DuPree nodded. "The only way I can figure it is that RMI asked for the protection of the Quadrant under, the Savage Planet Regulations. What it amounts to, if a planet is savage, according to the law"s definition of savage, then a private party on such a planet can request the Quadrant to come in as a police force if a threat has presented itself."
Michael nodded, then looked up at Armath. "Why did you do this? You cannot attack guns with bare hands."
"This is the only way we know, Fellman."
Michael nodded. "I know. I know. How many of you were lost?"
"A hundred of us charged the complex. Not more than ten escaped alive."
Michael nodded. "That a hundred of you would fight together for a common goal; this is good." He studied the star, then looked up at DuPree. "Savage?"DuPree shrugged. "That"s what they"re called."
Michael turned toward Armath. "Do not be sad, Armath. Your companions joined in the right cause, but with the wrong weapons."
Michael stood and turned toward the other humans. "School resumes tomorrow." He turned back to Armath. "I cannot travel the circuit as I did before. Can you spread word to the Benda?"
Armath frowned, then nodded. "I shall have them told."
As Bendadn"s chilly winds gathered, sending the white flakes of winter through trees and across fields, little gray men and little gray women stood ankle deep in snow, surrounded by hulking black bodies. At night, the humans were quartered in Benda camps. They earned their keep during the days with their talk. The Benda males listened, questioned, argued, then listened some more. As spring darted warm fingers into frozen draws and hollows, the lessons ended.
Ninth Quadrant Force Captain Vaakne lifted his scaled head as the orderly entered. "Jazut, this is what?"
"Captain, the Benda at gate there are."
Vaakne stood. "Attack?"
The orderly gestured in the negative. "Talk it is they want."
Captain Vaakne buckled on his sidearms. "Guard to walls posted?"
The orderly gestured in the affirmative. "To walls posted, Captain."
Armath watched as the heavy Ninth Quadrant officer waddled from the mining complex gate. He looked up to see many of the scaled heads of the Quadrant soldiers looking back. The Quadrant officer waddled around the few remaining patches of ice and came to a halt in front of Armath. "
Negias si naad, Benda?"
Armath shook his ma.s.sive head. "Does the scaled creature understand English?"Vaakne"s slitted eyes narrowed. "The English I speak. What is that you and the others here want?"
Armath extended a roll of papers and handed it to the officer. "Take this, creature. The papers are our const.i.tution, the record of our election, and our government"s application for representation among the planets of the Ninth Quadrant Federation." Armath pointed at the roll of papers. "In there you will find my government"s demand that Ninth Quadrant Forces be removed from Bendadn. Should you not leave, Bendadn shall request the United Quadrants to remove you."
Vaakne c.o.c.ked his head to one side, looked at the roll of papers in his hands, then looked back at the naked, hairy creatures that had delivered it. "Government? This not understand."
Armath scratched at his shoulder with a clawed hand. "Study the regulations for savage planets, creature, and you will see. Bendadn no longer is a savage planet, and you must leave." The six Benda males turned and left Vaakne standing alone.
On the RMI ship back to Earth, Jacob Lynn frowned and turned to the two guards who had spent the first several days of the trip following him like a shadow. "Do you have to follow me around like that? It"s not like I could escape."
One of the guards shrugged, then rubbed his chin. "Where"ll you be, Mr. Lynn-just in case someone should ask?"
"I"m going to the ship"s lounge to have a drink."
The two guards looked at each other, shrugged, then the first guard spoke to Lynn. "Okay, but don"t get lost." They turned and went back to their quarters.
Lynn moved through the corridor until it widened into the ship"s lounge. He walked directly to the bar, obtained a double whiskey, then turned to survey the open booth seats. He saw a graying man with gla.s.ses sipping at a Martini. He walked to the booth and looked down at him.
"May I, Fellman?"
Michael looked up and smiled. "Be my guest, sahib."Lynn made a wry smile, then sat down. He took a swallow from his drink, then lowered it to the table. "I suppose you know what"s going to happen to me?"
Michael shook his head. "Only a little. Is it true that RMI is bringing charges against you?"
Lynn snorted. "Yeah. Like I did it all by myself. I"m their scapegoat so they can remain on Bendadn. It seems that they are willing to try and work within the framework of your government, Fellman."
Michael shook his head and smiled. "It"s not my government, Mr. Lynn.
It"s theirs."
"I suppose in some philosophical sense you think you"ve created Utopia."
Michael sipped at his drink, then raised his eyebrows. "No, Mr. Lynn.
The government of the Benda is far from perfect. Only the males can vote or serve in government. I advised them to extend those rights to the females to avoid a future headache, but as I said it"s their government."
Michael studied the former project manager. "Mr. Lynn, your problems stem from failing to take your own advice."
Lynn raised an eyebrow, then he turned back to his drink. "What advice?"
"Adapt to the circ.u.mstances of your environment, or go under. The environment changed, Mr. Lynn. RMI adapted; you did not."
Lynn took a swallow of his drink, then looked at Michael. "Why are you going back to Earth, Fellman? I would have thought that you would have carved a nice little place for yourself in the new society."
Michael leaned back and returned Lynn"s glance. "I told you. My government isn"t on Bendadn; mine is on Earth. Since leaving Earth, I"ve learned a little about environments, circ.u.mstances, and-if I may use the word-ideals. I"m going back to see if I can find ears willing to listen to what I have to teach."
Lynn laughed, then shook his head. "As a teacher, Fellman, you are poison on Earth. You"ll die on the vine."Michael finished off his Martini, then stood and faced Lynn. "Perhaps, Mr. Lynn, but at least I"ll find the vine I die on quite comfortable."
Lynn frowned. "I don"t understand you at all, Fellman."
Michael smiled. "I don"t doubt it." Michael Fellman turned and left the lounge. Lynn stared at the door through which the history instructor had left, then he turned and finished his drink.