* * *
Anders didn’t know exactly what Stephanie said to convince Jessica, but about a week after the meet-and-greet, after she’d brought Valiant along to solemnly consider the Whitaker expedition’s latest collection of treecat artifacts, she asked him if he’d go with her the next day when she had a private interview with Dr. Hidalgo.
“I’d really appreciate your coming,” Jessica said as he walked back to her air car with her. “He’s the one whose area of specialization is like your dad’s right? Would he mind? And should I get his permission first—because of the retainer, and everything?”
“You mean, would Dad think I was consorting with the enemy or something?” Anders laughed. “Not really. He’d probably be grateful, actually—give him an idea of how the other side is thinking. And that retainer’s really just to reimburse you for the time you’re spending helping him out. It doesn’t mean you can’t help anyone else, you know.”
Although, he reflected, knowing his dad as he did, Dr. Whitaker wouldn’t object if Jessica thought it did.
“Great! Thanks. I’m a little nervous. This is going to be my first interview with one of the big guns.”
“You’re kidding! I thought you’d had a bunch of meetings already.”
“I’ve had a couple,” Jessica admitted, “but they’ve been with some of the assistants. That Gretta Grendelson—the one who wanted to pet Valiant at the shuttleport—we’ve had a couple of meetings, but she’s more a biologist than an anthropologist. She’s really interested in things like the treecats’ tails—how they are prehensile and how the gripping surface is designed.”
“Did Valiant like being poked?”
“Actually, he was pretty good about it. I got the feeling he’s neutral about Gretta.”
Anders frowned. “That sounds sort of like you’ve met with someone you don’t think he’s neutral about.”
“You sound,” Jessica giggled, “like an anthropologist. You’re right, though…. One time Gretta brought along one of Doctor Radzinsky’s other assistants—a man named Duff DeWitt.”
Anders searched his memory. “I think I’ve talked with him. Good-looking guy, blond hair, looks like he lifts weights?”
Did Jessica blush?
“That’s him. He had lots of questions about treecat behavior.”
“You said you thought Valiant didn’t like him.”
Yes, she was blushing.
“Well, yeah…Mr. DeWitt is…I mean, he likes…He’s sort of a flirt. Gretta thought it was great, but how he talked made me uncomfortable.”
Anders snorted. “You’re really pretty, Jessica. It doesn’t seem strange to me that he’d flirt with you.”
Jessica rolled her eyes. “It was more than that. He was the sort that made me feel like he flirted by reflex. He knows he’s good looking, so he sees where that might get him.”
“And you think Valiant didn’t like that.”
“I think it’s as good an explanation as any as to why Valiant was obviously uneasy with him. I messaged Stephanie, and she agreed the treecats don’t seem to like insincerity.”
“Neither does Stephanie.” Anders laughed. “Anyhow, I’d be glad to go with you when you meet with Dr. Hidalgo. When is your appointment?”
“Is tomorrow too soon?”
Anders shook his head. “What time?”
“Mid-morning,” Jessica replied as they reached her parked air car.” We’re supposed to meet in one of the conference rooms at their hotel. Do you need a lift?”
“I wouldn’t mind,” Anders said. “The expedition’s air car’s been a lot more in demand since the x-a’s got here and not everyone is going out to the site every day.”
“Great! See you then!”
* * *
Anders was right in his prediction that Doctor Whitaker would approve of his son going along for the meeting with Dr. Hidalgo.
“He’s very good,” was the reluctant admission. “He really appreciated my artifact collection. In fact, I think he’s the closest of the three senior members of the group to coming around to accepting that the treecats should be placed somewhere on the sentience scale.”
“Somewhere? Human somewhere?”
“Oh, probably not.” Doctor Whitaker waved a dismissive hand. “I’d like to see what conclusions you reach about him.”
“So you’re not going to contaminate the sample further.” Anders laughed. “Okay, Dad. I’ll let you know what I think.”
The next morning when Jessica picked him up, he asked, “Does Dr. Hidalgo know I’m coming along?”
“Yep. I told him I might need a translator who spoke anthropologist.”
“And he didn’t have any problems?”
“Not that I could see. Actually, he said some good things about your dad’s collections.”
Dr. Hidalgo had folded his long, thin length down into a chair at one end of the conference room, but he unfolded himself as soon as they entered. “Good morning and thank you both for coming, it’s—” He stopped, shook his head, and corrected himself. "Thank you all for coming."
Anders wondered who’d been omitted in that first greeting—himself or Valiant—but he didn’t think asking would be polite.
Dr. Hidalgo continued, this time addressing Jessica in particular. “I believe Valiant is a gardener. Would he be more comfortable if we went outside for our meeting? This complex has some very nice gardens, and they’re just about empty this time of day.”
Jessica beamed at him. “He’d like that. Besides, I think he finds indoor heating a little uncomfortable this time of year. His coat’s been thickening since the nights started getting cooler.”
“And how do you cope with that?” Dr. Hidalgo asked as he waved toward a door that led out into the promised gardens.
“Well, he always has the freedom to go outside, and I keep my own room cooler. I don’t mind wearing a sweater. My family got here in summer, so I haven’t actually lived through the winter, but I’ve heard a lot from my friends. I think Valiant’s going to need as dense a coat as possible when the snows fly.”
“Very thoughtful.” Doctor Hidalgo nodded approval.
Anders thought though that the x-a had arrived at a slightly different conclusion than his words might lead one to imagine. He glanced at Valiant, trying to see with the treecat was thinking, but Valiant was busy stretching up from his perch on Jessica’s shoulder so that he could inspect a vine that had been trained along a nearby trellis without damaging the plant.
Doctor Hidalgo’s questions followed a predictable pattern. He asked about Valiant’s carry net and whether he had made it himself. He asked about the other tools Valiant used, and how easily he adapted to human technology—both those things he could employ himself, like the sample bags, and those things he used indirectly, such as riding in an air car.
Eventually, they arrived at a neat little gazebo, furnished with tables and benches. When they settled there, Doctor Hidalgo asked Jessica if Valiant would mind showing off some of his basic skills, like tying knots or handling various tools. The swiftness with which Valiant agreed told Anders even without the “thumbs up” Jessica gave him that the treecat found nothing threatening about this particular member of the x-a group.
Jessica obviously liked Doctor Hidalgo, too. Anders had to admit that there was something charming about the way he’d tug at one of his jug-handle ears and murmur, “Amazing!” or “It’s different to see it in person rather than recorded.” He always asked for permission before recording a particular action, too, never simply assuming that permission previously given flowed over to the next.
When they’d been in the gazebo a while, Doctor Hidalgo announced, “I think we all deserve a break. Shall I call and order some refreshments? Perhaps lunch?”