She touched nothing to her tongue, but the smell of charcoal was heavy in the air. "The fourth repast-the night repast-celebrates Uhe’s victory and the unification of the Sindie. This is the night repast; let us celebrate."
And then the food flowed. Strange meats, salads, ices, and cheeses passed her lips until her stomach sent up its all-full warning. Shortly after, the sounds of eating quieted, and she could hear the table being cleared. Benbo placed a hot mug into her right hand. "Here, Major. It tastes sort of like hot rubber soaked in dirty underwear."
She sipped at the brew as Baadek performed the peculiarities of introducing the guests to the host. Of course, Tora Soam knew all of those at the table. The introductions were more for the benefit of the guests. Baadek would move behind the person being described.
"Ovjetah, this guest at the table is Jetah Zigh Caida, First Deputy of the Dracon Chamber." Baadek moved behind the next guest: "Ovjetah, this guest…"
The Drac side of the table was rank-heavy. Besides the first deputy of the Chamber, Draco’s governing body, there were: Raga Gia, Drac Fleet liaison officer to the Chamber; Xalta Lov, Nujetah, second master, of the Talman Kovah; Suinat Piva, Ovjetah of the Fangen Kovah, the school of social goal formulation; and Vikava Minose, liaison officer to the Chamber of the Denve Irkmaan-department of humans.
Baadek stood behind Mitzak. "Ovjetah, this guest at the table is Leonid Mitzak, student of the Talman Kovah." Footsteps. "Ovjetah, this guest at the table is Amos Benbo, vemadah." Baadek stood behind her. "Ovjetah, this guest at the table is Joanne Nicole, vemadah."
Tora Soam opened the talk: "Fellow masters, I see your puzzled expressions at having humans at the repast. I shall explain. As Ovjetah of the Fangen Kovah, Suinat Piva has known for some time that the facilities of the Talman Kovah have projected an armed truce with the forces of the United States of Earth."
There was excited chatter among the Dracs. A deep, old-sounding voice interrupted the chatter. "Soam, how far has the projection been substantiated?"
"It has been substantiated to the full capabilities of the kovah, Deputy Zigh."
Zigh Caida hissed. "This is of crucial importance. Why has not the Dracon Chamber been informed of this development?"
It Just has-wait." The grumbling from the Drac brass quieted down and Tora Soam continued. "There are several things upon which the occurrence and successful exploitation of this projected truce depend. The truce will follow immediately after a battle of certain configurations. This is a tactical matter, and the configurations will soon be made available to the Chamber and to the Dracon Fleet."
A voice spoke: "What has this to do with these humans Soam?"
"Vikava Minose, you direct the Denve Irkmann."
"And?"
"And have you ever talked with a human?"
A pause. "No. But what of it?"
Tora Soam paused. "The truce is a thing that can last only a moment and then lead to continued fighting; or it can lead to peace. Following the truce, Dracs and humans will gather to sort out and resolve the issues of the conflict. They will talk. The Talman Kovah has projected that you five, or your replacements, will probably be those who will represent the Dracon Chamber at the talks, provided that the battle mentioned takes place within the next eighty days."
The voice of Vikova Minose spoke: "Ovjetah, an enemy is an enemy. You were to speak to why these… humans are at your table."
Tora Soam answered, its voice slow and thoughtful. "When you face the humans. you will have in your hands the ability to bring this war to an end. You will also have the ability to throw three hundred worlds-Drac and human-back into war."
Deputy Zigh Caida spoke: "Soam, what does this have to do with your… other guests?"
"It is simple, Deputy Zigh: if there is to be peace, or if there is to be more war, sense dictates that talma is best followed if the result is a matter of studied choice rather than a matter of ignorance, anger, or accident. One does not need to take to diagrams to see the truth in this. If all of you have at least some experience with human thinking, the chances of the negotiations being conducted and settled on an intelligent basis are improved-"
"Wait!" The voice was Tora Kia’s.
"My guests, this is Tora Kia, my firstborn. Why do you interrupt. Kia?"
Footsteps entered the room. "Ah, my parent, in your game you have overlooked the two most important parties to the negotiations. Where is the Mavedah? Where is the Amadeen Front?"
Raga Gia snorted out a scornful laugh. "I refuse to have the Front at the talks." Its voice changed direction. "Does this comply with your game, Soam?" Raga’s voice turned again in Kia’s direction. "The United States of Earth will represent the interests of the Front, and the Dracon Chamber will represent the interests of the Mavedah."
Tora Kia laughed. "No, no, my parent’s most respected guest. The interests of the Dracon Chamber are not identical to those of the Mavedah."
Sergeant Benbo spoke for the first time. "Raga Gia, if the Front is no part of the negotiations, there can be no peace. If negotiations ever happen, the Amadeen Front will want its own representative. The Front only wants an end to the war under certain terms. It is the same with the Mavedah."
The direction of Tora Kia’s voice changed. "Human, how are you called?"
"Amos Benbo."
"Have you done your time upon Amadeen, Amos Benbo?"
"Yes. And you?"
"Yes."
Zigh Caida spoke: "Kia and this human speak the truth, Soam. There will be four sides at the negotiations. I propose that we enlist Tora Kia to represent the Mavedah, and Amos Benbo to represent the Amadeen Front."
Nicole heard Mitzak stand. His voice sounded deeply troubled. "Ovjetah, I do not wish to participate in this game. I am a student at the Talman Kovah. Therefore, my loyalties, as well as my method of thinking, would corrupt my performance as a human."
"You are a human, Mitzak." Tora Soam’s voice was deadly. "Whatever your views or methods of thinking, the first thing the Drac negotiators must overcome is the sight of your face." She heard Mitzak sit down. "Very well, Deputy Zigh, we now have four parties to this session. Who shall begin?"
"Ah, games such as this would best be left inside the walls of the Kovah," Zigh grumped. "Very well, each side should formulate its goals-what it hopes to achieve from the negotiations. Once we have all seen the diagrams-"
Nicole spoke: "There will be no diagrams, First Deputy. Human negotiators are not familiar with talma."
"Surely there must be a human equivalent?"
"Situation assessment, goal formulation, and path construction and evaluation are not systemized disciplines among humans."
Exasperated wheezing seemed to come from First Deputy Zigh’s direction. The wheezing paused. "Goals must be stated in some manner!"
Mitzak laughed. "Yes, they will be stated with force, bombast, and fine-sounding subjective phrases that cannot be taken literally. Their true goals must be deduced from the fog of words they will spread in front of you, and from their actions which will probably contradict what little true meaning their words might contain."
There was disturbed silence from the Drac side of the table until Ovjetah Suinat Piva of the Fangen Kovah burst out in laughter. "I see your game, Tora Soam. Very clever, and you have my compliments."