by F. M. Busby
"Liesel." Hawkman spoke. "Let's get down to business."
"What business?"
"The business of how we can help."
"When he doesn't tell us anything, how can we?"
"Let's find out." He turned to Rissa. "What does he need most? Money? Men? Probably not. Weapons?"
"I am not certain."
"But ships- ships, that's what. Of course. Liesel, what do you say we ask Bran if we can invest in this enterprise?"
"Hawkman, in the name of peace, how can we get ships? They come and go-the only one here is already his. What do you mean?" Instead of answering, he said, "Rissa, when does he plan to leave?"
"I do not know." She hesitated. "And before I say more, I must consult with Bran-for already, even to you, his own family, I may have said too much." She gestured. "If only you did not play games with secrets from each other! I am ac-customed to it with enemies, but here-"
Hawkman clasped her hand, then released it. "Excuse me a minute, all." He left, and returned with the screen terminal from Rissa's room. "You want to cal him now?"
She tried the port; Lefthand Thread had gone. She switched channels and caled Deverel; he reached Limmer at Base Two and then Tregare was on the screen, barely recognizable as the picture wavered. "Rissa? Everything all right? We're fine here."
"Tregare-yes, and here, also. But I am at dinner with your family; Ernol is with us, also. And-I did not mean to break confidence, but Liesel guessed your plan-the goal of it-and I could not deny her guess." She could see that he scowled; she said quickly, "I have caled now because-they want to help."
"Help? How?"
Hawkman turned the screen partway toward him; at an angle Rissa could still see it. "Son? We'd like to buy into your venture a little, if we may. My thought-and Rissa neither confirmed nor denied it-is that whatever else you may need, you'd like more ships. Am I right?"
"I could use more ships, no matter what I intended. But only under my complete personal control."
"That's understood. Bran-do we have the start of an agreement?"
"Sure, Hawkman. But in the time I have-"
"Bran!" Rissa leaned toward the screen. "Later reinforce-ments could help, also. If you left installation teams at Base Two-?"
"Yeah-maybe. All right-you can buy in all you want; I accept, and gladly. Too bad it couldn't have been earlier, but that's my stubborn fault, so don't try to apologize and make it worse." He turned to one side. "Just a minute, Vanois." Then, facing the screen again, "Hot skull-session going here; I should get back to it. Tell you what-can I call you tomorrow, or come over in a few days and talk at length?"
"I leave tomorrow," said Hawkman. "Riding the local packet out to Big Icecube. So let's settle one thing-if I can get you Sten Norden's Valkyrie, do you want her? And with or without Norden?"
"Holy peace! You need a lot of deciding in a hurry! Yeah, I know-circumstance won't wait." He paused, running a hand up his forehead and through his hair. "All right. 1 want the ship. I'll buy into it-arming Valkyrie in return for its use on my mission-or I'll buy Norden out fairly, at his own option to stay on or not, long as he's willing to take orders. He's a good man; I'd like to have him along." Bran shook his head. "Just make it all clear, in the dickering." A pause, and then, "Look-Hawkman-how long you figure to be gone?"
"A month-maybe less. Why?"
"Then that's all right; I'll see you when you get back."
Hawkman smiled. "I'm glad of that. Well, I won't keep you longer, now."
"Yeah. I haven't said thanks yet. Well, I do. To all of you."
The screen went gray. Hawkman looked around, face to face, at all of them. "Well, Liesel? Do you approve of our new venture?"
Her brow wrinkled. "I'm not sure. Oh, it's al right, Hawk-man-I'm just thinking of some of the consequences."
"Consequences?" said Rissa.
Hawkman answered. "I know what she means. Why do you suppose we-or any groundhogs, except UET, of course-never bought into ships before?"
She thought. "Most people, no mater how much money-yes, I see it. But the Hulzeins take the long view, so-"
"And what good," said Liesel, "does the long view do you, if your ship's people decide to keep going and not come back? A second generation of Escapes at our expense? No, thanks!"
"But now," said Rissa, "with Tregare-"
"With Tregare, yes." Liesel nodded. "And no matter he's out for war, and peace take commerce!-he'l turn us a profit, too, before he's done." She sighed. "I hope I'm alive to know it."
"Wait a minute," Sparline said. "The Valkyrie was our next relay to Erika's faction. And what about the cargo com-mitment?"
