The Man Who Found Birds Among the Stars, Part Eight: Rare Birds

By Lorinda J Taylor

First contact has taken place and the occupants of the alien ship are giant Birds. While nothing could make Capt. Robbin Nikalishin happier, the Ariana remains marooned on a moon in the Epsilon Eridani system and is running out of oxygen. The crew works furiously to learn how to communicate with the extraterrestrials (the most important element of a first contact), but not all the denizens of the Ariana are as pleased with the situation as Capt. Robbie is. Ian Glencrosse has failed in his attempt to sacrifice himself to save the mission and he remains convinced the death of everyone aboard is imminent. Meanwhile, another member of the mission devises a more ominous plan to “save” Earth from destruction by feathered monsters.
If the Phenix Mission is to make it back to Earth and set in motion that planet’s role in the wider universe, these avian extraterrestrials must be willing to come to the aid of the human aliens – or will they simply fly away and leave them to die?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lorinda J Taylor
• Release date: May 28, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005324919

Lorinda J Taylor

A former catalogue librarian, Lorinda J. Taylor was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and worked in several different academic libraries before returning to the place of her birth, where she now lives. She has written fantasy and science fiction for years but has only recently begun to publish. Her main goal is to write entertaining and compelling fiction that leaves her readers with something to think about at the end of each story.

Book preview

THE MAN WHO FOUND BIRDS

AMONG THE STARS

A Biographical Novel

PART EIGHT

RARE BIRDS

By

Lorinda J. Taylor

This is a work of fiction. All characters in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. However, the person presenting this book does not guarantee that such characters and events will not come into existence at some time in the future.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Cover illustration by Lorinda J. Taylor

Copyright ©2021 by Lorinda J. Taylor

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Table of Contents

Facsimile of the 29th Century Title Page

Synopsis: Parts One through Seven

In the Beginning Was the Bird

Chapter 1: Introductions

Chapter 2: Reactions

Chapter 3: Getting to Know You

Chapter 4: Contemplating the Fate of the Fur-Animals

Chapter 5: Meanwhile, on the Ariana …

Chapter 6: Math-Speak

Chapter 7: Body Parts and Other Essentials

Chapter 8: A Universal Pilot?

Chapter 9: CO2 and Time

Chapter 10: A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words

Chapter 11: Preparing for a Visit

Chapter 12: Mutual Guinea Pigs

Close Contact

Chapter 13: Beak to Nose

Chapter 14: Touring the Ship

Chapter 15: Asc. Brooke Saves Humanity

Chapter 16: Doctors Make the Worst Patients

Chapter 17: Reconciliation

Chapter 18: Human Reactions

Chapter 19: How to Treat Galactic Mange

Chapter 20: Alien Vaccines, and a Life-Support Fix

Chapter 21: Waiting for Immunizations

Chapter 22: The Vaccine Is Ready

Chapter 23: Mythmaking

Chapter 24: So What About Brooke?

Chapter 25: The First Cultural Exchange

Chapter 26: More Technological Investigation

Chapter 27: Alien Guests at a Birthday Dinner

Chapter 28: An Unexpected Crisis

Chapter 29: We May Make It Home After All!

Chapter 30: Return to the Egg

Chapter 31: The Twin-Yolk Maneuver

Inside the Egg

Chapter 32: An Anxious Time Back on Earth

Chapter 33: A Tour of the Avian Ship

Chapter 34: The Music of the Spheres

Chapter 35: The Music of Planet Earth

Chapter 36: Aliens Can Dance, Too

Chapter 37: Sex, Evolution, and Burial Customs

Chapter 38: Slim Pickings

Chapter 39: It Always Comes Back to Language

Chapter 40: Educating the Birds about Earth

Chapter 41: Two Needles in a Haystack

Chapter 42: Preparing for Earth’s First Contact

Chapter 43: So What Does the Future Hold?

Chapter 44: Let’s Keep It Clinical

Chapter 45: At Last, the Pozú

Chapter 46: Glencrosse Talks

Chapter 47: Avraham, Yitzchak, and God

Chapter 48: What Ian Glencrosse Decided

Chapter 49: The Birder Religion

Chapter 50: Pikei Proposes an Audacious Plan

Chapter 51: Adapting Human Technology for Avian Guests

Chapter 52: Going Home

Appendix One: Notes on the Languages of Krisí’i’aid

Appendix Two: The Mythmaker Precepts

Synopsis

Parts One through Seven

Born in 2729, Robbin Nikalishin spends the first 31 years of his life dreaming of flying to the stars. Backed up by his childhood friend Kolm MaGilligoody as Chief Engineer, he is given command of his own ship and his dreams are on the brink of being fulfilled when a new Commanding Officer forces the crew to risk their lives in a meaningless experiment. The result is a catastrophe and Kolm dies pinned in the wreckage of the ship. [Part One]

With his dream of star-travel destroyed, a damaged Capt. Nikalishin returns to interplanetary flight as the Captain of a Mars ship, but he remains lonely and dissatisfied. When the woman of his dreams reappears, he woos and weds her, hoping to find solace with a soul mate. However, Fedaylia High Feather turns out to be a controlling and manipulative woman incapable of the understanding the needs of her spouse. [Parts Two and Three]

Fedaylia finally reveals her true colors and Capt. Nikalishin’s life falls apart. While incarcerated in the Brig for assaulting a superior officer, he finds a way to dig deep inside himself and turn his life around. With much help from loyal friends, his dream of the stars reemerges, but all is not smooth sailing. His estranged wife reappears and commits the ultimate betrayal immediately before the launch of the Big Mission. [Parts Four, Five, and Six]

In spite of High Feather’s betrayal and a Chief Engineer who is convinced the mission is doomed, Capt. Nikalishin and his ship the IS Ariana launch for Epsilon Eridani. The early part of the mission goes smoothly, until a series of mishaps destroys the ship’s ability to jump. The crew ends up stranded on a moon, facing the loss of their life support and certain death … and yet it seems humans are not the only intelligent life-forms flying in the vicinity … [Part Seven]

Facsimile

of the 29th Century Title Page

THE MAN WHO FOUND BIRDS

AMONG THE STARS

A Biographical Fiction

Issued in the year 2849 as

Part of the Commemoration

of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Death of

Capt. Robbin Haysus Nikalishin

(10 May 2799)

Part Eight

Rare Birds

by Tania Barden

Fellow, Brassnose/Queens’ College

Oxkam University

Published by

The Midammeriken Publishing Link

New Washinten, 2849

In the Beginning Was the Bird

Chapter 1: Introductions

1 June 2769, aboard the Firebrand and the Ariana

The humans may have been amazed by what they saw on their port screens, but the Krisí’i’aidá, who had little experience with mammalian lifeforms, were even more confounded. They could see a row of four creatures peering up at them from what had to be control consoles, while two more aliens were folded up in odd-looking perching boxes a short distance away. Two other individuals stood behind these boxes, while others perched at peripheral consoles. The Krisí’i’aidá stared speechless as the aliens began to gibber words.

