As they dropped closer, they could see isolated copses of trees and occasional orchards, but for the most part there were well-kept farms. Immediately below them, on the southeastern shore of the island was a silvery beach backed by a broken line of boulders, and beyond it was a stretch of lawn. They caught a glimpse of an occasional house, but these did not cluster into anything like a town.
Eventually, they made out a dim network of roads, sparsely lined by dwelling places, and then, in the cool morning sir, they spied an air-car in the far distance. They could only tell it was an air-car, and not a bird, by the manner of its maneuvering. It was the first indubitable sign of intelligent life in action they had yet seen on the planet.
"It could be an automated vehicle, if they could manage that without electronics," said Trevize.
Bliss said, "It might well be. It seems to me that if there were a human being at the controls, it would be heading for us. We must be quite a sight-a vehicle sinking downward without the use of braking jets of rocket fire."
"A strange sight on any planet," said Trevize thoughtfully. "There can't be many worlds that have ever witnessed the descent of a gravitic space-vessel. The beach would make a fine landing place, but if the winds blow I don't want the ship inundated. I'll make for the stretch of grass on the other side of the boulders."
"At least," said Pelorat, "a gravitic ship won't scorch private property in descending."
Down they came gently on the four broad pads that had moved slowly outward during the last stage. These pressed down into the soil under weight of the ship.
Pelorat.said, "I'm afraid we'll.leave marks, though."
"At least," said Bliss, and there was that in her voice that was not entirely** approving, "the climate is evidently equable. I would even say, warm."
A human being was on the grass, watching the ship descend and showing no evidence of fear or surprise. The look on her face showed only rapt interest.
She wore very little, which accounted for Bliss's estimate of the climate.** Her sandals seemed to be of canvas, and about her hips was a wraparound skirt with a flowered pattern. There were no leg-coverings and there was nothing above her waist.
Her hair was black, long, and very glossy, descending almost to her waist; Her skin color was a pale brown and her eyes were narrow.
Trevize scanned the surroundings and there was no other human being in sight. He shrugged and said, "Well, it's early morning and the inhabitants may be mostly indoors, or even asleep. Still, I wouldn't say it was a well-populated area."
He turned to the others and said, "I'll go out and talk to the woman, if she speaks anything comprehensible. The rest of you-"
"I should think," said Bliss firmly, "that we might as well all step out. That woman looks completely harmless and, in any case, I want to stretch my legs and breathe planetary air, and perhaps arrange for planetary food. I want Fallow to get the feel of a world again, too, and I think Pel would like to examine the woman at closer range."
"Who? I?" said Pelorat, turning faintly pink. "Not at all, Bliss, but I am the linguist of our little party."
Trevize shrugged. "Come one, come all. Still, though she may look harmless, I intend to take my weapons with me."
"I doubt," said Bliss, "that you will be much tempted to use them on that young woman."
Trevize grinned. "She is attractive, isn't she?"
Trevize left the ship first, then Bliss, with one hand swung backward to enclose Fallom's, who carefully made her way down the ramp after Bliss. Pelorat was last.
The black-haired young woman continued to watch with interest. She did not back away an inch.
Trevize muttered, "Well, let's try."
He held his arms away from his weapons and said, "I greet you."
The young woman considered that for a moment, and said, "I greet thee and I greet thy companions."
Pelorat said joyfully, "How wonderful! She speaks Classical Galactic and with a correct accent."'
"I understand her, too," said Trevize, oscillating one hand to indicate his understanding wasn't perfect. "I hope she understands me."
He said, smiling, and assuming a friendly expression, "We come from across space. We come from another world."
"That is well," said the young woman, in her clear soprano. "Comes thy ship from the Empire?"
"It comes from a far star, and the ship is named Far Star."
The young woman looked up at the lettering on the ship. "Is that what that sayeth? If that be so, and if the first letter is an F, then, behold, it is imprinted backward."
Trevize was about to object, but Pelorat, in an ecstasy of joy, said, "She's right. The letter F did reverse itself about two thousand years ago. What a marvelous chance to study Classical Galactic in detail and as a living language."
Trevize studied the young woman carefully. She was not much more than 1.5 meters in height, and her breasts, though shapely, were small. Yet she did not seem unripe. The nipples were large and the areolae dark, though that might be the result of her brownish skin color.
He said, "My name is Golan Trevize; my friend is Janov Pelorat; the woman is Bliss; and the child is Fallom."
"Is it the custom, then, on the far star from which you come, that the men be given a double name? I am Hiroko, daughter of Hiroko."
"And your father?" interposed Pelorat suddenly.
To which Hiroko replied with an indifferent shrug of her shoulder, "His name, so sayeth my mother, is Smool, but it is of no importance. I know him not."