One Trade Too Many

by D. A. Boulter

  Colleen and Minda looked at each other. “Gonna be some tired people tonight,” Minda said.

  “I’ll talk to him.”

  * * *

  “I think they did a good job on the old lady.” Clay lay on his side, reached out and stroked Colleen’s hair.

  “I think so, too,” his wife replied, but she looked a little pensive.

  “Out with it.”

  “The crew is working hard for you. You have us running around constantly. We’re getting tired.”

  He smiled. “And you think the new captain should lay off. I’d like to, but I can’t. We got word from the Family just before I began today. They’ve moved up our departure date by a week.”

  She frowned. “You could have told us. You should have told us.”

  Colleen sat up, stunning him when she got out of bed and began to dress.

  “You’re not leaving because of that?”

  She gave him a look that shut him up. “Yes, actually. You really should have told us the very minute you got the news – especially Minda and me. We have supplies on order that now won’t arrive until after we’ve left. I have a processor for Pelgraff that I want on board. I have to put a rush on it. Now.”

  “It can’t wait eight hours?”

  “No. In eight hours the factory will be closed for the night.”

  And she walked out of their room leaving him kicking himself. Yes, he should have thought of that. But he had reams of work, himself, and could barely see out from under them. Perhaps not the very best start to his new captaincy.

  Sighing, he rose. He couldn’t have the traders working overtime because of his mistake while he slept in bed.

  He received a quick glare from Minda when he walked in to the Traders’ Office. But that softened to a smile when he took a seat and called up the invoices. He picked one that would bring the goods from the daytime side of the planet. He opened the comm.

  “Bonjour. C’est Clay Yrden, Yrden Lines, Blue Powder. Je voudrais parler avec Monsieur Corriveaux. Ah, merci.”

  He waited for Corriveaux to come on the line.

  “Hello, Monsieur Yrden. What can we do for you?”

  “I need a rush put on our order.” He gave the invoice number. “We’re leaving early. What can you do for us?”

  Three hours later, they had finished. Minda rose and left for a belated sleep. Colleen lowered her seatback and groaned.

  “Thanks for coming in and helping out.”

  “My fault,” he said. “I owed. You’d better get some sleep. I saw you booked a trip to Haida Gwaii.”

  “Yes. Going to take leave of your parents, thank them for everything.”

  He bit his lip. “And Grandpa Fontaine?”

  She tensed. Maybe he shouldn’t have asked. Damn the old man anyway.

  “He still won’t recognize me. Doesn’t want to see me, doesn’t want to know anything about me. Told me to stay away from his family. It’s been over a dozen years, Clay. He’s never even seen his great-grandchildren.”

  “I know. And I know you sent the invitation to Brian’s party, what with us here at Nieuvelle-France.” He couldn’t understand the enmity. Colleen had done nothing wrong. Her mother, Sylvie, had married young Rodney Grayson against her father’s wishes, but how could they blame Colleen for that, someone not even conceived at the time?

  “We’ll have another party for Brian when we reach New Brittain. Great-grandfather Lawrence and Great Grandmother Emily will be overjoyed to see the children.”

  She smiled. “Brian will like that.”

  At least the Graysons had fully accepted her as a lost daughter returned to them. He reached out for her hand, and pulled her to her feet. “Come along. Get some sleep before you have to face the dragon.”

  Colleen laughed. “That’s no way to talk about your mother.”

  CHAPTER 3

  Haida Gwaii

  Jenna Yrden watched the entrance vid as Colleen walked down the passageway to her office. She smiled. The woman moved with the grace of a fighter, and that did not surprise her at all. Taught by the one smuggler who had evaded her at Davix Prime, Colleen had grown up absorbing the skills that she, Jenna, had worked so strenuously to attain at a much later age.

  Under her coat, Jenna knew, Colleen still carried the knife that Rose had given her just before she left the planet Erin to marry Clay. And that thought brought back other memories.