One of the central figures had risen to stand upright, pointing at its own screen with both arms. Its fleshy lips, which were surrounded by thick fur, began to part and stretch wide. Incoherent noises emerged, followed by a spate of words. There could be no mistaking the fact that it was highly excited.

Behind

But then the aliens’ attention was distracted by one who emerged from a doorway in the back of the space, shrieking words in a manner indicative of extreme terror.

"Rrauk] exclaimed Pikei. The sight of us has scared that one out of its wits."

It appears hurt, said Skrov’t. Its front leg is bandaged.

I believe the proper term should be ‘arm,’ Pikei corrected the Wéwani, since these creatures appear to walk upright.

As they watched several of the aliens escorting the frightened one away, the excited figure in the middle commenced dancing in a circle around its perching box even as it continued to utter sounds.

The Captain Is that some kind of greeting ceremony?

It could be he’s just happy to see us, replied Pikei. You know how Skrov’t and Karrkru dance when they get excited.

You think it’s appropriate to call it ‘he’?

"Hei, I would say so. Observe a couple of these at the front, and those two behind the central perches. See that pair of bulges on their chests? Those are most likely glands for feeding hatchlings, indicating those individuals are females."

Huh. The Pozú’s glands are located lower down, and I’ve never seen any so large.

What is that thing hanging above the central perches? asked the Engineer Kaukafs, who had again abandoned his station and come forward to gawk at the larger screen. Some kind of scanner, maybe, or a stabilizing device?

It could be an imager, I suppose, responded Pikei, but what it actually looks like is a model of a flyer. It might even be a toy.

As they all pondered this enigma, Skrov’t scratched his long neck in bewilderment. What’s the matter with their skin? They all have fur on their heads and two have furry faces, but their bodies are bare and the skin is blue, with red lines here and there!

Pikei scrutinized the areas in question, then exclaimed, "I don’t think that’s skin. I think it’s uh^kop. That’s a word we adopted from the primitive language of the ♫u’ó|istigumra∙wa of Goodventure 10 ku↑~. It refers to gear made to wrap around the body for the purpose of warmth and protection. The aliens of Goodventure 10 ku↑~ used animal skins for that purpose, but this looks like some kind of manufactured fibrous material."

So you mean, said Skrov’t, they can actually peel off that blue layer without damaging themselves? It’s not permanently attached to them?

That is extremely bizarre, remarked Karrkru.

Well, if your body is not well protected by feathers or fur or with thick hide over a fat layer, it makes sense to cover it with a surrogate, said Pikei.

Use your heads, you two, said the Captain. We employ gear like that in alien environments or for venturing into our arctic regions, and also for hygienic purposes in medical and laboratory settings. The Pozú do the same. It’s not so unfamiliar a concept.

But indoors, where it’s warm and safe? said Karrkru.

Maybe the heat is failing on their ship, said Skrov’t.

Or perhaps they need to protect sensitive external sex organs, Pikei added. Most live-bearers that I have observed have such.

What do you make of that one over there at the side? asked Kaukafs. "Its uh^kop seems different. All the others have each leg encased individually, but that one seems to have a loose wrap around the entire lower body – and the upper area is pink! And is that round thing part of its head, or is it some kind of removable symbolic crest?"

These questions mystified everybody, and khokék, and a couple of these others – their skin color is dusky to almost black. And the muzzle conformation of those dark ones is different – fuller lips and broader, shorter noses."

Pikei scrutinized the Captain’s examples. They could be subspecies or simply regional morphological variants. I’m inclined to favor the latter. Consider you and me, Captain. We are both !Ka

While this discussion was going on, the alien in the center of the Bridge had stopped dancing and sat down in his box again. He continued to pull back his lips and make strange noises that shook his shoulders and chest. He would speak and gesture from time to time, but mostly he just stared at the image on his monitor as if he were bewitched.

Karrkru said, I think that one who is behaving so comically must be the Captain.

Well, thank you very much, said I do appreciate how much respect my rank is accorded on this ship. He sneezed to show his displeasure.

"Chakchak] said Pikei disapprovingly. Actually, I agree with Karrkru, but not because I share his implication that Captains are bound to behave oddly. I believe that one’s central position on the Command Deck indicates he is the !Arrukh and it may be that his gray face-fur is a sign of authority. Alternatively, it may only indicate advancing age. A Pozú’s fur turns gray on its back and neck as it gets older."

That one in the front also has face-fur. What about him?

"Heihei, I can’t speak as to his status, but I see no gray there, so I would guess he is younger. It’s possible that having face-fur is a sex-linked characteristic."

Then shouldn’t all the males have face-fur? queried Skrov’t.

Suddenly the Captain snapped his claws. Enough of this blather – it’s time we started trying to communicate with them.

* * *

The big eagle leaned forward into the cam, so that on the Ariana Robbie found himself directly confronted by that fierce beak, and jabbed itself on the side of the head. "Ko^ilda ne’il !i !Arrukh K^rrt "

Robbie stared baffled, but Avi said excitedly, Captain, I think he’s introducing himself! I think he’s telling you his name!

Yes! said Linna. Poking his head like that – that must be equivalent to the way humans indicate themselves by pointing to their chests.

Holy cry. What should I do?

Again the big eagle said, "!Arrukh – K^rrt "

You know what? said Linna. I’ll bet that first word means ‘Captain.’

Oh, yeah, this chap had got to be the Captain. He’s right in the middle of everything and he’s definitely got the proper presence for it – just like me! And Robbie went off into another paroxysm of the laughter that so perplexed the watching aliens.

Try to repeat his name, Robbie, said Linna.

So Robbie said, Curt … Eem-uh-too. Arook Curt Eem-uh-too.

