LINKS
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The Christa Affair
Chapter Thirty-Five
The office was spacious, spotlessly clean, and luxuriously furnished. DeCarlo rose in greeting from behind a massive desk as the heavy wooden door closed behind them, shutting out the sounds and smells of the bar; their escort vanished as suddenly as he had appeared. "Welcome, Gentlemen! Welcome! Please accept my apologies for the lateness of my arrival. I fear I was detained by certain unpleasant matters not worthy of discussion. The landingcraft I sent was satisfactory, I trust?" He bowed formally.
"It was, Juan, and I thank you most gratefully," replied Jashi, bending slightly at the waist. "May I request that this entire meeting be conducted under pact?"
"Granted, Captain Abram, to you and to your companion..." They bowed deeply, sealing the bargain.
"A member of my crew, and of no concern," said Jashi curtly, dismissing the implied question of Roi's identity. He seated himself at the desk without waiting for DeCarlo's invitation. "His presence was necessary to watch my back in this slime-pit you picked for a meeting place. I'd like a drink. Something fit for consumption by civilized Humans, if you don't mind."
(.... !! ?? .... "Damn, Jashi! Aren't you coming on a little strong? ....")
(.... "You just see that the \Klondike\ is ready to put some distance behind us if this blows up. I'll take care of things down here." ....)
(.... "Yes, My Love. We're recomputing the trajectory every five minutes....")
DeCarlo's perfect smile faltered for a moment, as if a mask had slipped from his face, then it was back as if nothing had happened. "I only give them what they want, Captain. Many who spend their lives aboard the great starships are not as refined as yourself... The more elegant establishments of Extasy are not to their liking, nor would their presence be acceptable there. Perhaps I was mistaken in my choice of this location?"
Jashi busied himself with an imaginary piece of lint on his clothing, pointedly ignoring the question. Suddenly the Squire broke into laughter. "The native boy! That's it, isn't it?" He continued without waiting for a response. "Surely, Captain, you don't think he was actually killed. It's an act! One that costs me a small fortune. I fear I would quickly run out of natives, don't you?"
Jashi couldn't decide whether to believe him or not. The blood, and the gash at the boy's throat... The robot custodian had passed quite close to their table. "A drink, if you don't mind..." The words were cold, sharp.
DeCarlo ordered from the console on his desk; tall glasses arrived immediately, delivered by a shiny new robowaiter that addressed Jashi politely in flawless System English. It was the finest Falturon wine, squeezed from the wild berries of the rainforest by native labor, and ice-cold. Jashi accepted the glass and took a long pull on it; when he spoke again the edge was gone from his voice. "Thank you, Squire. The wine is excellent," he said, gesturing Roi to a seat near the door.
"I have found a companion for you, Captain." DeCarlo came straight to the point. "She is young and beautiful, and of a recognized line of royal blood as you requested. Would you care to see her?"
"Perhaps... But I have not yet agreed to part with Karli, only that I would be willing to consider it, \if\ a suitable replacement could be found. There is a small matter of price to be agreed upon."
"But I thought..."
"You thought \what\?" Jashi interrupted indignantly. "That I would simply trade her for this \princess\ of yours? I am insulted, sir! She pleases me well, and is of far greater value."
DeCarlo was on his feet instantly, his face a solid mask of rage. The immense chair rocked backward on its heavy base, threatening to topple to the floor, then righted itself. The Squire reached for the weapon on his belt; his hand froze as his fingers curled around its handgrip. He found himself staring down the projector of Roi's needlegun.
For long moments no one moved or spoke. The tension in the room was a sickly odor, heavy in the still air. Slowly DeCarlo sank back into his chair and the smile returned to his face. "I fear I have misjudged you. Please accept my apology."
"I fear you have indeed, sir! I find the customs of your world strange and repugnant, but I accept them by virtue of my decision to visit. I agreed to consider your offer only out of necessary respect for these customs, and I demand that you negotiate in good faith, or allow us to withdraw peacefully."
"You may name your price, Captain. Anything within my power."
"Five million Federation Credits!"
"Done! What else?" DeCarlo didn't bat an eye at amount.
"A Cray-Lambert Mark-22."
"I believe that can be arranged." This time there was a moment's hesitation before he answered. His flawless composure showed signs of wilting.
"If I find this princess of yours acceptable, she shall require much attention -- far more than I shall be able to personally provide." Jashi put heavy emphasis on the \if\. "Two Human females from your personal staff -- just coming of age -- and two well-trained native males, young, and sterile of course... Yes, I think two will be sufficient."
(.... ??? .... "What the...? ....")
(.... "Watch him, Karli ....")
This time the mask cracked wide open. DeCarlo's face split into a grin from ear to ear and he roared with laughter. "Yes, I indeed misjudged you, Captain... You are a credit to the Human Male! A heart as larcenous as my own... Or that of my brother!" He was seized by another fit of laughter.
(.... "You gonna let him insult you like that? ....") Karli giggled in his head, relieved at the sudden, unexpected release of the tensions within the room.
"Thank you, Squire DeCarlo. Apology accepted. I shall also require ten standard mass-cubits of pure Immunofactor Twenty-Six."
The effect was staggering -- even more than Jashi had hoped for. The Squire froze in mid-laugh. His jaw worked, but no sound came from his mouth; his adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed repeatedly, franticly trying to regain his voice. His face flushed a deep red.
Jashi shifted slightly in his chair so that his right forearm pointed at the Squire's chest; his left hand rested just beyond the crook of his elbow. His eyes never left DeCarlo's, and their stares remained locked for long moments as the battle of wills raged silently.
DeCarlo's desire for Karli was an obsession, eating at his psyche until he would crawl for her if necessary. At last he dropped his gaze to the desk, defeat written on his countenance. Jashi knew he had won; more important, DeCarlo \knew\ that he knew. "I fear you have asked too great a price, Captain," he said sadly. "That is not within my power."
