Poul Anderson - The Helping Hand

With this story, we enter a future in which mankind has spreaditself far out into the galaxy of which Earth's sunandEarth itself, of courseare such microscopically small bits ofdust. In Anderson's concept, most life forms encountered seem to beessentially humanoid. In this story, indeed, they are not onlyhumanoid, but measurably "human" in their psychological reactions. Ifone wanted to draw some comparisons, one could, I suppose, compareCundaloa in this tale with the islands of the Pacific, and Skontar withthe Scandinavian countries. Sweden, for example, is Swedish through andthrough. Hawaii? Whatever Hawaii is, and it sounds wonderful for avacation, it surely no longer belongs to the original Hawaiians Youwill get the point of this analogy as you read on, of course.

A mellow bell tone was followed by the flat voice of theroboreceptionist: "His Excellency Valka Vahino, Special Envoy from theLeague of Cundaloa to the Commonwealth of Sol."

The Earthlings rose politely as he entered. Despite the heavygravity and dry chill air of terrestrial conditions, he moved with theflowing grace of his species, and many of the humans were struck anewby what a handsome people his race was.

Peopleyes, the folk of Cundaloa were humanoid enough, mentally andphysically, to justify the term. Their differences were not important;they added a certain charm, the romance of alienness, to the comfortingreassurance that there was no really basic strangeness.

Ralph Dalton let his eyes sweep over the ambassador. Valka Vahinowas typical of his racehumanoid mammal, biped, with a face that wasvery manlike, differing only in its beauty of finely chiseled features,high cheekbones, great dark eyes. A little smaller, more slender thanthe Earthlings, with a noiseless, feline ease of movement. Long shiningblue hair swept back from his high forehead to his slim shoulders, asharp and pleasing contrast to the rich golden skin color. He wasdressed in the ancient ceremonial garb of Luai on Cundaloashiningsilvery tunic, deep-purple cloak from which little sparks of glitteringmetal swirled like fugitive stars, gold-worked boots of soft leather.One slender six-fingered hand held the elaborately carved staff ofoffice which was all the credentials his planet had given him.

He bowed, a single rippling movement which had nothing of servilityin it, and said in excellent Terrestrial, which still retained some ofthe lilting, singing accent of his native tongue: "Peace on yourhouses! The Great House of Cundaloa sends greetings and manywell-wishings to his brothers of Sol. His unworthy member Valka Vahinospeaks for him in friendship."

Some of the Earthlings shifted stance, a little embarrassed. It didsound awkward in translation, thought Dalton. But the language ofCundaloa was one of the most beautiful sounds in the Galaxy.

He replied with an attempt at the same grave formality. "Greetingsand welcome. The Commonwealth of Sol receives the representative of theLeague of Cundaloa in all friendship. Ralph Dalton, Premier of theCommonwealth, speaking for the people of the Solar System."

He introduced the others thencabinet ministers, technical advisers,military staff members. It was an important assembly. Most of the powerand influence in the Solar System was gathered here.

He finished: "This is an informal preliminary conference on theeconomic proposals recently made to your gov to the Great House ofCundaloa. It has no legal standing. But it is being televised, and Idaresay the Solar Assembly will act on a basis of what is learned atthese and similar hearings."

"I understand. It is a good idea." Vahino waited until the rest wereseated before taking a chair.

There was a pause. Eyes kept going to the clock on the wall. Vahinohad arrived punctually at the time set, but Skorrogan of Skontar waslate, thought Dalton. Tactless, but then the manners of the Skontaranswere notoriously bad. Not at all like the gentle deference of Cundaloa,which in no way indicated weakness.

There was aimless conversation, of the "How do you like it here?"variety. Vahino, it developed, had visited the Solar System quite a fewtimes in the past decade. Not surprising, in view of the increasinglyclose economic ties between his planet and the Commonwealth. There werea great many Cundaloan students in Earthian universities, and beforethe war there had been a growing tourist traffic from Sol to Avaiki. Itwould probably revive soonespecially if the devastation were repairedand

"Oh, yes," smiled Vahino. "It is the ambition of all young anamai,men on Cundaloa, to come to Earth, if only for a visit. It is not mereflattery to say that our admiration for you and your achievements isboundless."

"It's mutual," said Dalton. "Your culture, your art and music, yourliteratureall have a large following in the Solar System. Why, manymen, and not just scholars, learn Luaian simply to read the Dvanagoa-Epaiin the original. Cundaloan singers, from concert artists to night-clubentertainers, get more applause than any others." He grinned. "Youryoung men here have some difficulty keeping our terrestrial coeds offtheir necks. And your few young women here are besieged by invitations.I suppose only the fact that there cannot be issue has kept the numberof marriages as small as it has been."

"But seriously," persisted Vahino, "we realize at home that yourcivilization sets the tone for the known Galaxy. It is not just thatSolarian civilization is the most advanced technically, though thathas, of course, much to do with it. You came to us,with your spaceships and atomic energy and medical science and allelsebut, after all, we can learn that and go on with you from there.It is, however, such acts as well, as your present offer of help: torebuild ruined worlds light-years away, pouring your own skill andtreasure into our homes, when we can offer you so little in returnitis that which makes you the leading race in the Galaxy."

"We have selfish motives, as you well know," said Dalton a littleuncomfortably. "Many of them. There is, of course, simplehumanitarianism. We could not let races very like our own know wantwhen the Solar System and its colonies have more wealth than they knowwhat to do with. But our own bloody history has taught us that suchprograms as this economic-aid plan redound to the benefit of theinitiator. When we have built up Cundaloa and Skontar, got themproducing again, modernized their backward industry, taught them oursciencethey will be able to trade with us. And our economy is still,after all these centuries, primarily mercantile. Then, too, we willhave knitted them too closely together for a repetition of thedisastrous war just ended. And they will be allies for us against someof the really alien and menacing cultures in the Galaxy, planets andsystems and empires against which we may one day have to stand."

"Pray the High One that that day never comes," said Vahino soberly."We have seen enough of war."

The bell sounded again, and the robot announced in its clear inhumantones: "His Excellency Skorrogan Valthak's son, Duke of Kraakahaym,Special Envoy from the Empire of Skontar to the Commonwealth of Sol."

They got up again, a little more slowly this time, and Dalton sawthe expressions of dislike on several faces, expressions which smoothedinto noncommittal blankness as the newcomer entered. There was nodenying that the Skontarans were not very popular in the Solar Systemjust now, and partly it was their own fault. But most of it theycouldn't help.

The prevailing impression was that Skontar had been at fault in thewar with Cundaloa. That was plainly an error. The misfortune was thatthe suns Skang and Avaiki, forming a system about half a light-yearapart, had a third companion which humans usually called Allan, afterthe captain of the first expedition to the system. And the planets ofAllan were uninhabited.