"Have I told you yet how much I appreciate your inviting me along to the Vesputians' dinner party?" asked Dee Hunter, the tone of her voice making it clear she was anything but grateful. She was standing before the large mirror in the bedroom tugging at her dress uniform, unhappy with the way it fit her.
"Yes, dear," said Rick Hunter, "several times, but it's important. We'll be doing a world of good tonight. We'll be getting to know our neighbors better, and making sure everything is set up for the arrival of the G'kra delegates. The G'kra will be shown greater hospitality there than we could provide here in the city, which will make the treaty signing go smoother. They'll see how civilized the Federation is and become our most staunch allies here in the Briar Patch."
"Well, as long as it's for the Federation," commented Dee acerbically.
"There's just one more thing..." began Rick.
"There always is."
Before the Commodore could answer however, the doorbell rang. "I better get that," he said, and headed for the living room.
Dee continued fussing with her uniform. She heard the front door open and a male voice speaking with Rick, and tried to decide if she recognized it. It sounded vaguely familiar somehow. Then she remembered. "No, it can't be!" She hurriedly made her way to the living room to confirm her fear.
Sure enough, her fear was validated; there he was, laughing and reminiscing old times with Rick. She took a step into the room, and the man's head turned to see who had come in. His face cracked into that infuriatingly roguish grin he wore. "Hi, Dee!" he said with irrepressible good humor.
"Hello, West," replied Dee, pasting a thin-lipped smile on her own face. "It's been what... ten years? To what do we own the pleasure of your visit?"
"Oh, didn't I tell you, honey?" interjected Rick before West could answer. "West will be joining us for dinner."
"No, dear. Somehow you forgot to mention that little detail."
"Right. So, shall we be going?" said West before the conversation took a turn for the worse. "Wouldn't want to keep the monks waiting."
The hovercar ride north along the Serenity River took an hour, but for Dee Hunter it seemed to take longer. Having West along brought back far too many memories, memories she'd rather forget, in fact had forgotten until he showed up at their door. He seemed to sense her reticence regarding him, and so stepped lightly around her. She knew Rick felt differently about the man however, and so tolerated his presence for her husband's sake.
Finally, the car pulled up before the imposing edifice of the Vesputian monastery and a robed figure emerged to meet them.
"Welcome," the monk said coming forward. "I am Therak and I shall be your guide this evening. Friar Torek thought you might like a quick look around before meeting the others."
Therak looked at Dee with what seemed to be great curiousity, but it was friendly enough. "Commodore Hunter, I presume," he said looking at Rick. "And these are?"
"Ah! Sorry. Allow me to introduce my wife of fifteen years, Dee-Ann." Not knowing the proper Vesputian customs, Dee settled for a polite bow to the monk. Rick indicated his other companion and said, "And this is Mr. West, a local, erm... entrepreneur.
West had no qualms about promoting his own greeting customs. He stepped forward with gusto and stuck out his hand. "Pleased to meet you."
"Ah," Therak said simply. "Most interesting. Mr. West, have we not met before?"
"Er... No," said West, thinking quickly. Was this monk one of those who had chased him from their fields a week ago? He had to play this cool. "I don't think we've met, unless you were one of the masked contortionists performing at the Salty Spittoon last night."
"Well then," Therak continued, not fooled but deciding not to press the issue, "let us begin."
Therak led the group down on path bordered by flowering trees that were scenting the evening air with their perfume. The path led past a number of gardens - all newly planted. Beyond the gardens were cultivated fields and pastures.
"We raise most of our own food, grains and animals," Therak explained. "We are a simple farming order, wanting nothing more than to commune with our god."
From the gardens they moved onto a cobblestone drive that led past a number of farm buildings. "Here we keep our equipment and shelter our animals," he said. "We have ordered an Earth animal -- sheep. Are you familiar with them?"
"Many's the night they've helped lull me to sleep," quipped West, but from Therak's blank expression, the Vesputian obviously was oblivious to the joke, never having heard of the human custom of 'counting sheep'.