  She had tried to prevent the marriage, but Colleen had fought her for that, and won her over in the end. And for that, Jenna thanked whatever lucky stars watched out over her. That she had tried to rid the Family of what had turned out to be one of its brightest lights made her shiver.

  She rose, and went to the door before Colleen could sound the chime.

  “Come in, Daughter, and welcome.”

  “Hi, Mom. As you know, we’re leaving early, so I thought I’d come over and take leave of you and Dad personally. Almost fourteen years, and I still far prefer doing things in person than by comm.” She stepped close, and Jenna opened her arms to the hug she foresaw.

  “I’m glad you came. Sorry about the rush. Starfield sent in a report telling us that they need to come in sooner than expected for their refit. So, we’re pushing you out ahead of schedule to fill a contract that we’ve taken but they won’t be able to deliver on – and take some of their other freight and passengers.”

  Colleen’s eyes sharpened at that. “Nothing too serious, I hope.”

  “Serious enough. We’ve sent messages via every possible avenue to all our ships so that they can take over parts of Starfield’s route. Come, and sit down.”

  She led her daughter-in-law to the desk, and took a seat in one of the chairs in front, inviting Colleen to take the other. If Colleen thought anything of her declaring equals for this conversation, she gave no hint of it.

  “I had a talk with Minda,” Colleen said, getting straight to the point.

  “And came over to see if it were true. It isn’t.” And even that failed to generate a surprised look. Jenna complimented herself. She couldn’t have chosen a better recipient.

  “I see.” Colleen paused a moment for thought. “In that case, please tell me the truth of the matter.”

  Jenna had to laugh. “Very well. No, I’m not grooming you to take my place. I am putting you in a position that will see you tested. After a year or three, the Family will better know the best use it can make of you. You’ve progressed well. You pilot, you’ve made First Mate, you trade.”

  Colleen nodded. “I understand.”

  Jenna shook her head. “You still carry it all inside, don’t you. That might serve you well. Okay, I’ll tell you my premonition. I think you will one day take my place, yes. The Family needs you – or someone like you – in this position.

  “Clay, he’s a good leader, and people would follow him into hell, I think. But I don’t think he could send them there. You, should the necessity arise, I think you could. You and Clay together? Once you’re seasoned, I think that we’d have to look very far to find another couple who could lead the Family as well.”

  Colleen absorbed that. “I don’t know that I want your chair.”

  “I didn’t want it, either. I took it because the Family needed me to take it. And if the Family needs you to take it, you’ll take it, too, just like I did, bringing your allies with you. By the way, how’s Mr Telford?”

  Colleen smiled. “You probably know better than I do. I believe he’s still down on the planet, due up in a couple of days.”

  “Today, actually. He should arrive in time to escort you back to Blue Powder. You, Mr Telford, and Clay.” Jenna ticked them off on her fingers. “I would never have hired Mr Telford. And I nearly lost both you and Clay due to stupidity and lack of sight.”

  Colleen hastened to reassure her. “Not true, Jenna. You might have ... uh ... misplaced us for a while, but I always knew Clay would want to return, and we would have – eventually.”

  “Perhaps.” Jenna didn’t feel so s
ure about that. “But that’s not my point. You have a knack for seeing people which I don’t; I rely on Tamm for that. That makes you even more valuable. Think on it when you have time. Now, how did Brian’s birthday party go?”

  “Loud and rambunctious. You wouldn’t have liked it. I ran away for an hour, and left poor Doreen holding the bag. She has vowed revenge.”

  They laughed together.

  “We’re going to see my mother’s family on New Brittain. Brian will get his third birthday party there with his great-grandparents. He did enjoy the one with you and Tamm, even if you wouldn’t go play in zero-g with him and David.”

  “I’m sixty, Colleen. Too old for playing in zero-g.”

  Colleen canted her head to the side. “No, I don’t believe you. I’m willing to bet my next year’s dividends from Alistair’s music that you still keep up your certification – more than that, that you still train.”

