Captives Of Their Captives

"Hiding Place."

The crew of the captured alien spaceship have, first, done everything in their power to destroy any clue as to their size and shape and, secondly, concealed themselves in the menagerie of exotic animals that they had been transporting. Detective work begins. In some respects, Nicholas van Rijn resembles Hercule Poirot. (Also, both are Catholics - but Poirot is a gentleman.)

The size of the control console suggests a giant pilot while the force needed to push down the control panels suggests corresponding strength whereas the miniature viewscreens and meters seem designed for dwarfs. Two species operating in cahoots? (That is nearly the answer.)

The Hebe G.B. holds the captive craft in a tractor beam whereas the latter, flying on automatics, pulls the former through hyperspace on an undesirable course so which is the prisoner of which? What will their destination be like? Will the Hebe G.B.'s supplies last long enough? Will van Rijn identify the crew and then be able to do business with them? (They have good reason to fear human beings.)

Imagine another kind of ship with an internal, self-sustaining ecology accelerating forever on hyperdrive. It would become a universe unto itself.