Secrets in the Stars (Family Law)

by Mackey Chandler

  "Thank you. We have every confidence in you," Gordon assured him. "You handled our claims before just fine and we've had no challenges or problems. And I can recommend you to our new allies." John wisely took that for a goodbye.

  Thor was standing behind them as they finished their call, scowling. "You know, maybe we're dumping too much on the market. We might be driving the prices down we'll get offered on these claims. Just like there are only so many claims lawyers, there are probably only so many developers waiting to bid on mining rights and development."

  Gordon thought on it a bit, going back to the cleared breakfast table where there was still coffee available to top off his mug.

  "There's no help for it," Gordon finally decided. "The way the system is set up you have five years to file. You can't stockpile claims and dole them out a bit at a time. Perhaps if they'd pictured such a huge set of claims as this coming in all at once they'd have made provisions for something like that at the start. But until now everyone has been eager for every new claim to be put on the market immediately.

  "I think it will affect our immediate returns more than the long range prospects. Over time it's going to be very good for the whole economy, and that's to our advantage. To most of the crew who own a share there is very little difference between having a hundred million dollars Ceres or a couple billion the first year. It's still more than almost any of them can spend. The few that want something like a starship or vast tracts of land will just have to wait. We didn't promise any specific payout after all."

  There was a chime and they all looked at the com board, but nothing lit up. It took a moment to realize it was the door signaling they had a visitor.

  Gordon, cautious from previous visits and the way the Commission had just treated them made sure who was there before opening the door. They after all had not engaged a security force for their rooms.

  "Room, can you display who is at our entry or inquire of them what they wish?" Gordon asked.

  The com console showed a view of the outside corridor on its screen. "The audio channel for the door intercom is muted unless you hold the transmit button," the house computer told them.

  It was Gabriel at their door again, completely unexpected. Lee went over and held the appropriate key down. "Hello Gabriel, what can we do for you?" she asked.

  "Today isn't a work-day for me and I'm in town. I wondered if I might play the guide for you? Are any of you up for some touring or are you too busy with business?"

  Lee frowned. "You know, I hadn't thought about it before, but last time we were here there was a huge fuss in the press and the hotel was mobbed with a bunch of crazed reporters so we couldn't go out. How is it they are ignoring us this time?"

  If Gabriel was offended by standing in the corridor answering questions he didn't show it. Indeed he had the decency to look a bit ashamed, or was it amused?

  "When ships land at the field on invitation of the Sovereign there isn't any official announcement. That's one of the conditions of leasing the field. They might announce it now that your business with her is finished, but I imagine they are treating it with an abundance of caution. They seem to realize that any serious irritation is liable to close the field to them, and that would be awkward. One has no idea what other arrangements they could make."

  Lee looked a question at Gordon and he shrugged. "Room, unlock and admit our visitor," Lee said.

  "You could have called on com first and saved yourself a trip if we planned on holing up," Lee said.

  "I would have, if it were out of the way," Gabriel agreed. "It was three hundred steps from the lock, and half of them on my way in any case."

  "Is that how you gauge distances here?" Lee asked.

  "Very much so. In fact in the Republic, or even back at Central, if you inquire where a shop is located the answer is likely to be, back to the mall and four hundred and ten steps down corridor seven, before you pass the pressure curtain. Most folks don't call a cart until they need to go two thousand steps, or are in some sort of a hurry."

  "When I was here before with Lee's parents I noticed that in Europe everybody gave distances in kilometers," Gordon said. "But in North America they said – 'Oh that's a forty minute drive' – Now you have introduced me to a different custom."

  "And when you skate on moon-boots you figure it's about four steps to the slide," Gabriel said.

  "Should I get a pair of those?" Lee asked.

  "Have you ever used ice skates or roller skates?" Gabriel asked.

  "Never," Lee admitted.

  "Your choice, but if you have never used anything similar expect to fall down a few times. Newbies also tend to run into things, because stopping well is harder than building up speed. There are auto-dispensers all over the city that will cut you a pair if you'd like to try them."

