Owner's Share (Trader's Tales from the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper)

by Nathan Lowell

  “Why, Captain, I do believe you’re trying to take advantage of me,” she said with a mocking smile.

  “Yes, Ms. Maloney, I am or, more precisely, your unique skill set. But it’s your choice. If you want to stay on bridge watch, then I won’t force you to stop.”

  She nodded slowly. “Okay, Captain, so what’s with the other crewman?”

  “If you become our new host—the chef and main steward—then you can’t be standing watches all night. You need to be on the same schedule as the passengers. You’ll be working long days, but sleeping at night.” I shrugged. “With you down here, I need a third for the bridge.”

  She laughed. “Usually you need a fourth for bridge, Captain.”

  I groaned at the pun and shook my head. “Regardless, if we bring aboard another crewman, then where do we put him that’s fair?”

  She frowned in concentration. “Another person means another share, doesn’t it?”

  I nodded. “Yes, it means we’re splitting it a lot of ways, but in gross terms, that’s really not much of an issue. Housing is the bigger problem. We only have the one crew space, and if we outgrow that, we lose a passenger compartment.”

  We sat there like that for three full ticks.

  “What are the chances that we’ll need them all, Captain?”

  “Well, I’d hoped we be able to maximize our capabilities by using all four.” I grimaced. “If we lose a compartment, we lose - potentially - a quarter of our revenue from passengers.”

  “Yes, but...” she said, waiting for me to catch up.

  “But only if we fill them all the time, and that’s not really that likely,” I said.

  “Not only that, Captain, but if you’re thinking of setting up the ship to be the kind of experience you’re talking about with luxurious bunks, gourmet meals, and fast service, then you need to charge for it, regardless of the number of passengers. You need the staff to give the passengers the kind of experience you want to offer. Staff needs quarters, and we’ve got a finite set. Unless you wanna make the chief hang a hammock in engineering, the ship has a limit.”

  “Excellent points, Ms. Maloney.”

  The more I thought about it, the more I had to agree. The only difference between crew quarters and the over-and-under passenger compartments was the size. I had outfitted our crew quarters with very good bunks and linens and even replaced the consoles. We had used that as a kind of template for the passengers.

  After a half-dozen heartbeats of thought, I rose. “Would you give me a hand, Ms. Maloney.”

  She shrugged and rose. “Of course, sar.”

  We left our mugs on the table, and I headed aft along the passage. The chief had three of the new panels hung and was working on the fourth. He looked up and nodded as I led Ms. Maloney into the passenger compartment next to crew quarters. It was one of the over-and-unders. Immediately forward of that compartment was the starboard side head, while aft was crew quarters. Bunks hung on the after bulkhead, and I examined the bulkheads near where they intersected at the overhead and deck.

  “What are you looking for, Captain?” she asked.

  “Small access doors, probably pressure fit.” I couldn’t see anything, but when I pressed in at the lower corner, I heard a click and the panel swung open when I released the pressure. When I looked in, I saw the peg that held the bulkhead pinned to the internal rib.

  “What is that, Captain?”

  “The answer if I can figure out the other half, Ms. Maloney.”

  I ran my hand along the base of the passageway bulkhead. I could see the heavy peg went into a simple hole in the base of the bulkhead. Logic indicated that there should be some more holes like that already built into the structure, and I remembered seeing them on the structural schematics back on Diurnia. What I found were some spots along the floor level about where the peg should go that felt odd. I tried to find an edge to get a nail under and pull but when I pressed, the structure gave a little and then popped out.

  I looked up at where Ms. Maloney was looking down at me. I held the small plug in the palm of my hand and smiled.

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Welliver Orbital:

  2373-January-13

  At 1430 the klaxon sounded. I made another note to get the chief to adjust the level on that. It felt loud enough to be heard on the flea market. I went to the lock, and saw Andrew Leyman through the tiny window. Stepping back, I punched the lock open, and waited for him at the top of the ramp.

  “Welcome aboard, Dr. Leyman.” I waved him aboard, and keyed the lock closed as soon as he’d crossed the threshold.

