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Lastwell looked uncertain for a moment, then grinned hugely.
Right. I ll shut up, then.
Pointing to herself, Lejardin carefully approached the female named Mahd ji.
Human, female. Favrile Lejardin.
That might be a little tougher for them to deal with than
Jack Simna, the senior scientist warned her.
After first looking to her male companion for what might have been
reassurance or might equally well have been something utterly different, the
Xican turned back to the biologist and slowly pressed all four digits to her
chest.
Pendju, s si& Mahd ji
.
That was what the male had called her, Prentice remembered.
He was delighted. Consistency was the foundation of understanding. If
it held true, the s si was hopefully the native word for female. Or, he
cautioned himself, it might mean me. Or pretty, sick, happy,
wife-mate, or any one of several dozen other possibles. He was perfectly
content to let Simna try to sort it all out. Basic intuitive language
programs would help. Doubtless
Simna thought so as well. He d been utilizing his recorder from the beginning.
While Lejardin and Simna continued with the exchange, Prentice moved up
alongside Carnavon. Think we can puzzle it out?
Puzzle what out, Salvor?
Their language.
Carnavon shrugged. Not my field. But I wouldn t bet against
Jack. He s certainly the best qualified to try. Sometimes it s useful to have
a generalist around.
A Renaissance man, Prentice commented.
Yeah, but which Renaissance? the older man added cryptically. Maybe
we should have proceeded differently, but there s no protocol for
this. We just sort of stumbled into each other and after the initial
shock, both sides did their best to wing it.
We re still winging it.
You did fine, Prentice assured him. Nearly three hundred worlds
drone-probed and only two show any signs of life. On the third we jump
straight to an advanced, complete ecosystem complete with intelligent
life. Humanoid life, no less. It s a bit overwhelming.
We ll cope. Carnavon turned to engage Halstead. How about it, Ted?
Can you help Jack put together some kind of language program for Xica?
Give us something we can all study while Jack s doing the pioneering
work?
Halstead pushed out his lower lip. Maybe. From what I
remember of preflight preparation, the lander s library is pretty
extensive. If Jack can help me choose the grammatical algorithms I
can probably hack out the rest. We re not talking about deciphering
Mayan glyphs or anything as complex as that.
I wonder if they ve developed writing as well? Prentice turned back
to the ongoing convocation.
Carnavon grinned gently. Let s not get greedy. We just found out that they
have language.
They have tools. Noosa had shifted over to Carnavon s other side.
Writing implements could be among them, even if it s nothing more
complicated than a sharpened bone in the dirt.
Even while he spoke he kept his eye glued to his recorder.
You getting all this? Carnavon asked him.
Noosa s reply was somewhat testy. I know my job, Ced.
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Carnavon advanced to Simna s side. The natives eyed his advancing
bulk warily but held their ground. How s it coming, Jack?
Simna replied modestly, I think I m picking up a few words here and there,
but it s too soon to be certain. Boutu just pointed to the ground and said
kes wi mi
. Now that could mean ground, earth, soil, brown, down, or Hell. Or it could
be their name for the planet.
Or he might have been asking me to kiss his foot, though I don t think so.
Clarification will come only through repetition. The computers will help
a lot. He smiled. They re certainly willing to play the game, though I m not
sure they re as eager to learn from us. He looked back at the patient,
smiling Boutu.
When he pointed downward it struck me that they have neither
toenails nor fingernails.
Carnavon s brows rose as he looked. Sure enough, smooth skin covered
the natives fingers and toes. I guess all their keratin s gone to their
hair. Simplifies hygiene, anyway.
Boutu had turned and was gesturing back into the forest.
C ulme
, he said insistently.
C ulme ch wala
.
What s that? Prentice asked.
Simna shrugged. Your guess is as good as mine, Salvor. He may be referring
to his home, or to what they were looking for when they ran into
us, or the fact that he has to go visit his mother-in-law. I m only
working with a couple of words here. I
don t even know if they have a permanent residence or if they re wandering
nomads.
The sophistication of their gear suggests a place of long-term
occupation, said Carnavon. It takes time to make clothing and
baskets, time that s hard to find if you re moving around all the
time. I ll bet they have a cave somewhere, or maybe
a real settlement. Any people who can make baskets and clothing can build a
hut.
They have such beautiful eyes, Lejardin murmured. Males and females. Look
at how clean they are: clothing, skin, hair, it s all neat and brushed.
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