Family Law

by Mackey Chandler

  "I think that's only teenagers," Lee said, but looked a little worried. "I'm too young and innocent to be abused like that."

  "Why don't you shower before we are weak from hunger?" he suggested. "And try not to drown this morning my little stinkweed." The night before she had selected the pulsating power wash, designed to punch through the heaviest grimy Derf fur clear to the skin. It knocked her flat on her butt and left a purple water jet abrasion on her shoulder.

  * * *

  The corridors were crowded this morning, a whole lot more humans about than yesterday and quite a few of them had a lost look like they didn't know where to go. It reminded Lee of a herbivore they had seen on Providence, which switched herd leaders several times a day. When that happened they milled around in confusion momentarily, not knowing where to go until one suddenly self selected and started to lead them. They were dressed differently too, in a lot of bright colors.

  Lee gave that little tug at his lower arm. That had come to be their signal she wanted to ride. He dipped and she threw a leg over his neck slick as mounting a pony. They'd only done it a few thousand times. With it so crowded and everyone taller she could see a lot better up high.

  The humans in the crowd stared as he came through. They weren't tasteless enough to point, but some obviously told their companions to look, because after a word they turned. It amused Gordon until they got in a queue waiting for a lift and a young female Derf looked at him with open hostility and asked, "My gods, why are you playing the fool for them?"

  "What?" Gordon asked genuinely surprised. "Why are you angry with me?"

  "Carrying the kid on your neck!" she said, with heartfelt disgust. Why don't you just strap a damn saddle on?"

  Gordon reached up and gently took Lee off double handed. "We've spent a lot of time in the Beyond and she's safer up there where there are dangers. She's spent hundreds of hours up there and she could see better in this crowd, but it was never done to offend. You have our apologies. Please make the acquaintance of my daughter Lee."

  "Hello lady. I'm sorry, we didn't know that would upset people," Lee offered in perfect Derf, with contrite crossed hands.

  "Gods, you aren't yanking my tail are you? Lee blushed, because a Derf tail was about three inches long and a deeply erotic zone. "Daughter?" she still questioned.

  "I don't know how to say 'step-daughter' in Derf," Lee said using the English words. "Is there such an expression?"

  "No," the young lady agreed. "I'm a Derf major. I'm taking writing and journalism in school. In Derf you are either a daughter, or you are not. I suppose one could say adopted daughter, but any modifier would suggest the adoption was flawed."

  "I'm sorry I said anything. If you've been in the Beyond you wouldn't know. There was a video program that came out from Earth last year. It featured an Earth ambassador's family moving around to the various worlds and interacting with all the races. It portrayed all the non-human races as animals that could talk a little, if not very well. And of course the little boy rode Derf, as if the embassy staff didn't have any other duties, but to keep the Glorious Earth Master's children entertained. Seeing it done for real touched a nerve."

  "Better you tell us than we irritate hundreds of folk and never know why," Gordon said. Then the lift opened and they moved forward, but she was left behind. Their goodbyes were abbreviated to a wave.

  The restaurant was as packed as the public corridors. It would probably have been full, but Lee noticed quite a few of the humans read the menu posted outside the entry and turned away. They would quickly find out there wasn't any place on station with Earth prices for food. They got one of the last tables, the Derf waiter directing two under servers with silent gestures, to clear away a chair and setting for humans and fetching a floor mat and Derf size utensils. If anything the menu had even more choices than last night.

  "These folks look different," Lee finally mentioned to Gordon after examining them.

  "There's a cruise ship in," the waiter explained, overhearing her as he reset things.

  "These folks are almost all Earthies," Gordon explained. "They dress different. Their accents are different. They're all rich, or they wouldn't be on a cruise. They even carry themselves different than outlanders. See the fellow over there by the fish tank? How does he look different to you?" he asked Lee.

