Part 12 (1/2)
”Shouldn't there be more like a hundred sixty?” Todd asked.
”Yeah, should be,' Lon said, scratching his ear with the edge of his comp. ”I put in a call to Mike Solinari at the Veterinary Hospital, and the foreman on the Hu spread, just in case any of our animals have hopped the fence.
”Not b.l.o.o.d.y seventeen of ”em,' Todd replied grimly.
”With that ssersa you found today, that might account for some, but we haven't even found any bodies. Not even mda will touch a sscrsa carca.s.s.” Lon gave a disgusted snort. ”My dad told me that if I can't hand-pull fields, I deserve to have such losses but, honest, Todd ”Didn't Hiriss and I spend'-Todd made himself continue despite the pang that the reminder of happier days gave him-'a whole week helping you?
But I'll tell you something else I found-a burn<,if mark=”” on=”” that=”” one=”” level=”” spot=”” in=”” the=”” big=””>
”A shuttle burn-off?” Lon's tanned face paled.
”There's been no emergency landing in that section.
D'you think . . .” He stopped, not liking his own thoughts.
”Rustling does present itself as an explanation,' Todd said, not wanting to believe it either.
”especially if there've been no bodiesound.” Since Doona's wealth was its stock, not minerals or mining, rustling was the sovereign crime and punishable by immediate transport to the nearest penal colony. To keep track of all stock, each animal was branded with freeze-dry chemicals as soon after birth as possible: a painless process that left a permanent ID, naming its ranch of origin, breeding information, and control numbers. The brand was unalterable so that it was easy to keep a rccord of inoculations and vaccinations throughout an animal's lifetime. It made illegitimate transfer of owners.h.i.+p impossible. It also made rustling-on Doona-an unprofitable occupation.
Despite rigid psychological tests devised by Lee Lawrence, the colony sociologist, sometimes unsuitable personalities slipped through. People eager enough to get off Earth were known to equivocate about their open-mindedness as regards living with aliens, or their willingness to learn and speak an alien language. Their bigotry was generally discovered soon enough to do no lasting harm and they were sent off Doona, either to Earth or to see if they would fit into a totally Human colony.
Other new settlers became overwhelmed by the responsibilities of caring for a whole, stocked ranch, let alone a house set in the midst of more uninterrupted land than anyone on Earth had ever seen. Some could not adapt to the lack of laborsaving devices which were felt to be superfluous or environmentally dangerous. Fossil fuels were avoided, and natural power, windmills, river barrages, or battery cells charged by solar panel supplied what power was required. Some settler learned to cope, others requested transport back t familiar constrictions.
Those unwilling, or unable, to take responsibilit for themselves in a pioneer society posed the wors problem. Sometimes, folk who had been told al their lives what to do couldn't adjust to makin their own decisions. Or, once they realized that behavior monitors had been left behind on Earth they began acting as if they could behave any wa: they wanted. And take anything they wanted Rustlers generally emerged from that group.
”We haven't had any rustlers for years,' Lon said ”And how could there have been a shuttle landin when we've got satellite controllers?”
”Have we got any newcomers from Earth who'vt gone possession crazy? You know that syndrome.
”How could I forget?” Lon asked grimly, spittin into the dust.
”It was my father's new mares thai were stolen. A guy named Hammond did it. I've c' hard place in my mind for anyone named Ham mond.
Since then I've learned to judge people. I'V( a good record at picking those who won't make ii through their first season.”
”You helping Lee with his testing these days?”
”He has only to ask. Now, let's double-check th( ones we do have so I can send in the brands of thost we're missing.” Together they checked the withers of eact animal that came out of the chute, entering th( brand and updating the' inoculation record.
”Yeah, we're seventeen shy. I'll just send the IDs on to Vet.
They'll forward the list to Poldep. Once the word's out we've done that, we might just find those seventeen missing horses back in their home pastures.” Squinting at the sky, Todd shook his head. ”They might not be on Doona anymore.”
”Oh, come on, Todd. The security satellites would have reported any unauthoriii:ed transport in orbit,' Lon said, scornful of that suggestion. ”No, we'll find out where they got stashed on this planet.
Might take a while, but we'll find ”em on Doona.” Todd did not argue the point now, but he was annoyed that seventeen animals were missing.
