Part 13 (1/2)

Captain Maxim Malaika, House-Head and Plutocrat? I bring you greetings, sir, from Madame Rashaleila Nuaman and Nuaman Enterprises.' Malaika's lips twisted in a sub-vocal oath which made Flinx blush. 'Congratulations!'

That superciliousness was sufficient to stimulate the merchant's tongue, 'd.a.m.ned decent of you. And who areninyi nyote ?'

'Pardon? Oh,I . I am of little consequence. But for purposes of facilitating further conversation ... which, I a.s.sure you,will be forthcoming ... you may know me as Able Nikosos.'

'Je, Mister Nikosos.I agree wholeheartedly that your personage is doubtless of little consequence. I am curious as to bow you got here. This planet seems to be acquiring a universal notoriety.'

'How so? Umm. As to your question, Captain, why,' and the voice reflected mock astonishment, 'we followed you. Most of the way from Moth. At a discreet distance, of course. Speaking of which, you certainly changed your course a good deal at the beginning of your journey. Yes you did. But after the first week we had no trouble plotting your approximate course. You know, this is the fourth system in this sector with planets that we've visited. We knew more or less where the one we wanted was, but not its exact co-ordinates. It made it hard on us, yes hard, when we lost you completely. Those co-ordinates were on a bit of material which ... but never mind that. That's long in the past now, isn't it?'

'You didn't by any chance get some help from a certain AAnn baron?'

'An AAnn baron?' The squeaky voice reflected surprise. MaSaika glanced at Flinx.

'He's telling the truth, sir. And they're definitely in a set orbit.'

The two scientists looked in surprise at Flinx. Neither said anything, but he could sense a mild resentment of his secrecy in their thoughts. He wanted desperately to tell them how necessary it was to maintain that secrecy. Even today, psi-sensitives were not universally popular, a fact he had found out early and painfully as a child. Now was not the time, though. The voice on the comm continued.

'What would we have to do with the AAnn? Nasty people, those, nasty! No indeed, sir. We found you all by ourselves, in spite of the difficulties your disappearance occasioned us. But we did find you, didn't we? So no harm done. Besides, no use trying to share the blame, and I refuse to share the credit. Not that it should matter to you in the long run. Or even the short one.' A brief giggle broke the commentary.

'My s.h.i.+p is parked a couple of field lengths from yourGloryhole . We beamed it first. When we did not receive a reply and when the lock refused us entrance - how clever of you, Captain! - we a.s.sumed you had already made your drop to the surface. A glance at your shuttle bay confirmed it.'

'Thelathini nguruwe! Thirty pigs. Which is the ultimate number which can be fitted into a standard captain's cabin, in case you didn't know.' The voice seemed immune to insult as well as to modesty.Tut, tut, Captain.You'll offend my modest nature.'

'Small chance of that.'

'Anyway, the emanations from your components would have revealed your location to us even if you had declined to acknowledge our call. As I am sure you were well aw are.'

'Captain,' said Flinx, 1 thought you said . . .'

'Forgot about the relay to the shuttle's comm. That's what they'd pick up. They could hardly miss us anyway.' He was already setting up a last-ditch defence in his mind.

'Where are you now, friend Nikosos, other than in orbit?'

'A good guess, Captain. Why, we're drifting over this moisture-poor continent. Rather close to you, I've no doubt. We should be down in a short while, at which time I hope to greet you personally.' The voice paused, then resumed again. 'Whatever you are hiding in must really be something. We're having no end of trouble picking up your signal.'

'You've travelled along way for a lot of nothing, Nikosos. We've been working on this ”whatever,” as you so accurately say, for weeks now. We haven't been able to figure out what it does, much less how it does it.'

'Certainly, Captain, certainly!' The voice carried a humouring tone now. 'Personaly whenever the cold of s.p.a.ce affects me too deeply, I like to fly through the nearest M Supergiant to warm my chilly bones. As I said, we'll be seeing you shortly.'

'He doesn't believe you,' said Flinx, Malaika nodded. 'And then?'

'Well, that does pose a problem. eh? I certainly can't wave you on your happy way home, because then all my hard work would have been for naught, wouldn't it? But then, a.s.sa.s.sination realty isn't my line, either Perhaps some-thing can be worked ...' Malaika cut the comm. He turned to the others.

'Je, you heard. Where new planets are concerned, possession is nine tenths of the ancient law. I doubt Rasha will leave me be to call in a Church Evaluation Force.' He switched the comm to inter personnel frequency.

'Wolf. you heard everything?'

'Yes, Captain.' The shadow-man's reply was even. Flinx wondered if the pilot were capable of an excitement he never showed. I fear that your pet took it rather hard, though. She's fainted. Miss Moon is caring for her now.'

