02 Quetzals Flock

QUETZAL'S FLOCK
"What may I serve you?"
Kane stepped back hastily and trod on Hammadi's foot. When the hopping
around subsided, Kane drew breath and rattled off a menu which would have set him
back three month's pay in the best restaurant the Asteroids could have offered. It didn't
blink an eye, or anything else for that matter. The interchange of data from the Bole to
the Command Computer, must have contained a surprising amount of culinary
information. If Kane had suspected it, he would have made it do the cooking.
A neat little orifice opened at the base of the dispenser. The required goodies
appeared. Kane's eyes widened - he had been engaging in a flight of fancy and now it
was an actuality. He half expected it to disappear like an illusion, but it remained - it
was a tangible expression of the genius of computer technology. It was an
improvement on the usual output of cold, hard facts, accompanied by frequent
headaches. Hammadi was salivating, Kane duplicated the order and hoped he would
share the same refinement of palate.
Later, they bathed, shaved and risked one of the Bole's haircuts. Kane reclined
on his bed and reflected on the pleasures of life. He stretched and grinned at
Hammadi, who occupied the other couch.
"This is only the crew's quarters. Just wait until you see the Commander's suite
- then you'll know what luxury really is!"
Hammadi answered quietly, as if he was trying to persuade himself.
"Obeid will be the Commander, it is his right. He is the Leader of the People
of Jubal."
Kane didn't respond. He didn't have the answer, the inner man did. Of one
thing he was certain, Obeid would not command the Ship when it lifted off for the last
time from the planet Jubal.
They woke into the luxury of the quarters they had been assigned. It had not
been a dream, it was a reality, in so far as anything to do with a Ship which was
composed of an interchange of energy and matter, could be a reality. It was very
tempting to hold on to the ease and comfort, knowing that the hot plain and hard ride
was before them. At the end of that ride awaited the hard sell of persuading reluctant
and suspicious tribesmen, to abandon their way of life and their wealth in the form of
their herds. Beyond that, he couldn't predict what he was going to do about Eridos and
his followers. To stay in the luxury of the Ship was a temptation. He decided to
sacrifice a day or two, justifying his decision by the thought that Hammadi ought to
know a little more about what he was supposed to command.
He called up Computer Control.
"The Commander wishes to inspect the Ship."
"The Ship is subject to the expansion program and is not fully accessible."
"Then show us that part which is accessible!"
They wandered around for several hours, peering into cabins and larger
control rooms, filled with equipment which defied Kane's ability to explain. Some of
the utilitarian areas were more easily described, especially how they accommodated
the Picun. Hammadi's interest was sparked, he was after all, a herdsman at heart.
"They keep the Picun in stalls during the journey between one star system and
the next. I suspect that they turn them loose when they touch down on a suitable
planet. Perhaps, that was what Tursac had in mind when he landed on Jubal."
Hammadi looked doubtful.
"Surely, my father, the journey between the stars takes a very long time. You
can't keep a Picun in a stall for that long!"
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