chapter eleven
“We owe you an apology,” Calazar said bluntly as soon as the introductions had been completed. “I know that’s not supposed to be the best way of starting a meeting by Earth’s customs, but I’ve never really understood why. If it needs saying, let’s say it and get it out of the way. As you no doubt appreciate by now, we needed to check some facts that are important to us, and to you too I would imagine. It seems just as well that we did.”
It was going to be a far less formal affair than he had been half prepared for, Hunt noted with relief. He wondered if what he was hearing was an accurate translation of Calazar’s words or a liberal interpretation concocted by VISAR. He had assumed that an opening on this note would be unavoidable, and was ready for some fireworks there and then. But as he looked around he could see that the Ganymean defusing tactics appeared to be having their desired effect. Caidwell and Heller seemed in command of themselves and were looking purposeful as if by no means ready to let the matter just go at that, but at the same time they were subdued sufficiently to wait and see what developed before making an issue out of anything. Danchekker had obviously come in spoiling for a fight, but the psychological left hook that the Ganymeans had delivered out of the blue-literally-at the last moment had temporarily knocked it out of him. Packard appeared to be in some kind of trance; in his case the tranquilizer had, perhaps, worked too well.
After pausing, Calazar continued, “On behalf of our entire race, we welcome you to our world and to our society. The threads that have traced the evolution of our two kinds, and which have remained separated until now, have at last crossed. We hope that from this point on they will continue to remain entwined for the benefit and greater learning of all of us.” With that he sat down. It was simple, Hunt thought, and seemed a good way of getting things moving.
The Terran faces turned toward Packard, who was officially the
most senior in rank and therefore the designated spokesman. It took him a few seconds to realize that the others were looking at him. Then he looked uncertainly from side to side, gripped the sides of his chair, moistened his lips, and rose slowly and somewhat unsteadily to his feet. “On behalf of the . . . government of. . .” The words dried up. He stood swaying slightly and staring dumbstruck at the rows of alien countenances arrayed before him, and then raised his head and shook it disbelievingly at the spectacle of the tower falling away into the metropolis of Vranix and the panorama of Thurien stretching off on every side beyond. For an instant Hunt thought he was going to collapse. And then he vanished.
“I regret that the Secretary of State appears to be temporarily indisposed,” VISAR informed the assembly.
That was enough to break the spell. At once Caidwell was on his feet, his eyes steely and his mouth clamped in a downturned line. Heller had also started to rise, but she checked herself and sank back into her seat as Caidwell beat her to it by a split second. “This has gone too far,” Caidwell grated, fixing his eyes on Calazar. “Save the niceties. We came here in good faith. You owe us an explanation.”
Instantly everything changed. The forum, the tower, Vranix, and the overhead canopy of Thurien were gone. Instead they were all indoors in a fairly large but not huge room with a domed ceiling, which contained a wide, circular table of iridescent crystal as a centerpiece. The principal participants were placed around it in the same relative positions as before with Caldwell still standing; the other Ganymeans who had been present earlier were looking on from raised seats behind. Compared to the previous setting this one felt protective and secure.
“We underestimated the impact,” Calazar said hastily. “Perhaps this will be closer to what you are used to.”
“Never mind the Alice-in-Wonderland effects,” Caidwell said. “Okay, you’ve made your point-we’re impressed. But we came here at your request and somebody just flipped out as a consequence. We don’t find it amusing.”