Magically, Alaina appeared before he had taken two steps into the living room. She wore a red blouse and a pale green skirt. The red made her look bright and vivid like the Alaina he remembered from their past jungle adventures. Instantly, he resolved to regain her good graces.
He said, “I’ve been looking forward to today. I hope I’m welcome?”
“Of course you’re welcome. I’m even ready to forgive you for your unforgiveable absence.” She walked up to him, leaned forward, and gave him a peck on the cheek.
“I’ve missed you,” she said.
He brightened. The words filled him up. “I could ask for no more.”
“Did you miss me?”
“Every minute,” he said and laid his hand lightly on her arm.
“You’re happy now?”
“Yes, I can’t feel unhappy when we’re together.”
For a long moment she was silent.
She said, “I’ve decided that delaying seeing you was punishing me as much as you.”
“So dinner is your solution?”
“Yes.”
“I’m glad. I’m very glad.”
She turned and stood before a mirror. He came up behind her while she watched his reflection approach. For a second, their eyes met in the mirror. A smile passed from her eyes to her lips.
She turned and said with unrestrained gaiety, “Control yourself. It distresses me when you become muddled with excitement.”
He thought . . . She likes me again.
He said, “For that I’m glad.”
They engaged in light banter for several minutes and then adjourned to the dining room where she began to put their small feast on the table.
Gallant noticed that the table was set with her best plates and accessories. The honeycomb and fragrant flowers added to the pleasure. The open windows brought the sounds of wind rustling through the trees, the chirping of nesting birds, and the strident cries of small creatures scurrying about for a meal of their own.
He could tell the selection of foods was prepared for a special guest. He licked his lips, ready to savor the tangy tastes of the sweet-and-sour dishes. As the salad and fresh vegetables reached his taste buds, the rich smell of the roasted meats reached his nostrils. He took a hearty bite of the main course, a well-seasoned roast fowl. The lemon tart that was served for dessert served to once more change his taste buds.
Alaina described how she prepared and made the dishes, proud of her accomplishment. Gallant made ingratiating sounds which Alaina acknowledged appreciatively.
He lost count of the courses and knew he would have to double his physical fitness regimen for the next week to make up for this day’s indulgences. It was the best meal he’d ever tasted—good food—good company.
They dined slowly with silent intervals sandwiched between rushes of dialogue—for although there was much to say—each was weary of broaching sensitive subjects.
At first, Gallant avoided asking specific questions because he wanted to let her reveal her history over the past year as she was comfortable.
With elbows on the table, she rested her chin on her clasped hands while recalling the goings-on since they’d been apart. Eventually, she was able to prod Gallant into talking about his ship and crew—allowing him to impart personal details of the habits of his officers and the idiosyncrasies of the Warrior.
They talked about day-to-day things in a desultory manner while they enjoyed the meal and although the subjects weren’t important, the ability to exchange personal confidences was. It reestablished some of their past bond and connection. Soon, the conversation turned to more immediate happenings.
“Are you still painting?” Gallant asked.
“Yes. It is my exquisite pleasure. Would you like to see my latest work?”
“Yes.”
She took him for a tour of her studio where there were new paintings on the walls. They showed the countryside with figures of the children and people of Halo. He examined them and commented on her improved style. He noticed the statues on the nearby stand. There were several nudes of her that had been done by Liam. He was pleased to see there are no new additions.
He asked, “How have you liked politics?”
“Please don’t ask. It’s really dreadful. I wish I’d never ventured into it.”
She explained that after the initial flurry of activism in building a government that respected the rights of its people, she had wearied of the political infighting, as well as the variety of problems, needs, and special favors that came alone with the office. And she was hurt by the spiteful things her opponents chose to malign her with. She said, “Liam has been my strength this past year. I could not have survived without him.”
Her voice was discouraging and he didn’t dare to probe farther, lest he touch more disturbing emotions.
“Then why not pass the baton to someone else?”
“If I left my post it would mean Wolfe and his cronies would immediately occupy my place. There is so much division among the people that no one else commands enough popular support. But let’s not spoil the evening by discussing such an unappetizing subject.”
He wished circumstances would permit a remaking of the past into something more of her choosing—groping toward a better understanding between them.
“What is Earth like now?”
“I didn’t spend any time on Earth. I did get to visit Mars while the Warrior was being outfitted. It’s not the same as when I was growing up. There’s a lot of pain.”
“Do you still communicate with Kelsey, your long-lost love?”
He was surprised that she asked about his former infatuation. He thought she’d grown into her position as leader of the community and that it was natural for her to expect him to defer to her wishes. Yet, he maintained his good grace and was eager to accommodate her.
“She’s married. I told you she was engaged. Now she’s married. She married Anton Neumann some months ago.”
“What was your problem with her?”
He frowned despite himself.
She noticed.
He said, “I don’t know. We didn’t seem to want the same things.”
“Oh. And are you on better terms with Commander Neumann now?”
