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Corgi • Fantasy
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1
Kamiton's messenger came in a Baby-type fast scout, and Jerry Short, the duty officer in the hangar, immediately informed Zainal of its imminent arrival and request to land. Zainal, in turn, called Kris, Peter Easley and Dorothy Dwardie, as members of the Botany Management Board, to join him. He had good relations with Kamiton and wanted to keep everything 'above-board', Kris's often-used idiom for openness. He recognized the call sign of the scout as one that Kamiton frequently used so he was somewhat prepared for bad news but did not warn the others, preferring that they take whatever news came with this messenger without any predisposition. It might not be bad news. But why else would Kamiton be sending a messenger, which suggested something he did not wish broadcast on the Botany comm lines?
Kamiton had chosen a nephew of Zainal's, firstborn son of Zainal's favourite sister, which confirmed Zainal's premonition that the news was bad. As Kris often did, she compared the new arrival to her beloved Zainal. She did not expect any familial resemblance, although she noticed as the young man - probably in his mid-twenties - approached that he was slightly shorter than Zainal but still tall for a Catteni. He had the heavy build of the true Catteni, born and adapted to Catten's heavier gravity. His greyish skin and yellow eyes were expectable. Zainal's Botany tan had altered his skin tone to a more vibrant shade of taupe and made Paxel seem drabber by comparison. But it was in the features that the main difference was plainly visible. She had always liked Zainal's nose, which was not as fleshy as most Catteni. Certainly, Zainal's mouth was better shaped, not as thick as Paxel's and far more flexible, often giving her hints as to his mood. It was severe enough right now, though; she noted the little flattening of his lips, indicating that he found this situation disagreeable and wanted to get it over with as soon as possible. She suspected then that he was anticipating a problem.
So, in his capacity as one of the governors of Botany, Zainal greeted his nephew Paxel affably and offered him coffee - a great new favourite of Catteni. Paxel grinned, showing three gold caps, a sight that caused Kris to have to hide an astonished grin. Zainal covered her astonishment by introducing Paxel, name and rank, first to Dwardie.
'This is a sister's firstborn, Emassi Paxel. I make you known to Eminent Dwardie, and my mate, Excellent Lady Emassi Kris, and Peter Easley.' He reached for the message, which Paxel somewhat reluctantly handed over.
It bore Kamiton's name, plus the characters that confirmed that Tubelin and Nitin were at least aware that a message had been sent to him. That did not bode well. He waved Paxel to a chair at the table in the hangar office. Then he broke the seal and could not suppress a grunt of dismay. When he had digested its import, he tossed the letter across the table to Kris, who could read some Catteni, though probably not all the diplomatic terms and courtesies. The gist of the message stood out as if written in red: 'Barevi merchants will not surrender any Terran goods retrieved by the Eosi or Catteni captains.'
Paxel's eyes had mirrored astonishment when Zainal gave the message first to Kris, rather than to Peter. Very few Catteni women were ever consulted on matters of significance.
'You mean, they need a bribe to give us back anything?' she demanded, outraged. 'And sent your sister's firstborn with the news so you wouldn't kill him out of hand?'
Zainal managed not to grin at her quick understanding of the ploy. She flicked the message across the smooth table towards Peter.
'What?' Dorothy Dwardie was equally incensed. She read the note over Peter's shoulder.
'They're very acquisitive, the merchants of Barevi,' Kris said, having dealt with them during her enslavement on the trade planet and more recently during her clandestine visit disguised as a Catteni officer.
'They don't mind dealing in stolen goods?' Dorothy asked, frowning at the message that Peter peered at in a total lack of comprehension, for it was in Catteni script.
'Most if not all of what they sell has been "acquired", one way or another,' Kris said, watching Paxel's reaction.
'Business is at a standstill now that there is no new material coming in from Eosian' - Paxel cleared his throat - 'development.'
'Development?' Peter echoed, glaring at the young man.
'Polite terminology for forced acquisition,' Kris translated composedly. 'However, knowing how Barevi operates, this doesn't surprise me,' she said, indicating the message. 'I didn't think we'd get anything back without a quid pro quo.'
'A what?' Zainal frowned at words he didn't understand.
'Old Latin saying. Something for something,' she told him in a low voice.
'But we must have the loot returned to us,' Peter said, 'since the production lines for many essential parts are no longer functioning. The spare parts that the Catteni "acquired" could rectify a great many useless vehicles.'
'Agreed, to the necessity to repossess the parts, especially those communication elements,' Kris said.
'Business on Barevi is at a standstill, and the merchants refuse to surrender trading goods,' Paxel repeated, as if that was the most important consideration.
'Even if we used the same technologies . . .' Peter began, irate.
Kris held up her hand. 'It's a fine sample of Catteni psychology,' she said, smiling at Paxel. Being a firstborn was some protection for Paxel as far as his treatment as the messenger was concerned, but Kris did not intend to mince words or exchange false courtesies. 'It drops, it stays - until it's paid for - one way or another,' she went on, using the slogan facetiously in an effort to relieve the tension in the office.
'We were promised restitution of materials forcibly removed from Earth's manufacturing facilities,' Peter said. She gave him a long, cool look.
'The merchants require compensation.'
'That's piracy,' Dorothy said, equally annoyed.
'That's business,' Kris said. 'I know the merchants. They love haggling. It's a way of life. Besides which, we've already made use of many pirated commodities that the first Barevi expedition brought back.' She gave Dorothy a quelling look. Dorothy probably hadn't considered those goods as 'loot' since they had been paid for, at least at the Barevi market. Now Kris could wonder if the merchants had been paid for the tab run up against a bogus ship's account. Oh well, that was for the Catteni accountants to resolve.
'But Kamiton-' Peter began.
'Supreme Emassi Kamiton,' Paxel said, 'promised in good faith what regretfully he cannot now deliver. He is trying to resolve a delicate situation for all concerned.' His bow to Zainal was full of respect.
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© Transworld Publishers |
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More Information
Publication Date: 03/03/2003 • 368 pages • 178 x 106 mm
• ISBN: 0552149098
Territory: UK C/Wealth ex Can |
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