“But we’re not,” Bonnie said. “Especially if you tell truth when you say it was AAnn who attacked our ship.”

The challenge to his veracity was cause for combat. He calmed himself. Remember, he told himself, these creatures have but primitive notions of courtesy and common etiquette. They will for some time be as clumsy in their perceptions as they are in their speech.

“Big mistake,” he said. “Cosmic mistake. You must do something. Out here,” and he gestured at the surrounding forest, “you will die.” He did not include himself in that prediction. It was self-evident.

“Better to die here,” Loo said roughly, “than in captivity, poked and prodded at like an exhibit in a zoo.”

“No need for that,” Ryo said encouragingly. “Silly mistake. Silliness in proportion to size. We must go back. I can explain everything. I can interpret for you. When mistake explained by me, will be clear to all. We will be friends, allies. Not enemies.”

“I don’t know …” Loo made a gesture of third-degree indecision. “The way we were treated …”

“Were you killed? Are you dead?”

“No, we’re not dead. We’ve been reasonably well fed.” He made a face gesture of mild disgust.

“More mistakes. Must return and explain all mistakes.” Ryo implored them with gestures. “Trust me. I will explain everything.”

“We would wander this place forever to keep our freedom,” Loo told him.

“Not a logical end of itself,” Ryo countered. “Also another factor.” Maybe, he thought, it wasn’t self-evident. “I… my people—Thranx—cannot tolerate long cold weather.” He’d felt his circulation slowing the past several nights. “I will surely die. Will you kill me to preserve your freedom, which has no logical end of itself?” There, he thought as he leaned back against the log. There is the real test. Now he would learn just how civilized they were.

“Most of what you say is truth,” Bonnie declared finally. “We would not like to be responsible for your death. We have been careful not to kill. Yet. You have been friend. There are misunderstandings here, on both sides.” She looked up at Loo and for a moment Ryo thought they might also be telepathic.

“Friend speaks truth,” she restated. “We’ll go back with you.”

“Next problem,” said Loo. “Can we find our way back?”

“I think so.” Ryo gestured skyward. “In any case, if we make our presence known when a search ship flies over, we will be found.”

The hoverer set down nearby. There was a tense confrontation between Ryo and a group of net- and stinger-wielding soldiers. Disbelief gave way grudgingly to guarded astonishment. The two monsters were conducted to the base under watchful eyes instead of netting. There they descended via a heavily sealed entryway to a section Ryo had visited before. The gestures of complete amazement performed by the officer who’d previously refused him admittance were lively to behold.