Gallant looked askance. “I don’t know. We may never be on better terms.”
“Let’s go out on the veranda.”
They walked out into the warm clear day. It lifted her mood and he listened as she hummed to herself.
She felt him watching her and her cheeks heated up.
Gallant thought . . . There’s a freshness about her. She almost seems brand new.
“Do you know that we've been separated longer than we've been together,” she asked.
He nodded and sighed.
“Do you want to accompany me to the celebration tomorrow?” she asked.
“Well, yes. I’d love to go with you, though you will know everyone and I shall be among strangers,” he said abjectly.
“There will be members from the ships, as well as new colonists, so I’ll be similarly disadvantaged.”
“Actually, it’s part of our jobs to attend as leaders of our respective organizations. What time should I come by and pick you up? Or perhaps, I could stay over, and we could go together?”
Her eyes darkened, and he thought she might rebuke him. But she remained quiet, thinking over her reproach, so much so, that he became concerned he would not like her answer.
He furled his brow.
“Henry, I must be perfectly honest with you. I was serious when I said we need to take our relationship slow,” she said, visibly upset by his proposition.
His imagination spun to unpleasant possibilities. For a moment he felt as if a chilly breeze passed through his being. He knew he must leave with the possibility of their future intact though he remained confused about their relationship.
He said, “It’s time I should go.”
“Till tomorrow at seven, then.”
“Till sev
en then."
CHAPTER 5
Mining Venture
It was a rainy afternoon in Halo. The sun showers had been constant since dawn, but in the town hall six men sat around a table in the conference room engaged in a serious discussion, oblivious to the tropical weather. They had already wined and dined—off a cream soup dish, some mutton, a meat and sweetbreads pie, followed by raw fish with assorted greens, as well as cheese and nuts. A glass of sherry had set the meal off to everyone’s satisfaction.
Councilman Reverend Thibodaux was settling down to his coffee. Next to him was Gregory Rothschild, the NNR corporate financial manager and banker with a sour face to match his dour profession. The leader of the manufacturing syndicate was next—a rather sparse man with gray hair and a short well-trimmed beard. Finally, William Treadwell, a senior mining engineer and leader of the miner’s consortium, took his seat—the small older man had an eager-to-please, surprisingly jolly disposition with full-of-fun red cheeks. These senior businessmen represented key associations that would decide on allocating the planet’s slim manpower and machinery resources.
They were joined by Gallant and Howard to discuss reopening the mining operations that surrounded the Brobdingnag Volcano. The rich mineral deposits were dispersed over several mountain ranges and included essential minerals needed for the manufacturing of steels and semiconductors, as well as fissionable metals for nuclear reactions—everything needed to refit the Warrior and construct the satellite and weapon defenses for the planet.
“Mr. Gallant, I’m pleased you’ve come. Good to have you back,” said Treadwell.
“Thank you. I’m glad to be here.”
Gallant said, “We’re here to discuss the preliminary allotment of work and funding for the upgrade of the Elysium mining and manufacturing facilities.”
“Well,” said Treadwell, “I, for one, regret that we closed down the mining operations several months ago. It was a rather hasty decision due to cost and manpower limitations, but now it’s clear that planetary security trumps narrow financial interests.” He smiled and then added, “I’m looking forward to working closely with Chief Howard and his engineering team on how best to staff and operate the mining works.”
Howard said, “I’m glad to hear that you’re willing to direct the operations to our mutual needs. There’s much to do. The Achilles task force has helped by providing spare parts and extra manpower, but the Warrior’s repair schedule will still take two or more months of hard work.”
Rothschild coughed and said, “Naturally, the NNR Corporation has its own needs, but we are willing to defer to Chief Howard’s priorities and Treadwell’s mining expertise.”
Treadwell said, “A successful mining operation of this magnitude requires drilling, blasting, and transporting a variety of materials—even before we’re ready to crush, grind, and process them for production. Because of our limited time and manpower, we’ll be incorporating as much remote automation as possible. These devices use sensors to provide data for remote control operations thereby reducing human labor; however, they do require a large capital investment.”
He stopped for a moment and spit a vile brown tobacco-like substance into a cup. He was clearly a man who was unaccustomed to making long statements and would have preferred to just get on with the job so he could chaw away.
He continued, “The robotic mining equipment will dig shafts using smart drills that can sense the type of materials it’s drilling through. Another advantage of this technology is safety. We’ll be able to limit the miners’ exposure to dangerous conditions, such as unstable terrain, blast areas, and regions subject to falling debris. In the end, it will actually be the least expensive option. On the other hand, we currently lack the necessary number of expert equipment operators. So we’ll have to train more men and that takes time.”
Again he paused and looked as though he would spit again, but stopped and concluded, “Sorry, but that’s how it is.”
“Well,” said Chief Howard, “I, for one, am willing to follow the recommendation of senior mining engineer William Treadwell on deploying automated equipment and training additional operators.”
