Telford turned to look at the bodies.
“Captain Torronth wishes to know how you retook the ship,” Lieutenant Rallinith translated. “Did you have weapons? How many crew were involved?”
“Just idle curiosity?” asked Telford, then waved away her attempt to answer. “The Captain and I had knives. We took weapons away from those we found. We have those weapons ready for inspection, should you want them.”
“Just the two of you?”
“That’s all we needed,” Telford said. Let them remain ignorant of how it really went.
“Captain Torronth commends you.” Rallinith turned back as Torronth spoke again. “The captain also appreciates your treatment of the dead. Though criminals, they are still our brothers, and their families are innocent. Their families will wish to take their leave of them in ceremonies. We will remove them as soon as we can obtain transport.”
Colleen waved her hand at that. “The sooner they’re gone, the better. We can have a workboat take the lot of them as soon as we get clearance.”
“Satisfactory.”
“You will want to identify them, I suppose,” she continued.
“Yes. Perhaps we can track them to their ships somehow.” Rallinith looked to the other Damargs. They said something, and she gave a sharp sign of negation.
“Space Patrol will send ships to this area and will, upon request, escort your merchant ships to and from Daiovan Station.”
“We’ll be more than happy to see them,” Colleen replied.
“As for Blue Powder,” Rallinith continued, “after you have made your official reports – and Captain Torronth will wish to question crew if you have no objection – you will return to Human or Pagayan Space directly. We accept traders here, not those after vengeance.”
Colleen bristled. Telford stepped in before she could blow up.
“You will keep us informed?”
“We will.”
Somehow, he doubted her word.
* * *
Blue Powder jumped to hyperspace, heading back towards Daiovan. Colleen had surprised Sean, Doreen, and the rest of the crew by meekly agreeing to the return to human space. After jump, she remained in her Day Cabin, barely showing her face for meals.
The drop at the first waypoint went without incident.
Sean began to order the course change to get back to Daiovan when Colleen appeared on the bridge.
“We’re not going back to Daiovan,” she said. “I’ve worked out the co-ordinates of the drop point the pirates programmed in. That’s where we’re going.”
Sean shook his head. “You want us to jump right into their lair?”
“Anyone who doesn’t want to go can board Scout-1, and return to Daiovan,” she said.
“We won’t be able to deviate from their co-ords at all,” Sean protested, ignoring the offer. “We have no idea what else waits for us in that system.”
“They took eighteen of our friends and family.” Colleen looked around at those present. “Anyone who wants to leave them in pirate hands without even making an attempt – get on Scout-1.”
No one moved.
“Good. Now enter this equation.” She handed a datastick to Sean.
“What about the rest of the crew?”
“I’ve already talked to them.”
As if any would forego an attempt to rescue their comrades – those that had given up their freedom or lives in order to protect the rest.
Reluctantly, Sean entered the equation, Blue Powder jumped for the unknown.
Two days later, as they approached drop, Sean felt the tension rise to levels he’d never before felt on an Yrden ship. He did a pre-heat on the beam weapon. And positioned his finger over the shields control, ready to raise them the moment after they dropped.
“Drop.”
Brint, on detectors, reported. “Short range – nothing. Medium Range – nothing. Long range – ship. Thirty thousand kilometres.”
“Shields to maximum!”
Two minutes passed. The other ship did not accelerate – either towards them or away.
“Signal incoming. Aud and Vid.”
A familiar Damarg graced the screen.
Lieutenant Rallinith stared into the camera, making everyone on Blue Powder’s bridge feel that she looked directly at them.
“You have made a illegal incursion into Damarg Space, Blue Powder. We understand your desire to find the pirates who attacked your ship. However, we cannot allow this.”
She paused as someone off-screen spoke to her in her own language.
Sean looked over to Colleen, who stood with jaw clenched.
“Ms Yrden,” Rallinith said. “We have the legal power to intern your ship. We have the ability to overcome any defence you try to put up, and can destroy your ship at will.”
Colleen glared at her. “You won’t take us easily – as your pirates found out.”
Rallinith negated that with a hand-wave. “We do not wish to ‘take you’ at all. The determination of the ranking member of Star Patrol aboard this vessel is as follows: You will return to human space forthwith. You and your ship will not re-enter Damarg space without the express permission of Star Patrol or the Daiovan Trade Desk. If you do enter upon permission, you will travel directly to your destination using the equations and co-ordinates given.”
She waited for that to sink in.
“Failure to comply will result in the loss of your ship, and the imprisonment of all crew and passengers.”
Colleen trembled with reaction – whether anger or frustration, Sean couldn’t tell.
“We will continue our investigation. You can continue yours as long as it remains outside of Damarg Space. Am I understood?”
After one look at Colleen, Sean answered for her.
“You are understood, Lieutenant.”
“I need to hear Captain Yrden say it.”
Jaw firmly clenched, Colleen got it out. “I understand.”
“Good. You have one hour to return to hyperspace on your way out of Damarg Space.” Her voice changed from official to personal. “I understand your concern Ms Yrden, believe me, I do. But your presence here cannot help either you or your case. Please do yourself and your crew a favour and don’t try the patience of Space Patrol. You can only lose.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant,” Colleen managed.
