CHAPTER -XVII
The Festival
THE NOMADs bad been taken to a vallev on the island’s northwestern coast, surrounded by hills and opening on the sea. @en Trevelyan’s band got there, the initial confusion was over. Fifteen hundred people had settled down to a dazed waiting for whatever came next.
Joachim met the new arrivals on the valley’s edge. “Been waiting for you. One of the natives told me you’d be coming
down this trail.”
“How did they know that?” asked Nicki. Esperero’s men bad left them a few kilometers back, pointing out the
route for them to follow.
“I don’t know,” shrugged Joachim. “Telepathy?” “No,” answered Trevelyan. “Incredible as it seems, I’m be-
ginning to think that the forest here forms a communications network.”
“The original grapevine telegraph, buh? Well, let it go. We had a little trouble to start with, but those boys can handle themselves.” Joachim clicked his tongue admiringly. “Their judo starts where ours leaves off. No harm done, though, and the crew’s pretty well quieted down now.”
“You’ve been given living quarters?”
“Yeah. Such of the natives as know Basic told us they’d evacuated this bunch of tree houses for our benefit. They said they wanted to be friends, even if they couldn’t let us go back to bring down the human race on ‘em. Since then, nobody’s been around. Tactful.” joachiri looked keenly at Sean. “If I was you, lad, I wouldn’t show myself either for a few days.”
“I understand,” said Sean.
“They’ll realize it wasn’t your fault, and cool off, after a while, but I came to warn you. I know of a couple of trees awa), from the main village where you can stay.”,The, captain turned to the Coordinator. “You got any ideas as to just what we’re supposed to do?”
“Settle down. Learn more about the setup before attempting anything.”
“Uh-huh. Snatched my ship right out from under mel Transplanted me like a vegetable! It’s enough to drive a man from drink.”
Trevelyan studied the Alori houses with more than casual interest. They were reminiscent of the naturally hollow trees in which the Nerthusian aborigines dwelt, but incomparably fartber advanced. Each bole contained a smoothly cylindrical room that was a good seven meters across, light and airy; the wood hard and beautiful]), grained. There were windows which could be closed by transparent flaps of tissue that were part of the tree; a similar, heavier curtain served for a door. The floor was carpeted with a mosslike growth whose springiness held a living wan-ntb.
A couple of extruded shelves formed table space; there
was no other furniture, but the floor made a restful bed. Vines tendriled about the trunk looped inside with a riot of flowers, among which hung bladders that glowed after dark with cool yellow light. These could be “turned off” by drawing their own loose husks about them. From one wall a hollow, inward-growing branch yielded clear water when squeezed, a natural drain below taking the run-off. Next to the tree grow a bush whose waxy fruits were an excellent soap surrogate; the other needs of the body could be taken care of in the boundless forest.
Trevelyan moved into an isolated tree, Sean and Nicki taking its neighbors. His own tastes not being elaborate, be didn’t miss the ordinary appurtenances of human life.
The village, he found, was actually an extensive settlement, comprising some five hundred units-more than enough for the Peregrines, especially when one could live just as well outdoors. The dew took a little habituation; thereafter, even the trees seemed cramped and stuffy.
Pets had also been taken from the ship. It was strange to see a terrier barking at a rainbow-winged insect, or sleeping in the shade of a half-meter broad flower. Soon after the humans’ arrival, some of the Alori returned with a courteous offer to bring whatever else was desired from the Peregrine-now in free orbit just above the-atmosphere. Joachim got a list of wants from his people, mostly tools. It seemed to amuse the Alori, but they brought the things. joachirn listed his own whiskey, tobacco, and a few pipes at the top.
The Nomads began to relax. It was evident by now that no barm was intended by their captors, -,vho were apparently content to leave them to their own devices.