One Trade Too Many

by D. A. Boulter

  “And then there’s the Yrdens. My late husband hated them. Said they did him dirt. And so I believed everything bad about them. But they are nice people. I heard Tony Paxton and Max Treverston talking about them. They could have claimed the Damarg route all for themselves, and they didn’t.”

  She paused for a moment. “Want to know what I think?”

  Telford laughed to himself, but put on an interested expression. As if he had any choice in the matter; as if his wants counted for anything.

  “What, Ms Pendleton?”

  “I think Raymond made a mistake and blamed it on the Yrdens. That would be like him. And he would never admit to having made that mistake. That’s what I think.” She nodded as if she had made some sort of decision and had now locked it into place. “And you, Mr Telford, will you go on Daiovan Station again – or have you completed your business there?”

  “I’m not sure.” It would depend on Little and Muncer. If either of them left the ship, then he would, too.

  He looked around and saw no one else he would have Ms Pendleton talk about. He rose.

  “However, I thank you for reminding me. I must return to my work. I have reports to write about Pallinteth. Perhaps I’ll see you at supper?”

  She smiled at him. “I’ll look forward to it.”

  He had found that if he made these little dates, she would then forego spying on him. If he didn’t, she would check up on him. He wished that Clay Yrden had never suggested this.

  * * *

  “Next time Blue Powder drops at Daiovan, we must get together again,” Clay suggested to Tony Paxton.

  “Yes. Agreed.” Paxton extended his hand in friendship.

  “I fear that the Yrdens are going to invade your private preserve,” Colleen told him.

  “You’ll be quartering a Trade Rep here,” Tony said. “I figured that out a long time ago. We’ll make your rep welcome. And this office will grow if we get rights to start a regular route in to Pallinteth.”

  “Or, better, Pallinteth and other Damarg worlds or stations.”

  Max Treverston picked up his travel bag. “Pity that they wouldn’t allow anyone down to the planet. Still, we had more than enough to do on the station. Pity you’re leaving so soon. You’ll miss out on the meetings.”

  “Meetings?” Clay asked. “Oh, right. You’ll probably arrive at the Damarg’s Trade Desk here before I get back to the bridge – or at least talk to them over the comm.”

  Max shook hands, then walked through the hatch to Daiovan station.

  “How long will you remain, Clay?” Tony asked.

  “Not sure. We need to pick up the cargo – cargo that the Damargs actually do prohibit – that we dropped off here before heading to Pallinteth. Minda has already begun talks with Pagayan traders to check out the market for some of the Damargian goods we picked up. This probably isn’t the best place to trade, though, what with the Damargs making regular runs here. So, depending on what Minda discovers, maybe a day, maybe less. We can’t linger. We’re already almost three weeks behind schedule. We can make up some of that with shorter stays at various ports, with slightly faster travel in hyperspace, and perhaps by cutting something unnecessary out of the itinerary.”

  “We’ll try to have the figures worked out by then and pass you what we owe you before you go. If not, it’ll turn up in the League Statements, next time a ship gets to HQ,” Tony told him.

  A few more passengers walked past them. Colleen walked out with Jackson Pelburn on some errand, which might have Mr Telford feeling a bit antsy.

  “A moment more of your Time, Clay,” Tony motioned him away from the hatch, where no one could overhear them.

  “Yes?”

  “I’ve heard little things. Someone is out to get your Family.”

  Clay smiled. “Many people are out to get my Family – including yours.”

  Tony laughed. “Fair enough.” But then turned serious again. “This is different. This has nothing to do with Family rivalries and little annoyances that we inflict on each other. And, hell, I’ve read the histories. Paxtons and Yrdens change from antagonists to allies about once per century, when circumstances call for it. Neither of us will take a step to make that impossible. No, it’s not us.”

  “Then who?”

  “Damned if I know. Like I say, just hints, little things. But put them together, and it portends something bad. I’ve heard hints that your line isn’t safe to travel on. Nonsense like that. You watch your step.”

