Feeling much better I showered. When I went to shave I realised my toiletries were still at the Stadium, as were my clothes. I shoved on a shirt and pair of jeans. Now for some breakfast. Ah, that might be a problem. I went to the kitchen and studied the oven thingy and tried to remember what buttons Hermes and Flerrionna had pushed. Nothing came to mind. My musings were interrupted by a knock at the door. A delivery being handed me a small box then shoved a communicator into my hand. I gave him a puzzled look. We remained like that for several moments.
“It’s very interesting but what am I supposed to do with it? And what’s in the box?”
“No idea, squire,” he said with that impatient patience perfected by delivery men the galaxy over. “You stick your card in here and press this. That says I’ve delivered your parcel and you’ve taken receipt of it. Simple really.”
“Right. I’ll get my card.”
I ‘signed’ his form after confirming the right thing to press. He turned to go then swung back.
“’Ere, aren’t you that bloke what was on the trivee last night? The barbarian wot’s won the Lottery?”
I winced at the word ‘barbarian’ but I agreed I was the Lottery Winner.
“Thought so. Look, you couldn’t do me a favour, could you, and give me your autograph. The beings back at the depot’ll never believe I made a delivery to the Lottery Winner.”
Such is the price of fame.
“No problem. I’ve got nothing to write on or with, though. I came straight from the Stadium last night and all my stuff’s still there.”
“Oh, right.”
He fished in his overalls and dug out a scruffy piece of paper and a writing implement.
“Want a message?”
“Message?”
“Like ‘to whatever-your-name-is, may the gods favour you’?”
“Nah. Don’t hold much with that religious stuff. Not a Capellan, me. Just write ‘to Chrostico from the Lottery Winner’ and sign it. That’d do.”
“Fair enough.”
I wrote what he asked and handed the paper and pen back to him. He squinted at the paper.
“Wot’s this?”
“It says ‘to Chrostico from the Lottery Winner’, and my name, Crawford MacAdam.”
“It’s not Capellan.”
“No, it’s English. My native language. I don’t know Capellan.”
“Oh.” He looked disappointed. “Thanks anyway.” He turned away.
“Hey,” I called after him. “Tell your mates that that’s the only known example of the barbarian English language anywhere in the Galaxy. Could be worth a bob or two.”
He brightened up. “You’re right. Thanks, mate.”
He went away whistling tunelessly. I felt depressed. I examined the box. It was plain and brown and had squiggles on it. I assumed these told me what was inside. I opened it. Inside was a communicator. I turned it on. ‘Welcome to the HGX20-C130DD. Please refer to the manual for set-up instructions’. I gave a whoop of joy. It was in English. Feverishly, I dug out the manual. It was in Capellan. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. My stomach rumbled. Then I had an idea. I stood in the middle of the floor and held up the communicator and the manual.
“I know this room is under surveillance,” I said loudly. “So if anybody’s listening, I have a problem. Someone’s sent me this lovely communicator. It works in English. Unfortunately this manual doesn’t. Also I’m hungry. If it’s not too much of a problem, could I have some assistance, please?”
It was probably my imagination but I could swear I heard a snicker.
Flerrionna appeared about five minutes later. She was smiling broadly.
“You gave the beings in Security kittens,” she said. “Very ingenious.”
“Desperate, you mean. Is it permissible to kiss you?”
“It’s hardly a secret so, yes.”
She flowed into my arms and we spent some time telling each other silently how much we loved each other.
“What comes first, food or the communicator?” she said when we parted.
“That’s after I’ve taken you to bed and made passionate love to you, I take it?”
“Get away.”
“Food. The communicator will wait, my stomach won’t.”
She snapped her fingers. “Guys,” she said to the room at large. “If Sir MacAdam’s communicator’s got English on it, it should be available on general download. Can you find Sir Pious God-is-all and ask him to check, please? There, that should help,” she added in a more normal tone. “Shall we go?”
