by Gary Weston
Saltoe had worked up an almighty appetite. ‘Famished. What time is it?’
‘Early evening. But we need to hurry to get a good table. Preferably well away from any Graggons eating.’
Saltoe said, ‘Too right. Watching them gorge on live bugs would even put me off my dinner. Give me five minutes to make myself look fabulous.’
‘My heart skipped a beat at the very thought of it.’ Freeman slapped Saltoe’s bare backside and watched as she skipped happily to the bathroom with one of her bags. The five minutes turned into nearly thirty, but Freeman wasn’t complaining. There was just something about Maj Saltoe in a figure hugging black dress.
‘Did I say fabulous? I wasn’t doing you justice.’
‘Put your eyes back in. Get yourself ready and feed me.’
Seven minutes later, they were heading to the dining hall, one of the largest rooms in the conference centre. A handful of Graggons from each of their planets were just finishing their meal. With much belching, the fat lizards paid the customary compliments to their Varlindran hosts, and with fresh beetle juice running down their bellies, they excused themselves to retire to their rooms to sleep off their overindulgences. A few paused to greet Freeman, sitting back on their tails and clasping their tiny clawed hands, bowing politely. Freeman and Saltoe made similar gestures.
‘Toruse Col Dirla,’ said Freeman, to one. ‘How are you, old friend?’
‘Clifford Freeman. I’m fine. My. Have you lost a little weight?’
‘Thank you for noticing.’
‘I’m thinking this one is a female?’
Freeman said, ‘Every wonderful inch of her. This is Miss Maj Saltoe.’
‘Delighted to make your acquaintance.’ Dirla belched. ‘If you’ll excuse me. I’m off for a much needed sleep. Space-lag. A pity you don’t like to eat bugs. The trodonits are especially tasty. The Varlindrans breed them specially for us, you know.’
‘Very considerate of them. I’ll stick to the fish and salad.’
‘You don’t know what you’re missing.’ With a waddle, Dirla sauntered off to his rooms.
‘Damn cheek,’ said Saltoe. ‘Am I a woman?’
Freeman chuckled. ‘To be fair, even after all this time I can hardly tell one Graggon from another.’
‘But you recognised…Darla?’
‘Dirla. Not a bad chap, really. He has a scar on his head. That’s the only way I knew it was him. Come on. There’s a place over there that doesn’t look like it’s covered in bug juice.’
They had only just settled on the cushions by the low tables, when two Varlindran hosts bowed in greeting which was responded to in a similar manner. Platters of fish and salad were soon brought with a beaker of mixed fruit juice.
When they were left alone to dine, Freeman whispered, ‘Lovely people, now they don’t want to kill us Humans these days.’
‘And not bad cooks.’
‘Be thankful we have fish. The Varlindrans are purely vegetarian. There’s a small fish farm for Human benefit only. Same for the bugs for Graggons. They’d never dream of eating them, but breed them for the Graggons.’
Saltoe sipped her juice. ‘No wine?’
‘They don’t drink alcohol. They don’t mind us drinking, providing we do it in private.’
‘Well, nobody’s perfect. Cheers.’
It was a deliberately informal dining experience. Saltoe noted the occasional discreet wave or nod of the head from other Humans from the various planets. Freeman explained that on the first day, there was little interaction. Freeman pointed out the Mars Commander and his partner and the representatives from Tryzon.’
‘They’ll be on our side, right?’ whispered Saltoe.
‘I wouldn’t put money on it. I’ll explain the politics later. For now, just smile at everyone, and enjoy your meal.’
‘And then we go back to our rooms? Say yes.’
‘Yes.’
‘Good. I’ve a surprise for you.’
‘Another one?’
‘Wait and see.’
The surprise was the expensive bottle of bourbon from Boss, smuggled in her luggage. After consuming half the bottle between them, they fell onto the huge cushions together, for another night of passion.
Chapter 337
‘I’m sorry you got dragged into all this,’ said General Millet.
Shorty said, ‘You had to be here, so I have to be here.’
They were alone in bed in the general’s small bunk room with the lights dimmed.
