Phantasm 2: In the Shadow of Iniquity (two)

"We still talk with them, share things with them. We just do this when we have no other option, when we need to learn things they won' t reveal." He looked down at the ground. "But you' re right. I don' t deny that what we' re doing can be construed as being wrong. But it' s the only way - the only way - we could learn without contaminating their society."

She grimaced. "There' s no excuse for this. And you' ve already contaminated them without your knowing it. Just being here has done that. You think you' ve been trying to understand them but what you' re really doing is trying to make them seem human."

Disgusted, Laura reached to remove her cloak, deciding the Minarthans deserved to know the truth. She removed her hood and visor to reveal her face, then deactivated the unit and shrugged her cloak aside, letting it fall discarded to the ground. The Minarthans shrank back again, startled by her sudden appearance. Then they seemed to realise she was human and presented no threat and they edged back toward her, curious. Scott did what she had done, similarly revealing himself. Malcom sighed heavily and repeated their motions.

The Minarthans approached cautiously, studying them from a variety of angles, loping forwards. Then as one they raised their sticks and beat them together furiously, creating a rousing cacophony. Laura frowned, trying to work out what they were saying, what they were doing, then a smile spread across her face.

Throughout the cavern the wooden sound of their laughter thundered and echoed and reverberated for all to hear.