[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
They all agreed on this, and by the time they had used deodorant too and
brushed the last green stain of Titanian ichor from their clothing, combed
Page 28
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
their hair and renewed Sally's frozen oxygen a reception
committee was waiting for them at the foot of the folding stairway that
automatically slipped out of the plane's side when the entrance was opened.
Step by step they descended to the historical moment when humanoid met
humanoid for the first time across the trackless oceans of space. Each group
examined the other with unabashed curiosity. What the aliens saw was, of
course, the three Americans. What the
Americans saw were three aliens. They had very smooth, white, shining skin,
and when the first one raised his steel helmet in greeting, they saw that the
humanoids were hairless as well. The pupils of their eyes were shaped like the
number 8 and were bright pink. They wore no clothes but instead were draped
about with a leather harness from which were suspended a number of weapons as
well as other items not easily identifiable. Then, upon a shouted signal from
their leader - the one in front whose helmet was gold instead of black like
the others - they pulled out their swords and raised them in salute. The three
Americans jumped to attention and returned the salute snappily, although John
raised his clenched fist first before remembering and quickly touching his
forefinger to his brow, hand and forearm straight, longest way up and shortest
way down, like the others. Then the steel of the swords rasped back into the
scabbards, and the leader stepped forward:
"Sdrah stvoo ee tyeh," he gurgled in a deep voice.
"Though we are strangers from across the deeps of space and do not speak your
fine though incomprehensible language, nevertheless we come in peace and bring
you greetings from the men of planet Earth, and particularly the United
States," Jerry answered.
"Daw braw yeh oo traw," John said. "He was just saying hello in Russian, and I
told him good morning back."
"Jumping Jehoshaphat," Chuck whispered. "You don't think they're Commies, do
you?" They all stepped backward cautiously.
"No Commies," the leader said, smiling a toothless grin, since he had a bony
ridge instead of teeth, and raising his helmet again in greeting. "We are the
Ormoloo who battle against the repulsive Garnishee from whom you saved us and
for which we will be internally grateful."
"You speak English pretty well for an Ormoloo," Jerry said.
"For many years our powerful radio receivers have been picking up radio
transmissions from your planet, and we have studied them and have learned your
language. Men of Earth and of the great country the United States of America,
I return your greetings and welcome you in peace to our planet Domite.
Everything we have is at your disposal on this most momentous occasion. A
banquet has been prepared in your honor, and we beg you to grace our table
with your noble democratic presences."
"Lead the way," Chuck said, and they did.
The three Earthmen looked around with wonder at the inside of the fort. In
some way it was very much like a desert fort on Earth with plastered walls and
a crenellated top above the firing step. But here the resemblance ended, for
the Ormoloo had a fantastic assortment of strange weapons, some of which
defied description. They then and there determined to examine these later to
see how they worked. The leader, who had introduced himself as
Steigen-Sterben, turned and smiled his toothless grin back at them.
Page 29
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
"Later you must examine our weapons and see how they work," he said.
They nodded agreement and entered the banquet hall, where each was conducted
to a place of honor
at the long table. The table was bare except for a clay bowl before each place
filled with cool water.
After they were all seated, Steigen-Sterben raised his hand and all of the
heads were lowered as he spoke.
"Oh, Great Spirit who lives in the Other World above, we thank you for what
you have provided."
The prayer over, they raised their heads, and Chuck nudged Jerry in the ribs
and whispered.
"They must be great guys, with religion and everything," and Jerry agreed.
Now the waiters appeared carrying great baskets, and with three-pronged tines,
they scooped out mounds of what looked like green grass and deposited them on
the bare table before each diner. As soon as they had all been served,
Steigen-Sterben signaled, and they all fell to with a will, bending over and
munching up mouthfuls of the grass. All except the three Earthmen, who were
not sure what to do until Jerry broke the ice and picked up some of it and put
it in his mouth and chewed and swallowed quickly, then drained his water bowl.
"Jumping horseflies," he whispered, "That grass is grass."
"I see you are not eating," Steigen-Sterben said. "I must apologize for our
simple fare, but we
Ormoloo are strict vegetarians, for religious principles of course, and never
vary our diet."
"Well, some of my best friends are vegetarians," Jerry rushed to explain so no
insult would be felt. "But we guys here we're, well, omnivores for the most
part. But go ahead and eat, don't let us stop you."
"No insult felt," Steigen-Sterben mumbled through a luscious mouthful. "We'll
be through pretty soon."
The three companions looked around at the blank walls and sipped their water,
and sure enough, inside of a minute the Ormoloo had finished their banquet,
the last blade lapped up and the table licked clean.
"Let me tell you about this war," Steigen-Sterben lowed, licking a last green
fragment from his lips.
"For over ten thousand of your Earth years we have been locked in this
struggle, for the Garnishee are ruthless demons and would kill us all,
horribly, if they had their way. So back and forth the war rages, for we are
evenly matched, and it appears it will go on for ten thousand years more."
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]