Chapter 5

Donald’s prediction was a good one. The book sold--and sold well. Despite the outright plagiarism of ideas and source material it was hailed as a new novel--one that stimulated thought with its realistic approach to the life of the times. And we prospered amazingly.

With the advance money, I had Donald buy the land on which the ship was resting, together with the valley and rimrock. Having thus secured our landing site I felt a bit more comfortable. The comfort was even greater when, at Donald’s suggestion, a fence was placed around the property and electronic tell-tales were installed. The remainder of the royalties were used to purchase tin and supplies.

But despite our prosperity and the regular supply of tin that came to me as a result of my adventure in fiction, and the certainty that Ven and I would be leaving, Donald was not happy.

As a successful new author he had to travel to meetings in various cities. He had to speak at public gatherings. He had to meet with publishers eager to receive rights to his next book. And Edith did not go with him.

Ven was adamant on this point. “It’s bad enough that she is working on this motion picture,” she said, “but I’m not going to have her traveling all over the face of this planet. She’s the only amusement I have since we must stay cooped up in this place. I’m not going to let her go.”

Donald was upset about it. He was so angry that he came to visit me voluntarily, and the sight of Edith’s little car parked under the trees below the ship infuriated him even more. It took the controller to make him keep his distance as he stood in front of the airlock and hated me.

“Damn you!” he swore. “You can’t do this to me! Edith’s my wife and I don’t like this relationship between her and that--that dinosaur! It isn’t healthy.”

“It’s out of my hands,” I said. “Edith is Ven’s responsibility.”

“It’s not only that,” he raged. “Ever since you lizards butted into our lives Edith looks at me like I was a stranger.” His face twisted. “I’ll admit she has her reasons. But that gives her no call to ask Ven’s advice rather than mine. When I told her I wanted her to come with me, the first thing she said was that she’d ask Ven. She doesn’t do one damn thing without that cold-blooded little monster’s consent! She even asks advice on what clothes she should wear!” He laughed harshly. “The blind asking advice from the blind!”

I couldn’t help chuckling. Ven, like all Thalassans, had never worn anything in her life except a utility belt. Clothing has never been a feature of our culture. Since it isn’t necessary on Thalassa, it was never developed, and since our sex impulses are periodic it has never been useful to attract either males or females. “I can see your point,” I said. “Ven’s ideas along that line would be zero.”

“Not quite,” Donald said angrily. “She likes moccasins. Apparently they make feet look more like your pads.”

“Well?”

“But that’s it! Edith’s idea of what a well-dressed housewife should wear is--moccasins! She damn near caused a riot the other day when our TV repairman called to fix the set. We’ll be lucky if we’re not forced to move because of that little incident!”

“I’ll speak to Ven,” I said. “And if that doesn’t work, I’ll insert a block against such a thing happening again. I don’t want special attention called to you. That sort of thing will stop right now.”

“Thanks,” Donald said. “But I should be the one to stop it.”

“Face it,” I replied, “you aren’t. Not now. But you will be once we’re gone.”

“Which can’t be too soon to suit me,” he said. “I spend every spare moment collecting tin for you. Edie doesn’t. She wants Ven to stay.”

“They seem to be happy with each other. Edith comes up here regularly.”

“I know,” he said bitterly. “She’s here more often than she’s home. I can’t see what fun she gets out of running around these hills stripped to the skin carrying your mate on her shoulders.”

“I wouldn’t know,” I said. “Certainly you never seem to enjoy performing that service for me.”

“I don’t even like the thought of it. I’m not an animal, after all.”

“But you are,” I said. “So am I. The only difference is that I am a superior animal and you, being inferior, conform to my wishes. It is a law of nature that the superior type will inevitably rule. The inferior either conforms or dies. And you have no desire to die.”

He shook his head. “But I can still object,” he said.

“At that?” I asked pointing across the meadow with a primary digit.

Edith was running, her long yellow hair floating free behind her. Ven, high on her shoulders in a seat the two of them had contrived, waved gaily at us as they came up. Edith was flushed and laughing. Her eyes sparkled and her smooth bronze body gleamed in the sunlight. She lowered Ven to the ground, slipped the harness off her smooth shoulders and stood behind my mate, breathing deeply but not at all distressed.

“Oh, Donald!” she said. “We had a wonderful climb--clear up to the top of the ridge! And coming down was almost like flying! I’ll tell you all about it in a minute, right after I take a dip in the pool. Ven doesn’t like it when I sweat.” She turned and ran down to the little pool in the meadow.

“See what I mean!” Donald gritted.

“She seems happy. She’s not hurt. And Ven’s little weight doesn’t seem to bother her. What are you complaining about?”

Donald growled something unintelligible, turned on his heel and walked away.

I let him go. There was no sense in making him angrier than he was. After a moment the snarl of his car’s engine rose to a crescendo then faded away into the distance.

A few minutes later Edith came back to the ship. “Why did Don leave?” she asked.

“Perhaps he had something to do,” Ven said.

She pouted. “He’s always so busy nowadays,” she said sulkily. “He isn’t nice like he used to be. Do you think he’s tired of me?”

“No, I don’t think so. He just doesn’t like you spending so much time up here,” I said.

“But it’s fun--and Ven likes it,” she said. “I like it too. And since he isn’t home much any more, it’s the only place where I can relax and be myself.” She brushed the drops of water from her body and shook out her damp hair. “It’s wonderful up here--so quiet and peaceful--and Ven’s so nice.”

My mate’s aura glowed a pleased pink as I turned an embarrassed lavender. It was almost criminal, I thought, what Ven had done to the girl. Donald might be my servant, but I had never attempted to condition him into liking it. As much as possible we operated as equals, rather than in this sickening relationship which Ven had imposed upon Edith. To avoid showing my displeasure I went up to the control room, donned my helmet and went into rapport with Donald.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I hadn’t realized the true situation. The best thing for both of us is for Ven and me to leave as quickly as possible.”

“How quick is that?” he shot back angrily.

“Four thousand pounds more,” I said.

“Whew! That can must drink tin.”

“It takes a great deal to leave a planet,” I said. “And hyperspace demands a great deal more. Once we develop an inertialess drive it will be easier. But we’ve only been working on it a thousand years. These things take time.”