“The other recordings,” Raztupisp-minz demanded. “Siplisteph, you have brought others.”
Siplisteph only needed a moment to change tapes.
The four humans looked soft and vulnerable without their clothing. Two patches of fur apiece only pointed up their nakedness. Alien music played eerily across fithp nerves. “Mating.” Said Breaker-One, “Odd. I had the idea they sought privacy when they did that. Herdmaster, that isn’t the female’s genital area at all!”
“But that is the male’s.”
“Oh, yes. I’ve never seen it in that state… but of course they usually cover themselves. Does it seem to you that she might harm him accidentally?”
The priest spoke. “Why would they record this? Advisor, where was this found?”
“All tapes came from two sources, a building that displayed 83 of such, and one room of a dwelling. They’re marked. Ah, this came from the dwelling.”
The scene had shifted. Here was the same female and a different male, both covered. Not for long. Raztupisp-minz said, “I don’t see how children could be born of this. Yet they seem to think they’re mating… Ah, that seems more likely. Could we be viewing an instnction tape? Might humans need instruction on how to mate?”
“A ridiculous suggestion,” the priest scoffed. “What animal does not know how to mate?”
“Entertainment,” Siplisteph said. “So I was told by one who surrendered.”
“You are certain?” Breaker-one asked.
“No. I know too little of their language.”
Fistarteh-thuktun continued to stare at the screen. “I… I think there can be no good reason for such an entertainment.”
The Herdmaster moved forward to join Siplisteph, It was irritating that his Advisor must here perform two functions at once. “You have been to Winterhome. You have seen thousands of humans, more than any of us. Have you formed opinions?”
“None. Nowhere in these tapes do humans act as I have seen them act. I wonder if they act the part of something other than humans. Not Predecessors, but… there are words, god and archetype.”
“They could hardly pretend to be ready to mate. Show me the first one again,” the Herdmaster said. And presently he asked, “Did we just witness a killing? Show that segment again.”
Siplisteph did. An arm swung; the man in the strange chair mimed agony; the chair tilted and the man fell backward through the floor. “They never die so calmly,” the new Advisor said. “They fight until they cannot.”
“The neck is very vulnerable,” Raztupisp-minz objected. “A nerve trunk could be cut — but the fat one would then be a rogue. Why does the female associate with him? Could a pair of rogues form their own herd?”
“You are quiet, Fistarteh-thuktun. What do you believe of this?”
The priest splayed his digits wide. “Herdmaster, I learn. Later I will speak.”
“You do not seem pleased”
There was no answer.
“A place of puzzles,” Pastempeh-keph said. “They surrender and have not surrendered. Their tapes show rogues acting in collusion. They live neither in herds nor alone. What are they?”
“What do they believe themselves to be?” Fistarteh-thuktun asked. “Perhaps that is more important.”
“An interesting question,” Raztupisp-minz said quietly.
Pastempeh-keph bellowed, “1 want answers! I have enough interesting questions to keep me busy, thank you very much. Razwpisp-minz, bring them all. All humans, here, now.”
“Herdmaster, is this wise? Bring just one. I want to keep them separate as we study—”
“Bring them!”
“At your orders, Herdmaster.”
Raztupisp-minz waited. This is the moment, if there is to be any challenge.
There was none. Raztupisp-minz turned to the communications speaker on one wall.
Gary and Melissa were bounding around the cell in an elaborate game of tag. The rules weren’t apparent, but it was obvious that the game couldn’t have been played in normal gravity.
Jeri Wilson lay against the “down” wall and hugged her knees. She was wishing that the children would stop, and glad that they didn’t. They were all right. Prisoners of monsters, far from home, falling endlessly: they were taking it well.
Stop feeling so damned sorry for yourself! Hell, if Gary can take it, you sure can. Next you’ll be whimpering. Jeri turned her head within her arms. No. We don’t want Melissa to hear that.
John Woodward lay near by. He’s trying, but it’s like he’s fading out. Carrie’s all that keeps him going.
It’s the toilets. I could stand anything, if they’d just give us a decent toilet. We’re not built to use a stupid pool of water, with everyone watching.
She heard the low-pitched hum that signaled the door was opening. By the time it was open, the tag game was over; by tacit agreement they were all together opposite the doorway.
Jeri recognized Tashayamp. Behind her was a full octuple of warriors, all armed. They don’t bring guards unless they’re taking us somewhere, Jeri thought. But they don’t always bring them then, either. We’ve gone places with no one but Tashayamp or one of the other teachers. So why do they sometimes have armed guards? It’s like Melissa’s tag game. There are rules. I just don’t know them.
