by John Bowers
***
The Watcher arrived in town twenty minutes after Nick and Nathan. The Watcher had been there before and knew the layout; the GPS tracker in Nick’s hovercar led directly to Goldie’s Grass and Grill. The Watcher settled down to wait.
Chapter 19
Binary Flats – Alpha Centauri 2
“What are the odds of that?” Nick said. “The first person I ask about the governor is the governor.”
“Maybe you’re having a streak of good luck. I run a poker game if you’re interested.”
Nick stood and placed his hat on his head.
“Another time. I don’t know about Nathan, but I’m beat. I’m gonna hunt down one of those au’tels you mentioned.”
Goldie preceded him to the door.
“If I might make a suggestion…” She pointed to Nick’s gunbelt. “You boys might want to stow those guns somewhere. Two of you walking around with all that hardware will attract attention.”
Nick shook his head. “That isn’t likely to happen.”
“Well…at least take off those badges. No sense advertising your profession. Not everybody in this town has a problem with the law, but plenty of them do.”
Nick unpinned his star and looked at it a moment, then slipped it into a pocket.
“I guess that’s reasonable enough.”
Nathan followed his lead. Goldie gripped the door handle but held it shut a moment longer.
“I’m not saying you’re not welcome, Marshal, but if you decided to move along in any direction, it wouldn’t hurt my feelings. Things are pretty stable around here, but your presence could change that.”
“Tell you what, Goldie—let us sleep on it, get some breakfast in the morning, and see where we are. In the meantime, we’ll try to keep a low profile, without the badges.”
“Fair enough. If you’re of a mind to eat here again, we open for breakfast at six.”
***
They located an au’tel six blocks from the diner. They saw others, but it was the first one with room to park. Both suns were down and a steady, refreshing ocean breeze gusted across the town.
“This is nice!” Nathan observed. “I never saw an ocean until I landed on Terra. I had no idea how refreshing a sea breeze could be.”
“I’m with you,” Nick said. “I hear that Centauri B is ninety percent ocean; maybe I’ll move there when I retire.”
Nick rented the room and they carried their gear inside. The room was small and hadn’t been cleaned very well, but they didn’t see any bugs or spiders, so it would have to do.
Nick pulled out his pocket phone and placed a call to Camarrell, turning the screen so Nathan could listen in. Marshal Chiang had left for the day, so he talked to the supervisor on duty, an attractive middle-aged woman named Eurich, and introduced himself.
“Nick Walker? From Trimmer Springs?”
“That’s right.”
“What the hell are you doing on the Isthmus of Latia?”
Nick’s eyebrow lifted. “Chasing down a lead. How did you know where I’m calling from?”
“Marshal Chiang has you flagged for GPS tracking.”
“Oh, that’s right. He told me he was going to do that.”
“Is that Marshal Trainee Green with you?”
“Yes, he’s right here, safe and sound.” Nick winked at Nathan.
“How can I help you?”
“Before we came down here, I heard a number of people mention that there were settlements in this region. Informal settlements, apparently.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Well…we’re spending the night in a town.”
“A town?”
“Binary Flats, population about ten thousand, maybe a little more. It’s a lot bigger than just a settlement, or even a village. They have streets and power and running water and everything.”
“What’s the problem?”
“Maybe nothing, but it isn’t on the map, not even the AlphaNet database. We talked to someone who claims to be the ‘governor’, and she—”
“Governor!” Eurich sounded shocked.
“Yes, Ma’am, that’s what she said, and we heard rumors about a governor even before we got here. My question is—does anybody know about this place? And if not, then why not?”
Marshal Eurich was silent a moment. Nick could see her working on her computer.
“I’m looking at satellite digitals,” she said after a moment. “I can see evidence of a settlement, but it doesn’t look terribly sophisticated.”
“It isn’t. There doesn’t seem to be any kind of civic plan, but the place does have streets, businesses, homes, and lots of people. The governor told us the residents here are independent of both Colonial and Federation ties. That seems a little fishy to me.”
“Fishy? In what way? This is a frontier planet…people are entitled to live wherever they want.”
“I agree, but it’s still a Federation colony. I would think the catalog of settlements should include a place as big as this.”
“Hm…I see what you mean. Aside from that, have you seen anything unusual?”
“Not yet, but we just got here. I’ll know more by tomorrow.”
“Okay, then. I will report this to Marshal Chiang when he comes in. In the meantime, why don’t you investigate the town and see what else you can learn? Find out what you can and report back to this office. We might need to establish a U.F. Marshal presence down there.”
“I’ll do that, Marshal Eurich. Thank you.”
Nick rang off. Nathan was pulling off his boots.
“What was your take on the governor?” he asked. “You believe her?”
“You’re the one in training. What did you think?”
“Well…” Nathan removed his gunbelt and settled on the edge of his bed. “She seemed friendly enough, but I don’t think it would be wise to cross her. She’s definitely protecting something.”
“Did you notice the change in her demeanor when we went into her office?”
“Yeah, no more jokes or kidding around. She was like a different person.”
“Is she hiding something?”
