Aldiss, Brian W - The Dark Light Years by Aldiss Brian W

Author:Aldiss, Brian W
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf

CHAPTER EIGHT

"How far-seeing you were to christen this world Grud-grodd. Cosmopolitan,1'

the third Politan said.

"I've explained several times my reason for thinking that we cannot any longer be on Grudgrodd," said the Sacred Cosmopolitan, as the two utods lay comfortably together.

"And I still say that I don't believe metal could be made strong enough to withstand launching into the star-realms. Don't forget I took a course in metal-fracture when I was a priestling. Besides, the metal thing wasn't the right shape for a spaceship. I know it doesn't do to be too dogmatic, but there are some points on which one has to make a stand: though I do it with regards to your cosmopolity only with apologies."

"Say what you may, I have the feeling in my bones that the Triple suns no longer shine on these skies - not that these thin lifeforms ever permit us to see the skies."

As he spoke, the Sacred Cosmopolitan swivelled one of his heads to watch the thin lifeform performing his natural function a few feet distant. He thought he recognized this thin lifeform as one of those whose habits did not arouse disgust; certainly he was not the one who came with an attachment that spurted a jet of cold water. Nor did he seem to be one of those who sat about with machines and two assistants (no doubt they were this world's equivalents of the priesthood) so palpably trying to seduce him and the third Politan into communication.

The thin lineform stood up and assembled the cloth over the lower part of his body.

"That is very interesting!" the Politan exclaimed. "It confirms what we were saying a couple of days ago."

"In most particulars, yes. As we thought, they have two heads as we do, but one is for dunging and one for speaking."

"What seems so laughable is that they have a pair of legs sticking out of their lower heads. Yes, perhaps after all you are right, father-mother; despite all logic, perhaps we really are spirited far away from the Triple Suns, for it is difficult to imagine any of this sort of horrid absurdity on the planets under their sway. Why do you think he came to perform a dung ritual here?"

The Cosmopolitan twiddled one of his fingers in a motion of bafflement.

"He can hardly regard this as a sacred seeding spot. It may be that he

performed merely to let us see that we were not the only ones possessing fertility; or on the other hand, it may have been merely from curiosity, in order to see what we did. Here's a case again. I think, where for the time being we must admit that the thinlegs' ways of thought are too alien for us to interpret, and that any tentative explanation we may offer is bound to be utodo-morphic. And while we're on the subject. ... I don't want to alarm you in any way ... no, as Cosmopolitan, I must keep these things to myself."

"Please - since there have

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