  “Thanks, Tony. I will.” He stepped back, getting ready to leave.

  “And I will, too.”

  Clay raised his eyebrows. “You?”

  “Yrdens have a target painted on them because they’re the Number One Family as far as most outsiders are concerned – and not a few Families, too. If we don’t rank second, then second and third don’t have much room between them. If they – whoever ‘they’ are – take you down, who do you think will then top their list?”

  * * *

  “So, Tony warned you?” Colleen asked. Already a decision tree had formed in her mind. “We must spread the word.”

  “Certainly, we need to inform Jenna. As Family Head, she will—”

  “We will inform everyone – Captain’s Eyes – just as your brother did.”

  “Don’t you think that’s a decision that Family Head should make? After all, it’s only rumour. We can’t have everyone chasing every rumour that comes along.”

  Colleen shook his head, wondering why he couldn’t see it. “It’s not rumour. The fact that we learn of it after the attempt on Starfield has you placing them out of order. If you received Tony’s information first, you would call it rumour – as you just did. Then, Brian’s information, when it came in would confirm that rumour.”

  “Put like that—”

  “Put like that, it means that someone is out to get the Family. Not some idiot who has taken a dislike to Brian, or to someone else on Starfield, or to the ship itself. They’re aiming at all of us. Our line isn’t safe to travel on, Tony said. Therefore, all of us need to be alert. We, you and I, can’t assume that everyone has taken this to heart. And, don’t forget, Haida Gwaii should be en route to Yamato, now. She’ll remain in hyperspace for several weeks – unless we try to catch her at a waypoint.”

  Clay nodded. “And we had best not wait for Jenna to give judgment and then to begin disseminating the information.”

  He understood. Good.

  She called up the itineraries. “We may catch Solar Wind at Neu Deutschland, but it will be close. We will send Scout-1 ahead, dropping mail at all waypoint buoys. Nearest planet via hyperspace is Rossiya. Scout-1 can do a quick there-and-back. They’ll catch Night Sky there. Then, with three of us spreading the word, it’ll get around quite quickly.”

  If Clay thought anything of her usurping his authority, he said nothing.

  “Sean and Doreen again?”

  She shook her head. “Let someone else have some fun.”

  “Not so much fun this time,” Clay said.

  “Unless you count being alone in hyperspace a relief from all the strife on board,” she agreed. “Were we not Captain and First Mate, I’d suggest we take the trip. I could use a little relaxation.”

  * * *

  Neu Deutchland Station One

  Neu Deutschland provided little relaxation for any of them. Trading went forth in earnest, with dozens of traders wanting to see the goods they had brought back from Damarg Space.

  The FTL office on Deutschland-1 Station requested a briefing for all Family Reps, which both Clay and Colleen attended. Given that, so far, only the Yrden Lines had the right to make the trip into Damarg space, no one objected to the idea of making the Daiovan-Pallinteth run a FTL run, with the Yrden ship charging cartage.

  “That went well,” Clay said as they walked back to the shuttle dock under the watchful eye of Security Chief Pelburn.

  Colleen grinned. “I don’t think they had much choice in the matter. Still, it boosts ou
r standing in the—”

  “What is it?”

  “Keep walking.” She kept her head to the front. “I just saw Adrian. He’s hunting.”

  Clay looked over to her. “Pardon?”

  “He walks differently when he’s hunting – or shadowing, or following, or whatever you want to call it.” She turned to Pelburn. “Did you see him, Jackson?”

  “Yes, Ms Yrden. That must mean that either Little or Muncer have left Blue Powder. I’ll ensure you get a report when Mr Telford returns – if he doesn’t get it to you himself.”

  They boarded the shuttle and went forward to the flight deck to sit with the pilot – who happened to be Doreen.

  “How’s Mr Korsh?” Colleen asked.

  “Spends all his spare time in the library, or so it seems, though he has booked a shuttle over to the station.”

