Chiddy growled, “They came after you, Benita? You particularly?” “The only other creature living here is the dog,” she growled. “It was at night, so I was the only person in the building. Something went past my bedroom windows and then tried to get into the elevator. Then they pushed Bert up against the front windows and had him yelling at me, asking me to come to the door. If they’d tried him first instead of crunching around on the roof, I might have fallen for it.”
Chiddy’s male human guise nodded miserably. “We found out the predators were here when we arrived at Pistach-home, and when we returned, we detoured to affirm the presence of their ships on the back of your moon. We’ve already called for censure of all three races by the Confederation, plus we’ve brought several Confederation Inkleozese back with us.”
“More aliens?” she blurted.
“The Inkleozese are the traditional monitors and peacekeepers of the Confederation. They are feared even by the predators, and they are best qualified to do what now must be done. We did not know, could not have guessed, that the predators would bother your person, yourself! Why would they?”
She had pondered this herself. “They probably aren’t doing it for themselves. There are people looking for me. Political enemies of the current administration. You know that.”
“Yes, but … is it possible that . . . could they . . . can we believe . . .”
The two of them went off into a corner and buzzed at one another, waving their arms, looking crestfallen.
She interrupted their conference. “Someone probably put them up to taking Bert. I’m not fond of him, Chiddy, but I don’t want him . . . eaten or tortured or anything like that.”
Chiddy shook his head, almost humanlike. “Benita, though we hate to believe it, you are probably correct about their motive. It seems likely the predators have made common cause with some barbarians among you who wanted your husband taken for political reasons. If this is so, they are unlikely to hurt him. The predators are brazen, but they are not fools.”
“What barbarians are we talking about?”
“Those like the man McVane.”
“Good old McVane,” she snorted. “Him and his cabal.”
Chiddy shook his head, remarking, “Such violations of protocol have been known to happen in the past when members of the Confederation have discovered intelligent races who do not have a planetary government. A disunited planet allows the predators to shop about among factions, nations, tribes, or rulers to find someone or some group they can work with! Once they have done so, they claim immunity from Confederation rules because they have a treaty with natives. Then the whole matter must be referred to the Confederation courts for decision, and the courts appoint a study commission, the commission submits a report, the report is subject to question by some other group, and the whole thing takes absolutely forever! Meantime, the predators go on happily hunting.
“Unfortunately, we have no immediate way to reach those of them who are loose on your world except by going to the ships on the back of your moon and demanding contact. We could do this, we will do it if necessary, but it will be a black mark against Pistach in the Confederation. A ship at rest on an unoccupied planet or moon has a status equivalent to your foreign embassies. Why in the name of Gharm the Great didn’t you people set up an outpost there when you had the chance? Since you didn’t, the predators’ ships are sovereign territory. One may visit, one may gently suggest, but making a demand on sovereign territory opens one to criticism and shame.”
Vess interrupted, “Individual predators on an occupied planet, however, have no such status. We may do with them as we will . . .”
“Or can,” muttered Chiddy, looking downcast. “When and if we find them!”
Vess gave him a reproving stare. “We will find them! It may take a few days, however, and we can’t wait that long to explain to your people, dear Benita.”
“Start by explaining a couple of things to me,” she suggested angrily. “Starting with how they found me!”