“Dr. Jalrick told me you are considered a White Knight by others in your profession. I assume such an honorable man would tell me the truth. Did Dr. Jalrick confide anything in you about his discovery?”
Mavers paused and sipped his coffee. Usually, members of his profession didn’t have to grapple with existential questions. “The tablets are as phony as a three-dollar bill.” he answered.
The reply startled Terk. He sat up alert. A thin smile came to his face.
“You are sure?”
“I don’t have any empirical evidence about the tablets themselves, whether they are true or phony, but the two men you were dealing with were not academics, nor were they scientists.”
“No?”
“Not by a long shot. Dr. Jalrick is actually a man known as “Slippery Ed” Foner. He’s a con man and there are warrants out for him in a couple of planets. Giving Ed his due, he is an exceptional con man. He shares the top spot with his friend Tellie Endeger, who is also a master of illegal schemes. Endeger told you he was Dr. Asterman Luddick. He’s never seen a college, much less a degree, in his life. I don’t know how they slipped through your security system but they did. I don’t know Endeger well, but I’ve run into Slippery Ed a few times in the past. None of his schemes are legit.”
Terk thought for a moment, then the smile became bigger and wider. He nodded. “Thank you, Mr. Mavers. You have eased my mind. I was hoping the tablets were fake, but I had to be sure.”
Mavers stood up. “If there are no more questions, I have a poker game I need to get to.”
“Certainly, I won’t keep you any longer.”
Two days later Mavers toasted with Geneva to congratulate her for winning the tournament. Mavers came in fifth, which, in terms of winnings, provided close to a seven-figure sum for his bank account.
Geneva picked up her drink and swirled the ice around in it. “You really need to stop this White Knight thing.” She said.
“It just felt like the right thing to do.” Mavers told her.
She raised her glass. “To Saint James, the patron saint of poker and the Kargars.”
Mavers smiled. He reached into his pocket, pulled out a piece of paper and scanned it.
“What’s that, Jim?” Geneva asked.
“A request. A request from someone I don’t know. A Ms. Belen Morganthal.”
Geneva raised her eyebrows. “Morganthal? She is rich, and I mean really rich. What does she want?”
Mavers flipped the paper around. “She didn’t say.” He gave a quick smile. “Maybe she wants a good deed done.”
Chapter 7
We passed by a conference room. It looked like every other conference room I had seen. A long, walnut table with cushioned, green chairs around it. Three black ashtrays set in the center. Very nice, but I didn’t think there would be much time for chatting on the exit from Vega. Belen walked in and hopped up on the wood.
“So what do you think?” she asked.
“If you have a good captain and a good crew, these ships should do the job.”
“Now all I need is for you to keep the cargo alive until we can get them packed in, and then we are off. By the way, I would like for you to keep this voyage confidential.”
I shrugged. “I’m not a big talker.” I eased into a chair and placed my gun on the table. I stretched out my legs. “Belen, how did you get all this knowledge about Vega?”
“I was on a nice little trip back to my headquarters when a Herran pirate ship came out of hyper space. I say pirate ship, but they had the best technology and weapons available. They took us by surprise, and by the time we fought them off they had sent two missiles into our side. We were crippled, but the captain got us to Vega, the nearest planet. We landed and made friends with the Aristolans. I met Jaclyn there – that was three years ago – and was so taken with the child that I adopted her. Her parents had been killed a year before by the Molochs. The Aristolan officials allowed me to take her. When we got safely back to my headquarters, I couldn’t stop thinking about her race. The more I thought about it and the more I talked to Jaclyn, I became determined to help them. I love Jaclyn like a daughter, and I won’t let her race die out. Humans, and other races, know a great deal about evil. Now they have a chance to learn of the holy.”
I reached into my pocket and took out a cigar. I flicked open a lighter and touched the flame to the tobacco. “Since there are ashtrays here I assume you don’t mind me smoking.”
“Light up, my friend.”
I puffed out some smoke. “You are assuming humans would want to learn about the good, the pure and the holy. I’m not sure if there is any empirical evidence we have to back up that theory.”
“You are a cynic, Logan.”
“Possibly. Or realist.”
Stephanie Aug settled comfortably in the brown cushioned chair as her shuttle settled down for the landing at the Port Adergon spaceport. She was pleased that she didn’t have to do anything. Everything was automated. The computers controlled the shuttle as it connected to her ship, the Smiling Pelican, and also controlled it as the ship circled around the airport waiting to land.
