report on the hunters Kirk had immediately signaled the Federation
requesting that the Taygetians; be reclassified as an intelligent life
form. He then settled back to wait while the message made its way to Earth
and a reply was returned.
Spock remained on the Enterprise, checking the scanners for malfunctions.
He finally had to concur that Lieutenant Mendez was correct. The bizarre
readings were the result of some phenomenon on Thygeta, and not mechanical
failure. Perplexed, he joined Kirk in the rec room for a game of chess.
Kirk leaned back in his chair and watched Spock's slender fingers lift a
piece, momentarily caress the figure, then swiftly place it in its new
location. He realized, as he listened to Spock's report, that he had missed
his first officer. It wasn't often that their duties separated them, and he
had found the absence of that taff, quiet figure strangely disconcerting.
He remembered Edith Keeler's description of their relationship when Spock
had asked her where she thought he belonged. She had replied, at his side,
like you've always been there and always will be.
Yes, Kirk thought. That pretty comprehensively covers it. He realized that
Spock had concluded his report, and was quietly waiting for some response.
He cleared his throat, and straightened somewhat in his chair.
134
The Tears of the Singers
"So we're no closer to breaking the Thygetians' language than we were when
we started?"
"I must regretfully agree with your estimation of the situation. We have
learned a great deal about the creatures physiologically, but we are no
closer to understanding the reasons behind their strange social structure
or the reason for this great song."
"Then maybe bringing Maslin was a useless gesture."
"No, I cannot agree. I still believe that the music is the key, and Maslin
is the person best suited to discover its meaning." Spock momentarily
frowned. "In fact, there was an odd occurrence when the first Thygetian
died. Everyone was naturally shocked by the terrible death cry, but Maslmi
was physically and mentally shaken. Almost as if the music had pulled him
into some sort of rapport with the 1hygetians. His reaction was very
similar to what I've seen when a telepath is violently pulled out of
contact."
"Esper powers aren't common among my people."
"I am aware of this, but Maslin may be one of those rare cases. My primary
reason for mentioning this occurrence is that it might indicate the
presence of esper powers on the part of the Thygetians. If such is the case
perhaps I should try the Vulcan mind meld."
"I know such melds are difficult for you, Spock, and I always hate for you
to try it on an unknown race. You never know what's going to happen. Let's
continue the more traditional forms of research until it becomes certain
they're not going to work."
"As you wish, Captain."
The wall communicator whistled. "Captain Kirk, there's a message for you
from Federation Central."
"I'll take it in my quarters. Coming, Mr. Spock?"
"I'm very sorry, Captain, but under article 5, section 301 of the Code a
race cannot be reclassified without a full investiga-
135
The Tears of the Singers
tion by a xenological team. The Enterprise does not carry such a complement,
and your request is therefore denied."
The fat-faced man on the screen nodded placidly and the screen went dark.
"And that's it? After ten hours of waiting that's all we get?" Kirk said
incredulously. "I told them in my message that there had never been an
adequate study made of the planet. Why then do we have to have a full
investigation to rectify an earlier mistake? How can the man be so stupid?"
he demanded, bringing his hand down with a slap on the top of the
communicator.
"Then our hands are tied?"
"You know me better than that, Spock. Perhaps a little conversation with
Mr. Garyson--'
"Captain," T'zeela's voice interrupted him. "A call for you from Commander
Kor."
"Put it through, Lieutenant."
that planet," Kor said without preamble.
"Yes, I know, Commander. Mr. Spock and I were just discussing what to do
about them."
"Well, while you've been talking my wife went off to try and do something.
Fbrtunately my men called me, and I was able to extract her from what could
have been a very unpleasant situation. Kali is very upset by the killing of
the Thygetians, and she feels it could be dangerous to all of us."
"Does she have some evidence to support this theory?"
Kor looked rueful. "I've tried to pin her down, but she just keeps saying
it's a feeling.
"Where are you now?"
"On the planet. I thought it was time I had a firsthand look at these
troublesome creatures."
136
The Tears of the Singers
"Mr. Spock and I are coming right down. Meet us at our camp, and let's see
what, if anything, we've got."
"We'll be there."
Maslin was seated at the synthesizer, surrounded by every member of the
landing party. There was an agitated hum of conversation, and periodically
someone would give a shout of delight and point at something on the
synthesizees screen.
"I think we missed something, Spock," Kirk said as the transporter
materialization ceased.
.4yes,9f Spock said shortly. -
"What's all the fuss?" Kirk called as he jogged over to join the group.-
"Mr. Maslin's done it!" Yeoman Chou replied, her chinadoll face pink with
excitement.
