Free Hex by Allen Steele Page B

“I prefer to think of myself as an astroethnicist, which is what I was doing at the University of New Florida before Janus hired me away.”
    A low chuckle from Kyra drew everyone’s attention. “Sorry,” she murmured, embarrassed by her own interruption. “It’s just that... well, I thought I recognized you. I took one of your classes when I was at the university.”
    D’Anguilo peered at her, then he abruptly snapped his fingers. “Of course... Ms. Wright, isn’t it?” She smiled and nodded, which he reciprocated in kind. “I remember you telling me once that you wanted to join the Corps after you graduated. Looks like you made it.”
    Kyra grinned, and it was Sandy’s turn to look embarrassed; realizing that D’Anguilo wasn’t just some corporate flack, she stared down at the floor. D’Anguilo paid her no mind as he returned his attention to the others. “Anyway, I’m here because I’m the company expert on the races we’re dealing with... including the danui , or at least as much as we know about them.”
    â€œI take it, then, that you’ve met the nord ,” Mark said. D’Anguilo raised an inquisitive eyebrow, and the sergeant nodded. “We’ve already been briefed about this... I mean, that a merchant marine captain heard about the danui system from one of the nord , and...”
    â€œI talked to the nord , yes. In fact, that’s what I was doing here before you showed up.” D’Anguilo gestured to the porthole. “You probably noticed their ship near the gatehouse. It brought one of their emissaries. I spoke with him just a few hours ago.” He smiled. “Not that I had a chance to say much. You don’t talk to the nord , really... You just listen, and hope that your translator can keep up with them.”
    â€œAnd the danui ?” Kyra asked. “Have you met with them, too?”
    D’Anguilo shook his head. “You can count the number of humans who’ve actually laid eyes on a danui on one hand and have some fingers left over, and I’m not one of them. For some reason, the danui preferred to let the nord act as their intermediaries. We’ve had no direct contact with them, and...”
    The door behind him slid open. Sean’s mother floated into the wardroom. “Dr. D’Anguilo?” she asked, and he nodded. “Andromeda Carson, captain of the Montero . Pleased to meet you.”
    â€œLikewise, Captain.” He offered his hand, which she shook. “Happy to be aboard.”
    â€œDon’t let me interrupt. Go on with what you were saying.” Andromeda grasped a wall rail and pulled herself to one side of the room. Sean noticed that she seemed to be deliberately not looking his way. Which was fine with him.
    â€œThank you,” D’Anguilo said. “As I was saying, we’ve had no direct contact with the danui ... which is puzzling, to say the least. You’d think that, if they were interested in allowing humans to colonize a planet in their system, they’d want some say in the matter. But they seem to be rather indifferent about the whole thing.”
    â€œNot even trade negotiations?” Cayce asked.
    â€œOh, there has been some of that. We’re not getting a planet for free.” D’Anguilo shrugged. “But that’s for later missions. For this particular expedition, all we’ve been asked to bring with us are transplantable specimens of native flora from Coyote... seeds, sprouts, young trees and shrubs, that sort of thing.” He glanced at Andromeda. “The skiff that brought me here carried them as cargo. I assume they’ve been loaded aboard.”
    â€œYes, they have,” Andromeda replied. “But I’m just as confused about this as you are. Aren’t the danui concerned that we may be introducing invasive species to one of their planets?”
    â€œI asked the nord