“OK. Sorry to take you so far afield. What’s important to me is that you both have agreed to work for us. Not to work just for me by the way. I’m active in defending our rights, and some consider me a leader, but I’m not anyone’s boss, where others in our group have to obey me. I can’t, and won’t order then to do things they don’t want to do.
“Now however, I think we need to discuss your payment terms. I’ll have to pass that information along to the men who were here earlier. They manage the organizational credits we’ll divert to pay you, and we may not have enough disposable funds right now.”
“Jeff, I believe you missed part of what I said. We’ll work for you at the fee that was set before we even arrived. We’ll want the second twenty-five percent of the ten-thousand Hub credits offered to each of us for the job, to be deposited on our credit chits as was previously agreed if we took the job. So we’ll expect the remainder of the first half of our fee to be paid in advance if we start work for you. The final half will only be paid after we have done what we were asked to do, to your satisfaction. We should discuss more about what you expect us to do to earn that final half, and we’ll explain some things that we will not do, just as I did to Egerton when he made an offer to hire us.” Chastain looked apprehensive.
“What are the things you won’t do? We are up against cold blooded killers.”
Ethan reiterated much the same thing he had to Egerton. “We won’t wipe out anyone’s uninvolved family, including that of Egerton, Gregos, the families of any of the other wealthy CCA ranchers, or that of any of their employees or hired guns. Even if they have done that to your families. We will not kill innocent families of your enemies.
“That definitely doesn’t mean the lives of the people that ordered it done, or those who committed the acts are safe. If we are ordered to kill someone you want eliminated, we might not do that simply based on your orders, but we may use our own methods to remove them permanently from the ranks of those opposed to you. That would, in some circumstances, lead to their deaths, but it might not in every case. I will not go out and randomly shoot men in the back for you.
“Obviously my sister can’t shoot anyone, but she is equally deadly, and she follows a similar moral code to my own. We will give some of your opponents an opportunity to surrender and confess their crimes publically to the law, or to defend their lives from us if that fails. We will use our mind reading capability to find evidence we can offer to show their crimes. In general, we don’t read minds of most people for our advantage, but with a just cause, we will do so. After we know the truth, we’ll pursue that truth wherever it leads. If the evidence discovered is given to law enforcement, prosecutors, or judges, and it is ignored, we’ll find out who paid them off, and go after all parties involved, no matter who it is or how high it goes. They will be exposed and made to pay for their crimes, and possibly killed if they fight back.”
Chastain seemed taken aback. “That’s not exactly what I thought I was getting if I hired you, but Hell, it might be better, if we can expose the people responsible and do it publicly! Although, some of the people we are after deserve worse than prison. I doubt some of them will ever surrender or confess, and they will fight back with extreme violence, so they might end up dead anyway.”
“There’s the civic spirit.” Ethan responded cynically.
“Yeah. Well, after you dig a friend, his wife and their two children out of the burned ruins of their home under suspicious circumstances, and see it brushed away without any serious investigation, you tend to lose your faith in the local law.”
“Alright. Point made. Where do you want us to start? There are some obvious people here in Cayuga to investigate.”
“Actually, we’d like you to travel to Bison and start with tracking down the men that have been ambushing small ranchers, the raiders that burn out farmers in the night, and groups of men that lynch sheep men who clearly were not killed under suspicion of rustling cattle they couldn’t hide, use, or sell.”
“Should we travel there with you?”
“Only if I want me and my family to be openly marked for murder. Thanks, but I’ll make my own way home. I came here by horse to Plains, bus from Plains to Trail’s End, and then took a train to Cayuga. I’ll return the same way early tomorrow. I have a horse stabled in Plains, which is an easy day’s ride from my ranch. I’m pleased you bought a horse. I was afraid an off worlder would find them too primitive for transportation. Some of the work we need you to do is in territory too rough for wheeled vehicles to be used.”
“How do we get there? It seems like it would be a long ride by horseback if you want us to start right away. Are there shuttle flights I could take that can carry a horse? I saw such a shuttle out at the airfield. I can have my own shuttle sent down, but it won’t carry a horse, and the main ship will be a problem for Orbital Control to give me permission for it to land.”
“That airfield livestock shuttle probably belongs to Gregos, who I heard flew some prize breeding stock into Cayuga this week, just before I arrived by train. There are no passenger flights to Plains, Trail’s End, and certainly not to Bison. The only livestock shuttles that ever go there are privately owned by the big outfits. There are two daily trains that run between Cayuga and Trail’s End, which always have at least one car for carrying horses, a passenger car or two, and usually cattle cars of course. The train ride is only a couple of hours, with occasional stops at two tiny towns if a flag is up for passenger pickup, or someone gets off. If I leave on the morning train before daylight, I’d prefer it if you were on the later noon run. There’s normally only a single passenger car on those trips, and frankly I don't want to be seen even that close to you and Kit.”
“That’s fine. I want to meet with Egerton in the morning anyway, to turn his offer down personally.”
“Sort of rubbing his nose in it, aren’t you? And tipping him off.”