"Well, not by a long stretch," Maslin said, swinging around on the bench
and holding up a hand to forestall the question he could see forming on
Kirk's lips. "All I've done is start to see how this musical language fits
together. I'm still not able to speak it or understand what's said to me."
"Im not certain I understand," Spock said. "If you have ascertained the
grammar surely meaning must follow?"
"Ordinarily I'd agree with you, but there are still these troublesome gaps
in the song.."
"I thought you'd adjusted the machine to take into the account the problem
of the sonics?" Kirk asked. He noticed Kor and Kah hovering at the
outskirts of the group, liste 1 9 with interest.
"I did, and the problem isn't the sonics. These gaps are totally unnatural.
It's as if I simply cut out sections from a symphony orchestra. You know
there's a bassoon solo that's supposed to come in at this point, but
instead you get nothing because there's no bassoon to play the passage."
"What are you saying?" Kor asked, pushing through the humans.
"That the problem is the hunters. It's like somebody went
137
The Tears of the ShWrs
through one of my orchestras with phaser fire, taking out a flute here, two
violins, a trumpet. The result is a sound that seems pretty coherent until
you start listening closely."
"Then I was right," Kali said, giving Kor a challenging look.
"The hunters
should have been stopped."
"Yes, you were right in theory but wrong in the execution. You do not go
hunting for Cxentares cats with a slingshot." He smiled to lessen the sting
of his reprimand, and brushed his thumb along the line of her jaw.
She was mollified, but only slightly. She threw back her head, and gave her
husband a challenging look. "The women have known all along that the
hunters were dangerous, and now that we have finally convinced you men,
what are you going to do about it? If you are going to continue to dither
and hesitate, and discuss the legality of this and the properness of that,
then we women will act. Right, Uhura?"
"Right," the Bantu woman said with an amused glance at Kirk and Spock.
Kirk grinned, and said in an undertone to Kor, "I don't envy you."
"I enjoy a challenge," the Klingon responded blandly. Kali glared at him,
and his smile broadened at her tiger-cub expression.
"Well, Commander, since we are clearly about to lose all respect and'
therefore our ability to command unless we take action-shall we take
action?"
'An excellent suggestion, Captain."
"Mr. Ragsdale, you and Mr. Lindenbaum will acoompany me to secure the
hunters."
'Yes, sir."
"Would you care to join us, Commander?"
"Yes, but I would feel somewhat less outnumbered, and it would seem more of
a bipartisan effort, if I could have one of my men join us.'9
"Fine." Kor stepped aside, and opened his communicator. "How about you, Mr.
Spock?"
138
The Tears of the Singers
"I would prefer to stay here, and study Mr. Maslin's work. I am fascinated
to see how he made this breakthrough."
-intuitive leap," Maslin said wickedly, knowing it would irritate Spock..
A few moments later there were the soundless Hashes of a Klingon
transporter, and an extraordinarily handsome Klingon, but one unknown to
the humans, appeared in the camp.
-Kandi, captain of the Emperor's Pride," Kor said briefly. He then
introduced the humans. Kandi nodded to the men, and gave the women a
devilish grin. He lifted Uhura's hand, and bestowed a light kiss onto the
wrist.
"I had no notion that human women could be so beauti-
ful.11
"And I had no notion that Klingon men knew how to ffirt," she said,
twisting her hand free and retreating to Maslin's side. The Klingon pursued
her, and leaned nonchalantly on the synthesizer, to Maslin's immense
irritation.
"Tell me," he said conversationally, "you don't happen to have any recent
Earth fiction tapes that you would be willing to part with?"
"Kandi," Kor said significantly, "we would like to settle this sometime
before next week. You can importune people for trashy novels some other
time."
The younger man sighed. "Perhaps later," he said to Uhura, and jogged after
the other four men who had already started down the beach.
"This is pleasant," Maslin said, slipping an arm around Uhura and Chou's
waists, and pulling them down on the bench with him. He then reached out
and took Kali's hand. "Let the he-men go off and duke it out with the
badasses. I'll stay here and entertain the ladies."
"My hero," Uhura murmured with ironic affection, and brushed back his
forelock.
Ragsdale led the way to the hunters' camp. He chugged along like a human
tank, his heavy legs pumping up and down
139
The Tears of the Singers
in his eagerness to reach the hunters and settle a few scores with Garyson.
Kirk, too, was eager to reach the camp, but for different reasons. The long
hours of patient scientific research aboard the Enterprise had been not at
all to his liking. His nature craved involvement and action, but on this
mission he felt as if he could have gotten lost and nobody would have
noticed. This problem with the hunters was something he could handle, and he
was grateful for the opportunity.