From the alien Deck came an outburst of open-beaked cackling and rocking of heads – unmistakably laughter. Robbie blinked, his feelings slightly hurt, and Linna said, "I think they’re amused at your pronunciation, Robbie. You know how you hate to have your name mangled."

Aw. But actually that doesn’t surprise me. I’m terrible with foreign sounds.

In fact, what the Krisí’i’aidá had heard was Aruk K^rrt Imitú↓. Skrov’t was beside himself with glee. Congratulations, Captain! You have been demoted to a cloaca worm!

It’s highly unlikely they will ever be able to speak our language accurately. Here – I’ll send them a picture of your name.

An image of a group of rocks appeared in a box in the lower half of the Ariana’s port screen. The picture honed in on a single rock and the voice of the white-headed eagle could be heard repeating insistently, ""

Oh! said Avi. That word – the Captain’s name – must mean ‘rock’ or ‘stone.’

Ah, now we’re getting somewhere! exclaimed Robbie. ‘Stone!’ That’s a perfectly good family name! Lots of people on Earth are named ‘Stone.’

And there’s a whistling sound at the start of the word, said Linna. Robbie, you whistle and do bird-calls so well – that part of it should be a breeze for you.

Huh! I didn’t interpret that sound as being part of the word. And Robbie tried again.

mra∙wa."

The word still sounds hilariously like ‘larva,’ though, said Skrov’t.

The said, Their language is so monotonous – I doubt they have any concept of tonality. Perhaps they have no music of any kind.

But on the human’s Bridge Lt. Du, who had been sitting in silent amazement throughout this whole affair, said, Pardon me for interrupting, Captain, but I think I know what you’re saying wrong. The pitch of their voice rises on the last syllable – the ‘too’ part. In Inge we normally drop the voice at the end of a word or a sentence. That could give the word an entirely different meaning – maybe something comical.

So Robbie tried saying, as if it were a question. The creatures on the other ship seemed pleased. Then the white-headed eagle put up a picture of what appeared to be an insect larva and said, "Imitu↓."

Holy crap! said Robbie. I do believe I called Capt. Stony a caterpillar! He began to laugh helplessly and the alien Captain began to cackle. Pretty soon everybody on both ships was laughing. Aw, this is something else, said Robbie. It’s a thrill to find out space birds have a sense of humor. So Robbie tried the word for Captain again, hoping to get a picture, but he got only a continuation of derisive hoots. Linna said, You may have turned this one into a dirty word, Robbie.

Captain, did you notice what they do at the beginning of the word? said Avi. They snap their beaks. That’s the clicking sound Capt. Kibwana mentioned – like two objects being struck together.

Well, hell, said Robbie. I don’t think snapping my teeth will quite cut it. How about this? And he tapped his front teeth with his fingernail and said, ‘Arook.’

On the alien ship everybody nictitated rapidly. He caught on that the beak-snap is part of the word, said Pikei. He’s really trying. The lack of a beak is quite a handicap.

Now Robbie was saying, "!Arook – Captain. – Stone."

The commander of the alien ship said, "!Arrukh – ‘Kep’ten.’ – ‘Ston.’"

Hot damn! said Robbie. We’ve learned two words of each other’s languages!

And ‘caterpillar,’ too, said Avi. Don’t forget that!

But Wally said, Yes, but … Sir, at this rate, we’ll still be sitting here a year from now trying to figure out how to tell them what’s wrong with our ship.

Robbie sobered quickly. "You’re right, Commander. Thanks for bringing us back to reality. But just the same, I think we have to take a little time to lay some groundwork – learn about each other and get comfortable. I mean, now Capt. Stony needs to know who I am. So he jabbed his own chest and said, I am Capt. Robbin Nikalishin. Captain … !Arook – Robbin – Nik-a-lee-shin."

Linna said, Now, Robbie, don’t get upset with him if he mispronounces your name!

Nah, I couldn’t get angry with these characters if they called me the g-word!

Kep’ten – Rab’n – Ne-ke-li … sen. Ne-ke-li … chen. He gurgled, obviously aware he was bungling that final syllable. After more tries, it became clear neither he nor the white-headed eagle could produce the Inge sound usually spelled sh.

Simone proceeded to send through a picture of a robin and Capt. Nikalishin pointed at himself. That’s me. That’s a robin.

The Birds cocked their heads at the picture. That must be an avian from their planet, said Pikei. The Pozú recorded the existence of birds there.

It can’t be very big, said Skrov’t. "It has a imitú↓ in its beak."

"So the alien !Arrukh is named for a little bird, said Pikei. I wonder which of the alien’s two names is the personal name. Is it like the Wéwana, who put the clan name first, or like the !Ka

"We Gro’á’ata name khokék for animals, said Karrkru. ‘Mormp’ is … "

A slither lizard. Yes, we know that, said Pikei impatiently.

If ‘Nikalishin’ means anything in Rus, I don’t know what it is, Robbie was saying. But you know what would be the easiest thing for them to call me? He pointed at the screen and then at himself. Call me ‘Capt. Robbie.’ It won’t be the first time.

‘Rabi,’ repeated a ko^í|n♪okíbi. You can call me ‘Kep’ten Ston’ – that can be my ko^í|n♪okíbi."

"‘Kwinokeebee,’ said Robbie happily. That must mean ‘nickname’! I’m going to take it one step farther and call you ‘Capt. Stony.’ All right?"

"‘Nek’neim’ – ko^í|n♪okíbi,’ repeated ‘Kep’ten Stoni!’ Awl’rait!"

And so that was how it came to be that the pair of Captains who engaged in the first contact between Earthers and Krisí’i’aidá acquired the epithets by which they would be known from that time to the present day. K^rrt Capt. Stony, while Robbin Nikalishin became Capt. Robbie to the whole world, in the manner initiated by his friend Wilda Murchy so many years before.

Chapter 2: Reactions

1 June 2769, aboard the Ariana

At that point Kibby returned to the Bridge and spoke softly into Robbie’s ear. Captain, rumors are spreading and people are getting really nervous – you need to reassure them about what’s going on. And I’ve tried to talk some sense into Brooke, but he isn’t responding well, and Dr. Souray isn’t really sure what to do with him. If she sends him back to his quarters, our Security people will have to watch him constantly because it’s hard to tell what he might do. But she doesn’t really want him in MedBay, either, because he no longer needs ‘round-the-clock physical care and she and her staff don’t want to have to be waiting on him all the time. Besides, his presence might complicate the Glencrosse situation. Dr. Souray says Ian’s brainwave patterns indicate he’s moving into REM sleep. He’s changing position and even muttering a little. She thinks he may wake up in 30 minutes to an hour.

