The Privateer

by Zellmann, William

  The man behind the desk was almost obscenely fat, and was firmly ensconced in a float chair, which seemed to be struggling to maintain its flotation.

  "Well," the man said impatiently, "Let's see them! Let's see them!" his voice was high-pitched and irritating.

  Cale smiled slightly, but made no move. "Sire Peng, I presume?"

  Fong looked shocked, but the fat man merely frowned. "Of course, of course! Let's see them. Two sunstones, y'say?"

  "Yes," Cale replied, "both eight millimeters in size."

  The fat man nodded impatiently. "Well, let's see them!"

  Cale placed the black velvet on the huge expanse of real wood, and uncovered the stones. Peng gasped at the beauty spread before him. An expression of avarice crossed his face briefly before he regained his normal impassivity.

  He reached for them, but Cale interposed his hand. "There is still the question of whether Peng Gems can afford both stones," he said pleasantly.

  Peng scowled. "It might be done. It may take a day or so to obtain sufficient currency . . ."

  Cale interrupted him with a wave. "I'm not interested in currency. I would prefer to deal in diamonds."

  Peng's scowl faded. "Diamonds, eh? Excellent. Yes, I'm certain we maintain sufficient stock to conclude the purchase." His eyes narrowed." Assuming we can make a deal, of course."

  Cale nodded. "Of course. My price is twenty-five thousand carats. Pure white, no flaws, no single stone larger than five carats or smaller than two."

  A flash of triumph appeared on Peng's face before he could impose its normal impassivity. "Twenty-five thousand is quite a large sum. Perhaps fifteen?"

  Cale sighed and rose. He reached for the stones. "Really, sire Peng, if you weren't serious, you shouldn't have wasted both our time."

  A fat arm rose to interpose itself between Cale and the stones. "Twenty thousand, then. Pure white, with no flaws."

  Cale reached over the arm for the stones. Sausage-like fingers swept them up. "Very well, then. Twenty-five thousand carats, pure white, flawless, no single stone larger than five carats or smaller than two. Agreed?"

  Cale smiled. "Of course, sire Peng. If you'll hand me the stones, I'll wait until the diamonds can be selected, valued, and inspected by me."

  "NO!" Peng almost shouted. He struggled to regain his composure. "Uh . . . We will wait here. I'm sure Mr. Fong can gather the diamonds. He is our most experienced diamond broker." Fong nodded and hurried out. "And now," Peng continued, his impassivity once more in place. "I'll have tea brought in, and we will discuss diamonds. I assume you are a . . . uh . . . wholesaler, sire Averano?"

  The fact that Peng knew his name despite his mentioning it only to Fong did not escape Cale's notice. He smiled broadly. "One might say that, sire Peng. Actually, I deal in many different products. One might say I'm an intermediary. In the present case, I've been retained by a client to dispose of the stones he . . . uh . . . inherited from a wealthy relative."

  A knowing smile spread over the fat face. "I understand, sire Averano. Such inheritances are a major source of gems for Peng Gems."

  The conversation continued for half an hour, with insincere smiles on both sides. Cale reflected that not all pirates raid ships and planets. Some, like this fat spider, sit in the middle of their web and wait for other pirates to bring them their loot.

  Finally, Fong returned with a bulging cloth bag. "Please, sire Averano," Peng said expansively, "use my desk and scanner to inspect your diamonds. The House of Peng is well known for the quality of its gems."

  The size of the bag and the number of diamonds it held surprised even Cale. The bag massed more than a kilo. Nevertheless, he used Peng's scanner to closely examine each stone for flaws in the stone or the cut, and verify the weight. He was no jeweler, of course, but he trusted himself to notice any irregularities. Peng and Fong simply waited until Cale began gathering the stones back into the bag. Fong stepped forward as though to help, but Cale waved him off with a smile.

  Relief tinged Peng's smile. He touched a control on his desk. "Perhaps something a bit less, er, conspicuous to transport your stones?" He offered. A moment later, a young woman entered carrying a small businessman's attaché case.

  Cale nodded, while examining the case closely. "I thank you for your consideration," he replied. Finding no visible signs that the case was rigged, he placed the bag in the open case, shifting the stones until the case could close.

