"No. I read the manuals and took them out of the bag and left them in my room. Perhaps I should not bring my family back to DC?"
"Have them book passage to London. A long lost relative will leave you a small estate. Have your wife take along whoever is important to the both of you. Is a week enough time to get the party to a New York dock?"
"Two weeks would be less conspicuous, I think."
"Two weeks it is. You will be given details. We have our own sailing ships. I did not intend to dump this much strange reality on you, or any of you." I said looking around the table at four uncertain faces. "But it came about. So if you're ready to go General, collect your bag, and after the question and answer session, we'll put you down."
"One thing first, Suzy and I discussed the idea of me needing an agent on hand to do odd tasks. We decided Aeolin should accompany me."
There was nothing but business concerns in the three of them, so I said, "In that case I need to give you a bag also, Aeolin. It's how assassins work in our time. I'll go get that now. You'll have to burn the instruction manuals and scatter the ashes wide."
I went to a storage locker down the hall and got out a carpet bag and a slim beautifully crafted leather case about two feet long. It opened to reveal a stenographer's work table, ink, and paper, time proper. The Right Angle Space beneath the tray held a gun that fired a negatively charged flechette which crumbled to dust after impact. It caused heart attacks, might as well do her right. She might have a target she couldn't get close to. Back at the dining room I covered Aeolin and the Generals questions. Then we did hugs and kisses all around. I shook hands with both of them, and when that didn't seem quite enough, gave them both hearty hugs. I didn't know what kind of story they had concocted to cover him going for a walk in the orchard and coming back with a Chinese lady. Maybe he had an understanding housekeeper, or maybe he just didn't care anymore.
All questions answered for the moment, the two of them stood in the corner with their luggage, and they were gone. We watched them on the ground. They waved, and gathered their bags and were walking toward the house as we lifted away.
Suzy, (whom I told to sit in the right chair,) said, "I gave her letters of introduction as a translator. The General often corresponds with his counterparts in the Chinese Government about the human smuggling."
I said, "That would pass muster with me. Good of you to part with your assistant."
"It seems I have become an assistant to you. It was only proper, and she was ready for more important things than are in Sante Fe."
"Speaking of Sante Fe. We should at least go back there and confer with Pierre and Rafe before we go to ARK IV. Now tell me how we can make the highest waves in China."
To Tritchka who was sitting in the NAV seat I said, "You will get your turn to tell me how we are going to stop the white men from killing all of your people. Sante Fe here we come."
We landed across the river from Pierre's ranch. Tritchka and Suzy went to talk to him. Rafe was on ARK IV seeing to Klinster and Niken. Niken was going to be unhappy that his new chariot was gone, but another one was on order and would be here in a week. Klinster and Niken would take that much time to factor in Rachel's father and his contacts anyway. I was laying in bed thinking about Suzy's recommendations about the Chinese situation. I was in favor of sending the whole ruling class down-time. Suzy convinced me that it would be more effective to just take over the government by sending the rulers away one at a time until we got to someone who would play our game, our way. That was to be done when I got out of the time compression with Lillian. Speaking of Lillian when was she going to wake up. I got up and went to knock on her door, after putting the translator on.
"It's M.Verdai. Are you well?"
There was a stirring and the door opened. She appeared fine.
She said, "I rested. Affairs concluded?"
"For the moment. Let's walk a while."
"Good idea."
She smelt like a fresh flower, not musty like in the chambers under the mountain. We walked out of my ship and around it. I noticed some movement up on the plateau. Evidently my instructions were being carried out as to the placement of weapons. Lillian jumped up in the air trying to see over the horizon.
She said, "Good place to ride Dragons. Have them catch food. Cook on a fire. Eat it raw. We need freedom, open spaces."
"Yes, we all do. We will be here for a week. Then we go to ARK IV and look at things from in the mountain."
"Mountain long ago. New life. But we look. Much to exchange. We will be alone?"
