Trevelyan folded his arms and stood regarding the other from expressionless eyes. “That’s a curious thing to say to
us.
“But it is true,” insisted the allien gently. “You are guests here. It is not a euphemism. We are genuinely glad to see you.
“Would you be glad to se asked Trevelyan wryly
e us go.
“Not immediately, no. We should like to give you some
understanding of us first.” The handsome head lowered. “May I perform the h-itroductions? This planet we call Loaluani, and we are the Alori. That word is not quite equivalent to your ‘human,’ but you can assume for the present that it is. I am designated-named Esperero.”
Trevelyan gave the names of his party, adding, “We are from the Nomad ship Peregrine-”
“Yes. That much we know already.”
“But Ilaloa didn’t say-Are you telepaths?”
“Not in the sense you mean. But we were expecting the Peregrine.”
“What are your intentions toward us?”
“Peaceful. We-a few of us who know the art-will take your boat back to the ship. The crew will not suspect anything, having received no radio alarm, and being too high for telescopic observation of what has happened. Once in the bo@itbouse, we shall release the sleep gas, which be quickly boriie through the ventilators. All the Nomads Nvill be taken down here in the boats. But no one will be harmed.
“Do you wish to cone with us? Our party is going toward that section of the island where we feel you will be most comfortable. Your fellows will be landed there.”
“Yes-yes, of course.”
Nicki flashed Trevelyan a crooked @n. She walked a little behind him, one hand on Sean’s shoulder. The Nomad moved like a blind man. Trevelyan stayed beside Esperero, and the other Alori flowed on either side, Flowe,4-tbere was no word for the rippling grace of their movements, soundless under sun-dappled shadows. The forest closed in around them.
“Ask whatever you like,” said Esperero. “You are here to learn.”
“How did you arrange for us to come? How did you know?”
“@,s regards Lorinya, or Rende—votis as you call it,” said Esperer6, “we had colon ed it for about fifty years when
the Nomads came, and we watched and studied them for a long while. Their language was already kii@ to some of us, and we had means of spyina on them even when none of the Alori were present.” As Trevelyan lifted his brows, the alien said only, “The forest told our people.”
After a moment, he went on-. “Four years ago, Captain Joachim was heard to mention his suspicions of this part of space to others. It was logical that be would sooner or later investigate it, and we determined to get an agent aboard his ship. Ilaloa was chosen and trained. When the Peregrine came back this year, it was not bard for her, using the empathic faculties of our people, to find someone who would take her along. I do not know yet just what she
did to influence vour jouy@iey-”
“I can tell you that.” Trevelvan related what bad happened in Kaiikasu. “Obviouslv there was no thinker behind
the walls. She’s a superb actress.”
“Yes. Ilaloa ave you a star-configuratioit such that your most direct route from the planet to here would run you into
the storm.”
“M-bm. And I suppose she’d been given post-hypnotic blocks so that she responded as desired even under hypnotism?”
“Did vou try that? Yes, of course, they would have guarded her in any way possible.”
“Except against the storm itself,” said Trevelyan grimly. “That nearly annihilated us.”
“If so,” said Esperero, “we would at least have removed
one potential enemy.”
There was an unliumanness in his tone. It was not cynical indifference, it was something else-a sense of destiny? An
acceptance?
“However, you did survive,” continued the Alorian. “Our idea was to drive you to a colony so that we might capture you, as we have done. There were half a dozen equally probable colonies, and each of them has been ready for your arrival. I happen to have been the one whom you-picked, shall we say?” His smile was impish, and Trevelyan couldn’t help a one-sided grin.