Although Traders by law and tradition carried no more potent1 personal weapons—except in times of great crisis—than hand sleep rods, the resultant shot from the latter was just as unpleasant for temporary periods as a more forceful beam—and the threat of it was enough to halt the three men who had come to the foot of the Queen's ramp2 and who could see the rod held rather negligently4 by Ali. Ali's eyes were anything but negligent3, however, and Free Traders had reputations to be respected by their rivals of the Companies. The very nature of their roving lives taught them savage5 lessons—which they either learned or died.
Dane, glancing down over the Engineer-apprentice6's shoulder, saw that Van Rycke's assumption of confidence had indeed paid off. They had left the trade enclosure of the Salariki barely three-quarters of an hour ago. But below now stood the bebadged Captain of the I-S ship and his Cargo7-master.
Ali registered faint amusement, an expression which tended to rouse the worst in the spectator, as Dane knew of old when that same mocking appraisal9 had been turned on him as the rawest of the Queen's crew.
"But does he wish to speak to you?" countered Kamil. "Just stay where you are, Eysie, until we are sure about that fact."
That was his cue to act as messenger. Dane retreated into the ship and swung up the ladder to the command section. As he passed Captain Jellico's private cabin he heard the muffled10 squall of the commander's unpleasant pet—Queex, the Hoobat—a nightmare combination of crab11, parrot and toad12, wearing a blue feather coating and inclined to scream and spit at all comers. Since Queex would not be howling in that fashion if its master was present, Dane kept on to the control cabin where he blundered in upon an executive level conference of Captain, Cargo-master and Astrogator.
"Well?" Jellico's blaster scarred left cheek twitched13 as he snapped that impatient inquiry14 at the messenger.
"Eysie Captain below, sir. With his Cargo-master. They want to see you—"
Jellico's mouth was a straight line, his eyes very hard. By instinct Dane's hand went to the grip of the sleep rod slung15 at his belt. When the Old Man put on his fighting face—look out! Here we go again, he told himself, speculating as to just what type of action lay before them now.
"Oh, they do, do they!" Jellico began and then throttled17 down the temper he could put under iron control when and if it were necessary. "Very well, tell them to stay where they are. Van, we'll go down—"
For a moment the Cargo-master hesitated, his heavy-lidded eyes looked sleepy, he seemed almost disinterested18 in the suggestion. And when he nodded it was with the air of someone about to perform some boring duty.
"Right, sir." He wriggled19 his heavy body from behind the small table, resealed his tunic20, and settled his cap with as much precision as if he were about to represent the Queen before the assembled nobility of Sargol.
Dane hurried down the ladders, coming to a halt beside Ali. It was the turn of the man at the foot of the ramp to bark an impatient demand:
"Well?" (Was that the theme word of every Captain's vocabulary?)
"You wait," Dane replied with no inclination21 to give the Eysie officer any courtesy address. Close to a Terran year aboard the Solar Queen had inoculated22 him with pride in his own section of Service. A Free Trader was answerable to his own officers and to no one else on earth—or among the stars—no matter how much discipline and official etiquette23 the Companies used to enhance their power.
He half expected the I-S officers to leave after an answer such as that. For a Company Captain to be forced to wait upon the convenience of a Free Trader must be galling24 in the extreme. And the fact that this one was doing just that was an indication that the Queen's crew did, perhaps, have the edge of advantage in any coming bargain. In the meantime the Eysie contingent25 fumed26 below while Ali lounged whistling against the exit port, playing with his sleep rod and Dane studied the grass forest. His boot nudged a packet just inside the port casing and he glanced inquiringly from it to Ali.
So that was it—the fee for Sinbad's return. "What is it today?"
"Sugar—about a tablespoon full," the Engineer-assistant returned, "and two colored steelos. So far they haven't run up the price on us. I think they're sharing out the spoil evenly, a new cub28 brings him back every night."
As did all Terran ships, the Solar Queen carried a cat as an important member of the regular crew. And the portly Sinbad, before their landing on Sargol, had never presented any problem. He had done his duty of ridding the ship of unusual and usual pests and cargo despoilers with dispatch, neatness and energy. And when in port on alien worlds had never shown any inclination to go a-roving.
But the scents30 of Sargol had apparently31 intoxicated32 him, shearing33 away his solid dignity and middle-aged34 dependability. Now Sinbad flashed out of the Queen at the opening of her port in the early morning and was brought back, protesting with both voice and claws, at the end of the day by that member of the juvenile35 population whose turn it was to collect the standing36 reward for his forceful delivery. Within three days it had become an accepted business transaction which satisfied everyone but Sinbad.
