The Stones of Nomuru

In his chamber of office, Miyage squatted on a cushion with his visitors kneeling before him. "Now, tell your tale," he said. "Silence, Sarasara! We do not wish to speak with you; you would forget the honorifics proper to a being of our rank. You may instead speak to Sambyaku, who will relay the message." He used the inflections employed in speaking to a person of the lowest caste.

Salazar told briefly of the shipment of agricultural implements to the Empress and the attempt on his life. When he named Bergen as his assailant, Miyage burst out: "There you go again, trying in your perfidious Terran way to stir up trouble between us and our staunchest ally! Utter no more of these fabrications, unless you wish to lose that hideous Terran head!"

Salazar exchanged glances with Sambyaku. Miyage, he knew, was quite capable of having him dragged out and slain, despite the risk of hostilities with the Terrans of Henderson.

Wordlessly, Salazar dug into a pocket and retrieved the bullet carved from the dead kyuumei. Wordlessly he held it up between thumb and forefinger.

"What is that?" snapped Miyage, flicking his tongue.

Salazar remained silent until Sambyaku spoke: "Your Highness threatened Sarasara with death if he spoke. Do you withdraw that command?"

"Oh, very well," grumped Miyage. "You may speak to us directly, Sarasara; we cannot wait for Sambyaku to pass on every word."

Salazar explained where the bullet had come from. Then he asked: "Will Your Highness have the goodness to repeat Bergen's story of his escape from the Choshas?"

"He said that he dug a burrow under the bars of the cage wherein you were confined. During the night, he and his companions wriggled through and fled. You and the female Sheffira followed but were recaptured."

"Miss Sheffield and I tell quite a different story, Your Highness, But tell me, did Bergen say anything of being armed during his flight?"

"Not specifically. He did speak of beating off an attack by a fyunga with a club made from a fallen tree branch."

"And he would hardly have defended himself in that manner if he had possessed a gun, would he?"

"We suppose not. But what does all this signify, Sarasara?"

With a smile, Salazar tossed up and caught the bullet. "The gun for this bullet is the only firearm of its kind on this world; Bergen imported it from Terra. The guns that Terrans make here, like that which your guards took from me when we entered your palace, shoot smaller bullets. This did not come from one of the muskets your people make, as you can see from its shape; your guns fire only spherical shot. So, obviously, Bergen still possesses his heavy rifle despite his tale of fleeing unarmed."

Flick, flick, flick went the forked tongue. At last Miyage said: "How do you know that Bergen did not order another gun of this kind from Terra as soon as he reached Henderson?"

"Because, Your Highness, it takes eleven or twelve years for a space ship to travel to Terra, and an equal length of time to return."

After another silence, Miyage persisted: "But how know you that Bergen did not own a pair of these guns, and that this bullet came from his second weapon?"

"He repeatedly assured us, Your Highness, that his heavy rifle was unique on this planet."

"If he lost all his ammunition to the Choshas, how could he shoot that kyuumei? Another of you Terrans may have a firearm of this kind."

"Bergen doubtless had a reserve supply of cartridges at his home, and to make more of this kind is not beyond the ability of our machine shops."

Sambyaku broke the following silence: "Your Highness, there must be more to this tale than meets the eye. Since the conflict between Bergen and Sarasara is mainly over the ruins of ancient Nomuru, were it not wise to stop all actions at that place until we have sifted this matter and discovered the exact truth?"

Miyage gave a long, serpentine hiss. "We fear you are right, Sambyaku; albeit we are sure, when we solve this problem, that Bergen will be proved the more honest of the two aliens. May our ancestral spirits curse these Terrans! Would to the Universal Law that they had never come to our world; they give us nought but trouble. Common courtesy is wasted on them.

"We shall send soldiers with orders to guard the ruins of Nomuru and allow no Terran activity there. May you lead tranquil lives ..."