  He shook hands with both men. "It was a pleasure doing business with you, gentlemen. I will certainly keep the House of Peng in mind for future gem transactions. I assume I may rely upon your discretion in this matter?"

  A huge smile wreathed Peng's fat face. "Of course, of course," he assured Cale. "If our discretion were not absolute, we would be out of business in a month."

  Cale allowed himself to be ushered out of the building. The receptionist had called him a hovercab, but Cale walked two blocks before hailing one off the street. As soon as he was out of sight of the building, he removed his belt and buckled it around the case. By now, Peng should be burning up the phone lines getting people to find out all about "sire Averano," and checking recent arrivals and departures. His picture was no doubt even now being circulated. He had no time to waste. He left the cab three blocks from the landing field, and strode quickly for the port.

  A gate guard gave him a puzzled look, but did not stop Cale. He nearly ran for L'rak and scrambled aboard. In seconds, he was requesting departure clearance, and in less than five minutes was cleared to lift. As L'rak lifted, he thought he saw a large ground sedan full of men approach the gate, but he could not be sure.

  Cale risked running L'rak at a higher rate of acceleration than he had used on the trip inward. He could not fight an Old Empire destroyer. If Peng had the power to have him stopped, there would be little Cale could do. He slowed as he approached the jump point some thirty-four hours later. It would be best not to attract unnecessary attention. He requested jump clearance, and held his breath. He expelled the breath in a huge gust when a routine-sounding voice cleared him to jump

  Once safely in jump, Cale turned to the case. He loosened the belt he'd wrapped around the case. The bottom of the case sprang open, pulling the belt from his hand. With a sour grin, Cale took the bag of diamonds from the case, closing the spring-loaded bottom and latching it.

  Very clever, he thought. Once Cale was safely away from the building, Peng triggered a signal, and the bottom of the case would have dropped out, spilling the bag of diamonds into the undoubtedly rigged hovercab or the street. No doubt Peng employees were conveniently on hand to grab the bag and run. He took the now-empty case and put it in the med cabinet, then activated the cabinet's stasis field. He would dispose of the case at the first recal point, but in the meantime, he wouldn't have to worry about timed explosives. Cynical suspicions garnered from hard experience on Jurgen and Mina's death had stood him in good stead on New Chin. There is a fine line, he thought, between an aggressive businessman and a corrupt thief. No, all the pirates weren't raiding ships.

  Chapter 3

  Ararat was only one jump from New Chin, which pleased Cale. There would be less time for word to spread.

  Ararat was a regional banking center. Ararat letters of credit were accepted without question throughout the sector, and the secrecy of their transactions legendary. While Ararat was not the gem-trading center that New Chin was, it was an open secret that the larger gem traders were backed by the large banking houses. Cale was hoping to dispose of his largest sunstone, a 15-millimeter monster. According to the latest valuations he had seen, a 15-millimeter sunstone would be worth well over fifty thousand carats of diamonds. There were few places a sunstone that large could be traded, due to its immense value. Ararat was one of those few places, but Cale wanted a quick in-and-out deal. He didn't want to wait around while the wheeler-dealers dithered. He expected to ask 30,000 carats; a comparative bargain.

  Ararat's jump point was not picketed, and local traffic seeme
d rather light. Cale boosted L'rak's acceleration and approached Ararat in only twenty-two hours.

  Ararat did not permit starships to ground, no matter their size. All ships were required to dock at the small moon that had been converted into a space station. Regular shuttle service was provided to the capital, Yahweh. Ararat was the only one of the "glory worlds" on which religion had remained a potent force. The excesses of the repressive 'Mission for the Greater Glory of God' had initiated violent rejection on the other six inhabited worlds the 'Glory' had ruled with an iron fist. Cale had made it a point to study the rigid morality and manners of Ararat.

  Being forced to leave L'rak on the moon station didn't bother Cale as much as it might. Ararat had virtually no crime for profit, due to effective law enforcement and draconian punishments. They were not so meticulous when it came to customers. Quite a few of the better-known pirates, including Emo Arror, the infamous Terror, had numbered bank accounts on Ararat. Of course, Cale wouldn't access that account if he could. He was trying to avoid attention, not attract it. No, Cale would play it rigidly straight here.

