Page 86 - The Perpetrations of Captain Kaga

Claiming the Vegimal Property

“Thank you!” said Kaga, and rushed back to his vehicle. He had
less than five hours to avert the attack on Miglig.
It was not difficult to find the Igmalavex on the map, given the
information provided by the king. There it is, thought Kaga, a tiny
group of dots right on the coastline, totally unmoving through the
series of images. And now that he knew Lugo’s path, he could pick
out one low-intensity blip, moving steadily toward the coast from the
court of King Akarak. It had not quite arrived at that destination on
the last frame, taken thirty-six hours earlier.
Kaga set o ff at full speed, following Lugo’s trail. He reasoned that
a man on foot would take a route the Terrall could negotiate without
too much trouble. His mind was reeling with the events of the past
two days. The conversation with Helen Highwater still reverberated
in his head, along with all the Vegimal explanations and arguments.
He wanted to sleep, but had to keep steering the Terrall.
Finally the coast came in sight. His heart leapt as he saw a small
group of Vegimals far off on his right, silhouetted against the sky.
And there—something else! A human form next to the others!
Kaga turned the Terrall and drove up a rough rocky incline to meet
the group. The Igmalavex had rooted themselves on the barren edge
of a palisade; thirty meters below them the sea crashed against the
cliff wall. This must be the worst soil of all, thought Kaga; no other
Vegimals would ever contest them for it. But how could they survive
in it? Then he saw that all the limbs of the ancients were stuck solidly
into crevices. It didn’t look like they’d ever move again.
This sobering observation was interrupted by Lieutenant Lugo,
who came running down to the Terrall. “Captain Kaga! How did you
get here? What’s going on? My transmitter broke when a gang of
nasty Vegimals knocked me down. Is that why you’re here?”
Kaga jumped to the ground and shook his friend’s hand warmly.
“Lugo, there’s no time to lose: the PKU considers this a hostile
planet, and your disappearance is just about to trigger a punitive
action.”
“What!” cried Lugo. “They’re crazy! I’m in no danger here. I know
I should have gone back to the base after my radio busted, but I just
had to find who on this island can sign a trade agreement. And this is
the end of the line. These old Vegimals here—but that can wait! Call
in for me and stop those military madmen!”
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