Invaders from Earth by Robert Silverberg

Author:Robert Silverberg [Silverberg, Robert]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Tags: Science Fiction, General, Fiction
ISBN: 9780967178387
Publisher: FoxAcre Press
Published: 2001-08-14T23:00:00+00:00

“Mind if I ask what the conversation’s all about?” Kennedy said.

Engel blinked. Gunther tightened his lips, then said, “We’re arranging for transportation of supplies to the alien village in exchange for a bit of negotiation for mining rights with the village chief. He’s telling us the best time of day to make the delivery.”

Kennedy tried to hide his surprise. Either Gunther had just reeled off a flat lie, or else Kennedy had been completely wrong in his translation of the conversation. It had seemed to him that the aliens had been demanding an Earth evacuation, and that Gunther had been refusing. But perhaps he had been wrong; not even the simplest of languages could be learned in a matter of days.

The aliens were stirring restlessly. The spokesman repeated his original statement twice, then tipped his head back in a kind of ceremonial gesture, leaned forward, and exhaled a white cloud. Ammonia crystals formed briefly on the face-plate of Gunther’s breathing-helmet. The Corporation man replied with a sentence too terse for Kennedy to be able to translate.

Then the aliens nodded their heads and uttered the short disyllable that meant farewell; Kennedy caught it clearly. Automatically the response-word floated up from his memory, and he said it: “Ah-yah.” The other three Earthmen spoke the word at the same time. The aliens turned and gravely stalked away into the whirling wind.

A moment later Gunther whirled and seized Kennedy’s arm tightly with his spacegloved hand. Through the breathing mask Gunther’s face assumed an almost demonic intensity as he glared at Kennedy.

“What did you say?” he demanded. “What did you just say? Did I just hear you say a word to that Ganny in his own language? Where did you learn it? Who authorized you to learn Ganny? I could have you shot for this, Kennedy—agency pull or no agency pull!”

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