Invader by C. J. Cherryh Page B

they'll use, consciously or unconsciously. But we can't take it. The Treaty is our collective safety, aiji-ma. You and I
have
internal differences, emotionally, logically, culturally, that these strangers don't know about. You have natural allies in humans who want to stay on this planet. We have to make Mospheira listen, and we have to make the snip crew listen to us."
    'They might simply decide our objections were irrelevant."
    "Unfortunately they don't need to do a damned thing — excuse me, aiji-ma — but rebuild the station and sit up there to preempt atevi
ever
achieving the future they might have had."
    "So? Would this not benefit you — even your fisherman — in the long run?"
    "Aiji-ma, we came down to build factories and make roads and transgress the lines of atevi associations with no sense of the damage we were doing. But that ship up there — that's not a chemical rocket. Believe me that it's just as disruptive of my world."
    "Not your world."
    "Then we've
nowhere
to belong, Tabini-ma." They'd gone past what he intended and he'd said far more than he meant to. He wasn't sure now what impression he'd created that he couldn't undo. His head was throbbing. He felt a wave of dizziness and nausea. He picked up the teacup, controlled action, trying to control the information he passed. "I
want
to go into space, understand, Tabini-ma. I want that — personally, for me, I want so much to go up there I can't explain it. But I won't sell atevi interests to get that ticket, and I won't sell Mospheira."
    "
Sell
them?"
    "Sell out. A Mosphei' proverb. One sells melons in a market. That's proper. But one doesn't sell one's duty to people who aren't qualified to have it."
    "Sell one's duty. A curious notion."
    "I said — for us it's not biological. Because it isn't, it can be sold, aiji-ma, for money, for other considerations. But good humans will
never
sell it."
    "What then do they do with it?"
    "They give it away, very much — but not quite — as atevi do."
    "These not-quites are the very devil."
    "They always are, aiji-ma."
    "Indeed." Tabini set aside his empty cup and rested his chin on his fist. "Indeed. For this very reason I demanded you back, Bren-ji. You are a treasure. And yet you want me not to shoot Deana Hanks. Why?"
    Pale, pale and oh-so-sober eyes. Tabini was calling him a fool, by atevi lights. And asking an honest question. There was everything at risk. And it was time to take the debate aside.
    "Well, for one thing, Tabini-ma, — it would make one hell of a mess with the State Department."
    Tabini gave one of his rare, silent laughs. "Don't divert me, clever man. You've given me nightmares of death rays. Let me spoil
your
sleep. Grandmother is in residence."
    "God, I'd have thought she'd want to get straight home."
    "Oh, this is
home
, Bren-ji. As much
home
as Malguri, at least in title."
    "Is the situation in Malguri Province then quiet, aiji-ma?"
    "If you mean have my forces stopped the gunfire, yes. If you mean have all the rebels come around to my way of thinking, and is there absolutely no likelihood that certain folk both noble and common would gladly assassinate you and me with one bullet, I fear the answer is no. Doubtless my grandmother will want to talk to you. Bear in mind her associations with the rebels. You have such a generous, unsuspicious nature."
    "I'll remember that."
    "Beware of her. I tell you, there are far too many people in the world who would wish to silence you."
    "Has anyone filed Intent?"
    "No. But I tell you this, nadi, I may be utterly mistaken, but I fear some of those individuals may reside on Mospheira. And do I understand, on Mospheira they don't have a law requiring a filing?"
    He'd believe in betrayals of other kinds, perhaps, but not in physical danger from Mospheira.
    Though silencing him need not be physical. He had sufficient reason for misgivings in his successor's presence on the mainland.
    "Tabini-ma, I honestly — honestly don't think even my dedicated