by Ward Wagher
Franklin jumped to his feet and walked around the desk. “Thanks for coming over, Joe. I’m sure Modest will come with a good plan for advertising. He has proven himself good at it.”
“I hope so,” Wilson grunted. “We don’t have many more chances to pull this off.”
After Wilson left, Franklin settled back into his chair to review the accounts.
“I see Goldsmith the jeweler brought in another bag of gold.”
“Yes, Margrave,” Blakely said. “He also had a couple of stones included. He said they were bigger than he could use, and thought they might bring some cash.”
“What were they?”
“Sapphires, Goldsmith told me. I wouldn’t know.”
“You have the stuff in the strong room?”
“Yes, Margrave. Considering the risk of another raid, I thought they would be just as safe here as in Cambridge.”
“I can’t argue with that sentiment,” Franklin said.
“You know, if we could figure out a way to mine that stuff without destroying the valley, there wouldn’t be any financial problems,” Marple said.
“True, Modest,” Franklin said. “Any ideas on how to do that?”
“No, but that’s a little out of my area.”
"Well, there's got to be some way of doing it without making a mess of things," Franklin said. "We just have to find somebody who knows how to do it. And, I think I know where to find that somebody."
"Where would that be, Margrave?" Blakely asked.
"Ask Major Boodles if he can come over and see me sometime today."
"Of course, Margrave."
chapter thirty-one
"I'm ready down here, Alex," Franklin said. "You can start spotting now."
Alex Nesmith was on the narrow walkway at the top of the castle wall, known as the allure. He turned to look out over the village and held a set of binoculars to his eyes. "I thought I saw him a minute ago but he has disappeared again."
Franklin leaned over the trebuchet to make some minor adjustments. He picked up his communicator and spoke to the guard captain at the top of the wall. "Keep your eyes open. If he gets an idea of what we’re doing he will get really sneaky."
"Don't I know it! We had water balloons dropping over the castle walls at odd times while you were gone. I have never been able to directly discover who has been lofting them, but you and I both know the prime suspect."
Franklin laughed. "That's only because you and I have nailed him good a couple of times..."
"Heads up, Franklin!" Alex interrupted. "I have a target." He watched carefully through the glass. "Get ready. Almost there. Fire!"
With a whoosh the balloon sailed over the top of the wall. Franklin busily reset the device and laid another balloon in the basket. Alex carefully watched the village square as their target walked across the opening.
"Okay the distance is good, but you were five yards to the right. Hold it, he's stopped."
In the village square, Harmon Eckert had stopped and turned around to look where the balloon had burst behind him. He scratched his head and then carefully looked around the square. After a few moments he resumed his progress.
"Okay, Franklin. Call it twenty-five yards to the left."
Franklin used a wooden mallet to tap the front of the trebuchet to the left slightly. "Ready."
"Ooookaaaay," Alex drawled out. "And… fire!"
With a thrum of cords the mechanism shot another balloon into the village. Alex again watched through the binoculars as Harmon made his way across the village square. At seemingly the last moment, Harmon reversed his course and walked back in the other direction. Once again the balloon burst behind him.
"He's playing games with us, Margrave. That was a clean miss."
"Let's hang it up for today, then," Franklin said. "I'll put a couple of marks in the pavement, so we will know where to set it up the next time. We've got it zeroed in for that spot, and we'll nail the sucker."
Alex made his way to the stairs and walked across the courtyard towards the keep. "We won't have too many more chances before Daphne gets back."
"Is that a problem?" Franklin said with a false quizzical look on his face.
"Ha! You may be able to get away with it, but I'm going to be married to the girl. I have a feeling my hands will be full even without doing things like this."
Franklin grinned. "It's not too late, Alex. Just write a note, and then I'll slip you off planet somewhere so she can't kill you."
"That's a sucker's bet, Margrave. She would find me anywhere."
"Don't say I never offered."
"I'll take that under advisement."
At that moment a balloon sailed over the top of the wall and smashed into the back of Alex's head, drenching both men.
"Sheesh! How does he do that?" Alex said.
"We better get inside before we freeze to death."
"You might want to have somebody bring the balloons inside. If we send a frozen one over the wall we might kill somebody."
"There's a thought."
# # #
"So what do you think, Martin?" Franklin asked.
Major Martin Boodles leaned back in his chair. "I don't know, Margrave. What will your father think?"
"He's going to think he has an incompetent for a son if I don't figure out a way to pay for that missile load-out."
"I thought you just told me you gave him a share of the margraviate in lieu of a loan."
"Yeah, but I structured the deal so I could pay the principal and remaining interest at any time and get clear of it."
"How did you manage that? I can't believe old man Steelmaker would let you write something like that into a contract. I have heard he prefers to get his hooks in and keep them there."
"That's what everyone keeps telling me," Franklin said. "The negotiating session was… interesting.”
"Well, don't look a gift horse, and all that. The only problem I see is how you are going to have time to run clear out to Addison's planet and talk to a mining company. Don't you have anybody you can send?"
Franklin grimaced and shook his head. "Not really. Louie could probably do it, but I need him on board ship in case things hit the fan. Same thing with Daphne. Marple doesn't have the experience, and Blakely scares me."