‘I was quite taken aback when most decided to go,’ said Millet. ‘I’m sure Tagg was, too.’
‘I saw the look on his face. I’m not sure who has it hardest. Us off into the unknown, or him fretting about us.’
‘It’s what we do. We have fifty-nine of us on this trip. I would feel more confident if we had more ships and people.’
Shorty said, ‘Not the funding for either. The trouble is, most don’t understand or appreciate what the D S I do. Just a handful of trained agents like Tilly Jordan to keep the whole of deep space crime free, and just us to do the scientific and military stuff. With this mission now classified officially as military, we can perhaps justify ourselves and get an increase in our budget.’
‘I wouldn’t bet on it. If this mission is a flop, Councillor Freeman will have no case to keep our existing budget, let alone increase it as it should be.’
‘I think this could be an interesting ride.’
Frank tenderly kissed his wife. ‘Talking of interesting rides…’
‘Come here, you big lug.’
Chapter 338
‘We have one full day to enjoy the city,’ said Freeman. ‘I know this place pretty well, so I’d love to show you around.’
‘Fine by me,’ said Salto. ‘Is this outfit ok? I wouldn’t want to let you down.’
‘You look great. Come on. I’ve our own buggy at our disposal waiting outside.’
The weather was warm with the slightest hint of a breeze. Beyond the fringes of the city were the forests and lakes. Freeman took charge of the solar powered buggy, making it go wherever he told it to go. He pointed out the municipal buildings and explained their function. They were not unlike the classic architecture of Earth, before Humans destroyed it all. Freeman pulled up and got out the buggy.
‘I want to show you something,’ he said, holding out his hand. Saltoe got out of the buggy and allowed herself to be escorted up stone steps to a pillared building. Freeman wasn’t about to go inside.
‘You read the Craggy books as a kid, right?’
‘Didn’t we all?’
‘Remember when he had his statue carved by the Varlindran sculptors?’
‘Good grief. That’s him. That story was all true.’
‘Legend has it he was using a stick to help him walk. The artists were quite concerned.’
‘They asked him if they should have the stick in the statue.’
‘Correct. He told them no. Now, this statue here is…’
‘Commander Lance Dillow. The Giant.’
‘My great, great grandfather. I still get a lump in my throat whenever I see it. No family resemblance, I’m afraid.’
‘Good. Even his statue is scary. These are the Graggons who had their statues made at the same time. Odd sounding names.’
‘Zixpahk and Vuka. Don’t ask me which one is which.’ Freeman stared at Saltoe for a moment. ‘I’d like to show you something else. Come on.’
They jumped in the buggy and Freeman drove expertly through the busy city streets, until they reached the landing pads and the ships. He drove passed them, then veered off the track towards the extinct volcano. At the base of the rough looking mountain, Freeman pulled up and like the gentleman he was, helped Saltoe down. They went to the mouth of a huge cave where two Varlindran guards stood defiantly in their way.
‘Greetings,’ said the guards as one.
‘Greetings. I am Councillor Freeman and this is my assistant, Maj Saltoe. Mind if we step inside the cave for a moment?’
‘We have strict instructions,’ said one guard, his skinny arms folded defiantly across his puny chest. ‘Nobody goes inside the cave.’
‘Exactly. And I’m not nobody. I am Councillor Freeman.’
Both guards instinctively took a step backwards. There was some discussion, rather agitated, between the guards before one finally spoke. ‘Not allowed. Sorry. Can’t do. Health and safety. All that carry on.’
Freeman said, ‘Just two minutes, I swear.’
‘Very well. In you go.’
They entered the cave. It was a vast, imposing space. Hand in hand, they walked to the edge of the abyss.
‘Careful,’ said Freeman. ‘They never did get to fence this area off.’
Saltoe gasped and her fingernails dug into Freeman’s hand.
‘Ouch! That hurts.’
‘Sorry. If I remember my history…No.’
‘What do you remember?’
Saltoe pointed into the huge hole that went many miles deep into the planet, where molten rivers of rock flowed like water.
‘The Blackness came from here.’
