Free Star Ship on Saddle Mountain by Richard Ackley Page A

level informal
speech, and get it into clear thought, Charles. I am surprised that
you were able to distinguish too, that I used your
colloquialism."
"Thanks," Charlie said.
"Your mind is amazingly receptive for a prim—"
Dondee's face showed a momentary flush of
embarrassment, then he grinned quickly at Charlie, and Charlie got
the impulse, "Well, you know what I mean!"
    "Oh go ahead," Charlie said, "Go
on and say it! I don't mind. You were going to say primitive , weren't
you?"
Dondee nodded slightly, and seeing that Charlie
understood that it was hard for him to break the habit of using the
word and was amused by his use of it, Dondee laughed suddenly.
"Your thought impulses are very clear, Charles,
even though you speak at the same time."
"Thanks, Dondee. And I promise not to get sore
about it, if you slip up any time and call me a primitive. I figure
you're pretty much used to saying it on your world, so it's hard to
stop doing it right off."
"Thanks, Charles. But I'll try not to forget."
The morning sped by, and the desert sun was high
and brilliant everywhere outside the star ship. But inside, on the
lower dome tier, Charlie and Dondee talked on, bringing each other
up to date on things of each other's world and things they liked
and disliked. They found that, no matter where humans come from,
boys have about the same hopes
and ambitions for the future, and the same love for
adventure. And as for Charlie, talking to Dondee did a lot to brush
away the last traces of the fears and suspicions he had built up
about the aliens, these men on a star ship from another planet. He
no longer believed that at any moment they might destroy him. But
to his most important question concerning his freedom, Dondee could
give him no real answer.
"It will probably be whatever the commanding
navigator has ordered, Charles. I am fairly sure that he will not
do anything with you here, on your world. That will wait for the
return journey to the Barrier World. The capture of you, Charles,
after you discovered us, was necessary. I doubt if the navigator
will permit you to leave the flagship again, before we return to
the Capitol City."
For a fleeting moment, Charlie let his thoughts
dwell on the bright sunshine outside, and the idea that the giant
in between the Saddle Mountain peaks was sure to be spotted before
the day was over. But Dondee caught the brief thought, beckoning
Charlie to follow him over to the broad sweep of panoramic view. He
did.
"See, Charles—this ship could not likely be
detected."
    As Charlie looked, he lost his
last small hope of what he felt sure the ship's presence, shining
brilliantly in the daytime, would do. The star ship's once-bright
surface now had taken on the rust and crevice-line
look— exactly like the surface of Saddle
Mountain! It was as good a job of
camouflage as any chameleon he had ever seen.
"Since they won't let me go, do you think they
might let me go outside, just for a little while with Navajo,
before we take off?"
"No, Charles. That wouldn't be possible now. The
discus flagship—this ship we're in I mean, was sealed last night.
The last job of the exploratory mission was completed this
morning."
"It's all over?"
"Yes, Charles. The next free air you breathe will
be on my own world, Charles, in the eternal mists of the Blue
Mountain country where I live, under the Barrier that hides us from
the beauty of the Sun."
Numbed by the full impact of Dondee's impulse,
Charlie was also aware that the alien boy felt sorry for him. He
felt sure, too, that if there were any way Dondee could help he
would be glad to do it. Possibly even to helping him escape. At
this thought, Dondee looked at him again, nodding his
agreement.
"But I cannot help, Charles. I would like to, just
as much as I would also like you to see my homeland as I have seen
yours. But I can do nothing, Charles."
"It sort of looks like that, Dondee. I mean, it
looks as if I'll be seeing your world as you saw mine. Whether I
like the idea or