He looked back over his shoulder, and noticed that Kor and Kandi were
holding back somewhat from the humans, and that they were deep in a
tow-voiced conversation. Not for the first time he wished he could speak
Klingonese. The younger Klingon was speaking urgently to Kor who, although
he looked thoughtful, kept shaking his head. Kirk now regretted Spock's
absence. With the Vulcan's tricorder they could have recorded the
conversation, and perhaps gained an insight into what was going on aboard
the Klingon vessels. Kirk was still convinced that Kor was in some sort of
difficulty with his own crew.
He was given no more time to ponder the problem, for Ragsdale stopped, and
indicated an outcropping of rock. "Ile hunters set up camp just past that
formation. I've scouted around the area a few times, and they didn't have
much of an eye for a defensive position. They ought to be easy to take."
"Mr. Ragsdale, this isn't a commando raid. Mr. Garyson may be open to
persuasion," Kirk said, but the security guard spotted the twinkle in the
captain's hazel eyes, and grinned in response.
"If you believe that, sit, I have a sweet piece of land for sale on TUmbolt
V, the pleasure spot of the gahmy."
"Thank you, mister, I'll pass on that offer." Kirk turned and looked at
Kor. "Well, shall we go find out how unpleasant Mr. Garyson and his crew
intend to be?"
"I will be right behind you, Kirk. They gave insult to my wife, and for
that they must pay. I did not punish them earlier 140
The Tears of the Singers
for I thought you might object to such treatment of Federation citizens. Now
that I know you don't mind it will be a pleasure to teach them manners."
"Don't get too carried away," Kirk warned as they resumed their progress.
"I dont want anyone hurt if it's at all possible, so all weapons are to be
placed on stun."
They were lucky enough to find all five of the gem hunters present in camp.
The men were gathered around a heating unit drinking coffee, and tossing
crystal tears to one another for inspection. They looked up as the party
from the Enterprise appeared on the outskirts of the camp. Kirk gave a
signal, and everyone quickly fanned out. An ugly frown creased Garyson's
face when he recognized Kor.
"What the hell is this?" he demanded, rising to his feet.
Kirk thought he had never seen such an unprepossessing group of people in
his entire life. Everyone looked as if he hadn't changed clothes in several
years, and one man had dirty blond hair that hung in greasy, ropy strands
about his face. "Just a friendly visit to try and convince you that the
hunting has to stop," Kirk said agreeably. He stepped forward to face the
burly leader of the hunters.
"And who the hell are you?"
"Captain James T. Kirk of the starship Enterprise."
Garyson rocked back on his heels, and stared contemptuously down his nose
at the captain. "So, another little government toady. Well, I'll tell you
what I told your pointy-eared first officer Until you produce a directive
from the Federation stating that these creatures are intelligen
t I'm gonna
keep on doin' just what I've been doin', because I've got a piece of paper
that says I can. 'I He glanced about at his companions, who murmured
agreement and looked approving.
Kirk lost his genial smile, and stared coldly up at the other man. "And
I've got the firepower of a starship, and the people aboard her, that say
you can't. Care to up that ante?"
"You've got no legal right, Kirk." 141
The Team of the Singers
"Maybe not, but representatives of Star Fleet have a right to make
on-the-spot decisions regarding the treatment of alien creatures even if
such decision is contrary to a Federation ruling. You are free to enter a
complaint, but it won't be settled until we return either to Earth or a
star base, and in the meantime-what I say goes."
"Now, that sort of depends, doesn't it, Kirk?" Garyson drawled, stepping
back a few feet. "On whether we decide to listen. Mehmed" he suddenly
shouted, and several things happened simultaneously. The four other hunters
bolted in all directions, and Lindenbaurn gave a moan and collapsed to the
ground clutching at a knife that protruded from his upper thigh.
The lean, swarthy man who had thrown the knife went crashing to the ground
near the edge of the camp as Kor's stun blast from his disruptor caught him
neatly between the shoulderblades. Ragsdale let out a bellow of rage, and
went charging like a maddened bull after the man with the dirty dreadlocks.
Kirk knelt next to Lindenbaum, and checked the leg. "I'm okay, sir," the
security guard forced from between white Up. "It's minor. Go on and catch
the others."
Kirk looked around, and saw Garyson just vanishing behind a large rock. He
leaped up and started in pursuit, only to be arrested by a flash of purest
blue among the crystal grains of sand. Unable to stop himself, he knelt,
and lifted the tear. It shone like living blue fire in his hand, its many
facets seeming to capture and throw back a shifting view of eternity. He
felt lost in the mystery of the stone. Closing his hand over the gem, he
placed it carefully in a pocket.
Leaping to his feet he again set off in pursuit of Garyson. He was furious