Free Flidoring The Early Wars by Roger W. Hayes

can hear you. Have you reached our system yet?”
    “Indeed we have,” answered Bellmus, “we are just entering orbit around your planet now. Do we have your permission to land?”
    “Absolutely! I will have a welcome party meet you on the landing platform just outside the main entrance to Stalagamite. We built it just for your arrival,” said Huglam.
    “Thank you, I will see you soon, Bellmus off.”
    Furzon is a cold planet on the surface, but deep caves provide plenty of warmth by means of geothermal vents that are scattered throughout them. Tall mountains, with very little vegetation on them, cover the surface of Furzon. A few species of birds and rodent creatures live outside the caves, but the vast majority of life resides inside the thousands of caves that dot the faces of the mountains. Small bodies of frozen water rest between great peaks of rock—some reaching heights of ten-thousand feet. During the thaw of a short summer season, water evaporates into the sky and falls back as snow on the mountains, which in turn melts and flows in streams back down to the lakes. Some of the streams flow into the caves and collect in pools, where heat from the geothermal vents creates steam that rises out of the entrances.
    Lyemad, looking out the lower front windows, was thinking that the mountains looked like angry, freckled faces with steam coming out of the ears, noses, and mouths. It seemed ironic to him that the mountains had snow and ice while hot steam was rising all around.
    Tessslan set the Volkran down flawlessly on the stone-carved landing platform. Surrounding it was a party of at least fifty little, hairy beings—each looking like fit, well-trained athletes. Some had little trays of assorted fruits and vegetables, while others had small boxes cut from a single rock with beautifully carved pictures on all sides. A few were playing cheerful songs on stone flutes, accompanied by others keeping time with a variety of different size stone clackers. Many were involved in making Furzonian pyramids, by standing on top of each other five or six levels high. Bellmus knew from previous communications that this was to show off their strong and joyous culture. Different tribes would put on such shows when they visited each other.
    Making his way down the landing ramp, Bellmus greeted the half-sized but twice-strong ruler with, “I am Sir Bellmus of the House of Tomolack, and we come to your world in peace.”
    Huglam, familiar with Bellmus’s ways, responded, “Welcome to Furzon my friend,” as he stood toe-to-toe with him and looked straight up. “You seem much taller than I had envisioned from our talks.”
    “I suppose we look like giants to you,” joked Bellmus, “but I am sure that size is deceiving when it comes to your strength and character.”
    “You flatter all too well, my friend,” complimented Huglam, “come, and let us make the acquaintance of your shipmates. We have many gifts and delicious refreshments to share with you, as soon as we get in from the cold.”
    Inside Stalagamite, they followed a long narrow winding path from the opening. They finally turned one last corner and entered a large cavern. The Volkran crew stood frozen with surprise at the size and splendor of the cave city. Timsssack was first to overcome the awe and respond with, “How naturally beautiful thisss isss. You have blended well with the work of the Creator,” already knowing that their culture was religious—or at least superstitious.
    “Thank you,” said Huglam, “we consider ourselves as part of the creation, and we strive to complement it.”
    Slightly annoyed that the religious stuff was already coming out when they had just arrived, Lyemad said, “I think you have done well at manipulating your environment to suit your needs. You are obviously master craftsmen.”
    “Again, thank you for the compliment. We believe that we must use whatever resources have been entrusted to us, to better our environment and our