Spinneret Read Free

mutual profit.”
    Something in Saleh’s chest seemed to loosen up slightly. Trade and profit were business, not political, terms. Was this, then, merely a trading expedition? Saleh couldn’t decide whether he would feel relieved or annoyed if the Ctencri government had indeed left their first contact with Earth to the aliens’ version of AT&T.
    Whoever it was out there, though, he had one very important point to clear up right away. “We would certainly be interested in discussing trade possibilities,” Saleh said. “However, we have several questions we would like to ask first. Foremost among them is why your ships fired on one of our unarmed probes.”
    There was a short pause. “The question is meaningless. The defense units of Hreshtra-cten did not use force. Your lander was allowed to leave peaceably.”
    â€œYou’re referring to the incident with the Pathfinder, ” the American delegate spoke up from halfway around the table. “The Celeritas was in a different solar system when it was attacked.”
    â€œOnly one ship entered Ctencri territory,” the alien said. “The other presumably breached another people’s region.”
    Saleh blinked. Two alien races … and both within ten light-years? The American President had implied it was a single race that surrounded Earth, not two or more. Honest mistake or deliberate deception? “Perhaps you can help us contact the other … people,” he said, fighting to get back on balance again. “Or at least assure them we weren’t attempting an attack on their territory. We seek only to find new worlds—unoccupied worlds, of course—that we may peacefully colonize.”
    â€œThat will be impossible.”
    â€œWhy? Don’t you have communication with them?”
    â€œPardon; you misunderstand. We will certainly aid you in contacting the other peoples. It is your seeking of worlds to colonize which is impossible.”
    Saleh frowned, his stomach tightening up again. “I don’t understand.”
    â€œAll suitable worlds are already occupied.”
    There was a moment of dead silence. “Occupied by whom?” the British delegate demanded.
    â€œMany by their indigenous peoples,” the Ctencri said. “Such worlds are closed to outside contact, as was yours until now. The remainder are occupied or claimed by space-going people such as ourselves.”
    â€œHow many space-going races are there?” Saleh asked.
    â€œThe Ctencri have direct contact with nine others. The existence of seventeen more is known secondhand. We believe there to be many others.”
    The Russians didn’t believe it, of course. Neither, to a lesser extent, did the Americans and the Europeans. The star ships were sent out again, in new directions. And again. And again.
    Eventually, they were all convinced.
    â€œSo this is it,” Saleh said, leaning back in his chair and gazing out the window at the lights of New York. They were glowing brightly, as usual, and the Yemeni felt his usual twinge of anger. The work at Oak Ridge and Princeton in the last century had guaranteed that the United States, at least, would not starve for energy for a long time to come … but the rest of the world still waited for the promised sharing of that technology.
    Someone cleared his throat, and Saleh shifted his attention back to the five heads of state he’d invited to this meeting. “This makes no sense at all,” Japanese Prime Minister Nagata said, laying down a copy of the report. “An Earth-type world complete with water and a breathable atmosphere and no metals? That’s absurd.”
    â€œI only know what the Ctencri said,” Saleh said, shrugging. “It’s because the planet hasn’t got any metals that we’ve even got a chance at it—otherwise the Rooshrike would have found a use for the place long ago.”
    â€œCould this be some sort