Joachim went over to stand in front of the screen. “Captain Peregrine speaking for his sl-iip,” he said easily. “We’re coming in toward your planet. Like to pay a call.”
“There is no trading just now.”
‘Ve weredt going to trade. Only wanted to say salute,
me and a few of my officers. AU right if we take an orbit and send a boat donvn?”
“Visitors are not being received.” “You got a new Arkulan?”
“No. Hadii Petroff is still in command. But-”
“Now look, lad,” said joicbim, “this one knows your king’s sociable. Since when did he give you the rigl-it to turn down company for him-@”
“I speak for His Majesty. And use proper respect, Peregrinel”
“To you?” Joachim grinned nastily. “I’m a peaceful man, but please remember the Pcrearire’s not unarmed. Any time we feel like turning our Long Johns on you, there’s nothing you have to say about it. If the Arkulan doesn’t want to see us, let him tell me so himself-bijt ask His Ma,esty to remember that I’d be most terribly disappointed if he said no. Now give me an orbit and jump to it!”
The proud face stiffened with anger. “That could get you killed.”
“Before you try, lad,” answered Joachim, “you might think a bit.” His tones became a roar. “HONN, long do I have to talk with underlings? If there’s any reason for denying us planetfall, let the Arktilan tell me. Now get!” He snapped off the screen.
“Whc-e-ew!” First Mate Ferenczi’s teeth gleamed white in his board. “That’s a long chance, 1-fal. If you got him really mad-”
“No,” said Joachim, relating. “That one wouldn’t be coming to the ‘visor on call’ if he were a big engine. He’s used to bullying his underlings and being bullied by his masters. Since he doesn’t know just where I fit in, his natural reaction is to crawl. IT-e’ll refer the matter higher up.”
“But why sliotld they object?” Ferenezi’s gaunt face drew into a scowl. “Erulaii’s never been hostile to Nomads before.”
“It was coming, Karl. They’re being absorbed by their conquests. Eventually, they’re going to sbui all outside
contact, because ifd upset their little wagon.” Joachim puffed hard. “My guess is, there’s something going on behind the Arkulan’s back.’
“We’d better signal battle stations.”
“Yeah. And ffiers up, detectors out, everything we’ve got. Still, I don’t expect itll come to a fight. They’ll try to cover up.
A human of top rank was presently on the screen-Mountain Man Thorkild Edward, whom Joachim knew. With him, the Nomad captain was ingratiatingly genial, dropping broad hints of rich gifts, but there was a carefully expressed clash of iron in lAs voice. It ended with a left-handed apology for the behavior of the subordinate and an invitation for the whole crew to land. Since that would put them all at Erulanian mercy, Joachim pleaded a rush and accepted on behalf of himself and a few officers only.
The Peregrine took an orbit close to the planet, but instead of falling free remained directly above Kaukasu. It was an impolite but completely unambiguous gesture. Joachim left Ferenczi in command and chose younger men from astronautics and engineering to accompany him. They’d be a good, harmless-looking front. He winced as he selected presents for his hosts-a small fortune in ornamental objects.
A boat took the festive-clad party down. Sitting near Sean, Joachim saw the planet as a somber disc in the sky, storm-belted, its friaid oceans washing against steep-cragged mountains, the northern hemisphere bleached with snow-fields.
The city of Kaukasu lay in about twenty degrees north latitude, where agriculture was possible. It had been the seat of native warrior-kings, and the new masters haddt changed it much-tbe palaces bad been air-conditioned and a military base set Lip. Joachim saw new buildings on the edge of town, a small shipyard.
“That’s a funny one,” be murmured. “I’d’ve sworn the humans here had about given up space travel. What use is it to them?”
The boat landed on the field before the central castle. This was on a terraced hill rising out of the middle of Kaukasu, each terrace ringed by heavy walls of age-blurred stone. Below it, the city sprawled in a chaos of high roofs and bulbous towers, out to the fields and the great forests. On the horfwn a rim of mountains lifted white and ragged into the deep purplish heaven. There was traffic in the narrow streets, throngs of natives on foot, mounted, a rare groundcar pushing through turbulent crowds.