  “Thank you, Captain.” He held out a hand and we shook. His eyes went to the empty cargo bay and he pursed his lips. “I’m in time then?”

  “To watch the loading? You are, indeed.” I waved a hand at the ladder. He took the hint, and preceded me up to the main deck where Ms. Maloney waited.

  “Andy, it’s so good to see you.” Ms. Maloney gave him a warm hug. “It’s such a shock running into you here. I had no idea you were around.” She led him into the galley.

  “I never expected to see you here, either, Chris. I thought you lived over in Diurnia proper.” His eyes took in the galley, and he smiled when she handed him a heavy mug full of coffee. Ms. Maloney indicated a seat, and he sank onto it, while she sat across from him.

  I resumed my seat, and swirled a bit of cold coffee in the bottom of the mug. I put it back down without drinking it, and broke the ice. “We’ve got a bit of a problem, Dr. Leyman—”

  He said, “Andy, or Andrew if you must, please. Dr. Leyman is my grandfather.” He smiled.

  I smiled back. “Okay, Andy, we’ve got a bit of a problem with transporting passengers.”

  He turned to face me directly, concentrating on my words.

  “We can’t do it for two more weeks or so,” I said.

  He cocked his head to one side with a frown. “You can’t do it?” He looked from me to Ms. Maloney and back. “Why ever not?”

  “Because if we charge for passage, we need to have a licensed steward aboard. I got my endorsement this morning, but the CPJCT in its wisdom has ordained that we can’t actually trade on that endorsement until it has been officially conferred upon me by the appropriate poobahs of propriety.”

  His lips curled in a small smile and he took a sip of his coffee. He looked into the cup and smiled before looking back at me. “So, you’ve got something in mind, Captain. What is it?”

  “I can’t take paying customers, but I can take guests.”

  Ms. Maloney looked at me like I’d just grown a third head.

  “Guests, Captain?” Dr. Leyman asked.

  I nodded. “Guests. I don’t know you, but Ms. Maloney does, and assures me that you are a long time acquaintances. If we are inspected on Ten Volt, or even questioned on departure here, you two have a history that could be construed as friendly, and I can legitimately transport you as a guest of Ms. Maloney who is a member of my crew.”

  He smiled. ”Ahhh. I begin to see. And instead of charging me passage, I’ll just tip the ship? A small gratuity?” His tone suggested that he thought this a capital idea, but I sighed and shook my head.

  “Unfortunately, no, Dr—uh—Andy. That would leave a rather embarrassing audit trail, and I would not want to put my license in jeopardy over it.”

  Ms. Maloney leaned into the conversation at that point to ask, “Captain, are you suggesting you’ll take him for free?”

  “I am, Ms. Maloney.” I smiled and shrugged at her. “And while it’s true that I am crazy, there is actually a method in my madness in this instance.” I turned back to Dr. Leyman. “We’re just getting the ship set up to handle passengers. What better way to find out if our service is ready for passengers than to have one and test it?” I shrugged. “I’d hate to ask for paid passage under those circumstances. We really do need a test run.”

  They both nodded.

  I looked back and forth between them. “I know it sounds rather point
less, but the fact of the matter is that we’re going that way. We’ve got a cargo—or we will have—and it’s yours. You need to get there, and we need somebody who isn’t going to be angry if the trip gets a little odd in places. The incremental cost to the ship is whatever you consume while aboard, and it won’t be that much.”

  “I’m convinced, Captain,” Dr. Leyman said with a grin.

  “Good, just you’re a guest, not a passenger.”

  He nodded. “Guest. Got it.”

  Ms. Maloney looked at me strangely, but eventually just shook her head and shrugged.

  “I do have a couple of questions,” Dr. Leyman said.

  “Go ahead.”

  He turned to Ms. Maloney. “What’s with Maitland?” He waved a finger at the name on her shipsuit.

  She looked down at the lettering, and then smiled. “Christine Maloney is on a grand tour of the Western Annex while she mourns the demise of her late, lamented father. For the purposes of our exercise, I’m Catharine Maitland.”

  “Ahhh.” He nodded and glanced at me. “As odd as that sounds, it makes sense. I almost didn’t recognize you in that buzz cut myself.”