In response to Robbie’s questioning look, Kibby added, All she said was that Ian took a little more sleep medication than was good for him. The Captain nodded and Kibby raised an eyebrow slightly as if he suspected something else, but he didn’t pursue the subject.

All right, said Robbie. I’d better go do my proper job. … Everybody, I have to leave the Bridge for a bit – brief Capt. Kibwana on what’s been going on. Robbie waggled his fingers at the vigilant figures on the port. Bye, bye, Capt. Stony. Don’t worry, I’ll be back – see you later! I wonder how you’d say all that in Bird. Avi, you and Katsopolos keep working with ’em. You’re the closest thing we’ve got on board to linguistic specialists.

In that case, we’re all doomed! said Avi, rolling his eyes. Linna laughed and nodded. But I have to admit, Avi added, I do enjoy languages and I like a challenge.

Lt. Running broke in. Captain, I’m familiar with the image content of this ship’s database and I can execute vid graphics like I did for the wedding, although it won’t be any great art. Will that help?

Oh, yeah! Good girl! All of you – keep coming up with ideas. Compile as big a vocabulary as you can – try to get the important words like ‘life-support system’ and ‘TQ engine’ and ‘broken’ and ‘we need help!’

It may take a while to get to that point, said Linna, shaking her head.

* * *

Dr. Souray popped out of the surgery as Robbie entered MedBay, and he said, Doc, I’m sorry you’re having to miss all the fun. The alien ship’s Captain and I have managed to introduce ourselves to each other.

Well, I’d certainly relish witnessing all that, but my responsibility to the crew has to come first. Did Kibby tell you Ian is going to wake up soon?

Yeah. And he also told me … He spotted Brooke sitting in a chair in the ward area, nursing his sling-cradled arm. Well, Associate! How’s the arm? Is it feeling better?

Trevor responded in a shrill and shaky voice. Nikalishin, you can’t fool everybody – I know we’re all doomed!

No, no, no, not any longer! I’m telling you, we’re going to learn to communicate with these off-worlders and they’re going to help us get home.

A laugh cracked out of the Associate. You’re insane, you know that?

I’m insane? thought Robbie, but aloud he said, Aw, come on, Brooke, stiffen up. You came out here looking for alien life – that was the whole purpose of LifeSeeker One. You ought to be the most excited of any of us about what we’ve discovered.

I beg your pardon! I’m an astrochemist – I study the kind of space chemistry that can lead to the formation of life and I would have been tremendously excited if I had found archaea or cyanobacteria or even mere amino acids on this planet. I wasn’t looking for something that would threaten the existence of our own species. I have never suffered from the delusion that highly evolved, intelligent alien life exists, let alone in the form of such monstrous deviants. I have always been convinced that the human species is unique and represents the culmination of the evolutionary process. Frankly, I don’t believe these creatures exist! I think this is some kind of elaborate hoax you’ve perpetrated to keep us all lulled into a sense of false hope. Saliva flew from between Brooke’s gap-toothed lips and he wiped his mouth with a shaking hand.

Robbie stood regarding the academic, scratching his head. I assure you, Associate, that is not the case at all. Why don’t you come and sit on the Bridge and watch us work with them? We’ve already learned three words of their …

I don’t want anything to do with that! And if they do exist and you insist on bringing them aboard this ship, you’ll find out how helpful they are! They’ll kill us all! Why would they care about us? They’ll see us either as prey or as a threat!

Robbie made one more try. Your Professor doesn’t seem to feel that way. He’s totally absorbed in what’s going on out there.

Yekh – Danny-boy! ejaculated Brooke with utter contempt. What an idiot he’s turned out to be – the cross-dresser suddenly coming out! The introvert, become a tell-all exhibitionist!

And Robbie thought, Well, your true self has come out, too, hasn’t it? Your inability to face death with any dignity … your contempt for anything but your own interests … But then he was ashamed of those thoughts, because it undercut his resolve to be understanding of the hidden complexities of his fellow humans.

So he merely said, Well, Brooke, I can’t force you to be happy with the situation we’re in, but I can ask you to simply let it be. How do you feel about going back to your quarters? Dr. Souray says there is really no reason for you to stay in MedBay.

Dr. Souray had been listening and now she said, That’s right, Trevor. All you need to do is come in once a day to get your collar bone treated.

Brooke sat silent, scowling at his knees. Then he said, I’d like to get as far away from this Bridge as possible.

I tell you what, said Robbie. Why don’t we move you to that empty cabin behind the Quartermaster’s Office? It’s been used to store supplies, but the little bit left in there can be moved out. It’s on a different deck from the Bridge and it’s close to the gym and the Rec Room. You’ll be nearer to other people and have more company. And the Security Office is right down the corridor, so Gatling and Okazaki, and Otis as well, can keep an eye on you.

Brooke blinked, working this arrangement around in his mind. Then he said, I think I would prefer that to being isolated in my old cabin back there in that corner.

Dandy! Robbie tapped his earpiece. JO … JO, respond. Jimmy, this is the Captain. You know that extra cabin behind your office where you stored the coffee? We’re going to move Asc. Brooke in there, so I want you to clear it out, clean it, and make the bunk fit to sleep in. Neeman’s got a bum leg, so assign Crewman Haddad to help Brooke move his belongings. I’ll talk to you about other arrangements shortly. … Brooke, why don’t you head back to your current cabin and start packing? Akil will come to carry stuff for you.

Then Robbie called Freddy into his office, telling him about Asc. Brooke’s move. I want him surveilled. Work with Chief Otis on that. I want somebody keeping an eye on him when he leaves his quarters. In this mood he’s in, who knows what he might do, either to himself or to somebody else, or to the ship. I particularly want him kept off the Bridge. He doesn’t seem too eager to go there anyway, but you never know.