'Je! She will be quiet for a while then, anyway. We're going to join you shortly. We'd best all remain pamoja . He flipped off the comm again.

'What do you propose?' asked Tse-Mallory.

'Not much I can, sociologist. Even if this Nikosos person should bemjinga enough to come without a portable defensive screen, it would be awkward to attempt to fight our way out. Although we are not.'

and here he looked directly at Flinx, 'without surprises of our own. However, I am certain the men he leaves on his s.h.i.+p - only one this time, for a change - will be monitoring everything that happens. We'd be at their mercy in the shuttle. If this Nikosos doesn't bring a screen, and if we could surprise him and get off a crippling few shots before they had time to warn their stars.h.i.+p, and if we could slip to theGloryhole under their detectors, and if we could get inside and get the generator powered before they noticed - why, we might have a good chance of sneaking off or fighting them.'

Too many ”ifs”,' said Truzenzuzex unnecessarily.

'Kabisa, quite. Still, we have other weapons. Rest a.s.sured I'll try them. Bribery, for one, has often proven more effective in war than nucleonics.' But I fear that Rasha wouldn't send a creature that vulnerable on such an important mission. Not one who'd be tempted by total bribery, anyway. Partial, now ... There is only one other thing I can think of to do. There's only onemiango to this building. Set up the rifle and blast the first being to enter it. As long as he has no certain idea of how we are equipped for supplies and guns he might be impatient enough to d.i.c.ker with us. Unfortunately we don't have much, even with what we could move in here from the shuttle,Mibu , ail he has to do is burn the shuttle and take a leisurely safari back to Nineveh with co-ordinates for the Registry!'

'Why doesn't he do that anyway?' asked Flinx.

'Not his a.s.signment,kijana , or he wouldn't even have bothered to call us. Simply disabled theGlory and been on his way. Obviously he needs to find out everything he can about the Krang.' He gestured at the two scientists. 'Rasha knows about you two. I told her myself,chura that I am. She could hire experts of her own, but she knows your reputation. Rasha never neglects her homework. So I'm not worried for your lives. Only your reputations. I believe I can also manage something For myself. Too many people would ask awkward questions if I were to disappear suddenly ... even on a trip of exploration in an uns.p.a.ced area. And hecan't make that muchfedha ! Oh, he still couldn't afford to let any of us go free.

Most likely he's been ordered to keep us comfy someplace until Rasha's investment here is tied up sixways in four dimensions. That veiled hint at ”a.s.sa.s.sination” was probably his way of opening bids.'

'A suggestion. Captain,' said Truzenzuzex.

'Ndiyo?'

'a.s.suming all you've said to be true, why not simply accede quietly and give him what he wants?'

'What” Even Flinx was startled.

I a.s.sure you that the Krang will remain useless to both him and his employer. I was pessimistic when I said I would require three weeks to evaluate the machine's potential usefulness. We could learn much about the Tar-Aiym from it, of that I've no doubt. I think that I can also say with a great deal of cert.i.tude right now that it will otherwise never be more than an outstanding curiosity for archaeologists and touristas .'

'Lakini, but... you got it working! Part of it, anyhow.'

'What I did was no more than polis.h.i.+ng the drive coils of a Caplis generator. I succeeded in warming it up, perhaps, and appearing functional, but I doubt that I could ever, ever bring it to even partial operation. And we still have no more idea of what it's supposed to do than we did before. No being could go further, I think ... no matter who your Madame Nuaman engages.'

Lf you're positive- ' began Malaika.

Truzenzuzex looked questioningly at Tse-Mallory and both turned back to the merchant. 'Nothing is positive, Captain, but I will not bandy Church maxims with you. Without hesitation, I concur with my brother's evaluation.'

'Mbwa ulimwengu! Very well, then. We will forgo destruction in favour of more subtle manoeuvres.'

He activated the comm for a wide broadcast channel. Now that he was on familiar ground once more, his voice had the old ring back. 'Nikosos!' There was a hiss, sput, pause, and then the mousey voice had returned. 'No need to shout, Captain. You have thoughts?'

'Look, agent. I will give you the opportunity to gain what you wish and perhaps save a few lives in the process, I have a fully operational six millimetre luser rifle here, and plenty of charges, but I don't see anything worth fighting over. I wish you luck in making it perform if you can, which I doubt. The whole city is yours. I wish only to leave thismukia as rapidly as possible. You may have our notes, if you wish.

Everything we've found out about, the Krang itself ... which amounts to very little. But I've a boy and two women here, and I want them out of this.'

'How touching' I did not expect such admirable altruism from you. Captain. Yes, despite my orders I think a financial agreement satisfactory to all concerned can be arranged. Blood tends to upset my liver, anyway. Although I'm sure you'll understand when I say that you and your companions must remain as my guests for a short while, A minimal amount of time, really, but very necessary.'