  She considered him carefully. "Well, he's got on a shirt with buttons. I've only seen those in period movies. He doesn't have any jewelry I can see, except a little finger ring. Not even any earrings like you," she looked up at the seven rings in Gordon's right ear, one for every voyage of exploration he'd made. "His hair is too long to wear safely in a pressure suit and he just looks stiff, uncomfortable."

  Gordon nodded. "The first things are mostly superficial, but the way he's sitting so stiff is important. On Earth that controlled look, with ankles together and sitting up straight, with his hands together in his lap is a mark of the upper class. The full hair is a clue too. Working people wear their hair short for safety. Poor people wear their hair short to make it easy to avoid vermin." Lee looked at Gordon closely to see if he was joking with her. Apparently not. "If he was sprawled with his knees apart and laid back with his elbow hooked over the back of the chair, it would mark him as common no matter how well dressed he was."

  "And if he was Derf? How would he hold everything?"

  "We Derf are truly classless, treating everyone in equality and fraternity," he started out, pontificating in a prim tone. Then he faltered in his delivery as he needed to fend off the fork Lee was trying to jab in his side, just under the edge of the table.

  With Lee safely disarmed, he took a more honest tack, "But if he was a particularly well regarded Derf you might see he always kept his lower arms tucked in close in front of him. A well bred Derf would never raise his true hands above his shoulders in polite company, unless it was truly a matter of life and death and it simply won't do to sit around with your ears flopped down all sagging, as if you are bored and don't want to hear what's going on."

  He demonstrated by letting his own ears droop and cocked his head with bored eyes. He looked so woebegone Lee laughed. Then he brought them back up cupped and made his voyage rings jingle, the front ring with a blue stone sparkling in the light. When he walked they never made noise. Just like a cat can learn to move with a bell around its neck and never ring it, he kept them silent.

  A single human came in and stood at the entry. He was dressed more formally than the others. He had on a suit that was muted colors and formed to his body more than the loose bright clothing of the crowd. It looked more expensive. It simply couldn't be that easy to fabricate something with so much shape to it.

  He also wore a rich textured tie, that looked like it was woven of gold. A timepiece around his wrist was as anachronistic as buttons. Nobody needed one who carried a phone or computer. He was too late to get a table, but stood back apparently willing to wait for one to go vacant.

  Lee was already looking at him. "Would you like me to invite that splendid specimen to share our table and you can get a feel for dealing with a real Earth human one at a time?" Gordon asked her.

  "That would be fun. If I mess up go ahead and tell me. I'm not worried about being embarrassed. We'll never see him again anyway."

  Gordon gave the waiter a sign and he hurried over. "Ready to order sir?"

  "Almost, but that poor fellow by the door missed the last table. If you'd drop a word in his ear, tell him he's welcome to join us at our table, if it pleases him."

  He decided Lee could be trusted with the fork again.

  They watched while the waiter explained to the host and the host made the offer. The gentleman looked up and to his credit only blinked twice, managing not to do a double take, or show any great surprise at his potential hosts. He smiled and they could tell he graciously accepted even before the waiter turned to lead him over. The attentive servers had his place set before he could reach his seat.

  "Do you need some time to perus
e the menu sir?"

  "No, I can see it is extensive." He didn't mention expensive. "I'll order and just get as close as you can."

  "Very good, sir. What would you like young lady?" he turned and inquired.

  Lee gave a little start, surprised she was asked first. "Uh, the pancakes rolled around strawberries with whipped cream, bacon, sausage, spicy hot if you have it, four eggs scrambled and a pot of hot tea."

  "And you sir?" he asked Gordon.

  "A Derf sized pot of coffee and brandy for it, orange juice and a fruit salad, a honeyed ham and a Derf sized serving of Potatoes O'Brien. And whatever our friend here wants, put it on our tab." The waiter nodded and regarded the Earthie.

  "That's very nice of you," he said aside to Gordon before ordering, "I'd like Eggs Benedict, an assortment of toast, jams and coffee, just black will do, thank you."

  As soon as the waiter turned away the fellow spoke. "I'm Stanley McPherson. To what do I owe this exceptional kindness?"