Robbie then summoned the crew to a meeting in the Recreation Room and headed for the lift. As he passed through the Bridge, he paused, waving again at the screen, where other Birds had appeared in the background – more storks, more grouse – all gawking with disconcerting intensity at the aliens. It could now be seen that the grouse had daunting spurs on their very sturdy legs. The Captain and the white-headed eagle still dominated the foreground, with the orange-billed stork eagerly jockeying to keep its head in the picture.

Kibby said, Those arms just slay me, Robbie. Who would have thought birds’ wings could evolve into arms?

Well, you’re plenty familiar with ostriches. You know, ratites – flightless birds …

Yes, but none of them has ever developed arms with fingers. But wasn’t there once a bird in Southwest Quad that had hooked claws on its wings?

Robbie nodded. "Yeah, the hoatzin – a few still exist in some of the remaining old-growth pockets. The nestlings use the hooks to climb back into the nest if they fall out, but they lose the claws when they mature. It’s most likely an atavism. But I would guess from the three fingers that these arm-appendages evolved from true bird-wings. Pterosaurs had four digits, with one supporting the wing membrane and the other three externalized as claws. And then bats – they have three digits supporting the membrane and one external claw. Birds’ wings have only three digits, which are totally internalized and much reduced in size and functionality compared to the human version. So all you have to do with a flightless bird is adjust the size of the wrist bones, re-externalize the digits, lengthen them, fine-tune the joints – lose the flight feathers – and voilà! You’ve got Garuda! A bird with arms and three-fingered hands."

Prf. Damien broke in. He had doffed his hat, placing it carefully on a vacant console. It could now be seen that he had been wearing a short, curly, blond wig beneath his chapeau, which did nothing to reduce the risibility of his appearance. Oblivious to the effect he was making, he now remarked, Ratites already walk upright and have their forelimbs free. It’s logical that if such creatures were evolving toward intelligence, they would develop a means of manual manipulation.

Yeah, if you had to do everything with your feet and your beaks, like parrots, it would be a little difficult, said Robbie, watching the screen with fascination.

Avi had been waiting impatiently for this conversation to end and now he said, Captain, we learned the name of the one with the white head. It’s like the letters ‘P.K.’

P.K.? That’s easy! Does he have another name?

It was impossible to understand – something like Huffatoo. And his title is ‘whistle-wah-goo-maht,’ but we haven’t a clue as to what that means.

Could he be the Second Officer?

Linna said, He seems more like a scientist to me, the way he appears to steer the conversation. It’s like the others ask him questions and he answers them. He could be something like a Mission Specialist – maybe the equivalent of an anthropologist.

I wonder if they’ve encountered ILFs before – that’s a scary thought! We could have used an anthropologist ourselves on this mission, but who would have thought?

Why do we just assume they are all ‘he’? asked Lea Register.

Huh, said Robbie. See if you can work on that. I’ve got to go down and talk to the rest of the crew now. And he reluctantly headed for the lift.

Jimmy Otis grabbed him as he disembarked. Guess what, sir! Ens. Tampakis is helping Asc. Brooke move!

Uh, oh!

Well, I think Mark is feeling sorry for the man. Maybe with death staring him in the face, he’s wanting to make amends for his bad behavior. And I don’t know how Brooke will feel about it, but anyway that’s why you’ll see Crewman Haddad at your muster.

Robbie quickly filled Jimmy in about the surveillance situation, asking him to work with Maj. Gatling. Then, as he turned toward the Rec Room, he encountered Ed Rail. Captain, we’re all concerned about Cmdr. Glencrosse. All we know is that he collapsed suddenly. What’s going on with him? How is he?

Uh … well … Robbie hadn’t considered that he might be asked this question, so now he floundered. He, uh … he just passed out. Dr. Souray is still working on him. And … well, I’m not sure if he’ll be coming back to duty, Ed. So you’ll remain Acting Chief Engineer for the immediate future.

Ed grimaced skeptically. That’s all we have, isn’t it? An immediate future.

Wait to make that judgment until you hear what I have to say.

So Robbie took charge of the muster, showing first the picture of the winged ship that was hovering above them and then vids of what had been happening on the Bridge.

One reason I didn’t feed a visual sooner was that I wanted to assess the situation first. We had no idea what these alien creatures looked like and I didn’t want people to be to scared; they could have been true monstrosities – giant slugs or scorpions, or even sentient rocks or incorporeal energy beings, if we can believe speculative fiction. But they turned out to be birds, and if I know any kind of creature even better than I do my own kind, it’s birds! And, gentlemen and ladies, I’m convinced these wonderful beings will be our ticket home!

People were stirring about and uttering amazed or nervous exclamations. But some were skeptical, including Cmdr. Rail. Our ticket home? How? You mean, take us onto their ship and give us lift?

We don’t even know what kind of atmosphere they breathe! exclaimed Sophie Chay, who was looking exhausted and frazzled, with puffy eyes and sagging shoulders.

Aw, but just look at ’em! said Robbie. They’re flesh-and-blood creatures – they’ve got nostrils and mouths and tongues and you can see their throats vibrating. And those eyes! They even have the transparent inner eyelids – just look at that one nictitating! They’re so similar to what we have on Earth that I’m positive they’re oxygen-breathers. The only thing that’s different is the arms – and the dimensions. It’s hard to tell, but I think they’re pretty close to human-size. And of course their brains. Earth birds are really smart – a lot smarter than most people give them credit for – but hardly smart enough to invent interstellar travel. But I can well imagine that given the right conditions, intelligent lifeforms could evolve out of avians. What I never imagined was that other planets could grow something so much like what we have on Earth.

But Ed persisted, I still don’t see how they can take us home.

Actually, I’ve been thinking more along the line of maybe they’ll have the capability to lift our ship back into space and help fix our life support and our TQ drive so we can get home under our own power. With that wild thought in mind, Cmdr. Rail, I’d like you to check out the sublight engines because all of a sudden it’s possible we might need them.

What could we ever offer them in return? asked Jimmy Otis.

Uh … well, I suppose I was thinking they would be altruistic enough to want to do it just because it’s the right thing to do. But of course, you’re right – there is no guarantee of that. They could be as self-serving as hell, just like a lot of humans. But … And Robbie watched the aliens laughing on the screen at his mysterious aruk mispronunciation. " … somehow I think maybe they’re explorers, like us. And if they are, what they’re going to want more than anything else is an increase of knowledge, and certainly we can provide that.

