Page 80 - The Perpetrations of Captain Kaga

Claiming the Vegimal Property

continued on their way, rolling along on a succession of limbs
bunched up at the end as they came in forward contact with the
ground. They cast but a brief glance at Kaga as they passed by. He
stood for a moment dumbfounded, then started after the retreating
troop.
“Greetings!” he yelled, as soon as he had caught up. The Vegimals
didn’t break stride, but the one in front of the group finally spoke.
“What do you want?” The voice was loud and harsh. Kaga walked
briskly up to the leader and turned up the volume on the Languex to
match him.
“Have you seen another alien recently?”
“Not our affair. Get out of the way.” Kaga leapt to the side as the
group suddenly made a slight turn in his direction. Once again he had
to hustle back to the front of the procession.
“Just tell me if you have seen him and I will leave you alone.”
The leader, in response, stuck out one of his whirling limbs and
tripped Kaga. He fell on his hands and was treated to a few
gratuitous thumps on the back as the others passed by. That does it!
thought Kaga angrily. He took aim with his destabilizer and fired a
low beam at the Vegimal band. Their limbs collapsed and they rolled
about on the ground shouting in hoarse voices.
Kaga went to the leader, who was vainly struggling to get up.
“Now,” said the human, ‘‘you will have to answer a lot of questions,
not just one. Then you can go. I’m sorry, but your safety ultimately
depends on this. After we’ve finished talking, talking, I’ll put you
back you on your, uh, feet, and you can continue on your way. Will
you cooperate?”
The Vegimal chief uttered a series of exclamations which the
Languex did not attempt to translate. Then it said a choked voice,
“What do you want to know, miserable rootles s alien?”
“That’s better. Now, did you meet one of my species about eight
days ago, when your tribe passed by the PKU base?”
“Ye s!” snarled the prostrate leader, against the invisible force
inhibiting his motor nerves. “And may his roots rot for a thousand
years! Bah! You coward! Without that trick, you’d have no more
strength than a seedling.”

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