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out. I think maybe she is…she wants us out of town at the earliest opportunity. I think she knows something and doesn’t want to tell us.”
“Based on what?”
“She was trying to read you and feeding off whatever you said. For example, when you described the Rukes, she gave you Vanov’s name, but maybe she knows Vanov is dead and hoped you wouldn’t look any further than that.”
“And if your theory is right? What does that mean?”
“That’s where I’m not sure. It could mean she is or was involved with Vanov and whoever sent him, or it might just mean that she knows the Rukes are trouble and doesn’t want the shit storm to settle in her town.”
Nick nodded. “Good evaluation. I have one more question as well.”
“What’s that?”
“Is she really the governor? We only have her word for it.”
“I think she is. We could check that out by asking anybody on the street, and she knows that.”
“Good point.”
“So what do we do tomorrow?”
“We get some breakfast and walk around town for a while. I’m not leaving just to keep Goldie happy. If we cruise around a little, we might get lucky and spot some more Rukes. If we do, then we’ll see where that leads us.”
“And if we don’t?”
“I’m not sure. Maybe a strategic withdrawal until we can figure another course of action.”
***
Across the street and half a block away, a hovercar sat in the dark with the driver’s window rolled down. In the pilot’s seat, the Watcher trained electronic glasses at the au’tel door where Nick and Nathan had holed up for the night. There was nothing to see, of course, but the audio enhancement was working perfectly; in spite of occasional static, the Watcher heard every word they said.
Sun
day, March 25, 0445 (CC)
Binary Flats – Alpha Centauri 2
Nick and Nathan were up shortly after dawn; showered and shaven, they stepped outside the au’tel room door and felt the rising heat from Centauri A, which was slanting across the isthmus from the east. Centauri B wouldn’t be visible for another hour.
“Shall we leave the car here?” Nathan asked as he adjusted his gunbelt.
“I think so. There don’t seem to be any parking patterns around here so it’s better if we do our work on foot. However…” Nick glanced up and down the street, which was already busy. “…I think we should split up. We can cover more ground that way, and if one of us runs into trouble, we won’t both be compromised at the same time.”
“Okay.”
“Did you pack your laser pistol?”
Nathan nodded and patted the bulge in his shirt at the small of his back. “I don’t have an extra holster, but this way no one will know I have it.”
“Good. And do you have a personal transmitter?”
“In my luggage.”
“Better get it. Slip it under your collar and we can talk to each other if we need to.”
Nathan returned inside the room and emerged a moment later, adjusting the transmitter under his collar. He plugged a tiny receiver into his right ear. Nick did the same and they tested the equipment to make sure it was working.
“Good.” Nick nodded down the street to their right. “Why don’t you find another eatery for breakfast and I’ll go back and see Goldie. She’ll be expecting both of us, but I’ll feed her a lie and see what that buys us.”
“What’re you gonna tell her?”
“You had to go back up north. Family emergency.”
“Fair enough. Meet back here at noon?”
“Sounds good. Unless something breaks, but we’re in voice contact so we can update each other as needed.”
They parted company, Nathan going right and Nick going left. It was a six block walk to Goldie’s Grass and Grill. Nick stepped inside to the familiar and welcome smell of eggs and bacon. The place was packed; two waitresses scurried about with plates and coffee pots, and the sound of frying meat made a loud and pleasant background. The air was clear of cannabis smoke this morning.
Nick took the only empty stool at the counter and situated himself. Patrons on either side of him eyed his gunbelt, but he’d tucked the badge into his pocket and no one spoke to him. Goldie herself set a cup before him a moment later and filled it with steaming coffee.
“Welcome back, Nick. What’ll you have?”
“The usual. Eggs, bacon, biscuits, and gravy.”
“You want potatoes with that?”
“Sure, why not.”
“Hash browns or cottage?”
“Cottage. Is it always this busy in the mornings?”
“Yep. Sometimes it’s even busier. Where’s your buddy?”
“Nathan? He got homesick.” Nick sipped the scalding coffee. “Actually, his wife called. She’s about ready to deliver their first child and he decided to run back home.”
“Really.” Goldie regarded him frankly, as if deciding whether he was telling the truth. “Well, I hope everything turns out all right.”
“I’m sure it will. They have a really good midwife.”
“And how are you getting home? Or did you bring two cars?”
“No, just one car. He’ll be back for me in a day or two.”
“Seems like a wasted trip. Why didn’t you go with him?”
“My business here isn’t concluded.”
Goldie glanced at the customers on either side of him and let it drop. Clearly she didn’t want him identified as a U.F. Marshal…probably bad for her business.
“Let me know if I can help.”
Nick nodded and she drifted away. She brought his food when it was ready and he ate in silence, listening to the hum of conversation around him. Goldie didn’t return. Another waitress handed him his check.
“You take terros here?” he asked casually.
“Terros, sirios, and russos. You got something else, we can talk about it.”
“Russos?” Nick couldn’t contain his surprise. The russo was the common currency of Centauri B, which was home to the Rukranians.
“Lots of people pay in russos,” the girl told him. “But terros are just as good.”
