“You learned our language from Pendleton and Reynolds?” Reynolds had been the anthropologist.
“We have had visitors from Earth before.” He hesitated a moment and then offered his hand, somewhat shyly, Eckert thought, in the Terrestrial sign of greeting. “You may call me Jathong if you wish.” He paused a moment to say something in his native tongue to the kids who were around. They promptly scattered and picked up the luggage. “While you are here, you will need a place to stay. There is one ready, if you will follow me.”
He was polite, Eckert thought. He didn’t ask what they were there for or how long they were going to stay. But then again, perhaps the natives were a better judge of that than he and Templin.
The town was larger than he had thought at first, stretching over a wide expans