The scrape of metal boot soles on ladder rungs warned of the arrival of their officers. Ali and Dane withdrew down the corridor, leaving the entrance open for Jellico and Van Rycke. Then they drifted back to witness the meeting with the Eysies.
There were no prolonged greetings between the two parties, no offer of hospitality as might have been expected between Terrans on an alien planet a quarter of the Galaxy37 away from the earth which had given them a common heritage.
Jellico, with Van Rycke at his shoulder, halted before he stepped from the ramp so that the three Inter-Solar men, Captain, Cargo-master and escort, whether they wished or no, were put in the disadvantageous position of having to look up to a Captain whom they, as members of one of the powerful Companies, affected38 to despise. The lean, well muscled, trim figure of the Queen's commander gave the impression of hard bitten force held in check by will control, just as his face under its thick layer of space burn was that of an adventurer accustomed to make split second decisions—an estimate underlined by that seam of blaster burn across one flat cheek.
Van Rycke, with a slight change of dress, could have been a Company man in the higher ranks—or so the casual observer would have placed him, until an observer marked the eyes behind those sleepy drooping39 lids, or caught a certain note in the calm, unhurried drawl of his voice. To look at the two senior officers of the Free Trading spacer were the antithesis40 of each other—in action they were each half of a powerful, steamroller whole—as a good many men in the Service—scattered over a half dozen or so planets—had discovered to their cost in the past.
Now Jellico brought the heels of his space boots together with an extravagant41 click and his hand flourished at the fore16 of his helmet in a gesture which was better suited to the Patrol hero of a slightly out-of-date Video serial42.
"Jellico, Solar Queen, Free Trader," he identified himself brusquely, and added, "this is Van Rycke, our Cargo-master."
Not all the flush had faded from the face of the I-S Captain.
"Grange of the Dart," he did not even sketch43 a salute44. "Inter-Solar. Kallee, Cargo-master—" And he did not name the hovering45 third member of his party.
Jellico stood waiting and after a long moment of silence Grange was forced to state his business.
"We have until noon—"
Jellico, his fingers hooked in his belt, simply waited. And under his level gaze the Eysie Captain began to find the going hard.
"They have given us until noon," he started once more, "to get together—"
Jellico's voice came, coldly remote. "There is no reason for any 'getting together,' Grange. By rights I can have you up before the Trade Board for poaching. The Solar Queen has sole trading rights here. If you up-ship within a reasonable amount of time, I'll be inclined to let it pass. After all I've no desire to run all the way to the nearest Patrol post to report you—"
"You can't expect to buck46 Inter-Solar. We'll make you an offer—" That was Kallee's contribution, made probably because his commanding officer couldn't find words explosive enough.
Jellico, whose forté was more direct action, took an excursion into heavy-handed sarcasm47. "You Eysies have certainly been given excellent briefing. I would advise a little closer study of the Code—and not the sections in small symbols at the end of the tape, either! We're not bucking48 anyone. You'll find our registration49 for Sargol down on tapes at the Center. And I suggest that the sooner you withdraw the better—before we cite you for illegal planeting."
Grange had gained control of his emotions. "We're pretty far from Center here," he remarked. It was a statement of fact, but it carried over-tones which they were able to assess correctly. The Solar Queen was a Free Trader, alone on an alien world. But the I-S ship might be cruising in company, ready to summon aid, men and supplies. Dane drew a deep breath, the Eysies must be sure of themselves, not only that, but they must want what Sargol had to offer to the point of being willing to step outside the law to get it.
The I-S Captain took a step forward. "I think we understand each other now," he said, his confidence restored.
Van Rycke answered him, his deep voice cutting across the sighing of the wind in the grass forest.
"Your proposition?"
Perhaps this return to their implied threat bolstered50 their belief in the infallibility of the Company, their conviction that no independent dared stand up against the might and power of Inter-Solar. Kallee replied:
"We'll take up your contract, at a profit to you, and you up-ship before the Salariki are confused over whom they are to deal with—"
"And the amount of profit?" Van Rycke bored in.
Jellico laughed. "Generous, aren't you, Eysie? Ten percent of a cargo which can't be assessed—the gang on Limbo52 kept no records of what they plundered53."
