aruhiku translating, Mayne began to get acquainted with the
Kappans. The visitor from the neighboring city chose mostly to listen
attentively, but Igrillik, the priest, occasionally leaned over to
whisper sibilantly into Eemakh's recessed ear. Mayne fancied he saw a
resemblance between the two, despite Igrillik's professional
trappings--a long robe of rough material that had been dyed in stripes
and figures of several crude colors, and a tall cap to which were
attached a number of pairs of membraneous wings.

[Illustration]

The first thing that Mayne learned was that the _Gemsbok_ was not a
spaceship; it was a symbol, a sign sent to the Kappans by the great god
Meeg.

"And why did he send it?" asked Mayne.

He had sent it as a sign that he was impatient with his children. They
had vowed him a temple, they had set aside the necessary land, and yet
they had not begun the work.

"Is that why they're all over there, slaving away so feverishly?"

It was indeed the reason. After all, Meeg was the god of the inner moon,
the one that passed so speedily across the sky. If he could guide the
strangers' ship directly to his own plot of ground, he might just as
easily have caused it to land in the center of the village. They had
seen the flames that attended the landing. Could the honored chief from
the stars blame them for heeding the warning?

"I see their point," muttered Mayne resignedly. "Well, maybe we can talk
sense about the cargo. Tell them that there is much in the holds that
would make their lives richer. Tools, gems, fine cloth--give them the
story, lieutenant."

This time, Eemakh conferred with the high priest. It developed that the
cargo was a sacred gift to be used or not as the god Meeg might
subsequently direct. The chief meant no insult. The Kappans realized
that Voorhis and his crew were no demons, but starmen such as had often
brought valuable goods to trade. The Kappans had not sought to harm or
sacrifice them, had they? This was because they were both welcome as
visitors and respected as instruments of Meeg.

Eemakh wished to be fair. The starmen might think they had lost by the
divine mission. Very well--they would be granted land, good land with
forest for hunting and shoreline for fishing. But go near the temple
they should not!

"Could _I_ get in to inspect the cargo?" asked Mayne.

Haruhiku took this up with the Kappans, who softened but did not yield.

"The best I can get, Judge," said th