As she gazed out the window, she saw nothing to surprise her, which was a plus. In the military, most surprises are not pleasant. She preferred uneventful days and weeks. She was coming into the nation of Jarnger, 2,000 miles long and about 4,000 miles wide. Science and technology rated 2050 Earth time. Friendly people. High intelligence. Scientific whizzes. Tough as nails militarily. Not much on diplomatic skills. But if your military is well-armed and tough as nails, you don’t need many diplomatic skills. Jarnger was the most highly developed nation on the planet. Others lagged behind, and a few nations remained primitive. It was silly to believe all races on any particular planet would progress at the same rate. Some moved forward, some retrogressed and some stayed the same.
Stephanie's hair was cut short, but skillfully shaped to accent her small nose and mouth. The dark eyes sparkled with intelligence. A skilled dancer before she made the military her career, she was a superb athlete and a superb marksman. While usually smiling, she was not vivacious. She tended to be a loner and was wary of most people besides her military comrades. Even in sports she was a solitary player. She liked surfing and golf. One of her long ago ancestors had been a top five player on the American PGA Women’s Golf Tour. She found delight in teeing up her ball on the first tee.
The shuttle door snapped into the connecting wall. The door slid open and she stepped onto the red, rolling carpet. On either side of the carpet, spaced about six feet apart, were contraptions that reminded her of century’s old parking meters. She had seen some in historical photos. They blinked blue and white softly, with no sound, just color coming from them. She assumed they fulfilled a vital purpose but had no idea what it was.
The lounge was free of the blinking lights but had long green sofas where travelers waited. Several different alien species sat on the cushions or stood at the large, ornate coffee bar. An Ornedan smiled as she rolled by. Stephanie smiled back. She had always liked the Orns. Very friendly, tall hairy creatures that reminded her of large, living teddy bears. Every Ornedan was an ambassador of good will, but the good will was a one way street. No one knew where the Ornedas’ home planet was and the Ornedans preferred to keep it that way. They enjoyed their solitude. No doubt a wise decision, Stephanie thought.
She raised her eyebrows when she recognized the short, almost squat gentleman holding an orange plastic cup. Since he was coming to meet her, he must have something important to say.
“Mr. Majaste,” she said, offering her hand.
“The lovely and intelligent Ms. Aug. It’s good to see you again, Stephanie.” He gave her hand a firm shake.
Stephanie winced. Jarnger citizens had tough, leathery skin. Color ranged from light gray to dark gray. Sometimes they didn’t know their own strength.
“I thought I would buy you lunch.” Majaste said. “We have an excellent restaurant here.”
“I gather you want
to talk business now and not waste time.”
“Yes.” he said.
The pink table sat on a softer pink thick rug. Gold and black adorned the tables. The two took a booth near a window. Stephanie relied on her host to order. The steamy concoction before her smelled delicious and tasted like tangy orange beef. She took two forkfuls before looking at her companion.
“You must have received my message.” she said.
“I did. You are offering a great deal for items that we don’t have.”
Stephanie frowned. “You’re out of CI bombs?”
“Yes.”
“You fight a war with someone?”
“Not recently, thank goodness.” he said.
Stephanie munched on her lunch, trying not to reveal any annoyance. “So what did you do with all of them? Your nation is in the market for CI bombs or something like it. I know your geography. CI bombs are the most convenient way of protecting your citizens… unless you have developed something else.”
When he gave her a blank stare she tapped the table with her fingernail.
“Why be evasive? Your nation shares a two hundred mile southern border with a country called Narland. It’s a nice nation, but about a hundred years behind you in technology, and you have a nice little laser fence protecting your citizens.
But Narland has an approximately one hundred mile border with Zorlor, a nation that is two hundred or more years behind you. Their citizens, shall we say, do not have experience with such things as cutlery, because they eat with their hands. The people of Zorlor are somewhat savage. Well, to be blunt, they’re not somewhat savage. They’re all savage. Savage, vicious, and murderous. Are they still burning people alive?”
“We have heard of such things.”
“About fifty years ago they invaded their northern neighbor but were defeated, thanks to the military aid of your nation. However, they did keep about a hundred square miles of Narland. The Zorlor breed like flies and do not like to keep within their own borders. So that means your nation has prepared for the possible, if not probable, invasion. The Zorlors won’t have any trouble zipping through Narland. But I know you can stop them. CI bombs would be effective. Unless you have found something even better. Or unless you have decided to wipe out the Zorlors once and for all.”