I put the conflicting emotions back in their box and said, "One other, a recorder, she's a friend."
"We learn much from each other."
"Yes, we will. Perhaps we can ride the horses here. They're small Dragons who do not fly."
She expressed concern and said, "I must see to male. Sleep too much. He can walk here?"
"Yes, but do not show your talons, or wild feet. The people do not understand here."
"Not do. You do affairs. Talk later."
She went back up the gangway. I'd seen her make a mark in the ground when we came out, some kind of an adaptable person. I hoped her male wasn't ill. I knew nothing of their medical needs. Odd, that, we can make them bodies and not know about the bodies we made. Have to take that one up with Betty.
LATER ON THAT. I'LL TAKE A LOOK AT HIM, PROBABLY POST CONFINEMENT BLUES.
Oh well, let's see what Pierre and Rafe have been up to. I stood at the entrance to the dining room unnoticed and listened to Tritchka talk to Pierre. She would get to the end of one totally unlikely story, Pierre would open his mouth to protest, Suzy would nod her head, and Tritchka would start again. Finally I banged my boot on the door step and they looked at me.
Pierre said, "Tritchka has been telling me some tall tales. She doesn't drink, Suzy is always sober. I don't know about you but I'm beginning to suspect that I missed a hell of a party."
"A once in a thousand year, or better, party. You can come across the river to my ship tomorrow evening for supper and watch the recordings if you like."
"I'll be there. Let me tell all three of you what Rafe and I have been up to. It's a tall tale too, but not as tall as yours. The short version is that from the Mexican War reborn people, Rafe organized two groups of fighters, Mexicans and Americans. Just south of here on the border they made camp. I got them horses and wagons. They came down with weapons. After two days, they split into four groups, two on each side of the border and they started, two towards Brownsville, and two toward California. When they come to a town, they kill all of the outlaws. Then the Frigates pick up the dead and they go to the next town. By the time they get done a virgin could run naked down Main Street and never be bothered. It is beyond thinking what they are doing. It is what I would do, if they would let me join them. But the leaders say I'm to stay here as an anchor. So here I am."
I said, "That's Rafe. He gets an idea and just goes with it. Somehow he comes out ahead, up to now anyway. What's he going to do after there are no more outlaws along the border?"
"He says he's going to draw a line from Brownsville Texas straight across to Culiacan on the West coast and make that the new USA/Mexico border. I introduced him to a Federale Captain who is to be the governor of the new state of Sierra. He got caught up in Rafe's plan and he knows who must go away to make it happen. Just like the General in DC. I got a telegram from him today, inquiring as to my health. News travels fast, or was he there in China? No one's said yet."
"Yes, he was there, no he's not compromised. He's going to give me five hundred people a week. Can you give me five hundred also from the Kansas/Missouri border area?"
"I'll have you the names in two days. Another thing, are the people from ARK IV going to stay on the Plateau indefinitely?"
I asked, "Isn't that what you wanted?"
"Yes. I could train my people, or have you train them, but I would like to stay here as long as possible. I've fought for this place. Tritchka has t
oo, and Suzy in her own way."
I thought about how many planets where I'd heard the same sentiments voiced. The tune changed when people realized how vast the horizons are, but it was a slow awakening process.
I said, "I realize your ties. We'll do all possible to see you grow old and die here."
"Rafe says that could be at a great age, how great?"
"Ask Rafe. That's up to him. I think we are stopping your people from putting food on the table."
Pierre called out, "How soon is supper, Nancy?"
"Ten minutes, if you get out of my way."
"We'll be on the porch. Come on folks."
We went, and came back later to a full table. Pierre's full family gathered and I lost count of how many wives he had and remembered four children sitting with four different mothers. He was going to need some 'rejuv' before long.
Betty came into my mind and said, LIKE HELL, WE'RE GOING TO USE HIM FOR A MODEL. NO DON'T TELL HIM.
I never knew when she was joking. Had I ever known her to joke?
