McClintlock jumped back. His chair rolled into the wall behind him. "I plan to," he said, a tremor in his voice.
Ellis sat forward, putting his elbows on the colonel's desk. "If you end slavery, what's your plan for restoring Erdonium production?"
The colonel was visibly shaken by everyone closing in on him. He stood up and moved over to the wooden liquor cabinet. He retrieved a bottle and offered it to the people. Arepno complained that alcohol was poisonous to
Rd'dyggians, but wanted a drink. Ellis declined. McClintlock ordered a glass of water brought in for Arepno. The colonel poured himself a glass of bourbon, downed it and poured another as Arepno's water was brought in. The colonel returned to his seat.
Ellis tapped the desk impatiently. "Erdonium production."
"Yes," sighed McClintlock. "At this moment, the Mao Corporation is negotiating a buy-out of all Erdonium mines in Tejo."
"Is it really that simple? There won't be many workers once the slaves are released."
McClintlock felt the commander's eyes cutting into him like daggers. Arepno took a sip of water and eyed Ellis. "Commander, the slavery must end."
"I know," said Ellis, puffing furiously on the cigar. "But the Erdonium must move or the Confederation will fall."
"Caroline Chung says she has a way," stammered McClintlock. "The martial law remains in effect until the Erdonium production resumes." The colonel felt Arepno's gaze. "The solution will include an end to the slavery."
Ellis nodded, satisfied. "Then I believe I'll have a drink, colonel." The colonel poured bourbon for the commander. Three glasses came together saluting the new peace. * * * *
Ellison Firebrandt was pleasantly surprised to receive a teleholo call from his grandson. He was even more pleased to learn that the Mao Corporation now owned all the mines in Tejo. Many of the former slaves had decided to stay, to work for fair wages, but most were on their way home to their families.
"The deficit of workers will slow production, but the Erdonium will be moving again." Ellis nodded, self-satisfied. "I suppose that means you'll be on your way back to
Titan?" The privateer captain looked down at his feet. "I'm
sorry to say, your mother isn't here. She's out, taking a turn
supervising the planting."
Ellis sat back, folding his arms. "Sorry to say, we'll have to
get going within the hour. I'm hoping to convince the
admiralty to let me take the Firebrandt on a special mission. I
want to try talking to the Cluster. I think there's some hope." "Godspeed," said Firebrandt. The old man terminated the
connection before the tears built up too much. He sat back
and sighed. He had truly grown fond of the boy. Arepno had
called earlier in the day. The captain was getting tired of good-byes. He stood and made his way through the house, feeling old. He walked through the front door and looked out at the swiftly flowing river and green fields. It was a beautiful
day. Roberts came up behind him.
"You look like you're feeling sorry for yourself," said
Roberts, surprisingly cheerful.
"I feel old." The words were deep and somber. They
stemmed from some deep hollow somewhere in the back of
the captain's skull.
"Old?" Roberts laughed. "My God, man! You're only eightythree!"
* * * *
Manuel Raton was thankful when he and Edmund Swan heard the news of the Cluster leaving Sufiro's orbit. When the Cluster left, so did most of Swan's paranoia. They were equally thankful to hear that McClintlock was not going to attack New Granada. Their people were tired and needed to go home. Nothing pleased Swan more than the day he dismissed the troops.
Raton's life as Sheriff of New Granada began to return to normal. He made a number of teleholo calls and checked to see that everything was peaceful. There were a number of celebrations going on around the continent. There would be a lot of drunks and surly people with hangovers the next day. The sheriff walked back into the living room and found Swan sitting on the old battered couch. "It'll be a busy day tomorrow, amigo," said Raton. "So, are you going to be a slacker, or can I deputize you?"
Swan grinned. "Well, I was a deputy sheriff before. I can be one again."
"Good!" said Raton. "I was hoping you'd get a real job. Now you can afford to get your own place." Swan glared at Raton. "Seriously, it's been good to have the company." Raton looked at a picture that hung on the wall. It was Espedie and Carmen Raton. His thoughts drifted off to the war. "Do you think the peace will last?"
"Only time will tell," said Swan.
"Sometimes, I think about the life my parents left behind on Earth. Earth has been at peace for hundreds of years. But the people had no freedom. My dad came here because he craved freedom. Still, that freedom dissolved into war. I wonder, was coming here any better?"
"Is freedom the price of peace?" Swan shook his head. "God, I hope not." Swan looked at the picture. He had heard the stories. He knew about Espedie and Carmen raising their children on the farm. He had heard the story of how violently they met their end. Swan thought about the violent, lingering deaths he had seen in Tucson as a deputy sheriff. "It may not be much of a consolation, but at least your parents died for a reason," said Swan.
Raton looked away from the picture. "For one brief shining childhood, this planet was beautiful." He thought about the farm and the early days. He thought of Suki Firebrandt. An unconscious, wry grin caught his mouth.
"This planet is still beautiful." Swan stepped up and walked to the window. "Ellison Firebrandt wants to keep it that way."
"Ellison Firebrandt won't be here forever," said Raton, doubtfully.
"Are you so sure of that?" Swan put his hands on the windowsill. "Even if he does die, and I'm not so certain of that, his dream will live on with us."
* * * *
A week later, Ellison Firebrandt, his daughter, and Roberts sat outside the homestead on a warm spring evening. They were all naked, enjoying the balmy air. The sun was low on the horizon. Insects buzzed along the river. A flying mammal cried out. Otherwise it was quiet—peace and freedom reigned anew. They saw their field, now tended by Juan Raton's children.
The night before, the last of the slaves returned from Tejo. There were celebrations going on all around New Granada. The sale of the Stone and Hill mines to the Mao Corporation was complete. McClintlock announced free elections would be held the following week in Tejo. John Mark was en route to the jump point for Earth, his mission finished.
"I wish Suki could be here," Firebrandt sighed.
"She would have liked this night," said Roberts. "It's been years since I've enjoyed a quiet night like this,"
said Fire. "I haven't enjoyed a night like this since I was a girl." She smiled. "Ever since Manuel Raton called last night, I do feel like a young girl."
"I'm happy to hear that," said Firebrandt, smiling. He thought back to the early days, remembering the exile. "Suki and I had a dream of a pleasant, quiet retirement, living in luxury. I thought my mother had taken that away from me." He looked around at Roberts and Fire. He looked at his feet, wondering if she would be proud. He found himself wanting to thank her for what she had done.
Roberts sat back in the hover chair. "If it had been quiet, would you have survived this long?"
Firebrandt pondered that. He was eighty-three. He looked down at his body. It didn't look eighty-three years old. "Are you suggesting it's time for me to move on."
Fire laughed. "If you died, this planet would fall apart. Your dream would die. Mother's dream would die."
"Then I'd better not die," said Firebrandt. "I'll live forever!" ABOUT THE AUTHOR
David Lee Summers is an author, editor and astronomer living somewhere between the western and final frontiers in Southern New Mexico. His novels are The Pirates of Sufiro, Children of the Old Stars, Heirs of the New Earth, and Vampires of the Scarlet Order. His short stories and poems have a
ppeared in numerous magazines including Realms of Fantasy, Aoife's Kiss, Star*Line and The Santa Clara Review. David is also the founding editor of Tales of the Talisman Magazine.
If you are connected to the Internet, take a moment to rate this eBook by going back to your bookshelf at www.fictionwise.com.
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