Collecting Clues

"Hunters of the Sky Cave."

At the Crystal Moon, Aycharaych describes violet orchids as black. Flandry deduces that the Chereionite is color-blind in the blue wavelengths but sees further into the red, therefore that his home sun is cooler and redder than Sol. (II, p. 162)

The Ardazirho are covered in red fur (VII, p. 200) but describe themselves as "'...the Black People...'" (XII, p. 244) Their kilts have squares of rose next to scarlet or of crimson between two yellows. (VII, p. 200) Temulak describes Flandry and the Vixenite colonials as "'...gray people...'" (XI, p. 233)

Svantovik refers to "'...the Sky Cave...'" (XII, p. 245) and swears by "'Great unborn planets!'" (XII, p. 247) Ardazir's sun is not in Imperial catalogues because it is hidden behind "...the Hatch...," (IX, p. 221), a small dark nebula visible from Vixen, and there has not as yet been any exploration in that direction. From its far side, the Hatch is discovered to be "'...faintly luminous: a proto-sun.' " (XV, p. 268) On hearing this:

"Flandry stiffened. 'What's the matter?' snapped Walton.
"Nothing, sir. Or maybe something. I don't know." (ibid.)

Flandry is experiencing a moment of realization as he remembers Svantovik's moment of realization when the latter exclaimed, "'Great unborn planets!'" (See above.) Elaborating slightly, Flandry says that he has a hunch, that some of the Ardazirho use the expression, "the Sky Cave," that it describes a dark hole which is the entrance to hell in some of their religions and that the higher-ranking Svantozik, who knows more than the others, swore by "'Great unborn planets.'" 

Later, when Svantovik, now captured by Flandry, looks at the Hatch, which he calls the Sky Cave, from its far side, he sees:

"'The Great Dark. The Gate of the Dead, as those who believe in religion call it....' His tone, meant to be sardonic, wavered." (XVI, p. 279)

The Sky Cave is black. Svantovik does not see its dim red luminosity, visible to Flandry. The Ardazirho are red-blind, seeing further into the violet than human beings, the opposite of Aycharaych. They see human beings as gray and themselves as black. The mismatched red and yellow squares on their kilts are equally dark to them.

Exploiting Ardazirho awe of the Gate of the Dead, Aycharaych the telepath directs the Packmasters from within the Sky Cave. (XVII, p. 283)