  “What’s your other question?” I asked him.

  “Where’s my cargo?”

  I looked at the chronometer, and realized it was almost 1500. “Let’s go see if they’re waiting for us on the dock, shall we?”

  I rose and headed down the ladder with Dr. Leyman at my back. We were almost to the lock when klaxon sounded again.

  Dr. Leyman jumped about a quarter meter straight up, and clapped his hands over his ears. “What in the name of...?”

  “Somebody’s at the door,” I explained, and punched the lock open key. Cold air flooded the lock and cargo deck as the large doors yawned open. “Delivery?” I asked the crew chief.

  He snorted and grinned. “Better be. I ain’t taking this all back! Eighty-eight cubes bound for Ten Volt?”

  “Oh, very well. Which one is the pepperoni?”

  He looked at me with the oddest expression.

  “Yes, bring them in. Double stack against the bulkhead, single stack beside.”

  I lowered the ladder to clear the way for them, and dragged Dr. Leyman out of harm’s way. We leaned against the bulkhead and watched the each of the carriers run in with a cube, drop it, lock it to the next, and run back for another. Eighty-eight cubes took a little less than an hour to load, and I enjoyed watching Dr. Leyman’s face while they worked. Probably because I thought he must have looked like I did when I watched them load the ship in Diurnia.

  In the end, we had them adjust the shorter single height row so that it was closer amidships and evened up the trim. By 1600 the handlers ran back off the ship and disappeared down the dock, leaving the crew chief to accept my signature, and my thanks.

  He knuckled his brow. “Safe voyage, Skipper.”

  With the cargo loaded, and the large lock secured, I turned to Dr. Leyman. “Well, Andy, I intend to shake the dust off tomorrow afternoon after we finish some routine maintenance tasks. Perhaps you’d like to come along when we leave?”

  He held out his hand. “I’d be delighted, Captain. When should I be here?”

  “Anytime between ten and noon would work. Come aboard for lunch, and we’ll seal the locks for departure as soon as you’re here.” I keyed the lock open for him.

  “See you then, Captain.” He started down the ramp and turned back. “Thank you, Captain.”

  I laughed. “Don’t thank me yet, Andy. It’s still a long walk to Ten Volt.”

  That got a laugh out of him as he stepped off the end of the ramp, and headed for the lift. I keyed the lock closed, and went in search of my crew.

  I found them in the galley having an afternoon coffee.

  “Ms. Arellone, I’m glad you’ve awakened. We have some work to do this evening.”

  She raised a mug in my direction. “Hard to sleep through the klaxon, Skipper. To say nothing of the loading, but I had a nice little nap before that.”

  We all had a brief chuckle over that by which time I had refilled my coffee cup, and taken a seat at the table.

  “Chief? You’ll have that console up before dinner?” I nodded to the one still sitting in the corner. I was a bit miffed that it was still there, but shrugged it off as too minor to worry about.

  “Oh, aye, Cap. I’ll do that right now while it’s fresh in my mind. You know it.” He suited action to word, and began unpacking the equipment and running leads.

  “Ms. Arellone, we need to find another spacer. Somebody who can take Ms. Maloney’s place on the bridge.”

  Ms. Arellone gave Ms. Maloney a look that I couldn’t quite interpret—part question, part accusation.

  “I’m moving Ms. Maloney to Steward Division. With a passenger aboard, we need somebody who will be responsible for getting the meals on schedule, and dealing with our guests. I’ve asked her to do that and she’s agreed, but we’re left one hand short on the bridge.”

  Ms. Arellone let that information settle for a moment before saying anything. “Makes sense, Skipper. We talked about having a cook, and this woman can certainly cook.” She sipped her coffee with a thoughtful expression on her face. “Still,” she said, a wistful note in her voice, “I think I’m going to miss the day after day of sandwiches for lunch.” She shot me a wicked grin.

  I clutched my chest dramatically. “You wound me, Ms. Arellone.” I stopped clowning when I realized what I was doing, and how it might appear to Ms. Maloney. Sometimes I’m a bit thoughtless, but she seemed take it in stride.

