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He considered the possibility of letters to the Brotherhood Council but ultimately rejected it. Not only was the proof legally insufficient to establish humanity in the Lani, but he also remembered Alexander's incredible knowledge of his activities, and there was no reason to suppose that his present didn't receive the same scrutiny as the past.
But so far none had any difficulty in proving their human origin. The Lani, conceivably, could have been descendants of one of these groups, which probably explained the extreme care the Brotherhood courts had taken with their case. But they had failed the test, and were declared animals. Yet it was possible that they had mutated beyond genetic compatibility.
He heard the trial of Roga and the details of his torture by the priests of Ulf and the priests of Lyssa united by this greatest sacrilege. And he heard the Lani version of the landing of Alexander's ship and man's conquest of Flora. It was a story of savagery and superstition, of blood and intolerance, of bravery and cowardice, of love and beauty.
Other Lani had told her about men and what they could do. Even her old preceptress at Hillside Station had given her some advice when Man Allworth had tattooed the tiny V on her thigh that meant she had been selected for the veterinary staff.
"Old Doc's Lani!" he gasped. "She works for me now," Kennon said. Douglas laughed. It wasn't a nice sound. "All dressed up?" he asked. "Nice work." "That's my fault," Kennon said. "You know the rules," Douglas said. "I could blast you both." "Go ahead," Kennon said, "but if you do, you'll never find out what we're doing up here." Douglas hesitated.
We can't be butting heads over this either we all co-operate or this whole operation will blow up in our faces. "Look at the record. Six months ago you ended a year with no deaths from disease. Five months ago Old Doc and two Lani were ill. Four months ago one of the two Lani was dead and Old Doc was too ill to be effective.
Let the tests be negative. But they weren't. Unequivocally they confirmed Copper's diagnosis. Here was the proof he needed. The final test that would prove the Lani human. And he had no way of getting it where it would do any good. It would take at least four months of steady labor before the ship was ready, and he didn't have that sort of time.
"Serving, sir," the Lani said. "On whose authority?" "Man Douglas, sir." Alexander groaned. "You see," he said, turning to Kennon. "We need someone here with a little sense. Like I was telling you, the Family'd" he stopped abruptly and turned back to the Lani. "Your name and pedigree," he demanded. "Silver Dawn, sir out of White Magic platinum experimental type strain four." "I thought so.
"Well here's your home for the next five years," Alexander said. "Eight rooms, two baths, a freshener, and three Lani to keep the place running. You've got it made." "Perhaps we'll see when we tackle this fluke infestation. Personally, I don't think I'm going to have an easy time. Tomorrow I'm going to be up to my neck in trouble trying to save your profits." "You'll do it.
"You're the new doctor?" the Lani asked. "Thank goodness you've come! I'll get the staff. I'll be back in a moment." She stepped quickly over to the switchboard beside the door and punched five buttons. Four more humanoids came into the room, followed a little later by a fifth. "Where's the emergency?" one asked. "He is it's our new doctor." "More females," Kennon muttered to himself.
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