“Then why would they say such things about you?”

“Understand that the Culakhan have their own reasons for wanting to make an example of what’s left of me. It’s all quite complicated and the details need not concern you. I’m not sure what they intend to do with me except that it will be unconventional. After all, they can’t exactly threaten to kill me.” Something not unlike a chuckle drifted out of the mechanical larynx.

“I’m going to take you at your word.” Ross Ed rose and surveyed the chamber. “I’ve stuck with you this long. I guess we’re together to the end.”

“Uh, hello? Excuse me a minute, here?” Caroline tugged at his pant leg until he gave her a hand up. “I haven’t agreed to stick with anybody, and I’m not real interested in being dead. If there’s another option I’d sure like to hear it.”

Ross considered. “Maybe we can play on this Code of Conduct of theirs.”

“I wouldn’t count on that,” Jed told them. “Besides, being dead’s not so bad. It’s just kind of slow.”

Caroline loomed over the motionless, instrument-laden form. “I’m a slow kind of person. If there’s any chance of getting out of here in a state of not-dead, I’d like to take it.”

Ross Ed had walked back to the edge of the depression in the floor. “If we could get this door, or hatch, or whatever it is open, I wonder if we could survive the drop to the ocean.”

“What makes you believe we’re still over the ocean?” Jed queried. “You think the Shakaleeshva are still hanging around fifteen feet above the end of the Malibu pier? I haven’t sensed the mind distortion that goes with the activation of spatial displacement, so we’re still in your atmosphere, but our altitude could be anything from ten feet to ten miles.”

“Um. Well, it was just an idea.” Caroline had come up alongside Ross Ed and he put an arm around her. “At least we’re together.”

Putting both hands against his chest, she shoved hard. “What the hell’s that supposed to mean? Haven’t you been listening to me, Ross Ed? I don’t want to die here, not with you or anybody else. I still haven’t been to San Diego. I love you, but I draw the line at mutual-death scenarios. They’re too friggin’ gothic.”

“It doesn’t matter. We’re stuck until they find a gap in their manners that lets them kick us out with a clear conscience.”

“You’re overwrought,” Jed insisted. “The Culakhan are relentless bastards, but they pride themselves on what they consider to be their gentility. When they’re finished their observations they’ll probably put you down somewhere. You’re representatives of an ignorant, primitive species, you see, and therefore it would be demeaning to kill you.”

“Then we can relax,” Caroline declared hopefully.

“In all likelihood.”

Ross Ed wasn’t satisfied, the whole situation rankled, and he wasn’t used to feeling helpless. “I wish we could do something for you, Jed.”

“I can’t imagine what. As you can see, at the moment I’m not real mobile. Give me some time to cerebrate. I still haven’t had an opportunity to properly analyze the instrumentation they’ve hooked me up to.”

Ross started to nod before he remembered that Jed wouldn’t be able to see the gesture. Could he perceive it? “Whatever happens, it’s nice to finally have been able to say hello.”

“Pardon me if I don’t shake your hand.” The voice had grown distant, contemplative.

After being assured it could not harm them, they were given protein substitute to eat and water to drink. It did nothing for their taste buds but did assuage the growing hunger in Ross Ed’s stomach. Soon thereafter the interrogation resumed. He and Caroline were ignored, which both supposed was all to the good. Despite Jed’s reassurances, they weren’t quite convinced that Uroon’s ultimate intentions were entirely benign.

What if the aliens intended to take them back to their home world? Ross had heard plenty of stories about alien abductions. Both the print and broadcast tabloids were full of them. If that was what the Culakhan had in mind, they might never see the earth again.

Or worse, Texas.

TWENTY

According to Ross Ed’s watch, two days had passed and yet another interrogation concluded when the Frontrunner unexpectedly turned to them and announced, “It has been decided. You are to be returned to the surface to live out the remainder of your simple lives.”

Caroline could hardly control herself. “That’s great, but why?”

“Because we have no further use for you here. You have nothing more to contribute to our deliberations. We assent to this because it is—”

“I know; pan of your Code of Conduct.”

“Not entirely.” Looking straight back over its spine, the Frontrunner gestured with three of its prehensile tail-hairs. “The Shakaleeshva has deferred to compliance provided we return you safely to your world. I confess myself surprised at his interest, which we know to be out of keeping with his true character.

“We can compel response, but it will be easier for all concerned if his assistance can be gained. There are significant questions in quest of resolution which cooperation would facilitate. Hence our accession.” The Culakhan turned back to them. “Where would you like to be set down?”

“How about right where you picked us up?” suggested Caroline.

“No.” Ross’s expression was set. “Texas would be better. I’ve got family in the Corpus Christi area. I’ve been promising to drop in on them for some time. Think you could land us there?”

“If you will but supply coordinates we shall put you down anywhere on the surface.”

He grimaced. “Coordinates, huh? Yours or mine? How bout if I just draw you a picture?”

Caroline threw him an admiring glance. “You can draw?”

“Only maps.” He smiled apologetically. “It’s useful in the field.”

As it turned out, a map wasn’t necessary. After it was explained what was needed, a technician conjured up a perfect photo-realistic reproduction of the earth, complete to current cloud cover and terminator line. With the clouds eliminated, Ross Ed was easily able to locate the south Texas coast. So as not to attract undue attention, he pinpointed a location somewhat to the south of the city limits.

“Down there the metropolitan area peters out pretty fast. You should be able to slip your ship in without being seen.”

Uroon yipped softly. “We could position it in the center of your capital city without being noticed, but this will be simpler. People will see you. They will not see us. We will appear to be nothing more than a localized climatological phenomenon.”

“Like fog?” asked Caroline.

“Exactly. We will perform the transfer during the darkest pan of the night. But before we can commence, there is one other matter that must be attended to first.”

“Of course.” Ross Ed didn’t have a clue as to what the alien was talking about and was disappointed when Uroon didn’t

A number of hours passed, during which time Caroline in particular worried about the Culakhan undergoing a change of heart. When Ross’s watch read four A.M. California time they were told to prepare. This entailed each of them taking several deep breaths when a technician directed them to the center of the depression.

“What happens now?” Ross couldn’t keep from wondering how much air lay between the soles of his feet and the rocks of the surface.

“First we must resolve our encounter on a friendly basis, so that no feelings of enmity will remain between Culakhan and primitives. This is required by our Codes of Conduct.”

Caroline leaned over and whispered to Ross Ed. “Might’ve guessed that one.”

He shushed her. “Okey-doke. What did you have in mind?”

At a signal from Uroon a technician stepped forward and with great solemnity passed the Texan a large bright green ovoid some three feet in diameter. Performing a series of elegant bows, the deliverer then retreated.

The Frontrunner’s tail stood straight up. “This is a representation of the Great Egg, from which life originally sprang. Take it as a symbol of our good feelings toward you and your kind.”

“What does it do?” Ross Ed cradled the heavy lump dubiously.

“Do?” Uroon fiddled with his headband, as if he hadn’t heard clearly. “It doesn’t ‘do’ anything. It is a symbol.”