“Ms Yrden, you are fortunate that you found us here instead of the pirates. We have dealt with such before – your ship would have had no chance. Go home; stay fortunate. We will find them. Space Patrol ends this communication.”
Vid went blank and aud died. Sean looked at Colleen for orders. He could see that she still trembled.
“Take us out, Sean,” she said, and then walked off the bridge.
CHAPTER 31
Blue Powder
Colleen answered the chime, wondering which of the crew had come to her door this time. To her surprise Adrian Telford stood there.
“Not you, too, Adrian.” Inside she crumpled. He had represented a tower of strength for her. Only he had agreed that Clay might yet live.
“Ms Yrden,” he said. “The time has come to admit that we will not find Mr Yrden through random search.”
She wanted to vomit.
“I should give up?”
“No. Never.”
Straightening up, she looked him in the eye. “Then what?”
“One of these times we will drop where Space Patrol has a vessel. Then you will lose everything: ship, crew, and your chance to find your husband.”
He still stood in the companionway.
“Come in, Adrian.”
He didn’t step forward. “They say that Jenna Yrden waited years to find the final pirate. And then, one day, word spread that she had found him. No one knows anything further. But she rid the galaxy of that outlaw band.”
“Get to the point.” She didn’t know how much she could take, and she didn’t want to collapse before him.
“Yrden Lines went on. They continued
to make a profit. But, obviously, Jenna never forgot, and kept an ear out. When she heard something solid, she acted.” He stood like a wall, indestructible. “She never gave up, but recognized that wasting resources would not get her what she wanted.”
“And I’m wasting resources?”
“Yes, Ms Yrden you are. And there’s one other thing. Ms Pendleton. We owe her. We owe her a ride back to New Brittain at the very least. The latest medical report we received says that she’ll be ready for release by the time we can return to Rossiya.”
Colleen contemplated that. “Yrden Lines will cover any ticket – she already knows that. She can take any ship on any route she wishes.”
Telford looked away, looked almost embarrassed. “Ms Yrden, I think we both know that isn’t what she wants. I owe. Personally. So, one way or another, I’m going to make it a fair trade. Either on Blue Powder as we take her back to New Brittain, or on another ship.”
Her eyes snapped to his face. “You’d quit me?”
“No. Definitely not.”
Relief.
“However, I haven’t taken a real vacation in fourteen years. I’m asking you for some time off, Ms Yrden. I can spend that time off on the passenger deck of Blue Powder, or I can spend it on the passenger deck of another ship.”
Colleen blinked. “Do you love her?”
“She wants proof that she didn’t waste her life by marrying Mr Pendleton. She wants proof that she’s still a woman.” He pressed his lips together and took a deep breath. After letting it out, he said, “I’ll be whomever she wants me to be for the voyage back. And she’ll know that it’s only for the voyage back. She doesn’t want more than that, won’t expect anything further of me.” And then he repeated the words that no Yrden could dismiss lightly. “I owe.”
She reached out and put her hand on his arm. “We owe,” she agreed. “Tell Sean to set a course for Rossiya. Perhaps we can pick up some cargo and passengers there, too.”
“Thank you, Ms Yrden.”
“Colleen,” she suggested.
He merely smiled. “I’ll inform Pilot Williams.”
“You’re a good man, Adrian.”
* * *
Telford almost laughed at the visible signs of relief on the bridge.
“Rossiya?” Sean asked, as if Telford hadn’t said it clearly. “Passengers and cargo for New Brittain?”
“Correct.”
Sean lowered his voice. “And Clay?”
“Ms Yrden has decided to follow a different course. She’ll wait for word to reach us instead of hunting it herself in Blue Powder. The Yrden Family has sources. They will remain vigilant. If they report anything, she’ll move. Until then...”
Sean looked to the deck where the crew had found the pool of blood. “She still thinks he’s alive?”
“They didn’t kill everyone on board.” Telford spoke quietly. “We’re still missing crew. She won’t forget about them.”
“No,” Sean agreed, “she won’t.”
* * *
Moskva, Rossiya
Telford hated the smell of hospitals. Disinfectant, sterile. Nasty, all around, he thought. He saw her walking to the check-out counter. At least they allowed her that dignity, though they had brutalized every other one in the effort to save her life. He stood and walked towards her.
“I’m expecting someone to escort me to the spaceport,” she said to the counterperson.
“That would be me, Mary,” Telford said.
She spun at his voice.
“Adrian?”
“Yes. Blue Powder is waiting to take you back home – if you wish to travel with her. If you don’t, we’ll understand.” When she didn’t reply, he continued. “If you wish other transportation, we can take that.”
“We?”
“I’m on vacation,” he said, smiling a smile that he hoped she wouldn’t see as false. He had practiced it a lot. “We don’t need to travel on Blue Powder.” He laughed his practiced light-hearted laugh. “Hey, we don’t even need to travel on an Yrden ship.”
But she didn’t seem to hear him. She stood there, peering intently at him.
“You called me Mary.”
“Well, yes, I think I did.” He offered her his arm.