“Alas, we can’t do that. Rather we won’t do it. This planet has about a hundred and twenty-five nations. Most of them would object if we launched a pre-emptive strike on the Zorland. They tend to dislike us even more than they dislike the Zorland savages.”
“They envy you because you’re successful. Get used to it. Anyway, back to the weapons. Have you found something better than CI bombs?”
“We might have. Would that interest you?”
“It certainly would.”
Mr. Majaste raised a cup to his lips and sipped the liquor inside. “Of course military weapons are very expensive nowadays. It is my understanding that your elite group is working for Belen Morganthal.”
Stephanie was raising a fork to her mouth. Her hand stopped midway to her mouth. The sparking eyes had a quizzical look.
“You shouldn’t be surprised that I know about that.” Majaste said. “Rumors have the velocity of light speed nowadays.”
“Obviously.”
“Ms. Morganthal is a very wealthy woman, so I imagine she can fund any military expedition she desires. But if she and Major Ryvenbark want our weapons they will have to pay for them.”
Her lips closed over the fork. She swallowed the ersatz beef. “How much does the government want?”
He shook his head. “Not the government.” He reached out his palm and opened his hand. “Me. Three million dollars in my hand.”
“Cash or electronic deposit?” Stephanie asked, a grin on her face. “Three million in cash would be a little difficult to stick in your hand.”
“Electronic deposit is fine. When I see all those zeros in my bank account, you will get your weapons.”
“We will get our weapons when you receive half in your bank account. You get the rest when the bombs are…” She reached out her palm and opened her fingers. “…in our hands.”
“Why should I trust you?”
“We’ve had dealings in the past. I’ve never lied do you nor welshed on a contract.”
“We’ve never done a three million dollar deal before.”
“Honest in small things, honest in big things. You know I’m not going to cheat, no matter how tempted I am. Besides, how do I know you can deliver the weapons?”
“I suppose we both will have to have a little faith on the deal. How long will it take you to transfer the money?”
“Before we get into that, what exactly am I buying?” Stephanie asked.
“Our government calls them PVT explosives. They are made of various elements and chemicals, the precise nature of which is beyond my understanding. But we can send you the scientific documents describing the explosives so you can understand how powerful they really are.”
“Yes, please do that. And what do these PVT bombs do?”
Majaste gave a huge smile. “Let me put it this way. A huge invading army is heading toward your camp. Two mountain ranges are in the distance but there is a fifty mile alley between them. A PVT explosive in the middle of that fifty mile invasion highway will stop the army in its tracks. But a PVT is not flamboyant or all that destructive, of plant life. A very fine mist will spread over the valley. When an opposing soldier is infected by the mist he drops dead. The toxins are that lethal. An army of five million would drop dead. The mist will evaporate in three weeks’ time and the valley will look just the way it did before, pristine and beautiful. With the exception of all the dead bodies, of course.”
“Of course.”
“But besides the cleanup crew, your problem is solved. For three million dollars I can guarantee you eight bombs. That should take care of whatever you are facing.”
Stephanie sipped some of her water. “So are you acting on behalf of your government, or are you acting solitary? I mean, we don’t want to bribe a government official.”
“Bribery makes the world, and especially governments, go around. Without bribery nothing would ever get done, on this world and on all the others.”
“Except for the Kargars. They have a reputation of being scrupulously honest.”
“Yes, and so I’ve never understood how they became as advanced as they are. But you’re right about their honesty. There’s no need for contracts with them. They give you their word and they mean it. As for us, we need a few precautions.”
“Like paying half now and half when we get the weapons.”
He gave a high beam smile. “Exactly. Assuming the upfront money arrives in my account safely, when can you pick up the weapons?”
“We can have a ship here in three days.”
He nodded. “Then three days it is.”
“It’s nice doing business with you.”
Majaste shifted in his seat. “We are, shall we say, business associates Ms. Aug, but I hate to lose a client. So be careful when you go to Vega. I hear it’s a very nasty place.”
Stephanie gave a sardonic smile. “Thank you for your concern. I didn’t know you cared.”
“When any one gives me three million dollars I always care about them. I also always wish him or her the best of health. I hope we can do business again.” He sipped his drink again. “You are aware of the rumors about Vega?”
“No, I wasn’t aware there were rumors about the planet. The facts are bad enough.”
Deadly Voyage (Logan Ryvenbark's Saga Book 1) Page 7
