The Kalash-Quovo made a trip every couple of Earth days, and trade between the Ooafans and Arrurrans built up quickly.

Grrmyip and Yiyirari were both cleared from quarantine, and after a few more days passed with no ill effects, they even made a couple of trips down to the surface of Ooafa. The ambassadors recorded lots of detail about the status of the refuges and the surviving population. Grrmyip promised to have his father send a lot more resources to improve the fuakalas' situation. That included inflatable shelters—at least, Nick thought they were inflatable. They certainly grew quickly when planted in strategic locations.

When Nick complimented Grrmyip on how well the aid stations were working, the Arrurran gave a small bark. "This is easy for us, Nick. This is mostly standard emergency gear, in case of beep...in case of very bad weather events, or beep...or ground moving, or things like that."

"How valuable do you think you will find trade with Ooafa, really? Are you interested in their land?"

"Some, at least. A lot depends on what is happening to Iyi. The satellites you put out for us are getting lots of data. This is the first time we see another star very near, you understand. Arrurran science of space will grow very much even without further help."

The furry ambassador tossed his head in a motion equivalent to a head shake on a human. "It is very... small angry and big sad making...that neither you nor the Goldaskians have advanced books for us."

"It is 'frustrating.'"

"Yes. Very frustrating. But still, we are learning very much. The Ooafans have paper books, do you know this? Paper! We have uploaded some books so far, and the fuak!as are trading more to us."

"Do you have a lot to learn from Ooafan books?"

"Very yes, Nick! Our art people, our scientists of people, our historians, all are very happy to learn all we can of our neighbors. It will teach us much about us. That is why I gave you similar books from our people, my friend. Humans will learn much, and it is the kind of knowledge that helps us and does not hurt us."

"Do some of your people want war?" Nick asked, suddenly struck by the thought.

Grrmyip barked loudly. "A few, yes, very yes, but they do not choose. We had a war of knowing about it over eighty years ago. People who want war cannot get it, unless the other side is very, very bad and stupid. So, it is good that we help you to not be bad or stupid, yes?"

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"I guess so. Yes."

"It is good to be...friends..." Grrmyip trailed off, looking past Nick. He turned and saw Yiyirari walking past, with a smile for her fellow ambassador. Conversation halted until she had left the room out the far exit.

Nick grinned. "So, are you and Yiyirari...?"

"Yes." Grrmyip hung his head and looked at the floor. "She tricked me."

Nick's grin grew bigger. "Tricked you? How?"

"There is a...medicine."

"She drugged you?"

"No! If she did that, I would kill her. No. She is clever. She is evil."

"What did she do?"

"She drugged herself."

Nick squeezed his eyes shut. "What?"

"Yes."

"No. I don't understand." He opened his eyes and stared at Grrmyip.

"Ah." The Arrurran growled a moment, then stopped. "It is difficult. She put me in difficult choice."

Nick got it. "Like a girl deliberately getting drunk and throwing herself at you."

Grrmyip barked a few times. "'Throw herself.'" He barked again. "Nick, I am glad to meet aliens, for more, but yes for your very funny words."

"Okay, so she drugged herself on purpose and went to you and begged—" Nick needed a moment to force the mental image out of his head. They are not dogs, and I didn't need that picture, brain. "She asked you for sex. You could have said no."

"I know."

"Why didn't you?"

Grrmyip took a deep breath and sighed deeply. After a moment, he said, "Her fur is very soft and fine..."

Different strokes, Nick. It works for them. "You were weak." Beep. "You were not strong."

"I was not strong. I was weak."

Nick hesitated. "On my world...well, my world is different."

"Different how?"

Nick tried to explain about consent. Grrmyip cut him off. "Yes, I know, Nick. I am not a—!" The Arrurran cut himself off before he started growling in earnest. "I am sorry. We are very strangers. You do not know what I know and what I do not." He took a breath. "And the other way, too."

"Sorry. I did not mean to offend you." Beep. "I did not mean to make you mad. It is still a new idea for some humans."

"Understood." Grrmyip sighed. "The problem was, I knew she wanted it before she took medicine. She planned this. But I cannot prove that she planned this."

"Oh, so she has some leverage on you."

Petra beeped, but Grrmyip waved it away. "I do not know what is 'leverage' but I think you understand. Anyway, this is not a real thing. It is very small 'leverage'. She knows she is suspect too, but saying that she might make trouble..."

"You think it will blow over."

"'Blow over'?"

"Like a storm, ending."

"Ah. Yes. Anyway, after she finishes blowing me—"

Nick lost it.

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