The weight of responsibility only increased as the convoy began to slow. He wanted to throw up, like Pavesi, but could not. He could bear the thought of failure more than he could that of embarrassment.

Lake Surprise had a calming effect, both on his soul and his nerves. Egrets and herons patrolled its shallows. Disappearing into the trees off to the left of the shallow, stagnant body of fresh water he glimpsed a flash of pink as a lone scarlet ibis abandoned its morning fishing to seek shade from the rising sun.

They waited. The time the aliens had set for the meeting came and went, leaving everyone in the contact party as well as their escorts subject to heat, humidity, and uneasy thoughts. Dev was about to wonder aloud if they had misconstrued either the time or the location when Reed, sparing of voice but sharp of eye, let out a grunt and pointed upward to where the alien landing craft was descending. Except for the slight hum it generated, it was, as it had been the day before, eerily quiet.

Everyone readied themselves as it came to a stop. Like yesterday, it remained hovering a few centimeters above the saturated soil. Once again, a portion of its side appeared to dissolve and eject a ramp. On the tips of its four powerful tentacles, Vantolos came striding purposefully toward the waiting humans. This time it was accompanied by not one but two of the tall, helmet-wearing bipeds. Each carried the same three devices whose purpose was suspected but which remained unknown. Many implications could be drawn from the fact that today there were two of them. Vantolos might feel the need for more personal security. Or if actual combat were to break out …

Dev dismissed the possibility, or at least set it aside. He was both anxious and eager to hear the specifics of the alien demands. And also, more than a little bit nervous.

Vantolos halted a tentacle-length away, its two escorts drawn up behind it. It did not pause to exchange greetings.

“As previously indicated, we are here to present our demands. You will listen. If you have questions deemed relevant, they may be answered, or not. Then we will return to our vessel. You will be given adequate time to comply with the demands. If you fail to do so, the alternative has already been iterated.”

Curling downward, the tip of one banded tentacle pressed into the side of the golden material that enclosed the alien body. The fabric contorted. When it uncoiled and returned to its previous state, a small instrument lay coiled within the alien’s pythonic limb. Straightening it, Vantolos pointed it in the direction of the contact team. One of the soldiers tensed, relaxing only when Katou-Zimmer put a hand on his arm and followed it with a slight warning shake of her head.