But first we have to figure out how to convey to them what our problems are and then they’d have to fix everything, or tell us how to do it, or … well, it’s still all up in the air. It could take a long time to work all this out and we’ve got only 19 days, or less than that by now. So we’ve really got to buckle down to this communication gambit. You probably won’t see too much of me for a while.

Chief Markez spoke up. Captain, surely these creatures are hosting alien organisms. If we have physical contact with them, won’t we be likely to contract infections that we have no immunity against? That could wipe us out in a matter of days or even hours.

At that, everybody stirred uneasily and Vic added, Zuri is right. Dr. Souray and Yo and I were talking about that possibility just now. Birds often act as disease vectors back on Earth. We might contract the ultimate avian influenza and carry it back to Earth and …

Aw, I know that’s all true, said Robbie in a disgruntled tone, "but I’m not going to listen to it right now. We’ve only talked by link up to this point and besides what you just said goes the other way, too. They could contract incurable diseases from us. A staph germ out of somebody’s nose, or maybe our harmless intestinal flora, could decimate them. And I daresay they’re thinking about that, because they’re obviously neither stupid nor inexperienced. So let’s just allow the situation to evolve and see what happens. For our part, we don’t have a whole lot to lose, really.

So I want all of you to look at this positively and not get discouraged. From now on, I’m going to ship the feed down here to the Rec Room and let you all watch the show. And try to get some rest while you wait, but that doesn’t mean you can stop doing your jobs. We need to keep the ship’s environment maintained at the highest level possible.

On his way out, as Robbie stopped to answer some questions, Emmie Bonnet pursued him with a bottle and a glass in her hands. Captain! I have a confession! We had a dying party, you know? And we broke the regulations – we drank up all the cooking sherry!

Robbie looked at the bottle and chuckled. Aw, you did! Well, you jolly well will all have to go on report! But that looks like you’ve got a drop left.

It is for you, Captain. Each of us had just this little much here. So it is the same amount for you.

Robbie took the bottle, aware of everyone’s eyes on him. Then he thought, Oh, what the hell! It’s one swallow of cooking wine, for god’s sake! There’s no more of it on the ship, and we may all still die.

So with a flourish he poured the remaining contents into the glass and raised it. Here’s to the finest crew that ever walked a deck! Then he put it to his lips and upended it. Everybody applauded and cheered. God almighty, said Robbie, grimacing as he wiped his mouth. That’s awful stuff, Emmie. It may make a beef stew taste good, but it definitely isn’t for drinking! If that was the only kind of hard drink on Earth, there’d be no alcoholics!

* * *

Up in MedBay, Ian was waking up. Maddie and Yo were monitoring him while Ruthanne, who had never left his side since their discovery of his suicide preparations, sat beside the bed holding his hand. As his eyes fluttered and he rolled his head and sighed, she said, Ian, Ian! Wake up, sweetheart! I’m right here. Everything’s going to be all right.

His eyes opened wide then and he stared unfocused at the ceiling, then blinked around as if startled. Coming from a dry throat, his words were almost unintelligible.

Ah-h-h … are we all dead?

Oh, no, Ian, we’re all very much alive! said Ruthanne.

Dr. Souray gripped his other wrist urgently. Ian, you’re in MedBay. You’re going to be all right. Ian …

He had suddenly tried to sit up, but he was dizzy and he clutched wildly at the air for support. Dr. Souray grabbed his shoulders and eased him back while Yo elevated the head of the bed. Nauseated, he proceeded to retch unproductively.

That’s fine, said Dr. Souray as they supplied him with a basin. I’d call it a bit of a hangover. And you probably need to empty your bladder – we’ve been pumping a lot of fluids into you. Yo, fetch a urinal …

When that was done and Ian had been given a drink of water, he lay back against the pillows, his chest heaving. I don’t understand … I didn’t get back … we should be dead … I have to … go back and finish …

Oh, Maddie, that’s what he was saying right before he collapsed! I remember now! said Ruthanne in acute distress.

Dr. Souray bent over her patient. Ian, we know why you wanted to go back. And you’re not going to finish what you started. Do you hear me?

Ian tried to focus on the doctor. Ah-h … so … it’s too late … we’re all doomed …

Maybe not, Ian, said Ruthanne. Do you remember the ship? The big alien ship on the port screen on the Bridge? It really does have lifeforms in it! And they look like big birds – it’s absolutely incredible! Robbie is positive they’ll help us get home. It really is like a miracle, Ian. They showed up at just the right moment.

Aliens? Help us? But it can’t be … it wouldn’t have … because I didn’t satisfy … And then, looking utterly confused, he went silent, his eyes darting around the room, looking into all the dark places. He palmed his face. Where did it go? I don’t see it. I’m a failure … abandoned … I’ll never be able to look my father in the face again …

At that moment Robbie appeared in the doorway. Totally perplexed by Ian’s ramblings, Dr. Souray beckoned him over. Ian’s awake, Robbie. Come and speak to him.

Robbie bounded up. Well, old friend! You gave us a scare, you know that? Passing out like that! Jolly good thing it was right outside MedBay!

Ian just stared up at his Captain, shaking his head.

Robbie gripped his shoulder. Look, I’m just going to say it. Ruthie saved your life. If she hadn’t called you up to the Bridge … Later on, she went to your cabin to get something and she found the evidence of what you’d been trying to do. So we know. So you won’t be able to do it now, Ian. And that’s good. You understand? That’s good! Because I’m convinced we’re going to be rescued. Did they tell you about that?

I’m not sure he can take all that in at once, Robbie, said Dr. Souray.

But apparently Ian had, because he grimaced and said, I thought … if somebody wanted to go ahead of the others, you’d issue a cyanide pill. What’s the difference?

Oh, Ian, said Ruthanne tragically. Why would you want to go alone, without me? Leave me to go alone?

At that Ian’s face contorted, but he suppressed his emotion, biting his lip. Because I didn’t … want you to go at all …

Ian was still not making sense and Robbie said gruffly, There won’t be any cyanide pills issued now. Not unless my new friends fail to come through for us.

Ian, said Maddie, this had nothing to do with the impending death of the crew, did it? Because it was obvious you had been stockpiling your medication.

Why did you want to die, Ian? asked Ruthanne plaintively.

Ian said nothing. He seemed to be shutting down. Then at last he said only, I don’t understand … it didn’t get what it … Nothing good can happen – they won’t save us … you’ll see … And he hunched onto his side and buried his face in his pillow, hiding the exposed side with his hand.