"Frozen gases are in no hurry," said Liesel. "We buy the rights and sell them to the next ship that turns up freelancing."
"And I wasn't happy," said Hawkman, "Using Valkyrie for our relay to Earth. Towing those pods, that first leg would be a slow haul. Odds are we get a faster chance before the year's out." He shrugged, then grinned. "Or maybe buy ourselves one, now we're into the habit."
"Hawkman!" Liesel's voice came near to anger. "On only one drugstick you say that? A ship we can't control, once it's up?" He laughed. "Drug or no drug, we can control any ship we ride. Liesel-haven't you ever wanted to see Earth again? And now-with Bran Tregare going there?"
After a moment, Liesel said, "A new thought, Hawkman-it'll bear nursing a while. To change all our plans?" She touched his hand. "But that's you talking, not the drugstick!"
Even seated, Hawkman managed the hint of a courtly bow. "I do like being appreciated-especially by you. And-"
"Just a minute." Sparline's voice held an edge. "You'd leave me holding the baby-your plans for this whole planet!"
"You've never had half the responsibility you could handle," said her mother, "and that's my fault. Now reef it in, Sparline-this is all kite designs, so far, not firm planning. But truly-if Hawkman and I were to do such a crazy thing, I'd have full confidence in your management."
Her gaze on Ernol, she grinned. "And besides-wouldn't that simplify your own plans?" Sparline's knuckles rapped the table. "Liesel-you're im-possible!"
Hawkman laughed. "No, my dear-only highly unlikely."
After a pause, Ernol spoke. "Some of this I don't know enough about, to make sense of it. Yet. But one thingMadame Liesel-"
"No, Ernol!" Sparline pulled at his arm. "Not now."
Eyes narrowed, Liesel waved a hand. "Let the boy talk."
Rissa leaned forward. "No-it's not fair, Liesel. He has no way to know your games."
"He won't learn any younger."
Ernol shook his head. "I never thought I was stupid, so I guess I just don't know the language. All I wanted to say, Madame Hulzein, is that while you're here, what you say goes." Liesel's mouth tightened. "Now wait a minute-let me finish, please. If you leave, what you say still goes-in a way. I mean, if Sparline still wants to and you leave me in proper status for it, we'll marry. If you don't-well, I couldn't accept the status from her if you didn't give it to me. It wouldn't look right."
He stood. "I guess that's all. Should I go now?"
"You try it," said Liesel, "and I'll kick you. Sit back down and listen." She sighed; Rissa heard breath catch in her throat. "Ernol, you've damned near convinced me. There's just one thing. You were lying a little, weren't you?"
"No. Not any. I only lie when I'm joking."
"Well, I guess we can't have everything. And you're young yet."
"I don't understand."
"Sparline, you can teach him, can't you?"
Sparline gasped, spread her arms wide and whooped, then reached to smother Ernol in arms and kisses. After a time she sat back and said,
"But Liesel-why did you give me the game so easily!"
Liesel could not suppress her smile. "I never like to waste intelligent innocence-it has such great possibilities. I trust you to develop them."
Before Sparline could answer, Rissa said, "Now I under-stand. Yes, Liesel-this is one way to do it, and a good one."
An hour or so later, carefully keeping her euphoric mind in step with her gravity-bound feet, Rissa made her way upstairs. Once she was in bed, sleep came soon.
the next day Hawkman left; Rissa saw him briefly at break-fast. Liesel was busy, Sparline away to One Point One. De-prived of company, Rissa came close to sulking. She called Bran, but he had time for only a few words. The day seemed like ten. When she woke next morning, thinking, Now I can get this done with, she came alive again.
sparline had more business in the city; Rissa rode with her, "Shall I drop you at the Hatchery? I go within half a mile of it, anyway."
"Let me off where you are going. We are early for my ap-pointment, and I will enjoy the walk."
"All right." Sparline landed at the end of a row of aircars, beside a domed building labeled "Fennerabilis & Associates." "If you want to meet me here I'll be in the Offworld Trade section-if I go anywhere else I'll leave a note in the car."
"That is fine. Thank you." From the air Rissa had noted the DRC building; she set off toward it. About halfway she recognized the building to her left; she was passing Bleeker's headquarters. She looked at her watch-still early-well, why not? She went inside and proceeded to Room 522.
