"How can he?" demanded Voorhis. "They figure they own it already."
"We'll worry about that later," said Mayne.
"You will!" Voorhis guffawed. "I hope you get some credit out of it."
Haruhiku interrupted to inform Mayne that the Kappans, who had been interested if bewildered listeners, had invited the Terrans to a small feast.
"I translated enough to let them understand there would be no attempt to disturb their temple building," he explained. "They now feel they owe us hospitality."
"Good, that's something," said Mayne.
"I'll tell you what else will be something," grunted Voorhis. "The food!"
The assemblage repaired to the Kappan village. The Terrans—though it took some doing—survived the feast.
Mayne thought it best not to inquire into the nature of the dishes served. Eemakh was evidently determined to display his village's finest hospitality, so the Terrans even tried the Kappan beer. Mayne absorbed enough to get used to it.
Or did it absorb me? he wondered. Igrillik's beginning to look almost human!