His four companions stood looking at him. Then Dr. Souray said, I told you it might be too soon to talk to him right after he woke up, Robbie. Let’s let him be for now. We’ll get him up shortly and try to get some food into him. You can talk to him again later.

But Ian said, his voice muffled by the pillow, No, we won’t talk later. Because there will never again be anything to talk about.

* * *

Back on the Bridge, Robbie gestured Kibby into the office. I wanted you to know Ian’s awake, but he’s not making any sense. Getting to the root of why he did what he did is going to have to wait until he’s more coherent and that could take some time. Right now, this communication effort has to take precedence.

Robbie, was Ian trying to take his own life?

It seems so. I’ve given Dr. Souray permission to talk to you about what happened.

So Kibby disappeared into MedBay and Robbie resumed the Captain’s chair, which he had thought he might never occupy again.

In the surgery, Ian’s initial confusion was resolving itself into a single, constant drumming in his mind – that he was a failure … fail, fail, fail … over and over. The universal authority had ordered him to perform a relatively simple task and he had been unable to comply.

There was no way this thing about an alien rescue could be true – it had to be a hallucination, a figment of his own disturbed mind. It was not that the god wasn’t capable of orchestrating something that incredible; it was simply that its surrogate victim had proved to be a failure, too weak to fulfill a god’s demand. Ian knew the god felt that way about him because it had abandoned him; he could no longer see or feel it anywhere around him.

The only logical conclusion to be drawn from all this was that the god would not allow them to live; it would now end things in a manner appropriate for a tragedy – with destruction. The Ariana would never return home and its crew, including people Ian loved most in the world, would have to die.

When Capt. Kibwana entered, Ian didn’t respond at all. Finally, believing like everyone else that Ian’s depression was generated by the fate that confronted them, Kibby said, Look, Ian, I trust Robbie in the matter of this alien thing. If there was ever anybody who could pull off something as incredible as convincing a race of avian extraterrestrials to save our skins, it would be that man.

Then Ian did speak. No, he can’t. Because the extraterrestrials are nothing but a delusion. Kibby protested, offering to bring a vid of the Bridge activities for Ian to view, but the Engineer rejected that and then shut down again. A frustrated and troubled Capt. Kibwana departed.

Now that Asc. Brooke was gone, Dr. Souray had coaxed Ruthanne into getting some sleep in a curtained cubicle of the ward. Lt. Barascu was preparing Mosey Neeman for his first bone regeneration treatment; Ian could hear the young Specialist’s nervous laughter as the MedTech began to slice through his cast with a laser saw. After Kibby left, Dr. Souray came in and urged Ian to sit up and eat the food on the tray she presented to him.

Not now, doctor. I’m still queasy. Leave me alone for a little longer – please?

Well, all right, said Maddie, "but I’m not going to leave you alone forever. I’m not sure what’s going on in your head, but I do know I’m not going to let you die anymore than I let Robbie die on board the Reliable after the Darter disaster. Now I’ll put the tray in the cold box, but I’ll be back with it in an hour."

It was the longest delay Ian could achieve. And it didn’t matter. They were all likely to be dead in an hour, anyway.

Chapter 3: Getting to Know You

1-2 June 2769, aboard the Ariana and the Firebrand

During this interlude the people on the Bridge had followed up on Lea’s question about the sex of their interlocutors. Linna pointed at her amply endowed bosom and said, I am female! Then, pointing at Avi, He is male! and then at Lea – She is female!

Then Avi said, pointing to Linna, She is female! I am male!

After they had reprised this a couple of times, the Pikei pierced the humans with her raptor gaze, pointed to her head, and said, "Nei o↑ hwe chuseng↑] Ai em fimeil. … !Id o’í↑ hwe etíseng↑] Hi ez meil." She was indicating the Captain.

Nei o↑ hwe etíseng↑] Ai em meil. !♪Id o’í↑ hwe chuseng↑] Si – psa· – chi ez fimeil."

So P.K. is a hen bird! exclaimed Lea. We’ve been referring to him – I mean, her – all wrong!

We’ve learned some grammar, too, said Avi. We’ve learned they enunciate the copulative verb.

This remark drew blank looks, but Linna said, You’re right! Their language is like Inge and not like Hebru, where the verb ‘to be’ is omitted in linking subject and complement. And we’ve learned some of the present tense of the copulative verb – first person singular and third person singular.

And then, said Avi, "we’ve learned two – no, three – pronouns: ‘I,’ ‘he,’ and ‘she.’ Let me see … ‘I’ is nay and it doesn’t show gender. And then ‘he’ is click-eed – but ‘she’ doesn’t seem to be any different."

Yes, it is! said Nani Das excitedly. "It’s that bird-call sound – a short little trill. It falls after the beak-click and before the eed!"

Oh, my goodness, you’re right! said Linna. But I don’t think a human throat can make that sound, although Robbie could probably whistle something like it.

"What is that wheh sound? said Lea Register. It seems like an extra word."

After a moment of puzzling, Avi said, It might be an article. When we say, ‘I am male,’ ‘male’ is an adjective, but I’ll bet they’re using a noun and saying ‘I am a male.’

They all nodded agreement, highly pleased with themselves. Then Avi punched up a picture of a caterpillar and said, "Wheh eem-uh-tu. ‘A caterpillar.’"

Pikei responded, "^ ket’pel^. And she turned triumphantly to her companions. And so we begin to build a vocabulary – we’ve learned certain forms of a very important verb and three pronouns to go with them. It’s a small but very real start!"

Yes, remarked Skrov’t with a delighted whoop. If we ever need to say, ‘I am a female larva,’ we will be fully prepared!

* * *

Upon Robbie’s return to the Bridge, Avi announced triumphantly, We figured out how to ask what sex they are! And as they were explaining, the stork with the orange-rimmed eyes interrupted them. Pushing farther into the picture, it said, "Ai em !i Tinamei’i’át e’e !i Ai em meil! Stabbing the side of his head, he whooped, Skrov’t Mas’ki! Skrov’t!"

‘Skrov’t.’ Is that his given name or his surname? asked Robbie.

Linna shrugged helplessly. At least we know to call him ‘he.’ And I would guess that ‘whistle-ee-week’ is his rank or job title.