  Clay chuckled. “He heard about Shakespeare, and has obtained several migraines trying to make out what’s going on. I referred him to some texts with notes. That should keep him busy for a while.”

  Colleen laughed, but her thoughts remained on Adrian Telford, stalking through the concourse of Deutschland-1. What would he bring her when he returned?

  He brought her Little. Rather he brought her disturbing information about Little.

  “He went into the NB Lines office,” Telford said.

  “Any reason he shouldn’t?” Colleen asked, though she could think of several herself. “They’re a competitor, yes, and not in the FTL, but he has the right to check out fares, change ships, even.”

  Telford looked at her askance. But he knew her too well to remain fooled.

  “Yeah, or he could have a friend there from New Brittain. Which, apparently, he did, for they went out for a meal.”

  “I’m not following,” Clay said.

  Which he wouldn’t, because he wasn’t a hunter.

  “It’s not where he went or whom he saw, Mr Yrden, it’s how he went about it. If you decided to visit a competitor, say Tony Paxton, rep of a line with which the Yrdens are anything but friendly, how would you go about it?”

  Clay stared at him. “I’d go up to the rep desk and ask for him.”

  Telford smiled his grim smile. “That’s because you’re not hiding anything. Mr Little is. He stopped two doors shy of NB Lines, and sat down for a refreshment. While sitting, he made a very careful inspection of the crowd, trying hard to make it appear he did anything but that. Just a tourist out for a day on the station.

  “He waited. He made to rise once, but another Yrden Lines guest walked by. He waited until she went into a vendor, then, looking all around one last time, slipped into NB Line’s office.

  “He came out two minutes later the same way, scanning the crowd, then joining a group passing by. He stuck with them until they reached a bratwurst eatery, three doors down, where he slipped in, figuring the group would have disguised the movement.

  “Why hide the fact that you’re going to have some bratwurst?” Telford smiled his grim smile yet again. “Unless your wife believes she has converted you to vegetarianism, and you don’t want her to see that you’re backsliding.”

  “Mr Little has a wife?” Colleen asked, knowing differently. Pelburn’s reports, which Ms Pendleton agreed with, had him remaining by himself for the most part.

  “Perhaps,” Telford said. “But not on board.

  “To continue, his friend slips out of NB Lines in much the same manner, and joins Little in a recessed alcove, where they order...”

  “Bratwurst?” Clay suggested.

  “Coffee. Why go into a bratwurst joint to order coffee? Maybe they make it especially good? I didn’t think so. Just average run-of-the-mill workman’s coffee. Nothing fancy, nothing special. You get the same thing on a dozen stations – hell, in a dozen different eateries on each of those dozen stations.”

  Colleen waited for the kicker.

  “Then they left, five minutes after receiving their coffee. One at a time, through different exits.”

  “And you find this overly suspicious?” Clay asked.

  “Yes, Mr Yrden, I do. Especially since Mr Little’s friend carried a little case when he entered the eatery and Mr Little carried it out and back onto our ship.”

  “Smuggler?” Clay asked.

  “Possibly. Whatever he brought, he went to lengths to bring it on board unseen. He bought some touristy stuff and put the case in the shopping bag. Could be all above board, but I doubt it.”

  Colleen doubted it, too. “We’ll alert Liberty Customs when we get there.”

  Telford raised his eyebrows just a fraction, then lowered them again when she continued.

  “In the mean time, watch him like a hawk.”

  “I’ll put my best operative on him,” Telford said.

  “Pelburn?”

  “Ms Pendleton.”

  CHAPTER 20

  Blue Powder

  Adrian Telford took his place in the back of the Catastrophe Core as Blue Powder conducted its regular departure exercise. Mary Pendleton came in and took the seat next to him.

  As Sean Williams went through the instructions, Telford watched Jim Little, who sat quite far away from Terry Muncer.

  “You’re not paying attention,” Ms Pendleton said, nudging him.

  “I’ve heard it before.”

  “Wasn’t it you who told me that you hoped that nothing happened because crew might die because of me?” She nailed him with the barb.