Back on the ship I checked on Taln. The computer said his vitals were normal. Who knew what sleep patterns he'd developed. I'd shown him the food array. He wasn't bashful. A plan was beginning to form in my mind as to what four Phaeton Captains could do with four space stations in Earth's final days. Or maybe they weren't designed for what would be needed. I decided to keep Taln around, if I could, until I had my answers.
When I got up the next morning I saw Taln in the library adjusting the viewing controls.
I said, "Slept enough have you?"
"Oh, greetings, I haven't been sleeping. After the first night I've been learning. Something we were taught at the Academy, sleep learning. I put a tape load on, adjust the speed, and sleep. Body gets better and I get informed. I've achieved a thorough understanding of this planets history and have a plan."
"If it's relevant, we'll put it in place."
"Quite simple actually, we'll give everyone a World Phone."
I opened my mouth to point out the impossibility and impracticality of what he said. Then I bit my tongue, and got my mind in gear, and projected the ramifications. "Fine, it's done. (Colleen, make the necessary manufacturing arrangements.)
WORKING ON IT.
Taln continued, "That's not the whole of the idea. I've grown tired of confined spaces, as you can imagine, all of us have. I talked with Franb and Jesere. We would like to reside here, at this ranch. Franb is good with growing anything, hydroponics farm. Jesere is quite knowledgeable about long range missiles and cannons.
"I don't think Pierre would object. He's always looking for residents."
"As to the phones, they would not be only for convenience, but also an intelligence tool as every conversation would be recorded and scanned. I'll build in a pickup for ANNU KI body alteration wave lengths so when they use our phones we can monitor them, or pick them up, or just kill them. A battery cross circuit, results in the phone becoming a bomb."
I didn't even open my mouth this time. This was one devious person. The possibilities blossomed in my mind. His voice brought me current.
"--- addition to that Franb concluded that the introduction of Earth developed technology sooner would result in a decreased need for slaves. Then they could be bought inexpensively, brought here to work the irrigated farms and set free after their education. With Pierre's permission, and your help FO, I can be set up and open for business in two weeks. A good place would be the plateau."
"All of your people aren't going to fit there."
"Most would go to Georgetown, which Pierre owns."
Did he? Damn this Pierre fellow had been busy. Must get him to Betty for a regression search to see how he did so much with so little?
TOLD YOU SO, DIDN'T I? A PERFECT MODEL.
I said, "We'll have to ask him where the center of his property is so we can put Captain Jesere there with his armament and sensing arrays, or maybe elsewhere. Other than that I believe we know everything. We'll have to decide which technology gets introduced sooner and how to pay the inventors for their preliminary efforts. I have to go into a Time Drop Bay soon to do concentrated research. I'll be in for a week. Could you have your people organized to move in two weeks?"
"Two days."
"Two days?"
He said, "We Phaetons decide, then we do, without bickering. A lot of bickering goes on in the USA government which has brought them so close to murdering each other, bickering and greed."
"It's the same the Galaxy over."
He nodded, getting up from our table, "It is a sickness that needs treated." I'm not sure but what our enemy isn't behind that sickness. We found no logical answer on Phaeton to the malady. I'm going to go up to the plateau and see where I want the containers placed. Want to come along?"
"Not right now. Have you seen the others?"
As we walked down the gangway, he waved over toward the ranch house and said, "Grand tour, they were talking about going for a ride."
We parted company once across the nearly dry trickling river. He went right toward the falls and the plateau. I continued on to the ranch house to find Rachel in her office tidying papers. I asked where everyone was.
"Rafe and Pierre took a Wagon down to the border. Lillian, Suzy, and Tritchka went riding. I'm sorting out what will wait and what I'll have to do before my trip to Paris. Once the M I people are available, a group will be taking over an Elder bank there. It's going to be a glorious time."
I sat on a couch made from crossing strips of rawhide and reminded her that she was now in deep danger.
