“Our ship,” the larger monster Loo was explaining one day, “hurt by other ship.” The term hurt required a double click. Ryo took personal pride in the monster’s tolerable pronunciation.

“What different … other, ship?”

The monster stopped. In damp mud he sketched the outline with one digit. Ryo recognized it immediately. It only confirmed earlier thoughts.

“AAnn ship,” he said. As he repeated the word he picked up a rock and threw it forcefully at the drawing, sending mud splattering. That was one gesture that did not require elaboration.

“Bad. Not good,” the monster agreed, making a gesture of fifth-degree and maximum affirmation. Clumsy and un- subtle, Ryo thought, but a least they are learning how to get their thoughts across. The monster emitted a long, rippling whistle. “Very bad.”

At least we have one thing in common, Ryo mused. Neither of us has any love for the AAnn. These creatures were not allies of the Thranx’s hereditary enemies.

“Why we imprisoned?” the monster suddenly asked.

Ryo thought, constructed a simple reply. “My people afraid you AAnn-friends.”

The monster made a funny noise that Ryo had not learned how to translate. He asked for an explanation.

“Funny. Very funny.”

So that was monster laughter, Ryo thought. Most peculiar. “Understand.” He then demonstrated the gestures and whistles for first- through fifth-degree amusement. “No like AAnn, my people,” he said. “My people afraid you and AAnn friends.”

The smaller monster said, “Funny. We afraid you Thranx people and AAnn friends. Very funny.”

“Big mistake,” Ryo agreed.

“Very big mistake,” the larger monster agreed. “All you Thranx people afraid of us people when capture us. Why afraid? Because afraid we AAnn-friends?”

“Partially,” Ryo said. That required further explanation. Understanding was coming quicker to both sides now. “Also another reason.”

“What reason other?” the monster asked.

“‘Other reason,’” Ryo corrected it—no, him, he reminded himself. He hesitated, then decided that if they were offended there wasn’t much he could do. It would have to be brought out sooner or later.

“My people, the Thranx, certain type.” He tapped the chiton of his thorax, then a leg, then his head. “On this world, on other my people Thranx worlds, many creatures like you.” He pointed to each of them in turn. “Such creatures eat Thranx.”

It took them a moment to digest this. Ryo had learned to recognize some of their emotions, which were transmitted not by distinctive gestures but by certain positioning of their flexible face parts. He saw that instead of being angry they were confused.

The she-monster said, “On our worlds, my people afraid of creatures like you Thranx people, only much smaller.”

“Eat your people?” Ryo wondered.

“Not people. Eat our people food. For long time. Very long time. History.”

“Mine also, all history fear of your creature kind.”