(.... "Okay, Smartie! Whadda you do now? ....")
(.... "Can it, Karli! I'm busy! ....") He wondered if maybe she was right. Again silence stretched into an eternity, and he found himself reaching for his drink, just to break the awkward stillness.
Slowly, DeCarlo straightened in his chair. He reached into the drawer of the magnificent desk and extracted a large pipe, lighted it, and drew the acrid smoke deep into his lungs, holding it for long moments before exhaling. At last he spoke, elbows propped on the polished surface before him, unfocused eyes staring emptily past the still-warm pipe clutched in his hands. "I am a proud man, Captain... And powerful. I \take\ what I desire. I have known the love of many females, but I have never loved, until now. To have her dishonorably would make a mockery of our union." There was a long pause. "I have never before begged to any person, Human or other, but I now beg you humbly to reconsider."
"I see no evidence of a vaccine shortage, here," Jashi pressed the point. "Sharing a bit of it with me shouldn't be a problem, if you really want her as badly as all that."
"Please, Captain! Do not speak further of this. I beg of you! If you are offended, you may depart in peace, and take the princess with you as my gift if you desire. I shall honor our pact and never annoy you again." DeCarlo's face was ashen; his voice trembled.
(....?? .... "Huh?....")
(.... "Don't ask me, Karli. I-26 scared the shit out of him!....") This was to good to be believed -- the topsy-turvy customs of this crazy world had dropped the Princess right into their lap.
Jashi rose to his feet and bowed low to their host. "Your gift is graciously accepted, Squire DeCarlo, and for now, your offer of peaceful departure. Perhaps I shall reconsider my price, if I am well-pleased with Her Highness." He grinned slyly. "Of course, if you should somehow be able to work it out..."
DeCarlo led them down a long hall, walking slowly with the shuffling gate of an old man. Jashi counted steps as they walked, turned right, then right again. They stopped at a heavy door bearing the number one-oh-seven in heavy hand-carved wooden letters; it seemed to back the office they had just left.
"In there," the Squire said. "I am afraid it was necessary to sedate her... She is very high-spirited. At the end of this hall you will find a tube-station; my personal car will take you directly to the spaceport. I am a man of honor, Captain... I shall cause you no difficulty. May your stay at Sanctuary be a pleasant one. If you should desire to contact me..." He handed Jashi a card, and disappeared down the hall.
They hardly dared breathe until they were safely clear of the spaceport, arching up thru the clouds toward rendezvous with the \Klondike\. Karli scanned them from the control room as they cleared the planetary shadow, and reported no sign of pursuit. They docked uneventfully, emerging from the landingcraft to the cheers of the rest of the crew, all gathered in the hanger-bay except Karli, who had the conn, and Mowii, who hadn't left her quarters in two days.
*********
*********
Jashi sat in the command chair, elbows resting on the heavily padded arms, his head cradled in his hands. Alarm bells reverberated thru his mind as he tried to sort out the strange turn of events; this was too incredible to be believed! Four days ago, they had arrived at this world with no real plan, no specific course of intended action except to poke about aimlessly and see what developed. By what seemed to be pure chance, he had met the brother of the man they sought to stop, been offered the kidnapped Princess of Uzos in trade for Karli, then had the Princess handed to him on a silver platter when the mere mention of I-26 struck unreasoning fear in the heart of the man calling himself Squire Juan Cortez DeCarlo. There had to be a catch somewhere.
He looked again at the card DeCarlo had thrust into his hand in the hallway back at the \Decaying Orbit\. It was simply a number, a standard phone code for a surface dwelling; next to it had been written "until noon, four days hence" in a barely legible scrawl.
Jashi was alone on the flight deck. Karli and Suu were in the infirmary tending to the still-unconscious Katya; the others were scattered about the ship. Jashi rose from his chair, intending to check with Suu and Karli in the infirmary; the call light winked to life on the intercom panel. It was Toko. "Jashi, can you come down to the hanger-bay? I've got it working."
*********
"It" was Toko's latest adaptation of L'sa'rian technology. He had been working on it ever since they had finished installing the transporters, but the project had been slowed by frequent use of the landingcraft, and by Toko's ineptness at modifying the alien technology. Rang handed Jashi a communicator as he came thru the door. "How's the Princess?" he asked.
"I was headed there when Toko called," Jashi replied, donning the headset. "Want me to ask?
"No, don't bother her... She'll call when she has something to report. Watch this."
"Ready, Jashi?" asked Toko over the comm. He was visible thru the command bubble, sitting at the controls of the landingcraft.
"Ready, Toko." Jashi saw him reach for the flight console; the landingcraft vanished.
Jashi walked toward where it had been, found he was making a circle to the left, and corrected his path by concentrating on the floor at his feet. At last his outstretched hand touched the smooth polished skin of the new boat. "Hard to do, isn't it?" Toko laughed in his ear. "The field bends the light rays around it, and things aren't where your eyes tell you they are. The easiest way is to close your eyes -- you can walk straight to it. Step away and I'll bring it back... The effects are a little unsettling up close." Jashi found the whole thing to be a bit unsettling at \any\ distance.
They were full of questions. Toko had the answer to only one. It affected light only; standard scanning would pick up the craft normally. "I think it may can be modified to block detection by \some\ scanning methods," he stated, "but I can't be sure. I can't use the Teacher more that a few minutes a day any more because of the damned headaches! I got the wand mounted like you asked, but I don't know how you're going to test it."
Jashi was about to ask if he could adapt one of the optical devices to hide the \Klondike\, when Karli spoke from the infirmary. (.... "Jashi, could you come here, please? And bring Rang... I think you'd both better see this....")
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
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