“Blue Powder will suffice,” she said.
“I believe it makes a stop at Pelgraff on the way to New Brittain,” he said as he escorted her out the doors to the waiting cab. “We could stop and visit with your friend, Tro Vremen.”
Her eyes lit. “That would be nice. How long until we reach New Brittain?”
“Oh, about two months. So, how did they treat you here?”
She laughed. “Brutally. They forced me to walk before I felt ready. They fed me the most awful food. And they wouldn’t tell me what happened on Blue Powder. Said it might upset me.”
“The swine,” he said, as he closed the door of the cab. He walked around to the other side to enter.
“Tell me, Adrian, what happened? I don’t remember much after they shot me.”
“Do you really want to know, Mary?” Her eyes lit every time he used her given name. “It gets a little gruesome.”
She laughed, delighted. “Good. What’s the use of a tale if it doesn’t have gruesome bits it in?”
He reached out and took her hand. “Well, after you saved my life...”
* * *
Pelgraff
Grensel lay beneath a blanket of snow. Wearing winter coats that Blue Powder stocked for its passengers and crew, Telford and Mary Pendleton walked the streets.
“In here, I think,” Telford said.
The small juicery boasted several tables. At one sat a large Pagayan. He rose as they entered.
“Mary, Adrian! How very good to see you.”
“Tro Vremen,” Mary Pendleton said, looking him up and down. “You’ve grown taller.”
He laughed. “Not so. Come, sit, tell me all about your journey to the stars.”
Telford relaxed into his seat as Mary related everything that she remembered, and some things that she didn’t – which Telford had told her. Tro Vremen exclaimed over her bravery, and didn’t let on at all that he already knew the story. Telford had made sure of that.
“How is she?” Tro Vremen asked after Mary had excused herself to go to the washroom.
Telford knew that he didn’t refer to the departed Ms Pendleton. “Riding the edge. She won’t admit that Mr Yrden died in the fight for the bridge. Even Brian believes that. And they’ve had arguments about it. David, well, he’s too young to really have a good grip on what happened. But he misses his father.”
“Not good. And you? Do you truly believe Clay died in the fight?”
“I think it most likely.” He shrugged. “But there’s a possibility he lives. Until we prove that one way or another...”
“And what will you do?”
Damn the Pagayans and their empathic abilities. One reason why he never got close to a Pagayan female. Not after that first time. They read people.
“Until we know one way or another, I will operate as I always have.”
“I know, Mr Telford.”
He turned on the big Pagayan. “What would you have me do? Try to kill her dreams so that I can profit?”
“You chart a difficult course.” Tro Vremen suddenly relaxed and smiled. “Ah, Mary, you return to us. Another juice?”
“I’d better not. I’ll become addicted to your cindra berries.” She laughed. “Adrian, why don’t you try it?”
“I don’t appreciate the juice.”
She laughed again. “I thought you dealt in it. Surely a good businessman would partake.”
Even his cover identity didn’t like it, as she well knew. “Can’t afford to drink up the profits.”
He downed what remained of his apple juice.
“Tro Vremen, good of you to meet with us.”
“You stay another two days, I believe?”
“Yes,” Mary answered for him. “Will we see you again?”
&nb
sp; “I’ll make sure of it.” Tro Vremen stood and extended his hand.
This time, she didn’t even hesitate. She took it, and he aided her to her feet, though she didn’t really require that. They shrugged their way back into their heavy coats.
“Rather beastly out here,” Mary said, shivering in the sudden cold. “We should find somewhere to get warm again.”
“I know just the place,” Telford said, as he put an arm around her shoulders. He still owed.
* * *
“If I can do anything, Colleen, just tell me,” Tro Vremen said.
That he meant it – anything – did more damage than good. It reminded her that Clay would have done likewise – and Clay no longer could do anything for her, nor she for him.
“Thank you, my friend. That means much to me. However, I have my work, and I must set up an information network to glean all that I possibly can.”
Tro Vremen’s browridge came down. Something troubled him.
“During your absence, Hittorsh Company ships have come by. They have set up a small trade desk here in Grensel. We will put questions to them, as well.”
Colleen’s stomach tightened at the mention of Korsh’s company. “How have they acted?”
“With utmost respect. They deal with impeccable honesty, good will, and fairness.” He gave a human-style shrug. “We have no complaints.”
She forced a smile to her face. “Good. That makes me happy. At last Pelgraff receives some of the attention she deserves.”
“I have spoken with Mr Telford,” Tro Vremen said.
She tightened again. What had Adrian told him about her?
“He appears to have acquired a new friend – Ms Mary Pendleton – whom he introduced me to when you brought us the shuttle.”
She relaxed. “She saved his life – our lives.”
“So I understand. They spend the night on the planet – able to enjoy the cold, the snow, the wind.”
Colleen shivered, reminded of the cold and snow of Erin, when the Armstrongs beset her on all sides. When she had lived only for revenge. Before Clay. Now she felt once more beset on all sides, with Adrian Telford her only ally – and he had taken a leave of absence. She felt the loss keenly, though she knew he would come back as soon as they returned Mary Pendleton home.
One Trade Too Many Page 26