"We don't know what he was carrying when he crashed on Limbo," countered Kallee swiftly. "We'll base our offer on what he carried to Axal."
Now Van Rycke chucked. "I wonder who figured that one out?" he inquired of the scented54 winds. "He must save the Company a fair amount of credits one way or another. Interesting offer—"
By the bland55 satisfaction to be read on the three faces below the I-S men were assured of their victory. The Solar Queen would be paid off with a pittance56, under the vague threat of Company retaliation57 she would up-ship from Sargol, and they would be left in possession of the rich Koros trade—to be commended and rewarded by their superiors. Had they, Dane speculated, ever had any dealings with Free Traders before—at least with the brand of independent adventurers such as manned the Solar Queen?
Van Rycke burrowed58 in his belt pouch59 and then held out his hand. On the broad palm lay a flat disc of metal. "Very interesting—" he repeated. "I shall treasure this recording60—"
The sight of that disc wiped all satisfaction from the Eysie faces. Grange's purplish flush spread up from his tight tunic collar, Kallee blinked, and the unknown third's hand dropped to his sleep rod. An action which was not overlooked by either Dane or Ali.
"A smooth set down to you," Jellico gave the conventional leave taking of the Service.
"You'd better—" the Eysie Captain began hotly, and then seeing the disc Van Rycke held—that sensitive bit of metal and plastic which was recording this interview for future reference, he shut his mouth tight.
"Yes?" the Queen's Cargo-master prompted politely. But Kallee had taken his Captain's arm and was urging Grange away from the spacer.
"You have until noon to lift," was Jellico's parting shot as the three in Company livery started toward the road.
"I don't think that they will," he added to Van Rycke.
The Cargo-master nodded. "You wouldn't in their place," he pointed61 out reasonably. "On the other hand they've had a bit of a blast they weren't expecting. It's been a long time since Grange heard anyone say 'no.'"
"This," Van Rycke tucked the disc back into his pouch, "sent them off vector a parsec or two. Grange is not one of the strong arm blaster boys. Suppose Tang Ya does a little listening in—and maybe we can rig another surprise if Grange does try to ask advice of someone off world. In the meantime I don't think they are going to meddle63 with the Salariki. They don't want to have to answer awkward questions if we turn up a Patrol ship to ask them. So—" he stretched and beckoned64 to Dane, "we shall go to work once more."
Again two paces behind Van Rycke Dane tramped to the trade circle of the Salariki clansmen. They might have walked out only five or six minutes of ship time before, and the natives betrayed no particular interest in their return. But, Dane noted66, there was only one empty stool, one ceremonial table in evidence. The Salariki had expected only one Terran Trader to join them.
What followed was a dreary67 round of ceremony, an exchange of platitudes68 and empty good wishes and greetings. No one mentioned Koros stones—or even perfume bark—that he was willing to offer the off-world traders. None lifted so much as a corner of his trade cloth, under which, if he were ready to deal seriously, his hidden hand would meet that of the buyer, so that by finger pressure alone they could agree or disagree on price. But such boring sessions were part of Trade and Dane, keeping a fraction of attention on the speeches and "drinkings-together," watched those around him with an eye which tried to assess and classify what he saw.
The keynote of the Salariki character was a wary69 independence. The only form of government they would tolerate was a family-clan organization. Feuds70 and deadly duels71 between individuals and clans65 were the accepted way of life and every male who reached adulthood72 went armed and ready for combat until he became a "Speaker for the past"—too old to bear arms in the field. Due to the nature of their battling lives, relatively73 few of the Salariki ever reached that retirement74. Short-lived alliances between families sometimes occurred, usually when they were to face a common enemy greater than either. But a quarrel between chieftains, a fancied insult would rip that open in an instant. Only under the Trade Shield could seven clans sit this way without their warriors75 being at one another's furred throats.
An hour before sunset Paft turned his goblet76 upside down on his table, a move followed speedily by every chieftain in the circle. The conference was at an end for that day. And as far as Dane could see it had accomplished77 exactly nothing—except to bring the Eysies into the open. What had Traxt Cam discovered which had given him the trading contract with these suspicious aliens? Unless the men from the Queen learned it, they could go on talking until the contract ran out and get no farther than they had today.