"I know. Who on the frontier isn't in constant danger? I've been instructed what to do. I have my personal shield. I'm backed up on Med Deck. I have my pill in a tooth. Hardest part was trusting that I wouldn't die with each bite. Maybe I'll eat less and lose some excess padding."
I couldn't see where she had a problem, but I hadn't seen her naked either. She was such a lively person, that she swept all along with her energy. Maybe we would have time together later.
"The precautions are necessary. Sometime, when we've won, we'll talk about it. Do you think I could get a pot of tea out on the porch?"
"Sure. I'll tell Nancy. I'd join you but I have so much to do. This key never stops clacking."
I didn't try to tell her what was going to happen to her when Taln's plan was going full blast. Telegraph didn't have multiple calls and full voice message boxes. She was going to need a secretary. (Colleen, see if anyone wants planet side duty.)
WILL DO. MOST LIKELY THE WHOLE CREW.
On the porch I found more rawhide furniture. Nancy brought tea and I asked her whether we could do anything to lighten her work.
"I don't want my work lightened. It's what I know. I could use a few more hands here and there, but I manage."
"I'll ask if anyone wants to spend their leave time here. I expect a lot will. Do you have a phone yet?"
"No. What would I do with it?"
"Call Pierre."
"Fine, get me one. Anything else you need?"
At my 'no' she abruptly went toward the kitchen, if that was going to be her refuge, it was agreeable to me. I sipped and ran my mind over the list of things I wanted to accomplish during time drop. I started dividing, time available into tasks, and thought, 'who' joking now?' Then I thought, (Colleen, get my hundred together again, or the same skill set. Set up the bay so I'll have a separated section where Lillian and I can work undisturbed, with quarters. Put in there the latest about the 'overlay space'.
WILL DO. SUGGEST THREE DAYS TO ENTRY.
'Fine'.
I sat on the porch drinking cup after cup of tea, just as anyone would. A visit to the outhouse gave me our second most needed industry on Earth. Colleen said she would look in the records and send down a couple dozen after midnight. Knowing us it probably would be a portable bathhouse, why not. I ran my mind around the probable specs, getting fancier every time around. I was about to question my sanity when Taln came by. Nancy saw him also and
brought a pot of coffee and some cornbread and fresh butter; bless her. First two, whatever's, would go behind the kitchen.
Between mouthfuls he said, "That new elevator works like a charm. They installed it beside the old one which they put new ropes on. I found the perfect spot, back against the cliff face. It looks like another plateau levels out about a thousand feet up. No way to get there that I could see."
I considered, "Maybe we should investigate. I have some Slip Sticks which can hover endlessly."
"We should, but after dark. No use bending these peoples reality any worse than necessary. Though the planet is no stranger to Slip Sticks from fables I heard."
I thought back to my readings, and said, "True, but not like mine. The windshield slants with increased velocity on mine. Also I have a series of armament to fire fore and aft. You'll like them. If you want to read the manuals the sticks are in bay forty nine, which opens directly outside. Another topic, I've ordered some toilet and bathhouse combinations. How many will you want?"
"We'll see later, but I think four. Set them on the first plateau and we'll lift them with their own anti-gravs higher if desired. It's peaceful here, you know. It's the peace of not knowing. In a way I hate to change that. We, on Phaeton, had our millenniums of innocence."
"I'd like to know the details."
Taln replied, "Honestly, then I'll write a history, might become famous as a fiction story. These people are always looking for new frontiers. Do you want that last piece of cornbread?"
I didn't. We sat in comfortable silence for who knows how long. Myself, contemplating the twists and turns of my life, that had put me here. After that, the person directly responsible, for my location now, Rafe Berger. I didn't hate him all the time lately. But I was still going to make him pay for my lost life. The fact that I'd gained an equally interesting life I recognized, but still then.
About noon Nancy brought more cornbread and sliced beef. I thanked her and stopped her long enough to ask how many cattle wouldn't make it through the winter?
Greener Green II: The Balls Brigade Page 15