“I didn’t like him or his thugs, and Gregos pissed me off too, so I might enjoy it. If we don't come to work for them, and then we don’t leave Chisholm, don’t you think they’ll assume we took the SGA’s offer anyway?”
“That’s true. I didn’t really think about that, since I hadn’t expected you to have made contact with him or Gregos.” He shrugged, and continued.
“Anyway, after Trail’s End I’d think the day and a half ride to Plains, and another half day to Bison could prove useful to teach you a bit about our rangelands and wild life. Open Range Giant Longhorn bulls can be rather wild, as well as a cow with a new calf. You’ll see the same sort of country as you’ll encounter around Bison, and there are friendly farms and ranches along the three roads you might take, spaced about every five or ten miles apart, where you can stop for a drink, a meal, or a friendly conversation.
“With three definite exceptions, that is. There are several major ranches on the ride to Plains, which belong to CCA members. Two of the owners you already know about, Edgerton and Gregos. Avoid the branch roads with the big signs that lead past large ranch houses. The trails will be better, but not the hospitality. Two of those ranches are affiliates of the Lazy S and Double T brands, although those men’s largest properties, mansions actually, are located along the road between Plains and Bison. Paved roads end shortly after leaving most small towns, and that’s why most people don’t want to ride a bus to Bison. Rains mean getting stuck and delays.”
“Should I ask to spend the night at any of the small ranches or farms?”
He shook his head sharply. “Please don’t. They won’t say no, but since you intend to make it clear to the CCA tomorrow that you won’t work for them, you could mark any of them for trouble if you’re observed staying the night. Do you know how to make camp each night?”
“Sure, I bought the gear, and have camped often at home. All I need are provisions.”
“Great. After Trail’s End, you should avoid the one paved road to Plains, with many of the trucks using it belonging to CCA ranches or employees. If anyone on your rout
e knows that you were hired by the SGA, you need to watch your back and be cautious of anyone you meet along the trails. Some will be good folks, and some will work for our opposition. We don’t have local phones, but the higher priced satellite phones are on most every ranch or farm, and the bigger outfits give them to their foremen.”
“Well then, I’ll trust you to deposit the next twenty five percent to the same credit chit accounts as before. We’ll leave the warehouse first, to make certain there isn’t anyone watching the building. Be safe, and I anticipate meeting you again in or near Bison. I have a sort of satellite phone that isn’t part of your planetary network. It links through our ship, which is holding station above Kingsland.” He didn’t feel like explaining their Comtaps. He handed him a business card with one of Wander’s radio frequencies written on the back.
Chastain read the card. “Have Genes, Will Travel?”
“Catchy, isn’t it? Good night.”
They parted company, and as soon as they made an exit to the back street, Ethan and Kit split up to check for watchers, using shadows and roof tops for concealment, checking scents, and using their infrared and low light vision to confirm there was only the expected late night street and sidewalk traffic from the local bar patrons.
They eventually reached the Imperial Hotel via the roof of the next-door clothing store. They spotted two probable watchers in doorways across the street from the hotel, and at least one in the back doorway of the noisy bar behind the hotel. Without even dropping to the ground, Ethan leaped up directly to the third floor balcony of their room, vaulting easily over the railing. He opened the double balcony doors wide, which he’d left unlocked earlier. Kit leaped across, barely touching the railing, and vanished into the darkened room as Ethan pulled the doors closed. It was time for a restful night’s sleep.
****
“Janek, my men said they didn’t go back to their hotel all night.” Egerton was having coffee in the club’s dining room with Gregos, as they waited for their breakfast to arrive.
“From how you told me he got into the club unseen, and my man told me how the cat caught him on the roof across from the Water Hole, I don’t know if they’d see them come or go by any of the ground floor doors anyway.”
“That might have been something you could have told me about last night, you know.” Egerton sounded peeved.
“Nate, I didn’t get all the details last night myself, because I went to bed when my boys told me they couldn’t bring Greeves to me. I was filled in early this morning.”
Egerton made a dismissive wave. “I don't know what good the information would have done me anyway. I wouldn’t have taken any action against them right then. Not before I find out if they took a job with the SGA or not. If these are genuine mercenaries, and I did learn they arrived in a captured Krall warship, which makes that seem probable, then they’ll want to work for the highest bidders. That will be us.”
The Hostess approached them, reluctantly stepping into the audio cancelation “bubble” around the two men. It also provided for a wavering blurring of the bubble’s surface, to prevent lip reading.
“I’m sorry to intrude Gentle Men. There is an Ethan Greeves and a person that our doorman, Conrad, says is just called Kit, who claims the two of you are expecting them. There must be something peculiar about the one named Kit. Conrad sounded frightened of that one when he called me. Should I summon the Sheriff and his two deputies from the bar?”
Egerton said, “Not unless the visitors get loud or belligerent. Watch from the doorway. Tell Conrad to admit them, and to escort them back here. Warn everyone that Kit is an alien who looks like a large blue colored lion or tiger. She’s the one that was in yesterday’s regional news.”
Gregos looked at Egerton shrewdly. “You invited the Sheriff and two deputies? I hope one of them isn’t my sister’s boy, Clyde. That genetic throwback already lost a finger to that animal with his panicked over reaction at the airport. Why did you call them over here?”