  "Can they fit me?" Gordon asked, lifting a foot the size of a serving platter to show Gabriel.

  "Now that is a very interesting question," Gabriel said looking at the size of the foot, and the claws. “I'd love to see how the machine reacts if you stuff that foot in the fitting well."

  "We'll find out then," Gordon decided. "I thought it was kind of neat watching you glide along."

  The others passed on an expedition, just Lee and Gordon deciding a tour of Armstrong and lunch out was just the thing.

  * * *

  They chose a taxi over walking to get in the center of the city and down six levels. Lee wanted to see the museum where the Happy Lewis hung. The ship looked even smaller in person than on video. The old suits were interesting, as were some really old rovers they let you go inside.

  Lee found there was a huge collection of images from the early days of both Armstrong and Central. She hadn't seen those searching online. When they went back to their rooms she resolved to set her pad to download the whole collection overnight.

  Beside the exit there was a transparent cube on a pedestal. A small sign discretely said ‘For the support of the museum’. It had a slot on top. Lee had never seen anything like it. The bottom was filled with coins. Most were small and silvery. She didn't recognize them. They weren't Ceres Dollars.

  "Can they really collect enough that way to make a difference?" Lee wondered.

  "Probably not to keep the place open, but they take school kids through. It's good to teach them they have to support things like this if they want them to stay open. A lot of little kids carry bits," Gabriel said, motioning at the box. "Some parents don't approve of letting them use phone payments until they are ten or twelve. It's too abstract. I'm sure they take donations online."

  So, that's what a Home Bit looked like. Lee resolved she'd drop a donation on them later. It was only fair for all the images she was going to grab.

  Gabriel suggested having lunch fairly close, so no need to call a taxi back, and there was a footie dispenser across the small square outside the museum. So they could try the Loonie footgear.

  The vending machine cut a pair of slippers for Gordon without hesitation. Somebody had obviously anticipated Derf customers or the software would have returned an error message. The thin stretched material looked so dainty on Gordon's huge paws it was comical. But whoever set the machines up knew enough to have the inner-sole material doubled over along the front where his claws would have pierced a single thickness.

  Gordon assumed an interesting pose, middle arms clasped behind him, true hands held loosely at his sides. The expressions on the few Loonies they passed were priceless. Lee suspected he was hamming it up, doing a pump and glide... pump and glide... lifting his trailing foot high behind him. It failed to look dainty given his bulk. Lee was a little irritated he had better balance and form than she did.

  The cafe Gabriel took them too didn't look like much from the street. The front was open and a half dozen small tables occupied a small room with a bar along one wall. The bar was, however, wood, and Lee was starting to appreciate that meant money on the moon. The space behind it was like something from one of her period videos with tie
rs of fancy bottles in front of a huge mirror.

  The fellow that greeted them made a little bow to Gabriel acknowledging him by name, but made no move to take them to one of the small tables, instead he led them through a curtain of beaded strands into a short hallway. Lee stopped and ran the beads between her fingers, fascinated. The interior room was much bigger with a domed ceiling and table set in alcoves around the perimeter for privacy. The center of the room had three trees. One seemed bare, but the larger one had oranges and the smaller one lemons.

  The staff hurried to remove the seat on one of the booths to make room for Gordon and Lee and Gabriel took the cushioned seat on the other side. Lee was frankly staring at the trees.

  "Are those real or fake?" she demanded.

  The host, seating them, was amused. "Please, be my guest and pick one. You can eat the orange, or have a drink made from it if you prefer the lemon."

  Lee went over and looked at the oranges closely, felt the leaves and squeezed an orange gently with her fingertips. It was firm and orange, but not the vivid saturated color she expected. She went instead to the smaller tree and examined a lemon. It was more tapered in shape, about a hundred millimeters long, and had a little bump on the bottom end instead of under the stem like the orange. It was shinier and a little waxy too. When Lee pulled on it the whole branch dipped toward her and didn't let go of the fruit.

