Long took a deep breath and addressed the kzin in the Hero's Tongue. “I am Major Long, intelligence officer. May I ask your name?”
The kzin snarled back, his teeth bared in what looked like a smile. The hostility in his voice was palpable. “I have no name, I am known as Fleet Commander.”
Long was startled. He hoped his self-control and the kzin's unfamiliarity with human expressions were enough to conceal his surprise. To ask a kzin's name was not just an introduction, it was a compliment. Only kzinti of high rank or accomplishment had names; the lower orders were simply known by their job description. To find a kzin of such status on a scoutship was unusual. To find a kzin whose rank was Fleet Commander and yet did not bear at least a partial name was unheard of. Further, the kzin's fang-baring smile showed that he found the question insulting. Whether it was because he didn't carry a name or because it had been suggested he did was unknowable, neither option made any sense. Still, despite the fangs and bristled fur the kzin wasn't showing the blind rage or abject depression that most prisoners displayed. That, at least, was a good sign.
“It is a pleasure and an honor to meet you, Fleet Commander.” He clicked his heels together and gave a kzinti salute, raking his hand in front of his face.
The kzin's deadly smile relaxed as much as the police web would allow. “It is an honor to meet you, Major Long, but it is no pleasure.” He flicked his ears as he said it.
“This room is sealed. If you will give me your word that you will not harm me I will release you.”
“There is no honor in accepting charity from an enemy,” growled the kzin. “But neither is there honor in hanging like a kzraow on a stick.” He flicked his ears again. “I give you my word, Major Long, and I accept your offer.”
“There is no dishonor, Fleet Commander. That web will hold a kzin; you would not have been able to break free.” He hit the release switch. There was no danger. A kzinti warrior's word was his honor, and his honor was his life. Nevertheless it was unsettling to be alone in the room with a hungry enemy carnivore.
The kzin dropped free of the field and stretched in a quintessentially feline motion, then rubbed his limbs in an incongruously primate gesture. “In truth, Major Long, that web will hold ten kzin. I believe the warrior who put me here found me more fearsome than he had need.” He flicked his ears for a third time. That expression was the kzinti equivalent of a wry smile, given in concert with an ironic comment. Long seemed to have found a kzin with a sense of humor. Under the circumstances, he thought with his own touch of irony, that might be even rarer than a Fleet Commander with no name.
“I apologize for your maltreatment.” Long gestured to the prrstet. “Please make yourself comfortable, we have much to discuss. I am to act as your liaison while you are here.” He settled into the armchair.
The kzin hopped onto the padding with easy grace. He looked completely relaxed, as only a cat can. No trace of his former anger remained. “You speak the Hero's Tongue well, Major Long. It is music after the way your destroyer captain abused my ears.”
The interview was going better than any Long had conducted before. It usually took days to reach this stage of semiformal banter. Fleet Commander might have well been a W'kkai noble meeting Man-Student-of-Kzinti for the first time, curious, confident and polite almost to a fault. He responded in kind. “Your praise encourages my poor efforts, esteemed warrior.”
Fleet Commander continued. “Tell me, though, what need has a prisoner for a liaison officer?”
“You are not a prisoner, although you must remain here for now. While negotiations for your return continue you will be our guest. We would appreciate any help you could give us.” The hope of release helped kzinti captives to hold on to their sanity longer and gave Long more leverage to pry out information. It was despair that ultimately killed them.
Fleet Commander tensed, his whiskers bristling. “You suggest I would reveal military secrets. It is a poor host who mocks the honor of his guests.”
“No insult is intended, honored guest. We would not ask you for sensitive information. Of course you are free to decline any question. We are not seeking military advantage, but a fuller understanding of the situation. We hope to prevent another war.”
“Urrrhh.” The big cat relaxed, somewhat mollified. “Under the circumstances I cannot dispute your fairness.” His ears twitched again.
Long felt relieved. An offended kzin whose honor didn't allow him to adapt to the situation was very difficult to deal with. Establishing the ground rules without antagonizing his subject was the most delicate part of his job. Sensitive questions would be asked, and refused at first. Once Fleet Commander felt at home with the situation his guard would go down and the refusals would come less often. Unsuspected information would be touched on. Whether further answers were forthcoming was irrelevant. What the kzin declined to volunteer would come out later with the hypnotics.
“You must be hungry; I will order food for us. A computer ident is being set up for you so that in future you can do so for yourself. We are also arranging for some prey animals. Meanwhile, I trust you will find fresh meat preferable to shipboard rations.” Long tapped his code into the terminal, keying in a request for a cold dinner — cooked meat would offend the kzin's sensitive nose — and ten pounds of raw beef.
“I am grateful for your hospitality. While we wait perhaps you could tell me what has become of my comrades aboard Silent Prowler.” The kzin's carefully neutral expression showed that he expected the answer, but Long still paused before answering. “You were the only survivor. The commander of our destroyer says they fought well. I am sorry for your loss.”
“Hrrr. Chraz-Captain was one of the best in the fleet, his crew was of the highest caliber. They will be missed.”
Long filed the identity of the scoutship's captain for future reference. Perhaps it would provide another lead. “You were fortunate to survive, Fleet Commander. Space is seldom so forgiving.”
“Seldom indeed, Major Long, but more often than the UNSN. I protest these needless deaths. Our mission was only observational, as allowed by treaty.” The kzin wasn't just lodging a grievance, he was testing, trying to find out how far he could push. Long warned himself to tread cautiously. Fleet Commander was an invaluable intelligence prize. His rapid adaptation to the situation suggested considerable resourcefulness.
“The treaty requires notification which was not given and limits the sensors which may be used. You were deeply in violation of Sol's defensive sphere. When challenged you opened fire first. Though we regret the results we could have taken no other course.”
The kzin growled softly. “Silent Prowler was a reconnaissance ship, posing no military threat to Sol System. We fought only because your interception precluded flight, and then only engaged to cover our withdrawal. Our mission began to discern any human war preparations and ended with human attack. Clearly those preparations are considerable or you would not have attacked us. My protest stands.”
“How can you accuse us of aggression? Humans were pacifists before the kzinti came.” Long hoped continuing the argument was the right move. He didn't want to antagonize his subject, but on the other hand the kzin had to come to see him as an equal. That wouldn't happen if he avoided this challenge. Then too, his prisoner had given the purpose of his mission unprompted. Perhaps in the heat of the moment he might reveal less obvious facts.
Fleet Commander's angry snarl took Long by surprise. “Humans were pacifists because the alternative was self-extinction. You found it no difficulty to revert to killers when need arose. You fear kzinti because we are predators. We duel for honor and hunt for food and you say our race is violent and bloody. But no kzin has used conversion weapons on a population center. No kzin has ruptured the domes of a colony world. How many humans were killed when the UNSN attacked Wunderland? How many sentient species have you eliminated on Earth alone? It is we who should be trembling for having the temerity to attack such a race. May the Fanged God protect us from our folly!”