Freeman nodded. ‘Dixon Cragg was standing right about where you are now and she came up. He never even flinched. For the first time ever, someone recognised her for what she truly was. A sentient being.’
‘But it was just a story. It was Cragg making up stories.’
‘It happened. The history may be a little blurred and embellished, but this is the exact spot Craggy met the Blackness.’
Saltoe stood and stared into the hole large enough for fighters to fly down, recalling the much beloved fables of her childhood. ‘It actually happened?’
‘Yes.’
‘And you suppressed it?’
Freeman said, ‘More ignored, rather than suppressed it. Me and my predecessors before me. The Blackness and the split into the other dimension had gone. We simply got on with our lives and forgot about it.’
Saltoe said, ‘Now the split has come back and our people are about to discover it all over again.’
‘I have no idea. We have to go. Those little Varlindran guards are giving us suspicious looks.’
‘So am I, Clifford.’
Chapter 339
After breakfast and another night of “interesting” conversation, a glowing Maj Saltoe accompanied Councillor Clifford Freeman to the debating hall. Before they got there, a small man stepped in front of them. He may have been small, but the woman by his side was double his size. They were smiling, but not in a warm way.
The man said, ‘Clifford. So nice to see you again.’
‘Same here. This is Boss’s P A. Miss Maj Saltoe. Maj. This is Mars Commander Fripp Norton and his lovely partner, Isy Koldart. Isy. Have you done something with your hair? You have. Shocking pink is the new…pink, I heard.’
Koldart’s face didn’t crack. ‘You’ll ask if I lost weight, next.’
‘I don’t have to ask. Positively fading away you are. Fripp. The angels smiled on you the day Isy came your way.’
‘So she constantly tells me. Cliff. I went over the D S I figures. Not good. Not good at all.’
Freeman said, ‘Oh, come on, Fripp. Don’t you think we Humans should stick together? Help each other out a little bit?’
‘Well, I…’
Isy, towering over all of them, glared at Freeman. ‘Councillor Freeman. We are bleeding money into the D S I. It seems to me, you are constantly dreaming up ways to add to our burden. We could build a new hospital with what we have forked out this year alone.’
‘You have a very well equipped hospital, last time I was there, which was only a couple of months ago, by the way.’
Norton managed a weak smile. ‘Cliff. We just need to be on the same page. I mean. We aren’t at war these days. All the drixolate runners have been banged up. Time to look at the money, hey?’
Freeman’s grin was fixed but his eyes were cold. ‘One for the whole of the representatives to debate, don’t you think?’ He was about to enter the debating hall, when Koldart stood in his way.
‘You were the Boss. You have your agenda. We’ll fight you all the way on this one.’
Freeman nodded. ‘Then I look forward to a lively debate. Ladies first, Miss Koldart.’
They all entered the debating hall and took their seats, Saltoe next to Freeman. They hadn’t sat long, when the Principal Of Varlindra stood up, which was the cue for the others to do likewise. She said a few words, her hands clasped, her head bowed with her eyes closed, then she sat down. Everyone else did the same.
‘I, Principal Barulov Gin Sippa, welcome you all to the ninety-fourth annual Interplanetary Council Conference. And although we Varlindrans welcome you all to our planet, I must insist we will not tolerate the fisticuffs we experienced last year. Graggons? Are you listening Torus Col Dirla?’
‘I was merely demonstrating how a Graggon could beat a Human from Tryzon with our basic wrestling skills.’
‘And I see the scar on your head has healed quite nicely.’
Dirla shrugged. ‘Some Graggon females find the odd battle scar a turn on, Principal Sippa. I believe I have nineteen more kids as a direct result.’ There came a buzz of laughter as the Graggon pointed at himself. ‘Beating them off with a stick, I am.’
‘Too much information. I’m merely reminding everyone, especially you Graggons, we are are here for practical reasons, not to be brawling in the debating chamber. Am I clear on that point?’
Dirla waved his thin arms in the air. ‘I promise not to eat anybody here until after the conference. I’d take that offer if I were you.’
Sippa snarled, ‘I don’t care who you eat, Dirla. You don’t eat anybody until the conference is over. Ok?’
