“A place with some spice to it,” said MacTeague. “The flying city on Aesgil IV, and the war between the birds and
the centauroids. Some place netv!” life,” said Joachim, “Once we’re converted to this AlOri
“they’ll let us spacefare-for them.” you know it,” said “Yeah. But we never will be, and
Kogama. “And who ever heard of a Nomad traveling for
somebody else? We go where we pleas@.”
“All right, all right,” said Joachim. “I know how you afl
feel.”
Thorkilcl Elof compressed his mouth bleakly. “We’ll end up marryi g within our own ship,” he said. “I’ve already noticed boys and girls going together, because there’s no one
else. It’s obscene.”
“Are they going to make Alori of us?” cried Ferenczi. “It’s been done to the others. The old Roamer, Rover, Tramp,
I The@
Tzigani, Soldier of Fortune-theY aredt any more.
crews aredt Nomads.”
“Yeah,” Joachim nodded. His face tightened. “They took my ship and my crew. They’ve got to be paid back for that,”
“Just a minute,” interposed Trevelyan. “I’ve explained-”
“Oh, sure, sure. Let the Cordys handle-the Alori. I only want to get loose again.” Joachim turned his pipe over and over in stubby fingers. “I’ve burned up all my tobacco and killed all my bottles. The Alori don’t drink or smoke.”
“It’s all very well to talk,” said Elof impatiently. “But we’re down here and the Peregrine is up there. “What can we do about it?”
“Things.” Joachim sat down, crossing his legs. “I’ve gotten you people together so I could be sure you were all with me.” He sucked bard on the empty pipe. “Look, this one’s been asking around among the Alori, They’re very frank and polite, you’ve got to admit that. They know I don’t like being here, but they also know I can’t jump into space by my own lec,,S-so they answer my questions.
“Well, the Peregripe is the only star ship around, for parsecs. Her boats were flown to a small island about twenty kilometers northwest of here. The Alori don’t need ‘em, so they’re just sitting there. Some kind of guard is mountedplants or animals or something that won’t let a human land without an Aloriin’s say-so.”
“Wait a minute!” exclaimed Petroff Dushan. “You don’t mean we should snatch us an Alorian and make him-”
“Wouldn’t work,” said Ferenczi. “These natives just aren’t afraid to die. Anyway, I don’t think we could capture one without all the damned woods knowing it and bringing the whole island down on our necks.”
“Please,” said Joachim. “My idea isn’t that crude.” His gaze turned on Sean, and be went on quietly: “Ilaloa’s been around a little.”
The young man’s face flushed. He spat.
“Now don’t be so bard on the poor lass,” said Joachim. “She only did her duty. This one saw her a couple of times flitting around, and has never seen anybody so woebegone.
We got to talking and she kind of poured out her troubles.
She loves you, Sean.’
“Hub!” It was a savage grunt.
“No, no, it’s a fact. She belongs with Alori, but she loves you, and knows you’re about as unhappy as you can get. And I think she’s been a bit-corrupted by us, too. A few drops of Nomad have gotten into her blood. Poor kid.”
“Well, -,vhat am I expected to do?” snapped Sean.
“Go to her. Take her to a place where you can’t be overheard and ask her to arrange our escape.”
Sean shook his head unbelievingly. “She wouldn’t.”
“Well, there’s no barm in trying, is there? Her only alternative is to take some kind of psychological treatment to get you out of her mind, and she does@t want to do
that.”
“I understand,” murmured Nicki.
“B-but she’ll know I’m lying!” protested Sean.
“Will you be lying? You’ll say you still care for her and want to take her away if she’ll help. I think that’U be the
truth.”
Sean sat still for a long while. “Do you think so?”
Joachim nodded. After a moment he added slowly, “You might bear this in mind, too. If we do get away, this whole business will have worked out very well. A menace will be converted to a profitable enterprise. I think people will feel pretty kindly toward ‘Lo.”