The receptionist-the same she had met twice before-looked up. After a pause, he smiled. "Ms. Obrigo-I'm sure Mr. Bleeker will see you immediately." He rose and led the way.
Bleeker stood to greet her, one hand pulling at his goatee as he reached the other to shake Rissa's. "Ms. Obrigo. What business brings you here?"
She accepted his motioned offer to sit. "Nothing in par-ticular. I was passing and thought to say hello. How are you?"
He sat also and clasped his hands on the desk. "You mean that, don't you? I know gloating when I see it, and you're not. Well, I'll tell you-it was a real shock when Liesel Hulzein played her sleeping dummies and took control. Hard to swallow."
He smiled. She thought his smile would never be attractive, but now it was more relaxed. "But I did swallow it-had to-no choice. And you want to know something?"
"Of course, if you wish to tell me."
"It's a relief, that's what! I'm as good as most, I think-kept my holdings when a lot went under. But once I knew the Hulzeins had the crunch going on me, I ran scared-anybody would. And now it's over. I'm just a figurehead, and it's no secret."
"Yet you do not seem depressed, Mr. Bleeker."
"And I'm not." He leaned forward. "There's a time com-ing here-some won't believe it, but it's true-when the big ones will shake all the rest off the tree and then have it out among themselves."
He smiled again. "All right-Liesel ate me alive, you might say, but she didn't skin me. I still have my holdings, just not the control-and it's to her own advantage to run things well. And when the showdown comes, I'd bet you anything I'm on the winning side!"
"You have discussed it with others-this showdown?"
"Used to, some-over drinks and such. No more, though-now I know it's real, it's too dangerous to gab about. Am I right?"
"If about the one thing, then about the other also, I would say."
He nodded. "You belong with the Hulzeins, all right; you keep a tight string." She looked at her watch. "Oh-my appointment is soon. I-"
"Sure." Bleeker stood; again he offered his hand and she took it. "Well, I'm pleased you came by. Wanted to tell you nothing shaken, your part in all that happened. And Welt-marks or no Weltmarks, I'm glad you finished Stagon dal Nardo."
"I am never glad of kiling. But dal Nardo-it was difficult to grieve for him." His face lost all expression; before he could speak, she turned to leave. "Good-bye, Mr. Sleeker. Another time, per-haps." She walked out and left the building. Walking briskly, she reached the DRC building with minutes to spare. Inside, she met Estelle Marco in the corridor and was directed to the laboratory. She removed her clothing and climbed onto the high table. Soon the doctor entered.
"You're ready, I see. Al right, feet up there-yes. Now-" The old woman's hands moved surely; within her Rissa felt the fingers probing, then a slight pain-then, for a time, nothing. She tried to folow what the doctor had told her would happen -the plastic tube searching for her own, partially withdraw-ing and rotating and again advancing-but could localize no sensation. Finaly she did feel it, being drawn out of her.
"A moment, let me look-yes, you're all right. Put your clothes on, if you like-or maybe you'd rather see this." Rissa stood and followed as the doctor took the collector to a workbench and examined its tiny transparent receptacle under a microscope. A pause. "Well, we caught it al right." She turned to face Rissa. "Now, then-do you want the cells stored separately, or conceived first?"
"Is there advantage one way or the other?"
Marco shrugged. "Some say so-that only the stronger sperm stay potent in the freeze. If that's so, you're betting for a more hardy zygote, but with less chance of getting one at all."
"Conception now, I would say-and the zygote itself frozen at the proper stage. Which is-?"
"After the habit of cel division has been reinforced a time or two. I prefer to freeze while a division is in process; an ac-tion halted midway has momentum to restart when the zygote is thawed."
"Very well. Do it so, please." Now Rissa dressed herself. "And are we finished, then, for this time?"
"Yes. Cal me a day or two ahead, if you can, when you're ready for the next try."
"I will. And thank you, doctor."
Already moving apparatus into place for the next step, the old woman smiled and waved her good-bye. Rissa smiled in return, nodded, and left.
outside, she broke into a jog, laughing in exhilaration. At the aircar she saw Sparline's note: Plans changed. Little trip with F's people, their transport.
They'll return me to the Lodge so this car's yours for the day.