Nick handed her some cash and told her to keep the change. He stepped out onto the sidewalk and looked up and down the street. Like Kline Corners on Sirius 1, this town had an Ancient West feel about it, but was a hundred times bigger than Kline Corners.
As he turned left and began to walk casually along the sidewalk, Nick wasn’t exactly sure what he expected to find. Vanov was dead, Nemorov was dead…but both apparently had ties to the region south of Centauri Springs. Nemorov had told a waitress he was headed this way; the gunsled that came for Vanov had come from this direction; and Nick suspected more Rukranians were somewhere in the vicinity. He just needed to find them and find out why they had put a price on his head.
He hoped they didn’t find him first.
***
Nathan Green walked two blocks south and turned east for a block. He found an informal outdoor café with tables along the sidewalk and a cooking grill sitting in the gutter. Several tables were already occupied, but two were open and he took one. He ordered a breakfast burrito and spent ten minutes eating it, then continued his stroll.
Born and raised in Kline Corners, Nathan was a small-town boy. More than that—Kline Corners hardly even qualified as a town, so he was really a country boy. Until two years ago, when Nick Walker arrived and recommended him for the U.F. Marshal Academy, Nathan had never been more than a few miles from home. As a Man of the Galaxy he was essentially a cherry, and being a U.F. Marshal was a challenge. But…he had signed up and was determined to make it a success.
He felt a little self-conscious strolling along the street wearing a gunbelt, but as he observed others he noticed that perhaps one out of five men wore some kind of weapon in plain sight, so he felt a little less conspicuous. He continued to stroll, stopping frequently to absorb his surroundings. The whole town had an uneven look, as if it had been built by amateurs. Most buildings were constructed of wood but here and there stood a stone or brick building; most were single story but a few were taller, and none appeared built to any kind of code.
As the shops began to open, he stopped into several and looked around. Clerks greeted him in a guarded manner but otherwise left him alone. He ventured a question here and there but got few answers until he stepped into what looked like a gift shop that also sold various types of hardware. The clerk was a young woman not much older than Kristina, and she smiled at him.
“Hello, there. I haven’t seen you in here before.”
“I just got in town yesterday.” Nathan tipped his hat, which seemed to charm the girl. “I didn’t even know there was a town here. How long has it been here?”
“I don’t know exactly,” she said. “I was born here and my folks had already been here several years. It wasn’t always this big, though. When I was little it wasn’t much more than a village.” She rested her elbows on the counter, admiring him with innocent eyes. “Have you seen the whole town?”
“Not yet. I’m still exploring.”
“Are you from Camarrell?”
“No, I…I’ve been living on Terra. Came here looking for work.”
“Really! What kind of work?” Her eyes sparkled, and suddenly she stuck out her hand. “I’m Sarah, by the way.”
He took her hand and shook it briefly. It was rough and calloused. “Nathan.”
“What kind of work are you looking for? Whatever it is, there’s probably a need for it here.”
“Well, I’ve worked in a garage, driven a taxi…”
“We don’t have any taxis, but I think Benny’s Hovercar Repair might be looking for someone. They’re on the south edge of town.”
“Thanks, I’ll look them up.”
Her smile widened, and Nathan felt suddenly sorry for her. If she was as innocent as she looked—and based on the male specimens he’d seen so far—he wondered what her prospects were in a place like this.
“Where did all these people come from?” he asked her. “This is so far south of civilization that I had no idea it was here.”
“Oh, you know, all over. Settlers, mostly, and some drifters. Alpha 2 is pretty wide open for immigration and people come from a lot of places.”
Nathan glanced at some of the items for sale, all of which looked new and unused. He frowned.
“I know it’s none of my business, but I’m curious as hell…this place isn’t even on the map, and yet you have brand new merchandise. How can you get commodity shipments if nobody knows you’re here?”
“Well, obviously someone knows we’re here.” She laughed. “But folks around here don’t care much for government and if they choose to ignore us, nobody complains.”
She glanced over her shoulder at the door leading to the back of the shop, then leaned forward and lowered her voice.
“We don’t have to pay taxes that way, and my dad loves that!”
Nathan grinned. “I don’t blame him. Maybe I should settle down here myself.”
“You could do a lot worse!” Her face positively glowed.
Nathan felt like a heel.
“What about police? Seems like this could be a dangerous place to live.”
“We don’t have traditional police, but the governor has hired a few men to keep order.”
“And the governor’s men? Do they make you feel safe?”
“Oh, sure. Nobody crosses them. If anybody causes trouble, they deal with it right away.”
“Do many people cause trouble?”
“There are always a few bad onions, but they’re mostly people who drift in from somewhere else. If they mess up, they never get the chance to do it twice.”
Nathan nodded as if all his questions had been satisfied. He pointed at a pair of earrings on a stand.
“How much for those?”
She looked at the earrings and turned startled eyes on him. Her glow seemed to fade.
“Seventy-five terros,” she said quietly. “Are they for your…”
“Wife,” he said. “I think she would love them.” He pulled out his wallet and counted some cash.