charter we operate under forbids claiming, or establishing colonies on, worlds with sentient populations. That seems to rule out Ithaca 3-15d rather effectively.”
“If the Ents are sentient.”
“Apparently they have a language.”
“So what? Bees have a language.”
Lil was silent. According to the Sagittan charter governing interactions between different species—a charter Earth had had little choice in signing—there was a fine line separating life forms displaying high intelligence from life forms that were sentient. The conduct expected of charter signatories in relation to each was carefully spelled out. As to which category the natives of Ithaca 3-15d belonged, that would depend heavily on the xenolinguist’s assessment of their language. A LangSpec knew the tests the Sagittans demanded.
“Haven’t you noticed the stuff that comes off this mudball?” Madel asked. “Didn’t you feel anything as you rubbed the beads between your fingers?”
She’d felt a slight buzz, she remembered now, as if her fingertips had come in contact with a mild electrical source. “Maybe.”
“Almost as if they had hallucinogenic properties?” Madel persisted.
“Doesn’t that argue that the makers are sentient?”
“No. The beads aren’t anything but hard nuts strung on plaited vines. The quality is in the plant fibers, not in the primitive way they’ve been shaped. But, Lil, this could be a tremendously rich colony for us.”
“If Gia gets the trade agreement settled—”
“Dammit, Lil! I’m not talking about trade agreements. How can you make an agreement with animals?”
“Sounds like you’ve made up your mind before all the data are in.”
“I’m just suggesting—”
“We’d have to call a crew meeting over this. There’s a moral issue involved. “ One of the first things she’d learned at the Academy years ago: never trust simple solutions to issues involving ethics. To anticipate consequences of her actions, a captain had to consult with her crew. Everybody’s opinion was useful.
“Forget protocol for a while!” Madel slapped her hand hard on the lab counter in emphasis.
But it was a tempting idea. And maybe it was meant to be, she thought. Surely it had been an act of fate that brought them here in the first place. “What’re you suggesting I do?”
“Just let me get on with my research. Later, when we’re ready, you can put the word to CenCom.”
“We?”
“Actually, it was Dori’s idea.”
“I should’ve have known,” Lil said. “Well, I’ll think about it.”
“Don’t think too long. And Lil”—Madel glanced at the small lab console where the green eye was temporarily closed—”keep this away from HANA. We don’t want it leaking to CenCom before we’re ready.”
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