Crisis On Doona Read Online Free Page A

the right to investigate,” Hrriss said one more time. “A cry for help from other space travelers is not ignored with impunity.”
    As soon as they landed the Albatross back on Doona, they contacted the tower. Linc Newry was on duty.
    “Can you rustle your stumps, Linc?” Todd asked. “We got an official report to deliver.”
    “Official? Huh? Nothing to do with the Hunt, is it?”
    “Not really, but it’d be great if we could get through landing procedures and decontam and get the Hunt properly organized,” Todd said with an encouraging grin.
    “I’m coming,” Linc said, and obviously switched to a handset for he continued talking. “As you’re just back from that Hrrethan shindig, I think it’ll be okay if I just seal the lock on the Albie and we can do the decontam and stuff when the Hunt’s over.”
    So Todd and Hrriss gratefully disembarked, watched the seal be affixed to prevent entry, and, thanking Linc for his courtesy, hurried off to find Ken Reeve and detail the Mayday incident.
    “Genuine or not, you have to answer a Mayday signal,” Ken agreed, though the affair obviously troubled him. He smoothed his hair back with a resigned hand. His thick, dark hair had receded above his temples, and lines were beginning to etch the fair, sun-weathered skin near his eyes. He and Todd were of a height now, but often, when he was confused and worried, as he was now, Todd felt himself still the small boy and Ken the adult. Maybe he relied too much on his father’s wisdom where experience and the study of law didn’t provide the answers. Hrriss sat beside him, his yellow-green eyes unwinking as he stared at the floor between his feet. Ken could tell the Hrruban was worried, but he was not as prone to outbursts as his son.
    Todd’s eyes were fixed hopefully on his father’s face. Ken shook his head and sighed. “Wise of you, Hrriss, to handle all the oral transmissions. Let’s hope that the pictures of that device and the possibly explosive ribbing show up.” He gave his head another little shake. “Such contingencies will have to be written into the new Treaty, allowing for legitimate rescue efforts and specifying penalties for abuses. I shall suggest the modification myself to Sumitral at Alreldep. But I cannot be easy that the incident was there, waiting to trap the unwary.” He paused again, holding up his hand when Todd opened his mouth. “Were there any other representatives at the Hrrethan ceremonies likely to have taken the same warp jumps you did?”
    Todd looked abashed. “Dad, I just wanted to leave. My neck was rubbed raw and it was bad enough those Hrrethans insisted on giving the Albatross a clearance ...”
    “They insisted?” Ken asked, his expression alert.
    “Yes, and we told them that Spacedep had already cleared the Albatross ... Oh, I see what you mean. The recorder could have been tampered with there. You think we were to be the victims?”
    “We were not the only ship likely to pass that system,” Hrriss said in a slow thoughtful tone. “I will inquirrre. It is worrth that much. And discreetly.” He dropped his jaw at Ken. “When one is hunted, one generally senses pursuit.”
    “Then I can leave you to mention this to Hrrestan?” Ken asked. Hrriss nodded. “I shall inform Hu Shih. That will satisfy the necessary protocol. Investigations can be initiated ...”
    “Just don’t let that sort of time-wasting stuff interfere with the Snake Hunt, will you, Dad?” Todd was clearly apprehensive. “It’s only two weeks away and we’ve a lot to do.”
    Ken smiled. “The Snake Hunt is too important to the Doona/Rrala economy to have its leaders absent. I’ll handle all the necessary reportings. And inform Sumitral. He warned me to expect trouble from unlikely areas. Cunning of our detractors, isn’t it, to start a controversy over a samaritan issue! And it has the flavor of something the segregationalists would try.”
    “The group that thinks Hrruba is only being