  “Yeah, well if you pay more attention because of what I said, I’m paying more attention because of what you said. You’re bad for me.” Telford waited for her curiosity to get the better of her.

  “What do you mean?” she asked as soon as Sean had finished.

  “While out on the concourse, I saw Jim Little.”

  And that’s all it took to engage her.

  “Oh?”

  “I remembered you saying that Mr Muncer was – what word did you use? – oh yeah, shifty. And he spoke to Mr Little.”

  “Yes, yes, get on with it.”

  He laughed to himself. “Well, I saw Mr Little skulking.” Skulking. Now that word just held so much oomph to it. Pendleton’s eyes widened.

  “Yes, yes?”

  “Well, the short of it is, I think he smuggled something onto the ship.”

  She didn’t want the short of it, she wanted the long of it, so he allowed her to drag it out of him. By the end, she no longer looked at him, but looked across the Core to pin Little with her gaze.

  While they waited, he noticed Mr Korsh playing with Sean and the Yrden kid, Brian. They tossed a ball back and forth, Korsh and Williams on one side, Brian on the other. He couldn’t hear what Korsh discussed with Williams, but he supposed he could find out by asking later.

  Finally, the all-clear sounded, and the passengers began filing out. Ms Pendleton didn’t bother waiting for him, and he grinned. She’d probably turn in a more accurate, more detailed report than the security men he and Jackson had placed on the two suspects. He got up after all except Williams, Korsh and Brian had left.

  “Aw, just when it was getting to be fun,” Brian said.

  Korsh said, “I can stay a while and play with him.”

  Williams nodded. “Sure. Brian knows how to lock up.”

  That seemed to cause Korsh some consternation. “You lock the place up? What if there is need?”

  “It’s an idiom. It can mean to actually lock something up, or it can mean to do what’s necessary to prepare the place for a period of non-use.”

  “Ah, I understand. Come, Brian, we’ll have more room, now. Let us see how we can best use it.”

  Telford slipped out.

  * * *

  Colleen walked the passageway. She slowed when she saw Korsh standing just outside the library. Catching his attention, she walked over to thank him for his kindness to her son.

  “It did me good, as well, Ms Yrden. I have neglected the exercise rooms in favour of the library. Brian has reminded me that one should do all th
ings in moderation.”

  “Yes, we’ve all noted how you’ve made the library a second home.”

  He seemed puzzled by the remark, but recovered. They talked on for a bit, and then he surprised her with a request that few ever had the presumption to make.

  “May I ask a very personal question, Ms Yrden?”

  She considered it. “You may, Mr Korsh. I may not answer it.”

  “I have thought to ask others, but others might consider it not polite. So I ask you directly. The mark across your face. I have researched, and it seems unlikely to denote a rite of passage. I have seen no other humans with a similar mark. Also, I have found that there exists a type of doctor who might remove or lessen the mark ... scar. I wonder that you have not visited one of those.”

  Colleen weighed the pros and cons of answering. He had not asked in a way that felt intrusive, yet she didn’t like explaining to strangers.

  “Forgive me if I intruded.”

  “No,” she said. “I will answer. A man once told me that I had nothing to fear from him. Then he slashed at me with a knife and gave me this. I keep it to remind myself that one must look at the actions of a person as well as listening to the words. When both remain in harmony, all usually turns out well. When the two become disharmonious, one needs to take care.”

  Korsh’s eyes went wide, and she could see anger in them. “What happened to this individual? How did the authorities deal with him?”

  She smiled. “They did nothing Mr Korsh.” Then she allowed the smile to fade. “I did not allow it to get that far. I killed him, Mr Korsh. He died while the blood still flowed from my wound. I told you that my parents died on Erin. Well, the gang that killed them included that man.”

  Korsh gaped at her. “And the others?”

  “I killed one; I left the third to die, but the authorities got to him before that occurred, though he lost a leg. I don’t know what they did with him. I never inquired, though word eventually came that he had died some years later. I just don’t know how.”