  “Caught.” And Colleen, too, would continue to train, to remain as sharp as the knife she carried. Yes, the Family could give thanks to the day that Colleen had set her sights on Clay – for whatever reason. And she bet she wouldn’t have to tell her daughter-in-law anything but the basics. The woman could figure it all out for herself: why she and Tamm had given up Blue Powder to take a stable position on Haida Gwaii, why she had given Blue Powder to Clay and her, what the Family expected. She briefly considered just telling her outright, but decided to test her prognostication skills.

  “Let’s take a walk,” Jenna suggested.

  “Go and see Tamm?”

  “Eventually.”

  They wandered through the Family offices, giving and getting greetings. Jenna took her to the manufacturing office, where they looked at reports – and vids – of the construction of the new ship the Yrdens had commissioned. And, finally, they went to visit Tamm, who sat in their quarters nursing a headache – or so he had said. Jenna figured he merely gave her time with Colleen, where the young woman wouldn’t have to divide her attention between the two of them.

  “Took her on the tour, did you?” Tamm enquired.

  “What’s wrong with Shiro Nakamura?” Colleen asked.

  Tamm exchanged glances with Jenna.

  “I told you,” she said.

  “The Nakamuras question our judgement, Colleen,” Jenna told her. “They think that Tamm and I should step down from our role as Head of the FTL. They say we don’t have the overall perspective of those who sit on Haida Gwaii and get information from all the reports of all the ships of the League as they come in.”

  “And they think that Shiro and Akimo should take your place?”

  “Precisely, dear,” Tamm said.

  Colleen gazed at the portrait of old Collin Yrden, the man who had pushed his children into space, to start Yrden Lines with Venture, even though he would never see space himself.

  “Another reason for us replacing you on Blue Powder after her refit,” she surmised. “Yes, I can see the argument. But it’s one thing to read reports and another thing entirely to actually view those whom the ships report on. Sitting on Haida Gwaii – even though she moves to a different planet each year – leaves you at a dangerous remove.”

  Jenna let Colleen’s thoughts go where they might without interruption.

  “Who do the Nakamuraas have backing them?” she asked, then she held up her hand. “The Tannons.” She thought some more. “The Paxtons, of course, but the Paxtons will want the position for themselves.” Her eyebrows went together. “The Fontaines? Is that why Grandfather won’t talk to me? Because I married an Yrden?”

  Tamm smiled gently. “That may be a part of it, Colleen. However, he carries a burning hatred for your father, even though the man died over a quarter century ago. Grayson took his daughter from him – and got her killed. You’re as much Grayson as you are Fontaine. The Graysons and the Fontaines do not speak with each other. And, now, you’re Yrden, too. It’s not fair, I know. You don’t deserve any of it. You had no choice in the matter.”

  “Except for marrying Clay,” Colleen said bitterly.

  “Do you wish you hadn’t?” Jenna asked.

  “What? No. Never. And I never will. I’m just angry that my grandfather would allow that to blind him to his great-grandchildren.”

  The emphatic response pleased Jenna. Yes, this woman would serve the Family well. “And you’re right about the Paxtons and the Tannons. The Paxtons have a long, long history of resenting us, going all the way back to Matt Yrden – the one who organized the FTL in the beginning. And there are others.”

  Colleen nodded. “Then you two need to remain here. I see that. And you’ll need us to stay on the lookout for moves against us on the trade lanes – those beyond normal rivalry.”

  “And now you know everything,” Jenna said. “I wish we could have had a smoother time for you to take over Blue Powder, but we don’t always get what we wish.”

  * * *

  Adrian Telford walked off the shuttle from the surface, wondering why he bothered at all. He didn’t get what he really wanted out of the liaison with Anne-Marie. Or, perhaps he did. Just enough to reduce the desires to a manageable level.

  “Hello, Adrian.”

  He looked up to see Colleen waiting for him, and felt the pang again, the one that never really went away.

  “Hello, Ms Yrden,” he replied, formal as always.

  “Try Colleen,” she suggested.