  He strolled casually down Yahweh's quiet streets, occasionally stopping to look in a shop window and make sure he had not attracted any attention or followers. He turned into a grilled doorway bearing a discreet sign "Gems."

  "May Lordsman's be of assistance, sire?" asked an obviously robotic voice.

  Cale smiled into the red eye of the camera. "I hope so; I have a gem to sell."

  "Very well, sire," came the reply. "Please step in front of the scanner."

  Cale stepped to the indicated place, and in only seconds, there was a click as the heavy grilled door unlocked. Law enforcement and draconian punishments were not the only reasons for Ararat's lack of crime.

  "Thank you sire," the robotic voice accompanied the click. "Please be welcome to Lordsman's, and may God's grace shine upon you."

  Cale pushed through the door. Ararat was one of the few places where beards were favored, thanks to the residents' religious beliefs. Here, his beard made him more typical, not less. Only his offworld clothing had marked him as an outsider. However, the gem shop had not been Cale's first stop. He now wore the same dark knee-length coat and drab trousers and tunic that were nearly a uniform on Ararat.

  "A good morning, noble sire," he was greeted by a plump young woman. "May I have the honor of serving you?" Her ankle-length dark blue skirt was unrelieved by color or pattern. A loose gray long-sleeved blouse that buttoned tightly at the neck topped it. Her blond hair was tucked into a white cap. But her smile was genuine and warm as she rendered a pretty curtsey. Not a single gem was displayed in the shop, which more closely resembled a study in the home of a tasteful wealthy man. Four rich, overstuffed armchairs surrounded a round table near the center of the room. The table's clear plas top was lighted so that the gems carried through the rooms only other door could be conveniently examined.

  Cale bowed. "The honor would be mine, mistress," he replied, "but sadly, I fear the transaction will require the attention of the owner."

  An expression of irritation flashed across her face, quickly replaced by a smile that was neither warm nor genuine. "I assure you, sire, that I am licensed to appraise virtually any gemstone." Her tone had sharpened.

  Cale bowed again. "I beg your pardon, mistress. I did not intend to impugn your skills. However, since the stone in question is a sunstone . . ."

  Her eyes widened in surprise. "A sunstone!" The surprise faded quickly, replaced by an impassivity betrayed only by the excited gleam in her eyes. "Of course, noble sire. If you will but abide a moment . . ." She ushered him to one of the overstuffed armchairs, and hurried out.

  She returned a moment later, accompanied by a short, thin, middle-aged man in the black jacket that was a business suit on Ararat. Even his bushy brown beard could not conceal the sincerity of the man's broad grin. He bowed, then stepped forward and proffered his hand. "A great good day to you, most noble sire," he boomed. "I am Se Lordsman. 'Need a gem? Se Lordsman'" he quoted jovially.

  Cale returned the bow, and shook the hand with a genuine smile of his own. This was no Peng. He began to feel better about his mission. "And a good morning to you, sire Lordsman. I am Rolf Amedon. I find myself in need of capital, and would like to sell my prized family heirloom." He pulled the folded velvet from one of his coat's capacious pockets, and carefully set the sunstone on the lighted table. Suddenly the entire room was bathed in multihued beauty. The girl gasped. The stone seemed to come alive on the light table. Its brilliance overwhelmed the subdued lighting of the store with a glorious burst of color that shifted as the stone moved on the table.

  Lordsman snatched the stone from the table. The light show faded as though it were a vivid dream. The jeweler looked distressed. "Such displays are decadent and unseemly," he said in a stern tone. His eyes darted around before he relaxed into an easy grin. "But the lord has made sunstones magnificent, has he not?"

  Cale nodded and smiled. "My sincere apologies, Sire Lordsman. I am from off-world, and failed to consider Ararat proprieties."

  Lordsman waved a hand dismissively. "It is of no consequence, noble sire. Had you not said so, I would not have taken you for an outworlder. Your undoubted efforts to adapt your manners and dress to accommodate our customs do you great honor and are appreciated.

