Owner's Share (Trader's Tales from the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper)

by Lowell, Nathan

  As I unpacked the new displays and control units I realized that I couldn’t actually hang the monitors without tools. They were sufficiently bigger than the old ones that they needed new mounting brackets for the bulkhead. I didn’t know the chief well enough to rummage around in his tool box without permission. There were some places even clipper captains dared not tread. An engineer’s toolbox was one of them.

  There were some things I could do to speed the work later so I stripped the components out of their packaging, and placed them gently on the mattress. They would be fine there until we got them hooked up. I then crawled around under the desk and pulled out all the clips, and dropped the controller units out, swapping the base units without upgrading the displays. Having made the mistake with the electronic door lock in my cabin, I managed to avoid that error, and congratulated myself on my cleverness, just before banging my head by standing up before I had completely backed out from under the desk.

  I left the old components stacked by the door, tossed the used packing materials into the passage, and moved on to the next compartment. I finished in less than a stan, and started bundling up the trash for disposal.

  Having done something concrete, I found myself enjoying a warm feeling of accomplishment. I took that feeling into the shower so I could wash off the smelly aura of actual work that went with it. When I got out, I scrounged up a set of respectable but not overly ostentatious civvies, and dressed for dinner. I knew where I was going to take the crew. All I needed was a crew to take. I frowned, and looked at the chrono. It was pressing on toward 1730, and I hoped nothing unfortunate had happened.

  By the time I’d finished sorting through the pockets of my shipsuit, grabbing the ship’s key along with my ID, and my tablet, I heard the lock open and, half a tick later, the sound of footsteps topping the ladder. I opened the cabin door, and smiled when I saw Ms. Maloney carrying a duffel bag slung over one shoulder, and dressed in a comfortable looking pair of jeans with a shimmering, blue silk blouse under a brown tweed jacket. I admired the jacket’s cut and tailoring because it captured the feel for the classic tweed, but updated and slimmed down to fit her body.

  “Did you think we got lost, Captain?” Her smile was warm and slightly playful.

  “I was beginning to wonder, Ms. Maloney, but you had enough help with you that I figured you’d be okay.”

  She smiled at Ms. Arellone climbing the ladder behind her. “Yes, I wasn’t sure what to pick out, but with her help, I’ve got a decent enough collection, I think.”

  “And she’s under her quota, Skipper. I just weighed her in.” Ms. Arellone was empty-handed and smiling brightly. I wasn’t sure what had happened between them but it was obvious that something had.

  I looked down the ladder, and didn’t see anybody else. I was about to comment again, but the lock started to cycle and after a tick, the chief walked in, smiled up at me and waved, before heading back toward engineering through the cargo hold. The lock cycled closed behind him.

  Turning back, I said to Ms. Arellone, “Well, get some civvies on. I’ve got a reservation.”

  Chapter Forty-One

  Welliver Orbital:

  2373-January-12

  Jimmy Chin ran three of the best restaurants in the quadrant and, they were all on Welliver Orbital. He had a noodle shop on the oh-two deck, and a hibachi place on deck six, but his Plum Blossom on Deck Eight was the place to go for oriental cuisine. It was a scrumptious mélange of rice, spice, and sauce, and I tried to eat there at least once every time I got to Welliver.

  I refused to tell the crew where I was taking them, but when we got on the lift, and I punched the eight button, I got the idea that Ms. Maloney knew where we headed. If she kept an apartment on the orbital, she had to know about the Plum Blossom.

  Before we got up there, I asked her, “Is there a problem with going up to Deck Eight, Ms. Maitland?”

  She shook her head. “Jimmy is a good friend, Captain.”

  The chief shot her a look, but kept his irascible grin in place without making any comment. I pretended not to notice. Ms. Arellone kept her eyes front, but I could see her frowning reflection in the lift’s doors.

  The lift stopped, we trooped out, and headed to port. About a quarter of the way around the orbital we came to a rather subtle entrance featuring nothing more indicative than a stylized flower done in a rich purple. When we opened the door and stepped in, a tumult of color and noise and aroma assaulted us. I thought Ms. Arellone would go into cardiac arrest, and I suppose it was a bit cruel to spring it on her like that, but the chief certainly knew his way around. I could see him measuring up the dining room, scoping out the staff, and eying a discrete door beside the kitchen.

  The man himself greeted us as we walked in. His eyes lit up when he saw Ms. Maloney and again when he saw me. Being the consummate gentleman and skilled diplomat, he ignored me and focused on Ms. Maloney.

  Before he could say anything, she greeted him. “Jimmy, you old scalawag. I don’t know if you remember me—Catherine? Catherine Maitland? I haven’t seen you in so long!” She held out her hand, but he tsked and shook his head.

  “Oh, for shame, Ms. Maitland how could I forget such a flower among women?” He moved in for the hug but apparently changed his mind, and shook the offered hand in both of his. He looked around at the rest of us and, picked up his cue carefully. “Perhaps you’d introduce me to the rest of your party?”

  “Certainly, Chief Bailey, I think you may remember Jimmy Chin?”

  The chief nodded and grinned, shook hands briefly. For his part, Jimmy smiled, “Of course, nice to see you again, Chief.”

  “Ms. Stacy Arellone, may I present the proprietor of the finest restaurant on the orbital, Mr. Jimmy Chin? Jimmy, this is my friend Ms. Stacy Arellone.”

