“Big, though, isn’t he?”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
Qual was studying the figure in silence as the crewmen chattered nervously.
“I wonder if there’s any significance to the white cloth he’s waving?” he said finally.
“You know, sir,” Ori piped up, “I remember back in basic training, we used little pieces of cloth like that to sight in our weapons. “
The flight leftenant favored him with a withering glare.
“I seriously doubt, Ori, that he’s inviting us to shoot at him. “
“Well, they shot at me!”
“True, but indications are that they’re intelligent.”
“Look, Leftenant,” Masem broke in, interrupting the exchange.
The figure on the viewscreen was making a big show of holding up its weapon, then carefully setting it on the ground at his feet.
“Well, that’s pretty clear.”
“Unless it’s some kind of ritual challenge to fight.”
“For the moment we’ll assume that it means they want to parley,” Qual said, reaching his decision. “I’m going out there. “
“Do you think that’s wise, Leftenant?” his second-in-command queried.
“No … but I don’t see where we have much choice at the moment. See if you can get the lift-off units repaired while I try to buy us some time.”
“Do you want us to cover you with the ship’s guns, sir?”
“That would be great if we had any ship’s guns. This is an exploration vessel, not a battleship, remember?”
“Oh. Right. Sorry, sir.”
“Leftenant,” Masem said softly, drawing him to one side, “it might be prudent to be guarded in your conversation with the aliens. We wouldn’t want to betray how strong the Zenobian Empire really is.”