‘I promise to restrain myself, Principal Sippa. But that large Human female does look rather delicious.’
Saltoe stood up and glared at the Graggon. ‘Come near me, you pot-bellied newt, I’ll wear your hide for a scarf.’
‘See?’ said the undeterred Dirla. ‘Even when I pay that Human a compliment, she becomes aggressive. We Graggons are here only in the pursuit of interplanetary peace and harmony.’
‘Park it, Dirla,’ said Sippa.
‘But…’
‘Don’t make me come down there.’
‘No need to be aggressive. There. I’m sitting. And when are you Varlindrans ever going to offer a Graggon friendly seat?’
‘Dirla!’
‘I’m just saying. Beyond your own comfort, you Varlindrans think, oh, crap. Just throw a load of cushions everywhere. They’re only Graggons. They’re only Humans. Cushions. I ask you.’
‘Off to an interesting start,’ Saltoe whispered in Freeman’s ear.
‘This friendly banter? Dirla just likes to liven things up. And he really was complimenting you, in a Graggon sort of way.’
‘If you say so.’
‘Enough, Dirla,’ insisted Sippa. ‘Time to begin our business. First on the agenda, the proposed Interplanetary Council representation of Nyzon Five.’
Dirla scoffed. ‘And good luck getting those people sitting on cushions.’
Chapter 340
The following day in the debating hall, the various topics on the agenda were hotly debated, voted upon and resolved. Saltoe was glad when Principal Baralov Gin Sippa brought the day to a close.
‘Tomorrow will be all matters fiscal,’ said Sippa. ‘The finances of the Council will be debated in all its aspects. I look forward to some intelligent debate. Enjoy your evening.’
After bathing and a change of clothes, Saltoe and Freeman went to the dining hall, fortunately missing the spectacle of the Graggons eating.
They had hardly sat down when Toby Miles, Freeman’s P A walked in.
‘Toby. We were about to eat. Care to join us?’
‘I’m fine, Sir. Miss Saltoe. Looking lovely as always.’
‘Thank you, Toby. Have you news from Boss?’
Miles said, ‘Only in a general sort of way. The mission is continuing well at t
he moment. Still a few days to go. The split is contracting and expanding but staying pretty much in the same place. General Millet will make the final decision regarding going through the split when the time comes.’
‘Steady progress so far, then,’ said Freeman. ‘Anything else?’
‘Boss asked if anything had been said about the budget, either off the record, or in the debating chamber.’
Freeman shook his head. ‘We’ve said nothing yet, tell Boss. The fiscal debate will be the main topic for tomorrow. I wanted to keep it to the last minute, before announcing if the mission is likely to be a military operation, rather than a scientific one. At the moment, it could be argued it is still scientific, thus compounding the budgetary woes. If General Millet decides not to go through the split to engage the enemy, not that we even have an enemy as yet, the D S I will be hammered.’
Miles digested that information. ‘I’ll return to the ship and advise Boss of all that. And you, Miss Saltoe. Any messages from you to Boss?’
‘I’ve nothing to add to what Councillor Freeman has just said. Just explain to Boss where we are at and that anything he can tell us that will help our cause, he should do so as soon as possible.’
‘Right. I’ll do that now. And of course, should any information come in, I’ll let you know right away. Enjoy your evening.’
With Miles gone, Freeman whispered, ‘Boss won’t pressure General Millet to go through the split. Neither will I. We’ll just have to all take it on the chin if Millet decides not to go through it.’
‘I dread to think what the repercussions would be if the D S I budget is slashed. Still. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.’
* * *
The three fighters were at ninety-five percent of top speed, hurtling through deep space. Captain Dorran led the formation, followed by Captains Luppino and Carpenter. Dorran had been advised on the direction by the scientists, Jackie Cracker and Aristotle Frogmorten. As the hours turned into days, the tension was building up. Shorty did her best to entertain her shipmates by beating all of them at arm wrestling, including her husband, but that only went so far to alleviate the pressure. Lieutenant Croxfort organised keep fit exercises which helped a little.