Then the group wound its way back toward the monastery itself and entered from a side garden wall into the cloister. Birds were singing their evening song, a garden filled with herbs took up most of the space. Therak walked unerringly through the maze of herbs and arrived at a heavy wooden door.
"I hope you don't mind," he said, "but we all wished to meet you. You are our first official visitors."
With that, Therak opened the door and stepped back allowing the trio to enter first.
The room was a great hall with strangely comfortable looking chairs, a huge fireplace that was burning brightly with no smoke and a number of small tables. The tables held bottles of wine, beer and other liquor. Some held bowls of snack items, none of which looked familiar. The hall also held a great many monks, all wearing their dress robes and sandals.
"Did you enjoy your tour?" asked Kalmar Torek coming toward them.
"Yes," replied Rick, "I was quite impressed. I had no idea your monastery was so extensive and well-rounded. And I had no idea there were so many monks living here!" This last he said while indicating the throng of robed figured gathered in the great hall.
"And this must be the beautiful Mrs. Hunter," Kalmar said.
Dee smiled at the compliment and did another of her respectful bows.
Several monks were looking questioningly at Dee.
"Please forgive us," Kalmar said to her. "We do not often have female guests, however, the order's older monasteries have females in residence as monks are allowed to marry. Here, we are without such niceties, being so newly established. Do try some of the wine and food. You will find wine we have made here as well as wine from Earth. Dinner will be served shortly."
The guests were seated at the large table and dinner was served in multiple courses by liveried monks. Much of the food was unknown to Rick, but thankfully, tasted much better than the jam Kalmar had brought to his office had smelled.
"This is wonderful, Friar Torek," said Rick after a particularly savory course. "I'm sure the G'kra delegates who stay here will be well-cared for. They may not want to leave after the treaty signing!"
"And speaking of G'kra," said West around a mouthful of food, "have you given any thought to those that will be staying in Serenity City?"
Kalmar looked puzzled. "What do you mean?"
"Well, they're going to have to eat too, right? And they certainly can't make a 380 mile round-trip between downtown and your monastery every time they feel a little peckish."
"We do not enjoy visiting the human city," replied Kalmar, his disdain for the very notion of mingling with humans breaking through the cracks in the pleasant and mannerly facade he had perpetrated for this special evening.
But that was precisely what West had been counting on. "I may be able to help you there, Padre. I just happen to be the owner and pilot of a small cargo transport. I could buy some G'kra delicacies from you, say... oh, I dunno... yorna berries for example, and transport them to the city."
"Where you would no doubt sell them at a handsome profit," replied Kalmar.
West shrugged but continued smiling. "A man's got to make a living."
Kalmar smiled knowingly, and West was suddenly positive that the Vesputian leader knew exactly who had raided his yorna berry fields last week. Surprisingly however, Kalmar made no mention of the incident now. Instead, he simply said, "Yes, perhaps we can come to some kind of arrangement. We will discuss it after dinner."
The delicious meal ended with most of the monks making polite bows, which they decided was the custom thanks to Dee-Ann. They quietly retired to their evening prayers. Kalmar and three others remained behind to serve after dinner drinks.
"We have enjoyed your visit," Kalmar told the trio. "You are most welcome to return at any time. But Mr. West, perhaps you would be so good as to remain awhile longer. We have business to discuss. You could spend the night and we will transport you back to the city in the morning."
"Ah... Well... That won't be necessary," hemmed West. Was this a trap? Were they going to wait until they had him alone and then kill him for trespassing on their farm last week? "We can conduct our business over the radio tomorrow morning."
"Oh, I insist," Kalmar said. "Your proposition intrigues me to no end."
Rick and Dee Hunter drove back to Serenity City alone. Mr. West had stayed behind at the monastery. He hadn't looked particularly happy at the prospect of remaining there alone, but for some reason Kalmar Torek had insisted. Rick had assumed that the monk had a good reason, and so had agreed.
Besides, West could take care of himself.
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