd jumped to his feet, glaring about him. "You just bet we won't' His words rang in the frightened silence.

"By all that's holy, we won't,' Ken added, rising from his chair.

"We will not!" Hrrestan and Hrriss spoke at the same moment, springing to their feet.