I think he may be the ship’s Pilot, Wally said. He’s wearing some kind of glove with buttons on the finger tips that seem to be emitting laser beams. Every once in a while he looks down that long nose of his and touches things that are out of cam range. The ship’s control systems must be laser-activated.

Kibby had just come in from MedBay. What I’d like to know is, what’s the purpose of that gorgeous crystal sphere in the background? Surely it’s not just a piece of décor.

I haven’t the foggiest, said Robbie, but I’m positive their technology is much different from ours. So what’s next?

Lea exclaimed, Let’s show them a picture of our ship and tell them its name!

So they did that. Aboard the Firebrand, Skrov’t whooped again. "‘Ari’ana!’ Now you see, nei♪ !Arrukh? They name their ships like we Wéwana do! They don’t use only boring letters and numbers!"

All right, all right! grumbled I’ll humor you, Mas’ki. He displayed a picture of his own ship. "Chip … no<↗tektú] Nu↑~ Tsit↑~ Kikiwí] Za"

This remained a mere jumble in human ears, but Wally suddenly began to emit slightly hysterical laughter. "‘Cheep’ – ship. That sounds like Pilar when she gets excited. Spainish doesn’t have the sh, either … Oh, god, Pilar … Let’s stay serious and keep working. I do so much want to make it home."

Simone said, Let’s show them a navigation chart and point to Earth and tell them the name of our planet.

Now we’re getting somewhere, said Robbie. I can’t believe they won’t recognize a star chart, even if it doesn’t look exactly like their own.

As the diagram appeared on their screens, the Birds immediately sat up and paid close attention. Robbie drew a circle around Epsilon Eridani and then drew a line from there to the point from whence they came. Our star, he said. ‘Sun’ – we call it ‘Sun.’

Over on the Birds’ Command Deck You were right, Pikei – that’s the off-limits system. This is the self-destructive species that we were ordered to avoid.

Well, that order is perforce countermanded, said the Life Sciences Officer, and she turned back to the aliens. "‘Sta’ – dega↔zaw< … ♫Ko^ilda ♫go’o♪ dega↔zaw< ‘S^n.’"

Robbie was zooming in on the Sun’s planetary system. He stabbed the third orbiting body with an arrow. Our planet. Earth. We call it ‘Earth.’

And Ko^ilda ♫go’o♪ agíng↓ … ‘Ass.’"

That brought snickers of laughter and a full-throat guffaw from Robbie. The Birds nictitated and gaped. Well, I may have called Capt. Stony a dirty word in their speech, but they just got back at us. … Earth, you chaps! Earth!

Pikei chirped, ^ss … Ess …

Wally piped up, ‘Ea-rr-th’ – ‘Ea-rr-th!’ And ‘star,’ not ‘sta’! Captain, you’ll have them speaking Inge like a Brit!

Linna giggled. Yeah, we want them to speak the propuh rhotic vuh-sion, like most of us Eathuhs do!

Well, phoo! said Robbie good-naturedly. I speak according to where I was brought up – I can’t help it.

Pikei was imitating Wally. ^rrs – Arrs. But to her cohorts she said, Why couldn’t their planet have a name that is easier to pronounce? We’ll never be able to avoid the word.

Now Avi was cracking up. "Obviously, they don’t have the phoneme th, either!"

Hell, said Robbie.

And Psa∙]"

You know what? I think Capt. Stony and I just exchanged swearwords. said Robbie, rubbing his hands gleefully.

But then the Birds pulled up a star chart of their own and everybody settled down. As

Holy crap, said Robbie, shaken. That’s over 90 light years away. Can they really be that far from home?

Prf. Damien said, It may be an undiscovered star. Let me enhance our chart so it displays more stars and index those coordinates … Ah, I have it! It is a star known only by catalogue designations, commonly as Draper 70642. And you’re right, Captain! It’s 94 light years from Earth. Incredible!

It says here, it’s 7th magnitude, Robbie added, – a G5V, a lot like the Sun. It’s in the constellation Puppis, the poop deck of the ship Argo. In PDA times a gas planet bigger than Jupiter was discovered orbiting that star at a distance about equal to our asteroid belt, but the system was never thoroughly investigated.

Chuzaw< … Chuzaw< … "

‘Chuzaw.’ They call their Sun ‘Chuzaw,’ said Robbie. No, ‘Chuzaw-whistle.’

And then the Bird Captain honed in on an enormous gas giant displaying bands of fiery lightning strikes, an astonishing aurora, and huge, swirling eyes. "Ishargúwa, he intoned. Finally he backtracked toward a smaller body that lay closer to the star but still near enough to the gas giant to make that planet visible to the naked eye in all but the brightest of daylight skies. The inner planet was every bit as beautiful as Earth; it possessed blue seas and impressive continents massed around the center of the globe – and it had three moons! Krisí’i’aid] ♫Ko^ilda vrong Krisí’i’aid] ♫Nei♪ agíng↓ mr♪ak↑] And he added, making a wide gesture that encompassed all the Birds on the Deck. ♫Nei ♫o↑ Krisí’i’aidá – Krisí’i’aidá]"‡

***

‡ This is Krisí’i’aid [i.e., (you) call this Krisí'i'aid] – our home-planet. We are Krisí’i’aidá.

***

So at last we know who we’re talking to, said Robbie, awe-struck. The Krissy-eyed-ah, from the planet Krissy-eyed in the system of a star called Chuzaw< that we call Draper 70642 – so very, very far away …

I don’t think ‘Krissy-eyed’ is a perfect pronunciation, sir, said Avi critically.

But Robbie said, We’ll work on that, but I don’t think it matters so much. What matters is that we’re getting to know each other. And – can you believe it? – for the first time in the history of humanity, it means something when we say, ‘We are Earthers.’

That word was doomed to amuse; it could only come out ^rserz, with a chirp for a vowel, or at best Erserz and sometimes Arserz. However, as Robbie had said, it didn’t really matter. Presently the humans had learned that the eagles were called !Ka and the storks, Wéwana, and the grouse, Gro’á’ata, but Robbie soon named them by the taxonomic terms falconiforms, ciconiiforms, and galliforms, designations that have persisted into the present day.

Then, flapping his arms imperiously, Capt. Stony intoned, ""‡ The star chart reappeared on the humans’ port screen. An animated image of the Bird’s ship, an oval with wings, was shown