  He ignored the suggestion as he had ignored it for over a decade now. When he finally did use her given name, he wanted her to know it. He laughed at himself. Likely, that day would never come. She loved her husband too much.

  His eyes went down to her jacket, left-hand side. He smiled.

  “Even on Haida Gwaii?” he asked.

  Seeing where he looked, she nodded. “Even on Haida Gwaii.”

  “Excellent. See anything dangerous?”

  “Possibly.”

  That caused him to jerk, now on high alert. He scanned the area again, wondering if he had missed something, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. He sneered at that thought. The ordinary often held the best-concealed dangers.

  She saw his quick search, and gave a small shake of her head – one that he recognized as saying, “not here, not now.”

  “Soon enough on Blue Powder. Nothing imminent.”

  She walked with him to the baggage area, where he picked up his luggage.

  “I’ve a workboat. I’ll take you over to Blue Powder. You can thank your gods that you missed all the drills. Clay’s gone a little overboard with them.”

  “I don’t have any gods, Ms Yrden.”

  “I know. But someone else’s may have taken a break and watched over you for a while; you might thank them.”

  That caused him to smile – a deliberate smile to let her know he appreciated her little joke. But he said nothing further until they had boarded the workboat. Colleen took the pilot’s chair, and offered him co-pilot’s. Despite the urgings of several crewmembers over the years, he had never taken the slightest interest in the games they employed to teach prospective pilots about piloting. He knew where he fit in, and figured it good enough for him. Besides, the more you knew, the more they would call on you to exercise that knowledge.

  Colleen received clearance, and kicked the shuttle off the station. She plotted a straight course for Blue Powder, receiving permission to dock immediately upon arrival. Telford almost didn’t feel the landing. She had become very good at what she did. Not as fast or sure as Sean and Doreen – or even her husband – but no one needed to fear travelling with her.

  “Home,” she said, unfastening her restraints.

  Home. He had no home, had never had a home. Once, for a short period of time, he had thought of Night Sky as home. But he had learned better. People made a place a home, not the place itself. Watching Colleen and Clay had taught him that. Wherever they went, be it for a year, a week, or a day, they made a home of their lodgings.

  “Hello, Mr Yrden.” Telford greeted his e
mployer as he stepped out of the shuttle to see the man waiting for them.

  “Sorry we cut your vacation a little short, but Head Office has ordered us out early.”

  “So I understand.”

  Clay had never liked him, not from the very beginning, but the man had honour, and he had at least learned to tolerate Telford as a member of his security team, tasked mainly with ensuring nothing happened to Colleen. And he respected his bodyguard’s opinion and loyalty, even if he remained somewhat on guard around Telford at all times. Telford didn’t blame him. He’d do the same were their positions reversed.

  “Have we an itinerary yet?” Telford asked. He tried to keep abreast of all the latest happening on the stations and planets that the ship would visit, studying station schematics and vids to remind him of problem areas.

  “Already forwarded to your office, Mr Telford, along with the latest situation reports from our own as well as FTL sources on those places. And Cargo has delivered your possessions to your quarters.”

  Telford nodded. And he could count on Clay Yrden to remain professional. He never stinted anything that Telford declared he needed. And Telford, in return, never requested anything he didn’t believe highly relevant.

  Colleen watched the two of them with an amused expression on her face. Somehow, she just didn’t get it. She figured that the two men had something personal between them, and strove for politeness in spite of that. She never realized just what lay between them – her.

  “Thank you, Mr Yrden. I’ll get right on those.” He picked up his luggage, and began his walk to his quarters – the same room he’d used whenever on Blue Powder. Then he would go to Security, and study the itinerary. If something came up in his searches, he’d rather not be in hyperspace and thus unable to follow up when he discovered it.

  Just before the lift doors closed on him, he heard Colleen’s voice.

  “Mr Telford, Mr Yrden. Why don’t you two ever use each other’s given names?”

  “Mr Telford prefers to keep things formal, Colleen,” he heard Clay reply. “I cannot fault him for this.”