  Once the humor had subsided to a manageable level, Ms. Arellone asked, “Where will we put this new person, Skipper?”

  “Funny you should ask that, Ms. Arellone. What’s the difference between your crew compartment, and the passenger compartment next to it?”

  She thought for a moment. “Bedding and about a half meter of floor space. We have bedding, the other has the floor space.”

  “What if they had the same floor space, Ms. Arellone?”

  She looked at Ms. Maloney who played very coy, examining her nails. I could practically see Ms. Arellone’s mind turning over, and she turned back to me, her eyes wide. “We can move that partition?”

  I nodded. “We need to putter about with it a bit, but we found one of the pegs while you were napping.”

  She looked thoughtful. “Alright, Captain, I guess that solves one problem. Now all we need to do is find one before tomorrow?”

  I shrugged. “And the other little detail we need to deal with before leaving.”

  They looked at me blankly.

  “Bedding.”

  Ms. Arellone grinned. “Can you just order more of those sheets and a few more blankets, sar? We’ve been talking about this—” she nodded her head at Ms. Maloney,“—and if we get more of the singles in the same colors, then all the single bunks will be the same and we can use them interchangeably where ever we need them.”

  Ms. Maloney nodded her agreement. “And get the doubles in a different color so it’s easier to find them in the pile when we’re trying to set up the compartments.”

  I pulled out my tablet, put together the order to the chandlery, and asked for morning delivery. “Done.”

  “We’ll need a few shipsuits for the new person, Captain,” Ms. Maloney pointed out.

  “When we find one, we’ll do that, Ms Maloney, but first shall we go see if we can move the partition?”

  We left the chief measuring the bulkhead for the new installation, and headed down to the compartment in question. With the three of us working on it, it came together nicely. The extra registration holes all had identical plastic plugs in them. Once we’d identified the right spot to make the two compartments equal sizes, we pulled out the requisite plugs, released the toggles and with the two ratings on the far side pushing, the partition slid across the deck after an initial hesitation. When the pegs lined up with the new holes, we re-applied the toggles and locked the partition down, snapping
the small covers into place to hide the mechanisms. As a final step, we used the plugs we’d pulled to refill the holes left in the other compartment.

  “This is actually a lot better, Skipper,” Ms. Arellone said. “Frankly it was a bit claustrophobic in here with both of us. That extra half a meter makes a difference.”

  I pointed out where the paint job on the bulkheads didn’t match and they shrugged it off.

  Ms. Arellone said, “We’ve got some of the blue left. I can fix that in less than a stan.”

  “All right, then.” I looked to Ms. Arellone. “Do you know of anybody on the beach here, Ms. Arellone?”

  “Not off-hand, Skipper, but I haven’t really been looking.”

  I grimaced. “I’m spoiled by having the DST pool to draw from, but I’m out of that loop now.” I pulled out my tablet again, and fired off an open berth notice for an ordinary spacer to the Union Hall. “Let’s see if anybody bites. I’d like to run any names by you, Ms. Arellone. It’s a small universe, and I’d like to take advantage of your knowledge of the area.”

  She smiled. “My pleasure, Skipper.”

  I looked back and forth between them. “Anything we’re missing?”

  “Dinner, sar.” Ms. Arellone said.

  “Last night in port,” I said. “Either of you want to go ashore to eat? I’m going to stay here in case anybody responds to the notice.”

  They looked at each other, and shrugged almost in unison. Ms. Maloney said, “I should probably go ashore and eat a meal I don’t have to cook.” She grinned at me. “I may get tired of it by the time we reach Ten Volt.”

  “I’ll go with you, if that’s okay with you?” Ms. Arellone said her.

  Ms. Maloney chewed the corner of her lip and said, “All right, but not on duty, all right?”

  Ms. Arellone shrugged, and agreed. “All right. Are we taking the chief?”

  Ms. Maloney got a devilish look on her face, and shook her head. “I think I’d like to go out without my nanny for once.” She turned to me. “Captain, would you think us rude if we kicked you out of here so we can plot in private?”

  I cocked my head as if listening. “Oh, dear. I think I hear my logbook calling. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll leave you to your preparations.”