Part 24 (2/2)

The traffic was abominable. And he, who'd been in various pitched battles on Darth and had only lately captured a s.h.i.+p in s.p.a.ce-- Hoddan grew apprehensive as his ground-car charged into the thick of hooting, rus.h.i.+ng, squealing vehicles. When the car came to a stop he was relieved.

”It's yonder,” said the driver. ”You'll find the name on the directory.”

Hoddan paid and went inside the gigantic building. He looked at the directory and shrugged. He went to the downstairs guard. He explained that he was looking for a firm of lawyers whose name was not on the directory list. They were extremely conservative and of the highest possible reputation. They didn't seek clients--

”Forty-two and forty-three,” said the guard, frowning. ”I ain't supposed to give it out, but--floors forty-two and-three.”

Hoddan went up. He was unknown. A receptionist looked at him with surprised aversion.

”I have a case of s.p.a.ce piracy,” said Hoddan polite. ”A member of the firm, please.”

Ten minutes later he eased himself into the easiest of easy-chairs. A gray-haired man of infinite dignity said:

”Well?”

”I am,” said Hoddan modestly, ”a pirate. I have a s.h.i.+p in the s.p.a.ceport with very convincing papers and a cargo of Rigellian furs, jewelry from the Cetis planets, and a rather large quant.i.ty of bulk melacynth. I want to dispose of the cargo and invest a considerable part of the proceeds in conservative stocks on Krim.”

The lawyer frowned. He looked shocked. Then he said carefully:

”You made two statements. One was that you are a pirate. Taken by itself, that is not my concern. The other is that you wish to dispose of certain cargo and invest in reputable businesses on Krim. I a.s.sume that there is no connection between the two observations.”

He paused. Hoddan said nothing. The lawyer went on, with dignity:

”Of course our firm is not in the brokerage business. However, we can represent you in your dealing with local brokers. And obviously we can advise you--”

”I also wish to buy,” said Hoddan, ”a complete s.h.i.+pload of agricultural machinery, a microfilm technical library, machine tools, vision-tape technical instructors and libraries of tape for them, generators, and such things.”

”Hm-m-m,” said the lawyer. ”I will send one of our clerks to examine your cargo so he can deal properly with the brokers. You will tell him in detail what you wish to buy.”

Hoddan stood up.

”I'll take him to the s.h.i.+p now.”

He was mildly surprised at the smoothness with which matters proceeded.

He took a young clerk to the s.h.i.+p. He showed him the s.h.i.+p's papers as edited by himself. He took him through the cargo holds. He discussed in some detail what he wished to buy.

When the clerk left, Thal came to complain again.

”Look here!” he said bitterly, ”we've scrubbed this s.h.i.+p from one end to the other! There's not a speck or a fingermark on it. And we're still scrubbing! We captured this s.h.i.+p! Is this pirate revels?”

Hoddan said:

”There's money coming. I'll let you boys ash.o.r.e with some cash in your pockets presently.”

Brokers came, escorted by the lawyer's clerk. They squabbled furiously with him. But the dignity of the firm he represented was extreme. There was no suspicion--no overt suspicion anyhow--and the furs went. The clerk painstakingly informed Hoddan that he could draw so much. More brokers came. The jewelry went. The lawyer's clerk jotted down figures and told Hoddan the net. The bulk melacynth was taken over by a group of brokers, none of whom could handle it alone.

Hoddan drew cash and sent his Darthians ash.o.r.e with a thousand credits apiece. With bright and s.h.i.+ning faces, they headed for the nearest bars.

<script>