The Space Merchants

by Wendie Nordgren

  "Yea!" Mr. Lee had begun placing aluminum crates on cart that he had brought. I started to help. Once we had completed the task, I followed him into the lift and to the kitchen. "May I get you something to drink?" I asked, as I placed the bag on the table. Mr. Lee looked pointedly at the bag, so I sat down and dug in, sharing little bites with Thunderdrop.

  "I have never opened the cold storage door to be greeted with cleanliness and order. You have saved me from completing the task," he said. I mumbled a thank you for his compliment around a mouthful of shrimp stuffed wanton. I watched as he opened crates and filled the cold storage with food. Then, he went to the beverage dispenser, opened it up, and replaced the molecular flavor packets. I ate a spring roll. My mouth was stuffed when Hiroshi came into the kitchen and hugged his uncle, our uncle. I waved hello with sauce covered fingers. Hiroshi ate the remaining wantons.

  On the fourth day docked at the Union City Land Port, not in the mood to go anywhere, Thunderdrop and I cuddled in Hiroshi's favorite chair in front on the large vid-screen in the recreation room. I navigated through the menu until I found an informative documentary about Arachnean Silk Spiders.

  "I guess it is time for me to learn more about you. If you want to watch a documentary about humans next, we can," I told him. I learned a few things. While Arachnean Silk Spiders shared many traits with spiders of Earth, they far surpassed Earth spiders from an evolutionary stand point. Spiders of both planets had two main body parts, the cephalothorax and the abdomen. Each had eight eyes and eight legs. They produced silk, although Arachnean spiders made a finer silk by far than any produced by small Earth spiders. The documentary confirmed something that I had already figured out on my own. Arachnean Silk Spiders enjoyed making webs and often created them simply to amuse themselves. They preferred to hunt their prey, which ranged from mice to deer. They could eat fish, but it was not a favorite food. Arachnean spiders had jaws in their mouths that they used to grind prey, while a digestive enzyme sped up the process. Then, they sucked the fluid down. A frightening thing I didn't know was that they had fangs and when threatened could deliver a bite with a powerful neurotoxin that could paralyze a human for hours and produce considerable swelling. I learned that it was correct to refer to the tips of Thunderdrop's legs as claws. Arachnean spiders, unlike those of Earth, continued to grow and could survive for several decades. Female spiders typically grew to an average of five feet when measured from cephalothorax to abdomen. Male spiders usually grew to three feet. I looked at Thunderdrop and my eyes grew wide.

  "So, you are a baby. Your body is just about a foot long." He chirped at me in response. Arachnean Silk spiders were very social creatures and had become somewhat domesticated. Their silk was harvested from tall trees in protected Arachnean forests. The spiders cooperated with humans as long as their trees were unharmed. "How did your spider family feel about the Parvac soldiers blowing up one of your trees while trying to kill us?" Thunderdrop chittered. Arachnean Silk spiders were coveted and prized pets. They were sentient and therefore, could not be bought, sold, or held captive. They chose human companionship occasionally. In rare circumstances they imprinted on a human, recognizing the person as a desirable companion and forming an unbreakable life bond. I stroked my fingers down what I still considered to be his back.

  "Is that what we are, Thunderdrop? Did you decide to adopt me that day in the forest?" He chirped. Looking into his eyes, I said, "You chirp when you are happy or agree with something, and you chitter when you don't like something or disagree?" Thunderdrop chirped. "I can ask you yes or no questions. We can talk to each other." Thunderdrop blinked at me. "Do you want to watch a documentary on humans, now?" Thunderdrop chittered. I laughed.

  That night Hiroshi drove us all to the Sun Palace. Uncle Lee closed the restaurant for a private party and had dinner with us. It was the happiest I had ever been in that restaurant, surrounded by my new family. Hiroshi said, "We leave for Malta early in the morning. Tora is fueled and has passed all of our diagnostic tests." As we left the restaurant, I decided that the evening had been the happiest I had ever been while on Earth. Uncle Lee was a wonderful person, and I was grateful to him, but I was ready to leave Earth.

  Hiroshi had set Tora's course for Malta. We weren't stopping anywhere on the way there. "We need to give them time to miss us on Scipio, or we won't earn as much," Phillip explained.

