Page 144 - The Perpetrations of Captain Kaga

Sorting the Sexes on Dulup

“Ah,” sighed Kurf, a long scratchy squeal in his own language.
“Then I guess I wouldn’t be interested. Of course, if you had to leave
it somewhere at night, I would pay very special attention to its safety.”
“Why?” asked Kaga sharply. “Are things not safe here? Has the
base been burglarized?”
“No, no, nothing like that,” rejoined the night watchman. “Come,
let me escort you to Lieutenant Lugo’s quarters.”
They crossed the landing field and came to the standard
prefabricated PKU mission building. Kaga noticed other Dulupians
working inside the compound. Several moved to intercept his
progress, but Kurf steered him quickly into the offices before they
could get close. Inside he found a berry-picker minding the reception
desk. Kurf briefly exchanged greetings with the secretary and left.
“I‘ve come to see Lieutenant Lugo,” said Kaga. “Is he here?”
“Not at the moment. He’s just returning from the satellite
command room. Is that a new piece of communications equipment
you’re carrying?”
“This? No, it’s just some apparatus for my own research.” Kaga
clutched the aminoscope tightly to his chest as the secretary leaned
across the desk to bring both eyes to bear on it.
“Oh.” Another overblown arpeggio of disappointment. “It does
look heavy. You may leave it on my desk while you are meeting with
the PKU officer. I will take good care of it for you.”
Before Kaga could reply, Lugo entered from a side door and
slapped him warmly on the back. “Captain Kaga Just the man I need!
What are you doing here? Were you sent out to investigate this mess?”
“What mess?” asked Kaga plaintively. It looked like Lugo was in
trouble again.
“Come into my office first. Let me close the door. There. Now be
sure your Languex is turned off. What’s that thing you’re carrying?
Will it make stimubev? I could sure use a cup.”
Kaga started to explain his presence, but he could see that Lugo was
too upset to pay much attention to him. He interrupted his lecture on
directed panspermia and asked, “What’s going on here, Lugo? What
needs investigating? And why are these Dulupians so interested in my
gear? They’re not supposed to be in contact with very much of our
technology.”

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