The Star Beast by Robert A. Heinlein

John Thomas gulped. “I don’t need to think it over. I’d go, of course.”

“Don’t be hasty.”

“I’m not being hasty. Lummie will need me. He’s never happy with strangers. Anyhow, he wants me to. You don’t think I’d let him down, do you?”

“No. But this is a serious decision. You’ll be going almost a thousand light-years from home.”

John Thomas shrugged. “My great grandfather went there. Why shouldn’t I?”

“Mmm. . . yes. I keep forgetting your ancestry. But aren’t you interested in knowing what other human beings are going with you? Or even if there are to be any?”

“Huh?” John Thomas thought about it. “Oh, those details will work themselves out. It’s not my business.”

‘They will be worked out,” Mr. Kiku answered. He stood up. “Thank you for coming.”

‘Not at all, sir. Uh. . . when do I get to see Lummox?”

Mr. Kiku pursed his lips. “Not right away; I have matters to settle first. In the meantime, enjoy yourself. I’m assigning a man to guide you around and pay your expenses. He will act as bodyguard, too.”

“A bodyguard? What for? I’m grown up.”

“So you are. But, if for no other reason, I don’t want you talking to reporters. Do you mind? I have no authority to tell you not to.”

“Oh no, Mr. Kiku. . . if it will help.”

“It will help.”

Mr. Kiku had received John Thomas at his desk, Mrs. Stuart he received in a lavish room, one without a conference table and which had been designed by subtle psychologists to impress visitors. Mr. Kiku knew that he was in for a bad time.

He fended her off with tea and formality, forced the talk to trivia. “So good of you to come, madame. Sugar? Lemon?”

“Uh, neither, thank you. Mr. Kiku, I must make clear firstoff that. . .”

“Try these little puffs. Did Mr. Greenberg make you comfortable?”

“What? Oh, yes, a nice suite, overlooking the Gardens of Heaven. But Mr. Kiku. . .”

“I was sorry to ask you to come to me. But I am the prisoner of my job. You understand?” He spread his hands helplessly. “I can’t leave Capital at certain times.”

“That’s understandable, I suppose. Now. . .”

“Your kindness is appreciated. You must remain, as an official guest, as long as you see fit. Capital is worth seeing, even if one has seen it often. . . which no doubt you have. I understand that the shopping is excellent, too.”

“Well, as a matter of fact I haven’t seen it before. Some of the shops do look intriguing.”

“Then enjoy it, dear lady. No reason not to mix pleasure with business. Which brings us to business, I suppose. I have been talking with your son.”

“Mr. Kiku. . .”

“Indulge me, I will be brief. We are sending an extensive cultural and scientific mission to the home planet of the Hroshii. I want to send your son as a special aide. He has agreed to go.” He waited for the explosion.

“Utterly unthinkable! Out of the question!”

“Why, Mrs. Stuart?”

“Mr. Kiku, what sort of inhuman beast are you? I know what you mean. . . you plan to turn my son, my only son, over to those monstrosities as a hostage. Unspeakable!”

He shook his head. “Ma’am, you have been misled by a wild newspaper story. Have you seen the later story? The Secretary’s speech before the Council?”

“No, but. . .”

“I will supply a copy. It explains how that nonsense got into print. It also affirms the ancient policy of the Federation, ‘All for One’. . . against the Galaxy if necessary. In this case your son is that ‘one’; he has many planets behind him. But no such issues arises; your son will join a peaceful mission to a friendly people. He will help build a cultural bridge between two civilized but very different races.”

“Hmmph! The paper said that these Hroshii demanded that you turn my son over to them. Explain that if you can!”

“Difficulties of translation. They asked for your son by name, but on behalf of that Hroshia which was for years part of your own household, Lummox. Because Lummox is deeply attached to your son. This friendship between these two, transcending form and kind and source and mind, is one of the greatest fortunes which has happened to our race since our people first discovered that we were not sole heirs of the Almighty. This unlikely circumstance will let us bridge in one leap a chasm of misunderstanding ordinarily spanned by years of trial and tragic error.” He paused. “One is tempted to think of them as children of destiny.”