  The Maître D', having followed her, advised her, "Give it a little twist."

  "On which axis?" Lee wondered.

  The fellow couldn't hide his amusement. "Rotate it about the stem," he clarified.

  When it came off in her hand it was surprisingly heavy. Lee rubbed it and sniffed it.

  "Break the skin with your nails," he suggested.

  "Oh! So strong," Lee said surprised when she inhaled again.

  When they returned to the table the host summoned an attendant who brought a blender on a cart with ice loaded in it. He added sugar and the juice of the lemon, explaining what he was doing, shaving a little of the skin off with a special little tool. Then he surprised Lee by adding a dash of salt. The mix was blended briefly and the slurry presented to her in a small glass.

  Lee thought she'd down such a small serving it in a few gulps, but was surprised at the intensity of the flavor. It was much better than any lemonade mix they'd carried exploring. She ended up taking small sips, and offered it to Gordon but he declined to taste it.

  "We ordered our own while you were playing Farmer John," Gordon teased her.

  "Thank you. That was fun," Lee told the host.

  "Well if you get stuck on Earth again perhaps you can make your own way as a fruit picker," Gordon suggested. "It has to be pretty much the same, apples, lemons... whatever."

  "Ah, I hate to shatter your dreams, but most fruit on Earth is picked robotically now, " Gabriel informed them. "In fact the trees are trimmed flat, like a lollipop," he illustrated with his hands, "and spaced closer together to let the machines harvest more efficiently. We harvest more by hand here than Earth, because we do dual use, putting them in parks."

  "I'm going to get some trees like these," Lee vowed, "and put them on my island when I get around to building a house."

  The Maître D' looked delighted and fussed with something on the cart before the man took it away. "Here is a start on your grove, my lady."

  Lee looked at the napkin and the little pellets on it, uncomprehending.

  "Those are the seeds from your lemon," he explained.

  "Oh, they're, uh alive? I mean, I stick them in the ground?"

  "Indeed you do," Gabriel confirmed. "I'm sure you can find detailed instructions on the web."

  "Thank you," Lee said. She was really touched. The Maître D' just nodded, pleased, and went off.

  Lee folded the napkin up and sealed it in a pocket. Dinner was Middle Eastern and very good. Lee had never had several items and even Gordon admitted a few things were new to him. They must have fed Derf before, because they filled Gordon up.

  Chapter 29

  Gabriel delivered them back to the hotel safely and showed them how they could access the hotel, including their private elevator, from the lower levels. He took his leave there, and thanked them for their company. Lee was quiet going to their rooms.

  "A Home Bit for your thoughts?" Gordon inquired.

  "Instead of a penny? Is that what a Bit is like, a penny?" Lee wondered. "I see pennies mentioned in a lot of old books, but I don't think I've ever seen one."

  "I was just being cute, because the saying has stuck in the language for so long. Most early pennies were copper, not silver, so the Home Bits are really more like a dime. But they're all about the same size. I'll get you one of each while we're here," Gordon promised. "It's educational."

  "I'd like that. I guess my thought is a question," Lee admitted. "Why did Gabriel just take us on a tour of Armstrong? Do you think he really decided to do that on his personal time? Or do you think April sent him?" Lee asked.

  "Ah, I love a bargain. I get three questions for my one Bit," Gordon said.

  "Well, they're pretty closely related," Lee said.

  "Very well, I'll be equally generous with my answers," Gordon said. "Yes I think he came of his own initiative, on his own time. I think he's interested in you."

  Lee looked shocked. "He's much too old for me!" Lee protested.

  "How very interesting that you seem to have some specific standards in mind," Gordon said. "How young would a suitable Human male be for you to feel comfortable dating or receiving him as a suitor?"