-S.M.
It was not yet noon but Rissa felt hunger. Debating with herself, she decided she could wait. Flying low and fast she returned to Hulzein Lodge. ,
Entering, she met Liesel in the main corridor. "Back for lunch, are you? But where's Sparline?" Rissa explained, and a few minutes later joined Liesel in the dining room.
They chose luncheon from what was most quickly available and soon were served. Liesel said, "Bran called. The incoming ship-he finally got a clear message-it's Peralta, on No Return. Be here in less than a week, now, and the routine's the same as Limmer's was-refuel, sell cargo, stock supplies and move to Base Two."
"Then he has four ships-only two more are needed! Unless -you know he does not wish to leave Number One unguarded against the Shrakken." She paused. "Did he leave word for me?"
Liesel chuckled. "He put me on hold while he recorded something to your extension. It's short, is all I know-prob-ably just saying join him when you can if not sooner."
"That would be both welcome and sufficient. And-is there any reason not to do so at once?"
"I'd like a little of your time first. Not much-just a few decisions you should make in the line of business. But you haven't said-how did it go today in town?"
Telling the morning's events, Rissa ended with, "Bleeker has adjusted well; he no longer minds that you decide for him."
"Hah! I don't, really. At first, yes-then I began asking his opinions, and with the pressure off, he's making good choices again. I set policy-after that, he has a fairly free hand. If he doesn't know it, though, I'll wait awhile before I tell him."
"Yes. Well, I am finished, and I see you have been waiting for me. I would like to hear Bran's message, and then we can confer."
"Sure. I'll be in my office."
Upstairs, Rissa played the screen's tape. First, a request for information from the warehouse construction superintendent -he was not available, so she, also, recorded her answers, along with questions of her own. Bran's call came next; the picture hardly existed, but his voice came clear.
"Rissa? I'm at Two, staying on Lefthand Thread. Call me here when you're ready to come through the Hills. I miss you."
She called the scout; Anse Kenekk
e relayed her to Limmer's ship, and soon Tregare spoke to her. "Everything go all right? You ready to come here?''
"Yes, and yes. Where shall I meet you?"
"The cabin's best. I may be late, so eat when you get hungry. You're not nervous about running the pass?"
"No, Bran. The angle of light will favor me."
"All right. Be braced for the rough spots-remember?"
"Surely. And I hope you will not be kept too late."
He laughed. "No chance. All right-I'll see you then."
"Good-bye, Bran." She checked the tape again; it held nothing more, so she joined Liesel downstairs. The conference was brief; Rissa found most of the decisions obvious, and Liesel did not disagree with any.
"That does it, then. And now you're off across the Hills?"
"Yes. Two minutes to pack and I can be on my way."
"You and Bran come back when you get the chance. And going through that damned pass of his, be careful."
"There is no way to be careful there. One can only be cor-rect-and I intend to be."
"Then I won't worry." They said good-byes. In not much longer than the two minutes she had predicted, Rissa had the aircar rising along the line of the ridges above. she had the oxygen equipment out early; the pass was no place to have to scrabble under the seat. Ahead she saw clouds- ifthe sun is obscured in the pass itself-then she saw another way. Tregare had followed rising ground levels to the mouth of the cut. She began to climb, gaining altitude far ahead of her turning point. She wondered-if the approach could be made so easily, why had he not done the same? Ex-pecting the unexpected, she concentrated her alertness and veered away from the Hils to make her direct approach, when she would reach the cut from greater distance as wel as greater height. Ahead she saw it, then came abreast and turned. Stil climb-ing at ful power, she pointed toward its center. First there was calm- this cannot beall of it-then an invisible current shook the car and thrust it downward at a rate that shocked her. Dropping, the car lost forward speed; she saw only one choice and took it-deliberately she went into a dive.
Adrenaline hit her; time slowed. Would it be enough? When her speed satisfied her, she pulled the nose up sharply and shot -pitching wildly-through the entrance turbulence into the narrow cut, higher and faster than Tregare had done. Into grayness! She went through a brief bright patch; then the sun was lost again. Her eyes readjusted soon enough to glimpse the white tumble of boulders. She cut sharply into the turn she could not see and narrowly missed crags at her left. Too soon! Only her higher altitude, giving more width for maneuver, had saved her.