Seventeen! At the current market price, that was almost half the value of a good farm. Doonan horses were a valuable commodity, not only as transportation and a constant source of fertilizer but for the end product of meat, hide, and bonemeal.
”I'll look into it, find out if the neighbors have any inexplicable losses, and I can make that report to Poldep.” Even as he spoke, Todd realized he was no longer the person to make reports to Poldep.
”No, I'm farm manager. I'll make the report,' Lon said, almost too quickly. ”I need your help more out here in the pens,' he went on, stumbling to get the words out. ”You've a longer attention span than those two flibbertigibbets,' he said, nodding toward Todd's two siblings.
It was obvious that the ranch foreman knew the details of Todd's house arrest, even if he had the tact not to comment on it directly.
Most of the neighbors had radios, so Todd could ask his questions without leaving the ranch. But he could see that keeping his word was going to complicate life considerably.
”I'll radio them, Ion, he said quietly. ”And thanks.”
”The Reeves have been having a run of bad luck lately,' Ion said stoutly, turning his head to spit in the dust. ”I figure you don't deserve it.
Count on me if you need help-off the ranch.”
”Me, too!” said Robin. At eighteen Terran years of age, he was the youngest of the Reeves' five children. He and Inessa climbed out of the corral as the last of the foals galloped free. ”I don't think I'm grounded. Am I?” He turned wide ingenuous eyes to his brother.
”No, it applies to me.”
”And Hrriss,' Inessa said in a low angry tone, then she turned to Ion. ”We've put the five that need to be observed in the stable. Don't think any of ”em are contagious but they need a bit of hand feeding. So I'm through.”
”n.o.body is through until you put the rest of the medicines away and clean out the inoculators,' Ion ordered, shouting down their protests. ”And last time I looked that pen hadn't been mucked out.
Hop to it!” With affected groans, the two young Reeves shouldered the vaccination equipment and staggered dramatically toward the medical outbuilding behind the foreman's house.
”What a pair of actors,' Todd observed.
”Eh,' Ion said, slapping him on the back. ”You and Hrriss were the same at that age.” Then he ducked his head at the ill-chosen reminder and spat again in the dust.
”Hrriss?” Kelly tapped on the part.i.tion of the Hrruban's room.
”Your mother said I'd find you here. Are you very busy?”
”Not too busy to see you,' Hrriss said, and Kelly chuckled at his gallantry. He rose from his computer console and they brushed cheeks affectionately.
”You okay?” Kelly asked, looking him over with sisterly concern.
”Do you need anything I could bring in for you?” She knew she'd be stirrazy if she had to stay in one room too long. How she'd gotten through school on Earth without dropping out had required every ounce of self-discipline she possessed.
”I'm okay,' Hrriss said, but ruined it with a sigh.
”I may move about the village, you know. But it is friTustrating to be restricted. I want for nothing but I will think of something to give you the pleasure of visiting me again.” Then he clamped his lips so tightly that his eyeteeth were visible under the tightly drawn flesh.
”He misses you, too,' Kelly said softly. ”And that's not a message,' she added angrily, ”that's my personal opinion. I'm ent.i.tled to speak for myself.” Hrriss nodded understanding and his muzzle relaxed across his teeth.
”So, what've you been doing with yourself?” Kelly asked, hoping that she could carry on some sort of a lighthearted conversation that wouldn't constantly remind both of them of the third person who should be here and must be nameless and messageless-all for honor!
”A little research into matters of concern to my mother,' Hrriss said, his eyes twinkling. ”I have also been monitoring the official zranscripts of the Zreaty negotiations, and sending out correspondence to friends on other colony worlds. I hope to locate someone with contacts among the purveyors of illicit artifacts. If we could find out where the articles found on the Albatross were purchased, and by whom, we could prove our innocence.” Hrriss felt a wash of shame every time he thought of the harsh-voiced prosecutors who dismissed his sworn word of honor as meaningless.
Kelly sensed his disquiet. ”That's a d.a.m.ned good idea, Irrriss.
In fact, I'm doing a bit of research along those lines myself.” Then she made fists of her hands and frowned angrily. ”How anyone could be daft enough to think you and. . . to think you could be a pirate and a smuggler is beyond my comprehension. I want you to know that!”