"God was rising in the west, and this time the sun was down -..." (I, p. 5)
"This evening the galaxy rose directly after sunset." (VII, p. 43)
This is the same event described twice and from different povs. Later in I, ya-Kela must investigate:
"...strange newcomers..." (p. 6)
Later in VII, Hugh Valland, on watch, spots:
"'Somethin' out there. Approachin' real slow and careful. But two-legged, and carrying things. Let's not scare 'em off.'" (p. 47)
Ya-Kela and his "...bold followers..." (p. 5) approach and soon there will be yet another First Contact. We have become used to reading about these at least. Has there ever been a First Contact between two intelligent species and, if so, what was it like? Willingness to communicate and learn? Misunderstanding and conflict? There was an Arthur C. Clarke story in which astronauts had been instructed not to retaliate if attacked! Give the other side the opportunity to say, "Our man in the field acted wrongly..." Extreme caution, at least for the First Contact. Thereafter, respond as indicated.
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