  "Now," he continued, "To business. This stone is remarkable. Are you certain you wish to sell it? Perhaps a loan might be arranged, with the stone for collateral . . ."

  But Cale was shaking his head. "I regret, sire Lordsman, that I need the funds for off-planet transactions, and so a loan would sadly not suffice. However, I greatly admire your willingness to make the offer. Few would make such to a stranger, especially an offworlder."

  Lordsman's only reply was an absent smile. His attention was riveted to the stone he cradled in his palm. "Magnificent," he murmured. He dragged his eyes to Cale's face. "It is incredibly large for a sunstone. How did you come by it?" His tone was casual, but his shoulders tightened slightly. He was asking if the stone was stolen, and Cale knew Lordsman would refuse to deal if it were. He smiled slightly at his own surprise at encountering an honest businessman.

  "As I mentioned, sire Lordsman, it is the last of my family's inheritance. The Amedons were once a prominent family on Warden's World. But since the Fall . . ." He shrugged as his voice trailed off.

  Lordsman's grin was back. It was not an uncommon story throughout the Old Empire, as the fortunes of many noble, wealthy, and powerful families had fallen with the empire. "It must have been a noble family indeed, to possess a sunstone of such size. Fourteen millimeters?"

  "Fifteen, noble sire," Cale replied. The niceties and social graces had been observed. They were getting down to business.

  "Indeed." Lordsman took a caliper from a jacket pocket. After a moment, he straightened. "Indeed," he repeated. "Fifteen it is. And of course, there is no doubt of its authenticity after that display earlier. I almost fear to ask your price. I can only hope it is within the means of my poor shop."

  "Sire Lordsman," Cale began, "You have honored me with your welcome and your obvious honesty. I shall be likewise honest. As I mentioned, I have obligations off world, where even Ararat ducats would suffer a severe discount. If you will consent to payment in diamonds, I will be willing to accept thirty thousand carats. Unfortunately, my obligations will not permit me to accept less."

  Behind him, the young woman's gasp testified to the immense values being discussed.

  Lordsman was unsurprised, however. "A mighty price," he murmured as though to himself, "A mighty price indeed. But for fifteen millimeters . . ." He paused, apparently lost in thought. Suddenly a slow smile spread over his face. Cale suspected he had just thought of a possible market for the sunstone. "Yes," Lordsman continued, in a louder, conversational tone. "For a fifteen millimeter stone it might just be done."

  He straightened and smiled at Cale. "Sire Amedon, I believe it can be done. However, I'm sure you will not
be surprised to hear that I do not maintain that large an inventory. I fear it will take several hours to assemble thirty thousand carats. Are there any special requirements?"

  Cale nodded. "I fear so, sire Lordsman. I would prefer flawless white stones in sizes from two to five carats, I will, of course, wish to inspect the stones before accepting them."

  Lordsman's smile spread into a genuine grin. "I would expect no less from such a cultured gentleman."

  The young woman moved to her father's side. "In the meantime, sire Amedon, if you would like a meal, a fine choice may be had one block down the street at the sign of the angel." She stopped suddenly, and her hand flew to her mouth. "Oh! My apologies, sire Amedon, for failing to ask. Do you have ducats? "

  Lordsman rose, sunstone in hand. "I shall leave those details to my daughter, sire Amedon, and with your permission begin gathering your diamonds. Will you trust me with the stone? I am uncomfortable with the idea of you walking the streets with such a treasure."

  Cale also stood. "Thank you, sire Lordsman. I'm sure the stone is safer with you. When shall I return?"

  Lordsman glanced at his ring watch. "I should say all will be in order in two hours or so. Shall we say at a quarter past fifteen?" At Cale's answering nod, he bustled off.

  Cale turned to the woman. "My apologies for the interruption, mistress."

  She smiled sweetly. "Not at all, sire, not at all. Business first, always."

  "Thank you," he replied. "In response to your earlier question, I'm afraid I have few Ararat ducats. Do you think the inn will accept New Chin wen?"

  "Oh, dear," she responded. "I doubt it. It is just a family inn, after all. Of course, any of the banks would exchange the currencies for you."

  Cale chuckled. "Of course. How stupid of me. Where is the nearest bank?"