Come, Hunt an Earthman by Philip E. High

Author:Philip E. High [High, Philip E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction
ISBN: 9780575110489
Publisher: Orion Publishing Group
Published: 2011-09-28T23:00:00+00:00

As I came in sight of the dome, a small crowd was visible by the entrance. I recognized Esklure, smiling and rubbing his hands unctuously. He was in conference with a tall Slarn.

As I drew nearer, I saw that the Slarn was a high-ranking officer. Crouched behind him, their heads bowed were two Pelska slaves.

As I approached, I saw the Slarn officer stiffen.

“Is that the culprit?”

“It is.” Esklure was openly gleeful.

The officer made an abrupt gesture and the two slaves crawled forward on all fours.

“You will now convey my message to the offender.”

The two slaves rose and came forward to meet me. Some four paces distant, they stopped and bowed almost to the ground.

“Commander Ageel presents his compliments, Hunt Master, and requests your denial or affirmation concerning the death of a member of his regiment.” They paused and quoted time and date.

I bowed in return and they had enough intelligence left to look surprised and not a little grateful.

“Convey my compliments to the Commander and kindly inform him that I accept responsibility for the act. You may inform him further, that I killed the officer in self-defence which I am entitled to do under Confederation law.”

They bowed and withdrew. I was now within speaking distance of the Commander but the farce continued.

“You may inform the Hunt Master that Commander Ageel is fully conversant with Confederation law and requires no reminder from an inferior life-form.”

“You will advise him, therefore, that Commander Ageel takes exception to the death of one of his regiment and hereby calls upon him to meet in just duel as provided under law. Penalties for refusal are the deprivation of office and a full public apology.”

The Pelska slaves rose and repeated the whole rigmarole to me.

I said: “Kindly inform Commander Ageel that I accept his challenge. He may inform me of time and date at his convenience.” I bowed again and entered the dome, having no doubt that Esklure had pulled strings to bring this situation about. He well knew that I must accept the challenge or suffer the penalties.

The Commander had not once glanced in my direction, clearly I was beneath contempt but I had no doubt he had been carefully selected.

Once alone, I studied him carefully. He was unusually tall for a Slarn and had been through one of the new combat/reflex military laboratories.

He held himself erect, the chin of his hatchet face held contemptuously high. His long black military cloak, almost reached his heels.

My instruments informed me that his personal equipment was disquieting and, I am sure, deliberately chosen for the challenge.

He had a specially constructed triple wavelength inter-cycle shield. His weapon rack was one of the most formidable and comprehensive I had yet seen.

The duel itself was typical of Confederation psychology. The destruction of a supposedly inferior life-form presenting an instant appeal. In Terran idiom, the Confederation thrived mightily on push-overs.

It was not long before I was advised of place and time. The duel was to take place in a meadow within easy walking distance of the dome.

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