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"War? Against whom?"

"The other Colonies – they’ve made an alliance against us. They have agents inside here as well. Last night there was an attempted coup."

"What?" Anurag said blankly. "A coup?"

"Yes, they tried to assassinate the Great Mother herself. Fortunately the attempt failed, but now war is inevitable." ShidarPrahal waved a forelimb. "So you see why these things are going on that so disturbed you, and why the guards took no chances at the entrance."

"And you think – you think you can win this war?"

"Well," SidarPrahal said, "we’re outnumbered and they have better weapons. You see, we’ve been too dependent on our higher status and bigger Colony. They were the savages who lived by fighting, we were the sophisticated ones who were above all that." He made a motion that might have been a shrug. "And so, this is where it brought us."

"I see," Anurag said thoughtfully. "What’s the war about?"

"About? Food. Water. What little we have in the way of metals." The Mediator gestured with a claw. "You know as well as I do that this is a dying planet. Nothing’s left. Maybe you’ve seen the ruins of our ancient cities? They were great once, but they crumbled when they ran out of food and water and began fighting amongst themselves. Then we went back to burrowing under the ground and building up Colonies. Now the cycle is just being repeated. It’s our turn."

"Perhaps." Anurag nodded. "In any case, there’s nothing I can do about that. Earth’s policy is never to get involved in native politics."

"Unless there is some advantage to Earth in getting involved," the Mediator replied drily. "But then we have nothing to offer Earth on this dying planet, do we?"

"No – you don’t." Anurag drew back the sleeve of his robe and pulled at his implant of accreditation. It came loose from his flesh with a slight sucking sensation. "I ought to hand this to the Great Mother in person, oughtn’t I?"

"Theoretically, yes, but I’m afraid the Great Mother is currently inaccessible," ShidarPrahal said. "After last night’s attempt we’ve relocated her to a secure chamber under total isolation. But don’t worry, I’ll return it to her personally." There was a brief pause. "You’ll be glad to leave us, I suppose?"

"I won’t be at all sorry, that’s true enough. I’ve had enough of this planet."

 "And where will you go, back to Earth?"

"I wish I could." Anurag sighed despite himself. "If I had money enough, I’d have retired. Unfortunately, all that will happen is I’ll be reassigned to another dead planet somewhere, forced to interact with another race of stinking..." he stopped abruptly.

"...bugs," the Mediator finished smoothly. "That’s what you humans call us among themselves, isn’t it? Don’t worry, Ambassador, we don’t mind being called that. As far as we’re concerned it’s just a word. But you want to go back to Earth for good, don’t you?"

"Yes." Anurag confessed. "I’ve had enough of space. I’m homesick for blue skies and warm breezes, for waves washing up on a sandy shore, for the tickle of grass and the touch of rain. I want to be among people I can talk to."

"I’ve often heard you talk of this Earth," the HaKuru Mediator replied. "I know how much you long for it."

"Yes. But there’s no point thinking about it, is there? It won’t happen. I’ll never earn enough. That’s what they never tell you when they recruit you to the Imperial Space Service."

"But if suppose..." The Mediator hesitated and drew close. "If it so happened that you suddenly had enough to be able to go back permanently, to quit your job and live the rest of your life in comfort. Would you?"

"What are you talking about?"

The alien’s heavy triangular head tilted, his array of eyes gleaming in the light of the glow globe. "We’re going to lose this war. And when we lose, along with us goes the last vestiges of culture and hope the HaKuru have. The other colonies are little better than savages. Once they destroy us they’ll fight among each other until nothing is left. And what with the situation of food and water, it won’t be long after that that the race will be extinct."

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