Quofum Read Online Free PDF Page A

shoulders while their twin-toed feet were shod in thicker, tougher floral shavings.
    Observing the two aliens gazing back at them, one raised the stone-tipped club it was holding and shook it in Haviti’s direction. This action inspired a chorus of modulated squeals from the others.
    “Primitive, but they cooperate.” Her voice was calm and composed as she panned her head from left to right to ensure that the recorder clipped to her ear took in the entire display. “Mastery of language is questionable, but they have advanced as far as clothing and tool-making.”
    Valnadireb’s equipment was also recording the confrontation for posterity as well as for future study. “Interesting sensory equipment. I recognize organs of sight and hearing, possibly also of smell. Except for the hole visible in the upper portion of the cranium one might almost classify them as primates.”
    She glanced over at her colleague. “These are no relatives of mine, Val. Take away the bifurcation and everything else, from the shape of the ears to the limited number and size of digits, is radically different from humankind.” She took a step back. “Careful….”
    Three of the natives were advancing toward the visitors. One of them hefted a kind of rock-loaded sling while the other two brandished stone-tipped clubs. Opening their mouths to reveal hard palates devoid of teeth, they issued a series of louder, higher-pitched squeals. Valnadireb and Haviti had no way of knowing if these constituted challenges, insults, welcomes, or queries. In the absence of any specific knowledge, they had no choice but to exercise caution. Both human and thranx unenthusiastically drew their weapons.
    Instinct shouted at Haviti to flee. Education and experience countered by telling her to hold her ground. The latter won out. Besides, the river was close behind them and while retreating into it might offer some measure of protection to her, Valnadireb did not have that option. She edged a little closer to her companion, both for strategic reasons and to show the natives that despite radical differences in appearance, the two visitors were indeed together.
    More squeals were forthcoming, accompanied by further flourishing of primitive weapons. Refusing to be cowed, human and thranx held their ground. Recognizing this, one of the indigenes who had held back now ambled forward on too-short legs, ejected something from its mouth, and gibbered in low tones at the trio who had advanced. Despite their greater size and superiority of numbers, they waddled backward.
    Among humans, the deliberate discharging of spittle in another’s direction was usually taken for an insult or a challenge. Trained xenologist that she was, Haviti knew that on this world and among these natives it might mean something entirely different. Clutching her pistol, she did not react. To her right, Valnadireb raised both foothands and truhands to execute a thranx gesture of friendship. Speaking formal High Thranx, he directed whistles, words, and clicks in the direction of the indigenes.
    It could have been something in the complex four-limbed gesture. Or perhaps the natives were put off by the flow of strange sounds and syllables that issued from the thranx’s mouth. Whatever the cause, their pale oval pupils got very wide. Squealing like a posse of panicked piglets, they whirled as one and disappeared back into the forest as fast as their stumpy legs would carry them. In their wake they left behind a pair of exhilarated, if somewhat bemused, xenologists.
    “Not bad for a first contact.” A relieved Haviti reholstered her unfired hand weapon.
    Next to her Valnadireb turned away and back toward the swiftly flowing river. “They did not attack, and we did not have to respond. Words—we may presume for now they were words—were exchanged.” Bending his head, he reached up with a truhand and began to groom his left antenna. “I do wonder why my greeting caused them to flee so