Boodles leaned back and stared at the ceiling. He finally looked at Franklin again. "Would you trust the Colonel?"
"Putin? Well, yes and no. I think he would find a good partner for us and negotiate a deal, and expect a healthy commission. I just hate telling more people about this.”
“He already knows.”
“Did Dad tell him?”
Boodles shook his head. “No, I told him. He has need to know.”
Franklin glared at Boodles. “Who else has need to know?”
“That’s it, Franklin. He’s all I told. The Colonel can keep his mouth shut.”
“Okay,” Franklin sighed. “Let me get a communiqué together for the next ship going out there. Thanks for your time, Martin.”
Boodles drew himself to his feet. “Not a problem, Franklin. By the way, I see you had some more artillery practice.”
Franklin snorted. “Yeah, we pitched two balloons to no effect, and Alex and I got nailed. The water was cold too!”
“Serves you right, you know.”
“Don’t you start, now, Martin. Already, I can't take the thing out if Daphne is around.”
“I should think you would know the rules by now, Franklin.”
“What’s that?”
“Never get into a fight you know you’re not going to win.”
“I haven’t given up yet.”
Boodles just smiled and nodded as he walked out of the Margrave’s office.
# # #
Six weeks later Franklin was again sitting in his office when his communicator chimed. He punched the accept button. "Speak!"
Daphne looked out of the screen at him. "Skipper, we have an incoming freighter."
"Not a pirate, th
en," he said.
"It's coming in from Harcourt's world," she said. "Your girlfriend is on board, along with her family."
"I'm on my way to Cambridge, then," he said.
"Any special instructions, Skipper?"
"I can't think of a thing, Daphne."
"Okay, then. Canopus clear."
She was speaking to a blank wall as Franklin had already left the room.
Franklin used the short trip in the air car to catch up on several items of business. He checked with the mayor of Cambridge to make sure the Foxworth home was cleaned and prepared to receive its occupants. He checked on the arrival time for the shuttles from the freighter.
Since he was a half hour early he swung the air car over the city center and studied the central square. Since his confrontation with the mayor, the inhabitants of Cambridge had moved with alacrity.
The ducal castle had been gutted by the fire, but the stone exterior shell showed the signs of work. It shone with a fresh coat of fused pigment as did many of the buildings around the square. The debris had been cleared away from the buildings which had burned to the ground. Even though many of the remaining buildings were merely facades, the town square almost was back to a normal appearance.
It looked as though most of the trash had been picked up and the open plaza organized. Several groups around the square appeared to be hanging lights and ornaments on the trees. He saw one individual teetering on the top of a stepladder attempting to place a star on the top of a tree.
"Maybe we'll get some business here for Christmas after all," he commented to himself. With that thought he opened his hand comm and dialed a number.
"Marple," came the response at the other end when the innkeeper answered.
"Modest, is it too late to get any ads out for Christmas in Montora?"
"Margrave, I thought we decided it would be a waste of time this year."
"Well the Cantabrigians are putting up decorations, and they’ve got the place pretty well cleaned up. Since they stepped up to the plate, I would surely like to generate some business."
"Okay. Let me dump the ads to that freighter before she leaves orbit. I'll get back to you."
"Right. Thanks, Modest."
Franklin was now whistling to himself as he directed the air car to the spaceport. His world had taken a turn for the better. His girlfriend was back. The Prime Minister and his wife were back, having survived a horrible experience. It looked like the tourist trade would be getting back in business.
What could possibly go wrong? he asked himself.
It looked as if most of the local grandees were waiting at the shuttle port for the arrival of the Prime Minister. Franklin set the air car down on the pad next to Justin Voss's hangar. He got out of the car and looked at the gathering crowd and thought for a moment. He spun on his heel and walked into the building. Voss had been sitting at his desk, and jumped up when Franklin entered the office.
"Justin, the Prime Minister and his family are coming in. After their experiences, Monica is not too tightly wrapped, if you catch my meaning. She may come unglued when she steps off the shuttle and sees all of these people. Have you got a car I can borrow?"
Voss walked over to a rack behind the counter and pulled a key card off the rack. He tossed it to Franklin. The black Dancer parked two spaces over. I just got it in from Caledon. It's the nicest car I've got."
"Thanks, Justin. Okay to settle up when I get back?"
"Sure thing, Margrave. Let me know if I can help with anything else. I'm just glad to have the Prime Minister back. The Mayor is an idiot."
"I could have told you that,” Franklin said as he slipped out the door.
The shuttle was easing in to the landing circle as Franklin backed the car out of the space. He drove across the apron and skirted the edge of the crowd. He eased to a stop and looked across to the shuttle as the hatch opened and the landing steps powered down.
The restless crowd quieted down in anticipation. A crewmember stepped down the ladder, and moved around to the hatch for the cargo hold. Then Glenn Foxworth slowly moved to the opening. He looked haggard and his hair had turned white. He had his arm around Monica, who was holding herself as close to him as she could. Behind them Franklin could see Signe apparently supporting her parents.