From his training Dane knew that ofttimes contact with an alien race did require long and patient handling. But between study and experiencing the situation himself there was a gulf78, and he thought somewhat ruefully that he had much to learn before he could meet such a situation with Van Rycke's unfailing patience and aplomb79. The Cargo-master seemed in nowise tired by his wasted day and Dane knew that Van would probably sit up half the night, going over for the hundredth time Traxt Cam's sketchy80 recordings81 in another painstaking82 attempt to discover why and how the other Free Trader had succeeded where the Queen's men were up against a stone wall.
The harvesting of Koros stones was, as Dane and all those who had been briefed from Cam's records knew, a perilous83 job. Though the rule of the Salariki was undisputed on the land masses of Sargol, it was another matter in the watery84 world of the shallow seas. There the Gorp were in command of the territory and one had to be constantly alert for attack from the sly, reptilian85 intelligence, so alien to the thinking processes of both Salariki and Terran that there was, or seemed to be, no point of possible contact. One went gathering86 Koros gems87 after balancing life against gain. And perhaps the Salariki did not see any profit in that operation. Yet Traxt Cam had brought back his bag of gems—somehow he had managed to secure them in trade.
Van Rycke climbed the ramp, hurrying on into the Queen as if he would not get back to his records soon enough. But Dane paused and looked back at the grass jungle a little wistfully. To his mind these early morning hours were the best time on Sargol. The light was golden, the night winds had not yet arisen. He disliked exchanging the freedom of the open for the confinement88 of the spacer.
And, as he hesitated there, two of the juvenile population of Sargol came out of the forest. Between them they carried one of their hunting nets, a net which now enclosed a quiet but baneful89 eyed captive—Sinbad being delivered for nightly ransom. Dane was reaching for the pay to give the captors when, to his real astonishment90, one of them advanced and pointed with an extended forefinger91 claw to the open port.
"Go in," he formed the Trade Lingo92 words with care. And Dane's surprise must have been plain to read for the cub followed his speech with a vigorous nod and set one foot on the ramp to underline his desire.
For one of the Salariki, who had continually manifested their belief that Terrans and their ship were an offence to the nostrils93 of all right living "men," to wish to enter the spacer was an astonishing about-face. But any advantage no matter how small, which might bring about a closer understanding, must be seized at once.
Only one of the junior clansmen obeyed that invitation. The other watched, big-eyed, and then scuttled95 back to the forest when his fellow called out some suggestion. He was not going to be trapped.
Dane led the way up the ramp, paying no visible attention to the young Salarik, nor did he urge the other on when he lingered for a long moment or two at the port. In his mind the Cargo-master apprentice was feverishly96 running over the list of general trade goods. What did they carry which would make a suitable and intriguing97 gift for a small alien with such a promising98 bump of curiosity? If he had only time to get Van Rycke!
The Salarik was inside the corridor now, his nostrils spread, assaying each and every odor in this strange place. Suddenly his head jerked as if tugged99 by one of his own net ropes. His interest had been riveted100 by some scent29 his sensitive senses had detected. His eyes met Dane's in appeal. Swiftly the Terran nodded and then followed with a lengthened101 stride as the Salarik sped down into the lower reaches of the Queen, obviously in quest of something of great importance.
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1
potent
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| adj.强有力的，有权势的；有效力的 | |
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ramp
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| n.暴怒，斜坡，坡道；vi.作恐吓姿势，暴怒，加速；vt.加速 | |
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negligent
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| adj.疏忽的；玩忽的；粗心大意的 | |
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negligently
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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apprentice
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| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
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cargo
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| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
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snarled
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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appraisal
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| n.对…作出的评价；评价，鉴定，评估 | |
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muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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crab
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| n.螃蟹，偏航，脾气乖戾的人，酸苹果；vi.捕蟹，偏航，发牢骚；vt.使偏航，发脾气 | |
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toad
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| n.蟾蜍，癞蛤蟆 | |
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twitched
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| vt.& vi.（使）抽动，（使）颤动（twitch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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slung
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| 抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
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fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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throttled
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| v.扼杀( throttle的过去式和过去分词 )；勒死；使窒息；压制 | |
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disinterested
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| adj.不关心的，不感兴趣的 | |
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wriggled
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| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的过去式和过去分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等） | |
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tunic
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| n.束腰外衣 | |
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inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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inoculated
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| v.给…做预防注射( inoculate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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etiquette
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| n.礼仪，礼节；规矩 | |
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galling
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| adj.难堪的,使烦恼的,使焦躁的 | |
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contingent
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| adj.视条件而定的；n.一组，代表团，分遣队 | |
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fumed
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| 愤怒( fume的过去式和过去分词 )； 大怒； 发怒； 冒烟 | |
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ransom
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| n.赎金，赎身；v.赎回，解救 | |
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cub
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| n.幼兽，年轻无经验的人 | |
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scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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scents
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| n.香水( scent的名词复数 )；气味；（动物的）臭迹；（尤指狗的）嗅觉 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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intoxicated
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| 喝醉的，极其兴奋的 | |
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shearing
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| n.剪羊毛，剪取的羊毛v.剪羊毛( shear的现在分词 )；切断；剪切 | |
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middle-aged
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| adj.中年的 | |
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juvenile