  Hiroshi said, "Our itinerary is Malta, Amphictyon, Arachne, and then Scipio. The cargo hold is full of orders from our clients on each planet."

  Thinking out loud I said, "How long is this trip going to take, four or five weeks?"

  "We should arrive on Malta in four weeks," Yukihyo said.

  "Why?" Hiroshi asked.

  "Well, while each of you have mysterious work to complete on the elusive deck two, I may need a new hobby."

  Phillip said, "What kind of hobby?"

  "I don't know. You already taught me how to drive."

  "I could teach you how to fight," Yukihyo suggested. I made a face.

  "I don't like fighting. Sorry. I guess I'll have to study hobbies."

  Two weeks into our voyage and yellow lights began flashing inside of Tora. I picked up Thunderdrop and ran from the relaxation room, down the corridor, and into my quarters like I was supposed to do. We sat on my grey couch, and I clutched a purple pillow. My vid-screen came on. It was Yukihyo from the bridge. "Everything is okay, lady wife. Please, do not be afraid. We have picked up a distress call from a small Galaxic Militia cruiser. We have made contact and are approaching to render assistance. Please remain in your quarters." He winked out. I turned my vid-screen back on and selected the view through the windows on the bridge. Tora closed the distance to a ship that drifted. Hiroshi communicated with the cruiser's captain. Some kind of device that regulated the dry fuel into power had malfunctioned as had its replacement. The captain said something about their energy reserves running their life support systems. The captain relayed information about the device to Hiroshi, who in turn examined his stock.

  "I have a device with which to replace yours. I can place it into a propulsion unit and guide it into one of your collectors," Hiroshi suggested. The two of them worked out the particulars. About an hour later, I watched as a metal tube traveled from our ship into an array that trapped it in a force field and then closed. Two hours later the militia had repaired their ship, and we resumed our course and speed.

  My days consisted of cleaning our dishes, which took seconds, an hour or so in the exercise room, playing with Thunderdrop, who had torn down his old webs and replaced them with new ones, watching movies, and talking with the guys. Of course, my nights were usually very entertaining. Laundry took me a few minutes a week, as did cleaning our rooms, bathrooms, and floors. I had even finished reading Captain Espanoza's biography.

  I sat in the kitchen bored. I sipped an equally boring cup of tea. I needed a fun indoor hobby. I had no skill drawing or painting. I opened the cold storage, thinking I could eat something, just for something to do. Then, inspiration struck me along with the blast of cold air from the unit. I closed the door. The guys had gone nuts over the cake they had to deliver. They had to struggle not to eat it. I had the kitchen all to myself most of the time. I could learn to bake. That might be fun. I took my tea over to the corner desk and pulled up instructional videos on cake construction. More was involved in it than I had thought. I watched two more demonstrations. Many different variations of cake recipes existed. Most of the recipes shared common elements. Most of them used butter, flour, milk, vanilla extract, sugar, eggs, either baking powder or soda, and salt. Icing seemed to consist of confectioners’ sugar and sometimes cream cheese. I began searching through the dry pantry for the different ingredients. I hoped that dehydrated eggs would work. I found the final two things I had searched for in the bottom of the cold storage unit in a drawer. In the cabinets I found bowels, a mixer, and cake pans. I decided to study some more before making an attempt. Thunderdrop and I watched two cake baking demon
strations a day. Using the oven seemed frightening. What if I set fire to Tora?

  One night during dinner, I decided to bring up the topic. "So, I have a new hobby I want to try, but it is a little dangerous, so I thought I would ask your opinions before attempting it."

  Phillip's eyes darted to Yukihyo's and then Hiroshi's, "What kind of thing did you have in mind?" Yukihyo crossed his arms and looked at me.

  "Well, the three of you seemed intrigued by that cake you delivered. I've been studying cake construction. We have the common ingredients. I thought I might try to bake one, but I've never used an oven, and I don't want to set fire to Tora or cause an explosion or anything. What?" Both of Hiroshi's eyebrows were raised at me. Phillip got up and left the kitchen. Frowning at his back, I said, "Oh, it's a bad idea. Isn't it?" Yukihyo cleared his throat.

  "Lady wife, I eagerly await whatever you decide to cook. Please, allow me to be the first to benefit from your efforts." I smiled at him.