The crowd began applauding and cheering when they saw the Foxworths in the doorway. Glenn looked surprised. Monica's mouth opened in an oh. At the distance Franklin could see the emotion start chasing across her face. Franklin put the car in gear and gunned it across the apron where he stopped in front of the shuttle with a squeal of tires.
He jumped out of the ground car and trotted around the other side where he opened the two side doors. "Sir and Madame, your chariot awaits." He bowed with a flourish.
Glenn rolled his eyes while Monica focused on the car. They stepped down the stairs with Signe holding them. Hanging on to Signe's other arm was the little girl they had rescued.
I had forgotten about her, Franklin thought.
They quickly crossed the short distance, and climbed into the car. Glenn and Monica slipped into the back seat; Signe hopped in the front with the little girl in the center. Franklin closed both doors and trotted around to the driver’s side. The crowd went quiet as he jumped in.
Franklin put the car in gear and pulled away smoothly. Thankfully the gate to the shuttle port was open and he merged into the traffic heading towards the town.
Franklin looked down at the little blond girl. “Hi, my name is Franklin. What's yours?”
She slowly turned her head to study him carefully. Then she turned to face ahead and said nothing. He looked at Signe.
Signe mouthed the word later to him. He nodded.
"I appreciate you being on the ball, Franklin," Glenn said. “I don't think we could have handled the crowd today.”
"Hey, it's the least I could do. I figured you would want to get home and rest after the trip."
"You got that right," Foxworth said. "Carlo found out what happened and made sure we had the best transportation possible. It was a luxury suite, but we were still on a freighter."
"Good for Carlo. Nothing but the best for his Prime Minister and family."
"Come on, Franklin. He's not that bad."
"You won't mind if I reserve judgment on that."
Signe reached across the seat and grasped Franklin's hand. "Thank you for rescuing us."
"My pleasure, lady. I just want things to get back to normal."
"That's going to take a while, I fear," Glenn said.
Franklin glanced in the rearview mirror at the Prime Minister and his wife. Glenn was watching Monica carefully. She sat staring straight ahead. It was the thousand yard stare.
chapter thirty-two
Franklin pulled the car to the curb in front of the Prime Minister's residence. He climbed out and bounded around to the other side as Signe was opening the door. He helped her out and then opened the back door for Glenn and Monica. Signe eased the little girl out after she got out.
"Thank you so much for bringing us home," Glenn said. "I know I should have stayed around to speak with the people, but I’m really not in any shape for it right now."
Foxworth got out of the car, then helped his wife out. Signe and Glenn moved up the walk supporting Monica between them as Franklin moved ahead to the door. As they walked up the steps the door was opened by Louie, who had apparently been waiting for their arrival.
Monica squealed and trotted up to throw her arms around Louie. "Louie, I am so glad to see you! You have no idea what a rough time we had."
"To be glad to see you, I am glad, I think," Louie said through his vocoder. "The Woogie cannot deal with pirates today. Will take care of my friends, then.”
"I understand you had a lot to do with the rescue," Glenn said to Louie. "I have not had an opportunity to thank you, but I certainly do now."
"To thanks not necessary. You are open for business, no?"
Foxworth looked at the Woogie caref
ully. "Er, you mean I'm more or less functional?"
"Precisionly. Absol-darn-lutely. That too.”
Foxworth looked over at Franklin. "Have you been teaching him your slang again?"
Franklin laughed. "From what I have seen, Louie has needed no one's help in picking up the vernacular. He not only is a great chief engineer, but he kept everybody entertained during the voyage."
"Just did job," Louie said.
At that moment a tiny Oriental lady appeared in the hallway. Monica squealed again and trotted over to hug her. "Oh, Mrs. Saint Simons, I am so happy to be home again."
Mrs. Saint Simons looked down at the little blond girl. “Oh, you poor dear. Do you want to come with me too?”
The little girl looked at her and then at Signe. She then let go of Signe's hand and ghosted over to Mrs. Saint Simons.”
The housekeeper immediately escorted Monica and the little girl away, while making clucking noises.
“That's a surprise,” Signe said. “She stayed glued to me the whole trip.”
“Mrs. Saint Simons raised ten kids,” Foxworth said. “I've seen kids who were complete strangers walk up to her.”
“That's good, I guess,” Franklin said.
The conversation trailed off. Foxworth looked at Franklin and then Signe. He swept his gaze around the room, then turned to walk into the den where he kept his home office. He stopped in the middle of the room and gazed about briefly, then marched resolutely to the corner where the liquor cabinet sat.
Signe ran into the room. "Daddy, no! Remember what the doctor said."
"I was just checking to make sure everything was still here."
"Well it won't be here for long. Franklin, can you help me with this? The doctor said no booze while he was on medication."
"Don't worry, Precious, I'll stay away from it."
"That's fine, Daddy. Then you won't mind if we remove it from the premises. Franklin!"
Franklin was a bit hesitant, but then moved in response to Signe's command. "What do you want me to do with it?"
"Can you put it in the car and get it out of here? Better yet, just pour it out in the sink."
"You can't do that!" Glenn said. "There has got to be fifteen hundred or two thousand Centaurans worth of liquor in that cabinet."