We had lunch; a late lunch. I knew she was dying to find out what happened yesterday but held her curiosity in check. When we got back, Honesty-in-Trust was lounging against the doorpost. He looked more than a little haggard.
“Bout time you guys got here,” he said.
“You could have paged us,” Flerrionna said with a laugh.
He shook his head and winced. “Too much bother.”
“Good party, then?” I said with a grin.
“You better believe it,” he replied grinning widely. “These media types certainly know how to have a good time.”
In my absence, my things had been delivered from the Stadium.
“Right, I know Flerrionna is dying to know what happened yesterday but, if you don’t mind, dear, we’ll save it for later. It’s only fair Hermes should be included. Besides, we need a council of war.”
Honesty-in-Trust nodded.
“Council of war?” Flerrionna said, looking worried.
“A figure of speech. With all due respect, I’d rather we didn’t meet here.”
“I’ll contact Hermes,” Honesty-in-Trust said.
“No need,” I said with a grin. I showed him the communicator. “I got a present. It’s in English, too. The only slight snag is that the manual isn’t.”
He examined it thoughtfully. “Where did it come from?”
“I’ve no idea. It was delivered.”
He spotted the packing and raked through it.
“No return address. No indication of where it came from.”
“I suspect it came from the Commission. I made a sarky comment about it at one point, remember?”
“Yes. Well, let’s get it set up. I’d advise you to keep your contacts general until I can get it checked by a friend of mine.”
“You have a nasty suspicious mind,” I said.
“It’s catching,” he grunted. “Where’s the manual?”
With his and Flerrionna’s assistance, I got the device set up. When we were finished, he extracted a little sliver, inserted it into his communicator for a moment then passed it to Flerrionna who did the same and reinserted it into mine.
“Right, now you’ve got some useful contacts.” I looked blank. “Flerrionna and I have loaded some contacts onto your device. So, for example, say you wanted a plumber, all you’d do is enter ‘plumber’ and if Flerrionna and I knew of a good one, their ID would come up.”
“I get it. Good idea. What about you?”
“I’ve coded us. You can change them later but, for now, I’m ‘legal’, she’s ‘lover’ and Hermes is ‘pilot’.”
Flerrionna looked outraged but blushed deeply as Honesty-in-Truth winked at her.
“Great. I’ll try Hermes.”
I entered ‘pilot’ and, a short while later, Hermes answered.
“It went well, then,” he said.
“Didn’t you watch it on trivee?”
“My boy, I’ve seen far too many of these things to be interested in yet another one.” He laughed. “Yes, I did watch it. You were excellent.”
“Thank you. Are you free for dinner? I’m sure you want to know about all the exciting things that happened and the people I met and we need to discuss arrangements about the ship, if you’re going to be the pilot. It’ll just be the four of us. Can I ask you to set something up? Oh, and Honesty-in-Trust’s paying.”
“Who said that?” Honesty-in-Trust protested.
“I
n that case it had better be a greasy spoon,” Hermes said with a laugh.
“With the money I’m paying him in fees, it’d better be a good deal better than that.”
“I’ll call you back.”
Flerrionna was looking amused and Honesty-in-Trust outraged when I rang off.
“Well, I can’t pay,” I said, affecting an innocent expression. I made a show of having empty pockets. “I haven’t any money. Besides, you’ll only add it to my bill as a ‘client consultation’ or something.”
“I’m cut to the quick,” Honesty-in-Trust said in a hurt tone which he spoiled by bursting into laughter. “Just won the Lottery and he’s got no money. Poor little rich boy.”
Flerrionna made some coffee and we sat about, talking about the show. Flerrionna said it had actually been very good, better than the last one, and I was wonderful. I took this with a slight pinch of salt. She was biased after all. Honesty-in-Trust talked about the famous media stars he’d met and I mentioned insulting the director.
