The Candle of Distant Earth Read Online Free PDF Page A

Government he had no way of knowing, though he fully intended to ask.
    As he was handed a two-piece translator, one part to drape around his short neck and the other to insert into an ear, a distinctive face jumped out at him. White of fur as well as whisker, bent forward at the upper spine like a cub’s mistreated toy, Yoracc the Historian was struggling to insert his translator’s receiver into his left ear. Ussakk moved to assist.
    â€œAllow me, honored elder.” Carefully, he worked the small, silvery unit into the older Hyfft’s hearing organ.
    â€œThank you.” Eyes once replaced regarded him thoughtfully. “You are Ussakk the Astronomer, who first detected the Iollth intrusion.”
    Ussakk chirruped an affirmative. “I would have preferred it had been someone else.”
    â€œWe all have our preferences,” the historian agreed, “which are now to be ignored. Albeit that it is all secondhand and gleaned from historical records, I am here because of my knowledge of Iollth conduct and behavior.” His whiskers trembled slightly but were no longer capable of rising or pointing. “Your presence I find less understandable.”
    Ussakk whistled softly. “As the bearer of bad news, I suspect that this is my reward. More logically, the authorities must believe I have something to contribute.”
    Yoracc snorted, both nostrils curling slightly up and backward toward his face. “Sacrificial distraction. You have just arrived?”
    The astronomer chirruped an affirmative. “I was rushed out of Therapp without even a chance to settle my personal affairs.”
    The older male blew empty air. “It was much the same with me, though I am no longer so easily rushed.” Raising a short arm, he gestured not at the crowd that milled about within the warren but at the sweeping transparency that revealed the first fringes of urbanization beyond the outer limits of the airport. “It has been bad here. The Overwatch authority has done its best, and is to be commended for doing so, but there was still considerable panic. There were injuries; some serious, all impolite. I would imagine it is ongoing. You did not see evidence of it?” Almost instantly, he answered his own question.
    â€œNo, you wouldn’t, having arrived directly by aircraft. I am told there is an assortment of some damage within the city itself, but the greatest harm has come from those utilizing conveyors who in their panic have strayed from the designated, marked routes. Without sensors to guide them, they have slammed at high speed into fixed objects as well as one another.” His unhappiness showed in his face, in the way in which his ears and whiskers drooped all the way forward. “Already the Iollth have caused many deaths, and they have not yet even arrived.”
    As fretful, restless chatter rose and fell around them, Ussakk and the historian spent a moment commiserating in silence. “What is it we are expected to do?” the astronomer finally asked. “What does the Great Government want of us?”
    â€œYou mean, besides serving ourselves up as an initial sacrifice, in the event the Iollth should arrive in a foul mood?” Plainly, Yoracc the Historian held no illusions about the probable fate that was in store for him. “I imagine we are expected to find out exactly what they want and to try to minimize it. Fortunately, if any part of this can be said to be fortunate, precedence provides us with reasonably clear guidelines. The modern history of Hyff records six separate Iollth incursions. Although serious harm was inflicted each time, it was in direct proportion to the degree of defiance our kind offered.” Accepting a drink pipe from a passing automated server, he waved it in the general direction of the eerily deserted airfield beyond the curving transparency.
    â€œSince it has been decided by the present Great Government to offer as little