Cubs of the Wolf Read online

that would increase our mutual understanding."

  "All that the Idealists have belongs to every man and every race," saidSal Karone solemnly. "What we can give you may be had for the asking.But I would give you a word of warning about my Masters."

  Cameron felt the flesh of his back tingle with sudden chill as the eyesof the Id turned full upon him.

  "Do not try to find out the hidden things of the Masters. That is whatyou have come for, is it not, Cameron Wilder? That is why you have takenso much trouble to learn the language which we speak. I say do notinquire of the things about which they do not wish to speak. My Mastersare a people who cannot yet be understood by the men of other worlds. Intime there will be understanding, but that time is not yet. You willonly bring disaster and disappointment upon us and yourselves byattempting to hasten that time."

  "I assure you I have no intention of prying," said Cameron haltingly. Hefumbled for the right Markovian words. "You have misunderstood--We comeonly in friendship and with no intention of disturbing--"

  The Id nodded sagely. "So many crises are originated by good intentions.But I am sure that now you understand the feelings of my Masters inthese things that you will be concerned only with your own enjoymentwhile in the Nucleus. And do come to the centers of the Idealists, forthere is much we can show you, and our willingness has no limits."

  For a moment it was impossible for Cameron to remember that he wasdealing with a mere servant of the Markovians. The Id's words were soincisive and his manner so commanding that it seemed he must be speakingin his own right.

  And then his manner changed. His boldness vanished and he spokeobsequiously. "You will forgive me," he said, "but this is a matterconcerning which there is much feeling."

  * * * * *

  Cameron Wilder was more than willing to agree with this sentiment. As hereturned to his own quarters he debated telling Joyce of his encounterwith the Id, deciding finally that he'd have to mention it since they'dall be traveling together, but omitting the Id's repetition of theprevious warnings.

  He did not meet the Markovian, nor did he encounter the Id again in thewaiting quarters. It was not until they had embarked on the last leg ofthe journey and had been aboard the vessel for half a day that they meta second time.

  The ship was not a Markovian or a terran-type vessel of any kind.Another week's wait would have been required for one of those. As itwas, their quarters were not too uncomfortable although very limited.The bulk of the vessel was designed for crew and passengers very muchunlike Terran or Markovian, and only a few suites were provided foraccommodation of such races.

  This threw the travelers to the Nucleus in close association again.Their suites opened to a common lounge deck and when Cameron and Joycewent out they found Sal Karone and the Markovian, Marthasa, alreadythere.

  The Id was on his feet instantly. With a sharp bow he introduced thenewcomers to his Master. Dells Marthasa stood and extended a hand with asmile. "I believe that is your greeting on Earth, is it not?" he said.

  "You must be familiar with our home world," said Cameron, returning thehandshake.

  "Only a little, through my studies," said the Markovian. "Enough to makeme want to hear much more. Please join us. Since my _sargh_ told me wewould be traveling together I have looked forward to your company."

  The term, _sargh_, as Cameron learned shortly was applied to all Idsattached to Markovians. It had a connotation somewhere between servantand companion. Sal Karone remained in the background, but there was noservility in his manner. His eyes remained respectfully--almost fondly;that was the right word, Cameron thought curiously--on Marthasa.

  While the Id was slender in build, the Markovian was taller and bulkier.His complexion was also dark, but not quite so much so as the Id's. Hewas dressed in loose, highly colored attire that gave Cameron animpression of an Oriental potentate of his own world.

  But somehow there was a quality in Marthasa's manner that was jarring.It would have been less so if the Markovian had been lessanthropomorphic in form and feature, but Cameron found it difficult tothink of him as anything but a fellow man.

  A man of arrogance and ill manners, and completely unaware that he wasso.

  It was apparent in his gestures and in the negligence with which heleaned back and surveyed his companions. "You'll be surprised when yousee the Nucleus," he said. "We sometimes hear of rumors circulated amongCouncil worlds that Markovian culture is rather backward."

  "I've never heard anything of that kind," said Cameron. "In fact we'veheard almost nothing at all of the Nucleus. That's why we decided tocome."

  "I'm sure we can make you glad you did. Don't you think so, Karone?"

  The face of the Id was very sober as he nodded solemnly and said,"Indeed, Master." His burning eyes were boring directly into Cameron'sown.

  "I want to hear about your people, about Earth," said Marthasa. "Tell mewhat you would like to see and do while you're in the Nucleus."

  While Joyce answered, explaining they hardly knew what there was to beseen, Cameron's attention was fixed by the problem of the strangerelationship between the two men--the two races. In the face of the Idthere seemed a serenity, a dignity that the Markovian would never know.Why had the Ids failed to lift themselves out of servility to a state ofindependence, he wondered?

  Joyce explained the story about their honeymoon trip and built theirinterest in Markovian culture as casual indeed. As she went on, Marthasaseemed to be struck by a sudden thought.

  "I insist that you make your headquarters with me during your stay," hesaid. "I can see that you learn everything possible about the Nucleuswhile you are here. My son is a Chief Historian at our largest researchlibrary and my daughter has the post of Assistant Curator at our Museumof Science and Culture. You will never have a better opportunity toexamine the culture of the Nucleus!"

  Cameron winced inwardly at the thought of Marthasa's companionshipduring their whole stay, and yet the Markovian's statement might beperfectly true--there would be no better opportunity to make theirstudy.

  "We have an official note of welcome from your Executive Head, PremierJargla," he said. "While we would be very happy to accept yourinvitation, it may be that he has different plans for our reception."

  Marthasa waved a hand. "I shall arrange for my appointment as yourofficial host. Consider it agreed upon!"

  It was agreed. But Joyce was not as optimistic as Cameron in regardingit an aid to their study. "If they have a general aversion to talkingabout their pirate ancestry, Marthasa is just the boy to put us off thetrack," she said. "If he gets a clue to what we really want to know,he'll keep us busy looking at everything else until we give up and gohome."

  Cameron leaned back in the deep chair with his hands behind his head."It's not too hard to imagine Marthasa's great-great-grandfather runningdown vessels in space and pillaging helpless cities on other planets.The veneer of civilization on him doesn't look very thick."

  "It's not hard to imagine Marthasa doing it," said Joyce. "A scimitarbetween his teeth would be completely in character!"

  "If all goes well, you will probably see just that--figurativelyspeaking, of course. Where a cultural shift has been so great as thisone you are certain to see evidence of both levels in conflict with oneanother. It's like a geologic fault line. Once we learn enough about thecurrent mores the anomalies will stand out in full view. That's what wewant to watch for."

  "One thing that's out of character right now is his offer of assistancethrough his son, the Chief Historian," said Joyce. "That doesn't checkwith the previous invitations to stay home. Once they let us have accessto their historical records we'll have them pegged."

  "We haven't got it yet," said Cameron. "We can't be sure just whatthey'll let us see. But for my money I'd just as soon tackle thequestion of the Ids. Sal Karone is twice the man Marthasa is, yet heacts like he has no will of his own when the Markovian is around."

  "The Roman-slave relationship," said Joyce. "The Markovians probabl
yconquered a large community of the Ids in their pirate days and broughtthem here as slaves. And I'll bet they are very much aware that the Idsare the better men. Marthasa knows it. That's why he has to put on ashow in front of Sal Karone. He's the old Roman merchant struggling tokeep up his conviction of superiority before the Greek scholar slave."

  "The Ids aren't supposed to be slaves. According to the little that'sknown they are completely free. I'm going to get Marthasa's version ofit, anyway. Fothergill and the Foundation can't object to that muchinvestigation of the Ids."

  He found the Markovian