“You didn’t,” Flerrionna said in a tone of outrage.
“He did,” Honesty-in-Trust said. “Called him a talentless egotist.”
“Was he very upset?”
“I thought he was going to cry,” I said. “I apologised and we made up. That’s why I mentioned him in my speech. I’ve no idea whether it was a good show or not.”
“You didn’t see it?”
“Not a bit. I spent the time locked in with the Chairman of the Lottery. I think they were afraid we’d run away or something.”
“The door wasn't locked.” Honesty-in-Trust said.
“In know, but why spoil a good story.”
“It was really very good. I’ve recorded it if you want to see it,” Flerrionna offered.
I put on a pained expression. “No thanks. I’m just a primitive barbarian. I don’t understand Galactic culture.”
“If I didn’t know you better I’d say you were being sarcastic.”
Hermes called on my new communicator and said he’d pick us up at the hotel. Honesty-in-Trust left and Flerrionna and I retired to the bedroom and made long slow love.
“I don’t know why I care so much about you, but I do,” she said as we rested in blissful lethargy.
“Could being a billionaire have something to do with it?” I said slyly.
“That was unworthy of you,” she said without heat.
“It was and I apologise. I was only teasing. I don’t know why you care so much about me either but I’m very glad you do.”
“I could ask the question the other way round. Why do you want me when you could have any woman you wanted?”
“Hmm. Other than the fact you’re beautiful, intelligent, successful and sexy as hell, you mean? I don’t know.” I leaned up on one elbow and looked down at her long hair spread out over the pillow in soft waves and the expressive eyes with their deep gold colour. “Actually I do. If there’s one thing I’m absolutely sure of it’s that you want me for myself and not for what I am. Oh, I know it didn’t start out like that but I’ve been forced to do a lot of serious thinking and I know I trust you completely.”
Her eyes were hypnotic. Her irises flared. Her hand came up and stroked my cheek.
“I know why I want you,” she said in a voice husky with lust. “It’s because I’ve never known a man who was so completely honest before. You can almost make me climax just by talking to me.”
She pulled me down onto her and, although we’d just made love, we managed it again; hot and raw and passionate this time. Eventually we rose. She went to get ready and I went to feed the cats. They seemed fine though I felt guilty for dragging them away from their natural environment and even guiltier that it would be at least a month before I could take them back. I wished I could let them out to roam but the Capellan sun would kill them as surely as it would me. I spent so long playing with them and petting them that Flerrionna had to come and remind me it was time to go.
Hermes was waiting in a taxi. It was getting dark, the city being closer to the equator and the days shorter than I was accustomed to. On the streets, the night people were just beginning to emerge. Under the glowing streetlights, the city looked more alien than it did during the day and I was again reminded me that I was a long way from home.
The restaurant was in the suburbs, near the spaceport. From the outside it didn’t look much but the interior was… interesting. At the front was a bar and an image of the bar in ‘Star Wars’ sprang to mind. I almost expected to see Han Solo, or was it Indiana Jones, lounging against the counter. Behind the bar was the restaurant. It had private booths round the perimeter and open tables in the centre. A very large being with jet black skin and pale yellow hair which he grew long and tied in a pony-tail stepped forward.
“’lo, Hermes,” he said in a voice to match his size. “Haven’t seen you in a while. Still pimping for the Commission?”
“I still do occasional work for them,” Hermes said cautiously, wagging his head in my direction.
The being looked at me but showed no signs of recognition. Perhaps he was the only being on Geretimal that hadn’t watched the Lottery show.
“You should leave that bunch of shysters and get a real job. Anyway, it’s good to see you. Mericon,” he bellowed, “come see who’s just crawled out of the bushes.”
A small roly-poly woman emerged from the back. She had the same colouring as the large man but, other than that, could have belonged to a different species.
“What’s up, Hiconitus? Why are you scaring the customers again?” She caught sight of Hermes, squealed and pulled him into a hug. “Hermes. Why didn’t you tell me you were back in town? Where have you hiding yourself?”
