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possible explanations for what you think you’ve seen, many from personal experience.”
    She leaned forward slightly, peering through the wind-screen. “Pretty soon you’ll have the chance to judge for yourself. We’re almost there. That’s Torrelau dead ahead.”

3
    Seaforth swung the skimmer around a wave-swept point of rocks and into an exquisite natural harbor. Walls of green closed in on both sides. The fjordlike inlet would easily have accommodated a large cargo boat, but it was deserted save for their comparatively tiny craft. The cries of alien fauna rose from the surrounding forest.
    “I understand,” he said absently as he studied the dense foliage, “that the Parramati show little interest in contemporary technology. Whereas elsewhere on Senisran, the natives have taken to trading for simple Commonwealth manufactures with enthusiasm.”
    She nodded. “Not here they haven’t. They say it goes against their
kusum
. Also, they think magic is better. Of course, they don’t really use magic. Everything they do, everything that happens in Parramat has a logical and rational exegesis. I just haven’t had time enough to study it. I’ve been too busy trying to get them to make treaty with the Commonwealth.” She smiled up at him. “I’m expecting you to explain it all to me.”
    “I’ll do my best,” he replied without a hint of guile. “But as you say, a treaty is paramount. The section in my study guide on Parramati customs was slim. I expect you to warn me where not to step, what not to say, and how not to act.”
    “Don’t worry, Pulickel. I’ll take good care of you.”
    He tensed, but she didn’t reach over to pat him on the head. Intellectual condescension he could handle, but not the physical kind. Especially not from an attractive woman. If that was irrational, so be it.
    The skimmer slowed as they approached a narrow stretch of yellow-white beach at the head of the inlet. Beyond the sand he could see where jungle had been cleared away, leaving a wide path through the forest. Something in shades of blue equipped with multiple legs scurried piglike across the clearing and into the trees.
    She drove the skimmer off the water and up onto the beach, rising to clear a large berm that was anchored in place by a peculiar, corkscrewing green-red vine. Purple fruiting bodies burst from conelike structures that emerged at random from each shiny coil. Without being obvious, he paid careful attention to everything she did. Unbeknownst to her, one of his ancillary tasks in accepting the Parramat assignment was to render and report a formal job evaluation on one Fawn Seaforth.
    It was early, but so far his opinion was equivocal. Not that he was grading out at the top of his form since his arrival, either. How could he have known about the apapanus? Senisran was rich in unknown and undescribed inimical species. He was confident only in what he knew. He decided that her lapses in protocol could be over-looked in view of the fact that she’d saved his life—and might well do so again.
    Of one thing he was already certain. This assignment could go one of many ways—but “by the book” wasn’t going to be one of them.
    Well, he’d improvised before. Adaptability was the hallmark of the truly successful.
    A hundred meters from the water’s edge, the skimmerhangar came into view. It was a large, unlovely, wholly functional structure: a roof, three walls, and a sliding barrier. Fawn pulled inside, cut the engine, and monitored instrumentation as their vehicle settled onto its mounting pad.
    “The station’s just up ahead.” She jumped over the side. “Pass down your case and we’ll walk the rest of the way.”
    Using the integrated hoist to control the heavy baggage, they walked the remaining meters along a narrower path that ran in a straight line through the trees. Pulickel was enveloped by the rich, musky aroma of growing things. Alien odors assaulted his nostrils. The majority, though not all,