  "Closer to my own age I'd think!" Lee said, alarmed. "I'm not sure I'm ready to date anyone. I'm still trying to figure all this social stuff out. Some days I think the whole species is stark raving mad and despair I'm human. Anyway, isn't it looked down on in Human society to have an interest in a minor?"

  "Yes, it is," Gordon agreed. "Does that mean you still self identify as a minor? Or just in this particular instance, not while doing business or exploring the Beyond?"

  "I'm not at all confident how to handle such attention. So yes, I wouldn't go off on a date with Gabriel, any more than I'd take the comm on the High Hopes and start ordering the fleet around." Lee readily admitted.

  "Hmm, interesting," Gordon said.

  "I am not an 'interesting' specimen of an alien species," Lee said, irritated with him. "You're supposed to be giving your me advice and encouragement. I believe one of your objectives was to socialize me to Human society?" Lee reminded him.

  "Oh, it's advice you want? Well, I honestly think you have no idea how different you are. I can count the number of teenage girls who own starships and discover planets on one hand," Gordon said, raising a single digit and wiggling it. "With plenty of spares," he added, wiggling the single finger again if she didn't get it. "So if he regards you as adult I have to give him points rather than fault him. You do come to him wearing weapons and conducting your own business affairs.

  "I'd guess Gabriel is impressed with what you've accomplished. He seems to worship the ground his Lady walks on, and I'll bet you are the closest thing to her he's seen in a long time. Maybe ever. Remember he even addressed you the same, quite naturally. I found that more telling than you seem to.

  "I do know he's attracted to you. His eyes dilate and he smells different on meeting you, but I thought he was remarkably gentlemanly about not being too obvious. Unless you're an observant predator with keen senses like me."

  "I really don't want to hear that," Lee said, uncomfortable.

  "It's a necessary part of my advice," Gordon insisted. "I'm also guessing that when you live to a hundred and thirty three, and by all appearances still look forward to a great deal more life, it alters your view. The fact you may need to mature a little, both physically and socially isn't all that big a deal, because the time he'd invest waiting is no big deal. He has lots of time. Indeed, I imagine he'd regard waiting a decade for you to be able to return his interest, with the same patience I can have for something happen
ing the day after tomorrow.

  "In all honesty, I think you'd be bored to tears with a sixteen year old boy. You have no idea what teenagers talk about," Gordon said. "And you'd terrify a boy your own age with your interests and experiences. He wouldn't know how to respond at all. You simply don't have peers of your own age.

  "These people must have very little regard for how old their friends and business associates are. What would it matter after a certain point? You don't even have the physical signs of age to mislead you about how wise or experience somebody should be," Gordon decided. "They have to have a completely different set of social standards and responses than short-lived Humans. I have to imagine how you act means more than your actual age."

  "We're rich, and we know about life extension now," Lee said. "I guess we'll have the same advantage soon. Even if they don't have it all worked out for Derf yet, you're just middle aged. They should have it figured out before you're much older."

  "Yeah, it feels weird. I was getting used to the idea of – OK, I've used up about half my life. Now I have to learn to think a completely different way," Gordon admitted. "This is going to terrify the Mothers as much as the Earth politicians. This will destabilize the clan system. I'm not sure I want to be the one to tell them."

  "So, you don't think somebody as old as Gabriel is going to automatically think I'm naive beyond being anything but a source of humor?" Lee asked, backtracking a bit.

  "I think he looks at you and knows that in an instant, to him, you will be old enough for him. If he likes what he sees in you now it's a safe bet you'll be even more interesting in just a few more years. Why not make sure you'll remember him and establish a relationship now? In a hundred years he'll be two hundred and thirty three, and you'll be a hundred and sixteen. And what will it matter then?" Gordon asked. "The longer you live the smaller the difference matters. If they get this life extension tech to work well enough, the differences will tend to become insignificant in time."

  "OK, I'm not sure I can understand how that feels yet," Lee said, "but I understand it in the abstract. So there's no rush for me to feel comfortable or not, with him, is there?"