“I’ve been busy, Mericon. In case you hadn’t noticed, there’s been a Lottery draw.” He hugged the round woman back with genuine warmth. “You’re looking fine. How are you doing? How is business?”
“I’m doing just fine and business would be good if this good-for-nothing husband of mine would stop scaring the customers away. Come away. Hiconi, get these good folk a booth.”
We were shown to a booth near the back which offered a good degree of privacy. The woman and Hermes were chatting away. They were clearly old and valued friends. The problems started as soon as we tried to order. I still didn’t know my MBCI so I was forced to ask for water to drink. Food was an even bigger issue. It appeared that my bio-chemical and/or genetic details had been specially programmed into Hermes’ ship, the hotel and the stadium. The restaurant network didn’t recognise my card.
“Sir Crawdam is from a system on the fringes of the galaxy,” Honesty-in-Trust said smoothly. “His people rarely travel to the centre.”
“We’re compatible,” Flerrionna said, stepping in. “He can eat what I do.”
At Hermes’ recommendation, we chose from the specials. I had no idea what grilled smutch was but Flerrionna assured me I would like it.
“Sorry for being cagey, Hermes, but Honesty-in-Trust warned me I should be cautious until he had my new communicator checked out,” I started as we waited for our food. “It was a present from an unknown admirer,” I explained. “Anyway, there’s a number of things bothering me and I wanted to talk to you all in private.”
“I got the general idea,” Hermes said with a wry grin. “That’s why I chose this place.”
“And it had nothing to do that you’re good friends with the owners,” Honesty-in-Trust said.
Hermes didn’t even blink. “Of course it did. Crawford wanted somewhere we would not be disturbed, or so I surmised, so I naturally chose a place where I knew I could trust the owners. The fact that the food is excellent is incidental.”
“Oh,” Honesty-in-Trust said, deflated.
“Hermes is right and I’m grateful,” I said. “I’ve got four topics. Feel free to add any of your own. Mine are; the breeding programme, money, the spaceship and the future.”
“The future?” Flerrionna said.
“Perhaps you should outli
ne what your concerns are with each of these and we’ll take it from there,” Honesty-in-Trust said.
“First I want to hear all about the show,” Flerrionna said.
Hermes nodded. “I gather everything went according to plan?”
“Eventually,” I said and gave them the bare details.
Honesty-in-Trust wasn't satisfied with that and gave them the unexpurgated version. Hermes only response was to nod as if he’d expected nothing less but Flerrionna was appalled.
“They really tried to cheat you again? That’s monstrous.”
“Not really,” I said, tiredly. “It’s what I expected. The sad thing is that the Chairman still won’t accept it’s his responsibility.”
“That does not surprise me,” Hermes said. “He was given the position more on his public appearance than his abilities.”
“Well, we won. That’s what counts,” Honesty-in-Trust said.
“We won the battle but there’s still a war on,” I said. “That’s why I think we need to make some plans.”
“Fire away.”
“Okay. The breeding programme; what does it involve and how long does it last? Money; I know nothing about money in your world. What’s the set-up? How do I get it? What should I do with it? The spaceship; a bit like the money, I suppose. The future; what’s going to happen when all this is over? I mean what are we going to do? What would you like to do?”
“That’s succinct,” Hermes said. “I can answer the breeding question.” No-one objected. “There are twenty three girls. You will see one a day for six days then have a day off. That’s when they conduct their tests. You repeat that until you are done.”
“You mean he spends a day with each girl?” Honesty-in-Trust asked.
“Oh, no. Just an evening. The day is filled with other things; publicity for Zofi-Brennan for a start.”
“An evening? How am I going to organise suitable entertainment for six young ladies a week?” I wailed.
“You don’t have to do anything. They come to your room.”
I Won A Spaceship Page 18