  "I'm usually addressed as just Gordon, my true name is rather too complicated. This is my step-daughter Lee Anderson. We've been in The Back of Beyond for a couple years and this is the first time she's seen a gaggle of Earth humans, so it's an excellent opportunity for her to get a little socialization, before we head to Earth after Derfhome."

  "The Back of Beyond?" he asked, but he'd smiled at the expression gaggle.

  "Out past the frontier, where nobody has gone. We were almost a month running in empty. No heavy freight," he explained further to the man's blank look. "Your effective speed is inverse to your mass." That made comprehension dawn on his face.

  "Ah, OK the expression makes sense now. My great grandfather back on Earth, who took our family to Australia used to write in his diary of going 'Beyond the Black Stump', that was past where the burnt trees cleared for farmland ended and it was wild and unknown. Now there's no beyond anything in Australia, it's all condos and farm factories," he said sadly. "It took us fourteen days coming out in a fast liner and this is still almost the frontier at Derf, so you had to be really far beyond civilization."

  "That's what you do if you are aiming for the big find. If you are just looking for a source of something like beryllium, or industrial diamonds, you want it close. If you're looking for a world, everything has been picked over close to home. You might luck out and find something around a stellar type that shouldn't have it, but chances are mighty thin."

  "You see how he took his napkin and tucked it in his lap Lee? That's the proper custom where we're going. You don't wait until you're served." she nodded and copied him.

  "And the waiter quite properly asked your order first," Stanley joined in, once he understood it was a lesson. "Most any conservative Earth restaurants will follow a ladies first custom. Will you be taking the Mary Ellen to Earth?" he asked. "It's laying over a week and that is more than sufficient for my business. Perhaps we'll be shipmates on the way back?"

  "No, we need more time here and we have a find to register with the Commission. There are extensive samples and patents to catalog, it's not just a rock, so we need to go in to Luna and go through the whole process."

  "Do you have a firm to write your patents and claims?" Stanley asked.

  "Why, are you an attorney?"

  "Not of that sort, but I know that Green, Bennett and Glenn of New York are very well regarded by my people. If you want to tell them I referred you feel free."

  "We are probably going with whomever our bank recommends. But if you'd give us your card I'd be happy see what the bank thinks."

  Stanley scribbled his recommendation on the back of the little rectangle and handed it over. On the face Gordon read, "Moore, Harper, Goldberg and McPherson - Brasilia, Sydney, Singapore and London - Petitions, Entitlements and Family Law - Authorized to practice before the World Court, Her Majesty's High Court of Justice and the Court of the Americas." It had contact info embedded. After a moment of thought he gave one to Lee too.

  "If it's none of my business I understand, but I'm really curious if you found a living world," Stanley asked. "Your story suggests it, although not positively."

  "What would you do with the information if I confirm it?" Gordon asked. Lee looked really interested in this exchange.

  "Oh, I'd use it. I have clients who should be advised. Such a discovery always creates a movement in stocks and in futures. I'd call my broker and change some of my own holdings as well. I don't have an interest in your venture, so it wouldn't be insider trading to anticipate broad market moves."

  "I believe I'd like to retain your firm in our service Mr. McPherson." He pinched his wallet open on his belt and pulled out a debit card. "What is your retainer?"

  "Normally a million EM," he explained, "but I see what you're aiming to do. Call it a thousand EuroMarks with the hospitality of breakfast and I'll be happy. And it's Stanley. Mr. McPherson still sounds like my father." He held out his compact computer and Gordon swiped across the optical port.

  "As our attorney I'd like you to consider this as a privileged communication. We found an extremely valuable world with a huge complex biosphere. It's honestly a shirtsleeves environment many places and has potential for food plants and settlement. We haven't even scratched the surface in many ways. We've made no survey to speak of in the oceans for example. We're going to our bank this afternoon to reveal our find and give them the good news that we'll be dealing with them from a much better position now."

