“The time has come at last,” Iwoko-jei was saying. He was so excited, he could hardly keep his tongue coiled in a cheek pouch. “All our planning, all our hard work, is about to blossom like hyreath flower. Brothers and sisters, the day for us take back our world is at hand!”
A united chorus of “Hauea!” followed the senior Yuiqueru’s impassioned declaration. Next to him, Waruna-hia stilled her chair.
“The western and eastern trees are ready. When appointed time arrives, our fighters will attack every Deyzara institution and business concern within our region. As instructed, we will try concentrate on property. There will be some deathing. Is unavoidable.” She smiled humorlessly. “Many of those who are with us are young, and hungry for killing.”
Aniolo-jat spoke up. “Must be no massacres. Mass deathing may possible compel Commonwealth authority to act. Is vital that they be kept out of this. Property destruction alone will not be enough allow them act on Deyzara behalf.”
“That iss sso,” declared a new voice. It was oddly inflected, and its mastery of S’aku, while commendable, tended to slide past certain syllables rather than fasten firmly on the necessary diphthongs. “Lissten well to the one called Aniolo-jat. Like the resst of you, he thinkss much as we do.” A clawed hand moved in a gesture of third-degree approval.
Iwoko-jei turned his seat in the direction of the voice. “If our good friends have something to add, we are all us here, as always, eager hear their words.”
The speaker and a single companion stepped forward from where they had been monitoring the Sakuntala who were operating the advanced communications equipment. They did not speak from the traditional hanging chairs. Even if they had been inclined to try them, they would have found the swinging seats uncomfortable. For one thing, their tails were much thicker than the slim tufted appendages possessed by the Sakuntala. For another, the special suits they were forced to wear in order to survive on Fluva might have caught and torn on a rough part of the chairs, and this the two strangers would not risk.