  "Thank you. That is very sweet of you." Phillip came back wiping at his eyes. Hiroshi drew my attention from him.

  "Please do not worry about using the oven. I promise there is no way you can damage the ship. It cooks on a molecular level and generates very little heat." Phillip rested his head in his hand.

  "Phillip, what?" I asked.

  "Only you would think baking to be dangerous!"

  "You were laughing?" I asked.

  "Come on, Cupcake! An explosion?"

  Frowning, I said, "Well, how should I know?"

  The next morning after breakfast, Thunderdrop and I studied another demonstration on the corner vid-screen in the kitchen. We looked each other in the eyes. It required more effort from me. "Are you ready to do this?" He chirped. "Let's get all of the bowls and pans we need first." The mixer, measuring cups and spoons, and cake pans lined the counter. Then, we got a cup of butter, four teaspoons of dehydrated eggs, three cups of flour, two cups of sugar, a cup of milk from the beverage dispenser, vanilla extract, and three teaspoons of baking powder into bowls on the counter. I mixed the egg powder with four tablespoons of water and worried about the result. I began putting it all into the mixer. The butter and sugar combined nicely. I added in the eggs. Slowly, I added the milk and vanilla. Then, I added in the dry ingredients. I turned off the mixer. Then, I poured the batter into the round pans. Next, came the scary part. I opened the oven. "Here we go, Thunderdrop." I put the pans inside, closed the door, and pulled up the menu on the display, selecting bake and three hundred and fifty degrees. I pushed start. The light inside came on, and we watched as the batter rose, and turned a light yellow color. The oven beeped. I found protective gloves and removed the pans. A sweet sugary smell greeted us. I looked at Thunderdrop.

  "It smells good and looks right." I placed the pans on the cooling surface and cleaned up all of bowls and the mixer. Then, I began to make the icing. I placed a half of a cup of butter in the mixer. I slowly added the bag of powdered sugar, a teaspoon of vanilla extract, and two tablespoons of milk. It became creamy. I turned it off, grabbed a spoon, and tasted it.

  "Hey, it actually tastes good." The cake pans had cooled, so I flipped one over onto a plate and smeared icing on top of it. Carefully, I turned the second pan over and placed it on top of the first. I smeared icing all over it and then covered the sides. "Well, it looks okay. It's not fancy or anything, but maybe it tastes good." I ran my finger through the icing in the mixing bowl. It was white, fluffy, and sugary sweet. Thunderdrop didn't want any. I was fine with that and did a good job of cleaning it before actually putting it in the cleaning unit. Once I had cleaned and put everything away, Thunderdrop and I went searching for Yukihyo. He and the others were on the bridge. I stopped at the entrance. Knowing I stood nearby, he turned to me.

  "Will you come to the kitchen and try my cake?" Phillip jumped up first.

  He said, "He may need a doctor afterwards."

  "Hey! That's not nice."

  "Just teasing you, Cupcake." They all went to the kitchen. I put the cake on the table with a knife, plates, forks, and cups of coffee.

  "Okay, look. If it's really bad, don't eat it just to save my feelings. It's my first attempt ever at cooking." I sat and sipped my coffee. Yukihyo took the knife from Phillip.

  "Me first. She's my wife." They each cut pieces, and then I cut a piece for myself. Thunderdrop went to his corner web above the vid-screen. Nervous, I watched Yukihyo's face as he took his first bite. He didn't make a bad face or spit it out. I took a bite of my piece. It was alright. It wasn't like the ones at the cafe down from Felicia's, but not bad for a first try. Yukihyo had finished his first piece of cake and cut himself a second larger piece. Phillip and Hiroshi did, too. By the time I had finished my cake and coffee, they had eaten the entire cake.

  "Lady wife, I much enjoy your new hobby. Will you do it again tomorrow?"

  "I may study a bit more, first." Hiroshi gave a grunt and went back to the bridge.

  "That was great, Cupcake," Phillip said, scratching his belly on his way out. Yukihyo thanked me with a satisfying kiss.

  "That seemed to pass the time and go over well with the guys."

  "Chirp." I cleaned our dishes.

  I practiced my new hobby once more on the way to Malta. After a little study, I made chocolate chip cookies. They required a lot less effort than the cake had taken. I arranged the cookies on a plate, put small plates and napkins, and cups of coffee on the table, and then Thunderdrop and I found the men in the exercise room. They had been busy exhausting themselves with the weights.