“Part of a plan to perhaps push Greeves into a serious mistake, if he refuses to work for us. Don’t worry. The sheriff didn’t bring Clyde, who is getting finger regrowth started today. McKinnon wasn’t even told why he’s here.”
“Shit! You’re planning to use him to provoke Greeves into a gunfight with the law if he turns us down, aren’t you? Are you nuts? If it comes to gun play we’ll be in the crossfire.”
“I wouldn’t call in the sheriff while they’re still talking with us. If I do that they’ll be outside the club on the street, and you and I can head to the club’s sanctuary room and lock ourselves inside before there’s any shooting. Even a Kobani can’t break into that metal walled vault. If we call in enough firepower to go after them, they’ll have to retreat or die. Preferably, the latter if they turn on us. If they happen to wound or kill an officer of the law, there’s no safety for them anywhere on Chisholm, which would force them to call down their ship and leave. We can be rid of them, but only if we need them gone.”
“The sheriff isn’t stupid. He saw Greeves in action, so he won’t draw on him.”
“Perhaps, but he’ll have to try to make an arrest if he’s ordered to do that. Neither of the two deputies he brought was at the airport to see how fast Greeves is, so they might decide to pull their guns. That could lead to a fight if Greeves and his tiger sister refuse to surrender.”
“We might end up with a dead deputy or two, and loose the sheriff as well.”
Egerton shrugged. “Life can be tough when you take money under the table. The Mayor will hire any replacements we recommend. It isn’t as if those three are the only men in Cayuga who will accept bribes.”
“Cold hearted bastard, aren’t you?”
“You want Greeves and that animal going after our men, or possibly after us, if they have decided to work for the SGA? Or do you want them dead or off the planet in that case?”
“You have a convincing argument. I hope I can get a new sheriff to hire my shit-for-brains nephew. My sister can be such persistent pain in my ass.”
The depth of their concern would have been heartwarming to the hirelings they were prepared to sacrifice to their greed. Egerton switched off their privacy field.
The uniformed Conrad appeared at the entrance to the dining room, looking apprehensively at the two wealthy men that could get him fired, then looked at the two “guests” behind him that could get him killed. He simply gestured to them to walk past him, since he didn’t consider himself adroit enough to attempt an introduction. Besides, the stranger had apparently met Edgerton last night, when he evidently broke into the club after being turned away.
Greeves walked over to the table, Kit at his side. The two tycoons couldn’t help noticing the similarity in the smooth movements of both man and beast, easy and relaxed, supremely confident.
Kit surprisingly spoke first. “Good morning Mr. Egerton, Mr. Gregos. You obviously know who I am, and although we have not met, I recognized your scents, which I’ve acquired from people who have been in your close presence. We felt obligated to grant you a personal meeting, in light of your joint attempts to induce us to work for you. Please, don’t get up, since we won’t be joining you for breakfast.”
“Ah, good morning.” Egerton found his tongue and wits first. “I don't know proper protocol. Do we address you as Mam, as we would a human female?”
“Kit is fine. Artificial Intelligences often use Mam with me, but I believe that’s only suitable for use when addressing a human female. Human women earned the right to be addressed as Mam, which is the equivalent of Sir. That occurred centuries before rippers met humans.”
“Well Kit, since Mr. Greeves has obviously informed you of our wish to hire you both, perhaps we can discuss terms. I assure you, Mr. Gregos and I can exceed any competing offers you may have received.”
Ethan responded this time. “We acknowledge that you could offer more money. If pay is the deciding factor, then there is no question of our accepting a lesser offer.”
Gregos said, “Excellent. I think either one or both of us can contract for your services, unless you would rather consider the entire CCA as your employer.”
“You misunderstand.” Ethan told him. “Pay is not our sole determinant. Working conditions matter to us.”
“What conditions, for example?” Egerton asked, suspicion touching his thoughts.
Kit offered an unnerving grin. “We won’t work with back shooters and killers of families, or for those that pay men to do that.”
Ethan’s own smile conveyed no warmth either, when he said, “If we are wrong about you, the misunderstanding can be cleared up in seconds, by allowing us to receive your thoughts when we ask each of you a few questions.” The two men looked exceedingly uncomfortable, but said nothing.
With a shrug, Ethan concluded with, “No? Well, I thought not, but Kit felt we were obligated to make that proposal. She’s far less cynical that I am. I’ve had physical contact with employees from both of your camps, and I know some of the things they’ve done for you.”
Egerton lashed out. “Your mind reading abilities are not admissible in a Chisholm court, or anywhere else in Human Space. You can’t prove any allegations that may have been made against us.”
“Odd attitude. I never for a moment thought you wanted to hire us for duties that would fall under the protections of Chisholm law. Quite the opposite, in fact. Yet you want to use the law you flaunt as your own protection. You expected to hire us as outlaws, and so we will be outlaws if necessary. But not for you.”
Egerton frowned. “Don’t be foolish. We could ask the sheriff to come down on you for a number of violations of local laws, which each of you broke on your first day in Cayuga.”
Koban Universe 2: Have Genes, Will Travel Page 15