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| n.青少年，少年读物；adj.青少年的，幼稚的 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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galaxy
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| n.星系；银河系；一群(杰出或著名的人物) | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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antithesis
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| n.对立；相对 | |
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extravagant
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| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
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serial
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| n.连本影片，连本电视节目；adj.连续的 | |
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sketch
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| n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述 | |
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salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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45
hovering
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| 鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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buck
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| n.雄鹿，雄兔；v.马离地跳跃 | |
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sarcasm
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| n.讥讽，讽刺，嘲弄，反话 （adj.sarcastic） | |
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48
bucking
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| v.（马等）猛然弓背跃起( buck的现在分词 )；抵制；猛然震荡；马等尥起后蹄跳跃 | |
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49
registration
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| n.登记，注册，挂号 | |
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bolstered
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| v.支持( bolster的过去式和过去分词 )；支撑；给予必要的支持；援助 | |
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51
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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52
limbo
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| n.地狱的边缘；监狱 | |
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53
plundered
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| 掠夺，抢劫( plunder的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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scented
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| adj.有香味的；洒香水的；有气味的v.嗅到(scent的过去分词) | |
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bland
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| adj.淡而无味的，温和的，无刺激性的 | |
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pittance
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| n.微薄的薪水，少量 | |
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retaliation
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| n.报复，反击 | |
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burrowed
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| v.挖掘（洞穴），挖洞( burrow的过去式和过去分词 )；翻寻 | |
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pouch
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| n.小袋，小包，囊状袋；vt.装...入袋中，用袋运输；vi.用袋送信件 | |
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recording
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| n.录音，记录 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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habitual
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| adj.习惯性的；通常的，惯常的 | |
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meddle
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| v.干预，干涉，插手 | |
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beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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clans
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| 宗族( clan的名词复数 )； 氏族； 庞大的家族； 宗派 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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platitudes
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| n.平常的话，老生常谈，陈词滥调( platitude的名词复数 )；滥套子 | |
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wary
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| adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的 | |
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feuds
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| n.长期不和，世仇( feud的名词复数 ) | |
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duels
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| n.两男子的决斗( duel的名词复数 )；竞争，斗争 | |
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adulthood
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| n.成年，成人期 | |
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relatively
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| adv.比较...地，相对地 | |
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retirement
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| n.退休，退职 | |
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warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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goblet
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| n.高脚酒杯 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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aplomb
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| n.沉着，镇静 | |
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sketchy
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| adj.写生的，写生风格的，概略的 | |
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recordings
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| n.记录( recording的名词复数 )；录音；录像；唱片 | |
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painstaking
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| adj.苦干的；艰苦的，费力的，刻苦的 | |
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perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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watery
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| adj.有水的，水汪汪的；湿的，湿润的 | |
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reptilian
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| adj.（像）爬行动物的；（像）爬虫的；卑躬屈节的；卑鄙的n.两栖动物；卑劣的人 | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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gems
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| growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
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confinement
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| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
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baneful
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| adj.有害的 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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forefinger
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| n.食指 | |
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lingo
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| n.语言不知所云，外国话，隐语 | |
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nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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growling
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| n.吠声, 咆哮声 v.怒吠, 咆哮, 吼 | |
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scuttled
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| v.使船沉没( scuttle的过去式和过去分词 )；快跑，急走 | |
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feverishly
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| adv. 兴奋地 | |
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intriguing
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| adj.有趣的；迷人的v.搞阴谋诡计(intrigue的现在分词)；激起…的好奇心 | |
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promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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tugged
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| v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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riveted
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| 铆接( rivet的过去式和过去分词 )； 把…固定住； 吸引； 引起某人的注意 | |
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lengthened
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| （时间或空间）延长，伸长( lengthen的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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