  "If any of you are interested, I made something else." Hiroshi made it to the kitchen first. Thunderdrop and I followed in their wake. We found they had already begun eating the cookies. Phillip's eyes were closed while he chewed.

  "What do you think?" I asked.

  Hiroshi said, "Good cookies," around a mouthful. The plate emptied as I sipped my coffee. Phillip's eyes looked guilty.

  "Teagan, we are terrible. We ate them all and didn't share with you. I'm sorry." Thunderdrop chirped and crawled up my leg, blinking at me. I sighed.

  "It's okay. I had a few before I told you about them."

  "Chirp, chirp, chitter!" Thunderdrop said.

  "Okay, I had like maybe six of them." Yukihyo cleaned the plates and cups. Hiroshi suggested I join them in the exercise room and spend some quality time with a treadmill. I let out a sigh and got my exercise shoes.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Finally, we arrived on Malta. The usual flurry of activity surrounded the cargo bay and large land transport. They would be busy making deliveries both in town and also out at the mines. Excited to show Mr. Gregory my purchases, I began making trips to my transport with all of my bags. I wore my brown boots, a long pink dress, a chocolate brown cardigan, and my blaster. I draped my necklace over my head. "Are you ready, Thunderdrop?"

  "Chirp!"

  I drove out of Tora and parked on the cargo bay side of the ship. Getting out I walked over to my busy husband. He narrowed his eyes at a man who stared at me.

  "Husband, I am going to visit Mr. Gregory. I don't plan to go anywhere else today." Yukihyo brushed his finger down my cheek and lifted my hand in his placing a kiss on my knuckles.

  "Have fun, my beautiful wife." Smiling, I lifted up on my toes, and he bent down so that I could kiss his cheek. I drove the short distance to the general store. Mr. Gregory and his son came out of their store as soon as I pulled to a stop. Mr. Gregory opened my door and helped me out. Thunderdrop decided he wanted to perch on top of my head.

  "It's good to see you, Mrs. Lee. My boy did quite a bit of work preparing for your visit."

  Arthur Jr. said, "I hope you like it, ma'am."

  "I would love to see your display area. I hope you like all of the things I brought with me." It wasn't at all what I had expected. In the back corner of the store, Arthur Jr. had made a wide arched open doorway. Mr. Gregory walked into another room, beckoning me to join him. Arthur Jr. followed me, nervously.

>   "Tell her what you have done," Mr. Gregory said.

  "Well, Mrs. Lee, I framed in this room using part of the storage room in the back. I put the walls in and framed out the door. To each side of the door, I put in these changing rooms with these swinging doors for privacy. I built these shelves out from the changing rooms to the door, thinking you might want to put those pretty little shoes on 'em. I mounted that long rack against the back wall, so as soon as the ladies walk in, they see dresses. I built these tables and put one on each side wall to hold whatever you like," he finished. I turned in a slow circle.

  "It's beautiful. I never imagined anything so nice. It's just amazing that you did all of this." I walked around the room examining it. "These dressing rooms were such a good idea." I walked over to the one on the left, pulled the door open, and went inside. A mirror hung to the right on the wall shared with the shelves.

  "I put the mirrors on the sides like that so no one could sneak any peeks," Arthur Jr. said.

  "That was thoughtful of you." I could see over the top of the swinging door. It covered the dressing room entrance from my chin down to my knees. I walked out. The cases he had built against each dressing room's side each had four shelves and framed the room's entrance. "This is so nice." The tables Arthur Jr. had made were identical and of the same wood as the swinging doors. I ran my hand along the smooth wood. The metal bar he had installed along the back wall was at about the top of my head and ran from one side to the other.

  "I put it up high so the dresses wouldn't touch the floor, but so ladies could still reach it easily."

  "It's perfect."

  "Ha, ha! What did I tell you, boy?" Mr. Gregory patted his son on the back. "Let's see what you brought us," Mr. Gregory said. We went out to the transport and together carried all of the bags into the new room.

  "Mr. Gregory, why don't you let me put everything where it goes, so that you can see it all, and then we can discuss prices." He agreed. I got to work while Thunderdrop explored the room.