Treadwell glowed from the praise. He winked at Howard and chuckled, “Naturally, I’ll defer to the best engineering mind from the Warrior when it comes to calibrating and maintaining the automated equipment.”
There was a murmur of good-humored agreement.
Treadwell said, “I have some last minute news from the mine to share. A new discovery of a rich ore has been uncovered. I believe the profit margin will expand to everyone’s satisfaction.”
There were more smiles around the table.
Treadwell added, “However, with the new vein comes a great deal of water leakage, which as you know, means the additional headache of pumping it out.”
Nonetheless, they toasted to the discovery with a glass of fermented juice the locals had made—somewhat more potent than the brewery stock they normally relied on.
Treadwell said, “However, I should alert you that we’ve had some hard news about a recent collapse in the secondary shaft of the main mine—a significant problem.”
“I can supply some additional excavation machinery to remove the debris,” said Rothschild.
“Very admirable of you I’m sure,” said Reverend Thibodaux.
Next they engaged in a technical discussion of production needs. Howard discussed the ore vein and the tonnage needed to produce the necessary fabrication end-products. They also talked about the production of missiles and satellites that Elysium needed which had been postponed once already.
He cleared his throat and said, “Here’s our production plan and schedule in detail.” Everyone had the chance to look over the details to their satisfaction.
Gallant had outlined his plan to foster maximum cooperation between the parties. Even so they would still be well short of the equipment they ultimately needed—this was only the initial outlay.
There was a moment of silence. Now he would find out whether he had succeeded. He watched their faces cynically.
Treadwell said, “I’m willing to work as engineering supervisor without pay while we get the business back into operation.”
Rothschild said, “I can help finance the machinery upgrades and worker salaries to gear up and tackle the most difficult startup costs. As for the heavy machinery, we’ll need help from the Untied Planets task force, particularly from the NNR’s supplies currently being off-loaded from the ships in orbit.”
Gallant said, “That sounds workable. Although I’m certain there will be more problems uncovered as we progress, we can expect the Achilles task force to help. I’m confident that we can begin immediately with what we have.”
Treadwell unfastened his collar button and wiped his forehead as the humid day made sweat run down his face. He said, “I agree, that’s reasonable.”
Treadwell furrowed his brow, he knew best who to assign each task to. There was little to worry about, if he stayed on the job. He rolled his eyes—and burped. An embarrassed smile crept across his face, making him look somewhat younger and more accessible.
Rothschild interrupted, “I’m worried about the initial costs being recovered at an adequate profit. You know that without profit we’ll lose investors.”
Gallant waved his hand dismissively as if none of that really mattered. He had bigger problems to handle. He said, “Using autonomous mining vehicles will reduce the footprint of the operation while improving productivity and vehicle utilization. That will keep costs down, I’m sure.”
Treadwell added, “I’ve already inspected the mines and production factories. They’re laid out with good roads between them so that automated vehicles can material to and fro.”
Howard asked, “How deep does the main mine go?”
The mining engineer scratched his head and thought for a moment. He said, “It reaches four kilometers into the ground and extends several kilometers to the west under the jungle. The pumps work overtime to k
eep the seeping water out. It leaves green and brown stains from the water table in this region. If we could pump faster, then we could go after the rich vein that goes off toward the ocean.”
Gallant commented on the need for more safety inspections and better structured supports. He had inspected the rugged walls and caves that pockmarked the area. There were overhead hazardous trails that were treacherous and not well shored up, but he had made the circuit without incident.
Treadwell said, “See here’s a streak of material worth mining,” pointing to the mine map. “Air compressors are needed at this level.”
Rothschild said, “You’ve seen our cost estimates. We couldn’t make it cost-effective at that grade of ore.”
Gallant said, “We have some very hard work ahead of us to set things right and get things settled.”
Finally, as mining engineer Treadwell said, “I’m willing to undertake the supervision of the mining operation, if Chief Howard will assist in upgrading to automated vehicles.”
“Agreed.”
“The NNR Corporation will supply us with some needed equipment and small gear,” said Rothschild. “I will arrange the financing and shepherd the necessary passage through the legal proceedings.”
“We will divide the shares among the interested parties,” said Gallant.
Rothschild said, “We’ve worked out the costs and manpower requirements so as not to overtax the fragile Halo economy and thanks to the generosity of the NNR Corporation, credit and major equipment procurement won’t be a problem. NNR will of course expect an appropriate share of the venture to off-set its risks.”
Gallant listened to a range of issues the businessmen had left to explore; credit, expenditure, debts, and potential insolvency and liquidation.
Rothschild summed up, “We need to open up investment opportunities to the NNR colonists too. I’m sure they would want to be involved and share the risks as well as the rewards. Creating credits and financing through a UP banking conglomerate supported by NNR will offer us that. NNR is prepared to offer us everything we will need for this endeavor.”
Commander Henry Gallant (The Henry Gallant Saga Book 4) Page 5
