Page 77 - The Perpetrations of Captain Kaga

Claiming the Vegimal Property

“Don’t you want to stay with the PKU? There may be profit in it
for you.”
“What is in it?” said Iminux. “That didn’t translate. What I want is
to get back to my own affairs as soon as possible. You aliens should
do the same.”
Captain Kaga considered the situation. If this Vegimal were typical
of the species, then Lugo was probably in some kind of trouble out
there. He had no time to lose in meeting General Kosla’s deadline.
“Okay, Iminux,” he said sternly. “I’ve heard enough about you.
Now I’ve got to track down Lieutenant Lugo fast: otherwise you
won’t have any affairs to get back to.”
Captain Kaga spent several minutes with Iminux getting an idea of
what had awaited Lugo beyond the perimeter of the base. Vegimal
groups were scattered all over the island: some wandering, some
more or less stationary. All spoke the same language, but there was
great divergence in tribal customs. Kaga realized that he couldn’t
predict what the response of any given Vegimal group would be to
contact with an alien.
Lugo had departed eight days earlier, well-equipped for a trip in the
bush, but without a definite itinerary. As Iminux understood it, Lugo
was bored with sitting around the base waiting for authority to
materialize. If the leader would not present himself, then he, Lugo,
would track him down. In the Vegimal’s view, Lugo was anxious to
conclude the agreement and get on with his own affairs.
Then the enormity of the task dawned on Kaga: he had less than
two earthdays to cover the same ground Lugo had covered in eight.
He rummaged around the office looking for clues to the direction in
which to set out, but Lugo had not recorded anything. Kaga did find
a computer-enhanced infrared satellite photo of Miglig. It was dated
nine days earlier.
“Iminux! This photo: did Lieutenant Lugo use it to lay out his
course?’’
“I can’t tell you because I don’t know. He did study those things
carefully each time they came out of that box.” A limb bent toward
the telemetry printer.
Captain Kaga stared intently at the image. He could clearly make
out the bunches of dots that had to be Vegimal bands. And there in
the center was a dull square that could only be the PKU base.
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