  Their food started arriving and Gordon's ham was set down on a huge platter. It was the whole ham, shiny with honey glaze and scored deeply through the fat in the traditional diamonds, studded with cloves and surrounded by a halo of fresh pineapple and kiwis. Stanley looked a bit askance at the huge thing.

  "Marvelous. And you must be a very senior partner to be authorized as Spox to release word of this and be dealing with the bank. Are you going to hold a news conference?"

  "Lee is the senior partner. She has twice the interest I do. I can't think of any reason I'd hold a news conference. When we file the Claims Commission or Cataloging Society will do that. It's not like we need to advertise to attract settlers or investors, like some airless world or hellhole with toxic atmosphere. They'll be turning down four or five for every bid they accept. I suppose it's good news for the bank getting a big chunk of business. So if they wish to release something that's up to them to decide."

  "Is your whole crew going to Earth then? Because usually, when the spacers hit the bars on the first populated world and start celebrating, it hits the news after a few drinks and somebody blabs the whole story."

  "You're looking at the whole crew," Gordon informed him.

  Stanley looked back and forth between Lee and Gordon like it might be a joke. Then he indicated the bottle of brandy Gordon ordered. "Would you be a good fellow and give me a dash of that?" His coffee cup was about half empty and Gordon filled it right up with good brandy. The look on his face suggested more than a small taste and indeed, he sucked down most of it in a few long sips.

  "I've never had the acquaintance of your sort of people before," he said awed.

  "You never met Derf before?" Lee asked. "Is this your first trip here?"

  "No, no, I've met Derf. I'm here to settle an estate for a Derf client who lived on Earth. Fantastic gentleman and his passing was very sad. I'll miss him. No, I meant I've never been in the presence of your kind of money. I'd be a bit scared, if I didn't already see how pleasant you are. Wealth on this scale has a quality and power all its own, that transcends race, or gender, or politics." He stopped, aware from their faces that they were amused. "You'll see," he predicted, wagging a stern finger at them, "you'll have a devil of a time getting truth out of people and you'll need protection from every con and huckster and schemer, or worse."

  "We haven't presented our ticket and received the prize so to speak, Stanley. We know it's coming, but it will take awhile before the actual payments start rolling in. But no matter how much money you have your belly only holds so much," Go
rdon pointed out.

  "Dig in and enjoy. When we get up from the table, your belly can be just as full as mine. So what real difference is there if I have a few bookkeeping entries somewhere that are bigger? All that wealth is an abstraction, until you turn it into something you can hold in your hand. It might all disappear tomorrow and what can a mortal do? Try a little of this ham," he offered.

  "Now this is real," he observed, slicing it generously and served Stanley with his own hand, before the dismayed waiter could motion one of his underlings to do it.

  Chapter 5

  Walking along the corridor after breakfast Lee had a million questions. "Why did you hire Mr. McPherson, when he isn't the kind of lawyer we'd need?"

  "Oh, that was just a formality. He understood. Once we hire him the ethics of his profession make him treat us a lot different, he's obligated to watch out for our interests. One way is to safeguard our financial interest, that's called a fiduciary duty. Remember that and look it up, I'll ask you about it tomorrow." Lee silently repeated the word to herself, fixing it in her memory.

  "He can't use the information about our claim in any way that would harm us now. Even if a policeman asked him about us, he could refuse to say anything because of our relationship. I wish I could retain every lawyer in the known universe. I'm wondering if he understood his usual retainer would have wiped our debit card account just now? We're rich, but we're rich in the abstract. When you're broke it always seems to be in cash."

  "But if we needed a lawyer I could call him now?" Lee asked.

  "Yes, but if it wasn't his area of law he'd just get somebody else to help you and charge you for doing it. Not that it might not be worth it, if he knows who to get and you have no idea. We'll see what the bank says about this firm he recommended."

  Gordon had his head tucked down, with little wrinkles just behind his nose. The look she knew meant he was thinking really hard about something.