  He smiled broadly at her and shook her hand. “You, Ms. Arellone, I’m sure I have never met. I would have remembered!”

  “Finally, Captain Wang, I think you know Jimmy.”

  He gave me his customary hug, and pounded my back. , “So you’re still Captain Wang, Ishmael?” he said softly in my ear.

  “I am, Jimmy. And I’m famished. Do you have a place for us to sit, and perhaps a small bowl of steamed rice for us?”

  He laughed a big ho-ho-ho laugh, and led us into the dining room waving his hand for staff to jump, and jump they did. Ms. Maloney gave me a look that was equal parts amusement and consternation.

  “I’ve eaten here before, Ms. Maitland.” My tone carried deserts in the delivery.

  For the first time since I’d known her, she barked an honest to gods laugh, and her eyes lost a bit of their edge. It shouldn’t have felt as good as it did to hear her laugh, but I didn’t have time to ponder as Jimmy showed us to a sheltered table out of the line of sight, and backed up against a solid bulkhead. The chief and Ms. Arellone sat with their backs to the wall where they could watch the room, and Ms. Maloney and I sat where nobody could see our faces.

  The chief was not happy with this arrangement and I pondered why I seemed to attract chief engineers with extra personalities.

  Jimmy in the meantime leaned down to me. “Will you trust me one more time, Ishmael?”

  “Always, Jimmy. Feed us, please.”

  He grinned and patted me on the shoulder. “You, I owe, big time.” He stood, and snapped his fingers, then waving his hand in summons. “You remember the last time you saw me? We had that lovely banquet on your ship?”

  “I do, Jimmy. Thank you for that.”

  He waved my thanks aside. “I should thank you, Ishmael. My takeout business is now twice as big as Noodle House, and closing in on Golden Wok. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before!”

  Ms. Maloney caught a bit of the conversation. “Jimmy? I thought you always had takeout. I know I’ve ordered from you for stanyers.”

  He grinned. “Indeed you have, Ms. Maitland! But Ishmael’s inspiration was to offer it to the docks!” He clapped me on the back. “And what a wonderful feast we ha
d that night, huh?”

  “Oh, yes, my friend. My crew talked about it for weeks after.”

  “Tonight.” He nodded sagely. “Tonight, it will be better!”

  The first tray of food showed up at the table, and he stepped back out of the way. What followed was a gustatory parade of the first order. There were soups, and noodles, and rice dishes, and chicken dishes. We had sweet, and hot, and sour, and salt, and variations on the themes in combinations that left me breathless—literally, in the case of one rather spicy dish that burned so much I almost asked for another. If Ms. Arellone and Chief Bailey didn’t enjoy the dinner as much as Ms. Maloney and I did, it was through no fault of the food. They both played the bodyguard game too hard for my blood, and neither of them seemed to get along with the other. The first, I couldn’t do much about, but the second I might need to address once we returned to the ship.

  After about two stans of course after course, the meal ended with a lovely tong shui. It was a good thing it did, too, because I had already eaten more in that one meal that I had all week. It amused and quietly pleased me that Ms. Maloney kept up even though we lost the chief and Ms. Arellone somewhere between the fried pork dumplings and the hunan chicken.

  When it became clear that we were through, Jimmy himself brought us the check. He presented it to me with a flair, and I laughed when I saw it.

  I looked up at him, “Jimmy? Is this some kind of joke?”

  He put on a look of one who has been grievously wounded. “Ishmael, my friend, you have cut me to the quick. How would it look if people think Jimmy Chin gives away his food, huh? I ask you, how would it look?”

  I tsked in sympathy, and shook my head. “Forgive me, old friend. I should have considered your reputation. I meant no offense.” I bowed in my seat—as well as I could around the table and my stuffed belly.

  He returned the bow, going much lower than I had. “None taken, old friend.”

  I added a generous tip, thumbed the amount, and handed it back before rising.

  Ms. Arellone and the chief were up in a flash and standing between us and the door. Jimmy caught the movement, and gave me a little shrug as if to say, “What can you do?”

  I held out my hand. “Thank you, again, Jimmy. I’ll stop by the next time I’m on station.”

  He shook it warmly, his eyes crinkling around the edges with his smile. “Thank you, Ishmael. I’ll look forward to it.”

  He turned to Ms. Maloney and reached out his hand. “And you, Ms. Maitland. Don’t be such a stranger.”

  “Thank you, Jimmy. I’ll be back as soon as I digest this meal.” She patted her stomach in unabashed chagrin. “Sometime in May, if I’m any judge.”

  We shared a laugh, and the two guards led us, as nonchalantly as possible, out of the restaurant.

  When we were back on the lift, and heading down, Ms. Maloney looked to me and asked, “What was that about? The joke thing?”

  I grinned at her “The amount was not what I expected.”

  Her eyebrows went up in surprise and a bit of interest. “Really? I would have expected a meal like that to cost rather a lot.”

  “Me, too, Ms. Maitland.”

  She frowned in confusion. “Pardon me for being gauche, but you’ve piqued my interest now. How much did he charge you?”

  “Four credits.”

  She blinked at me in disbelief. “The bill was four credits?”

  “Yes, hence his comment about giving away meals. He didn’t give it away. He charged us a credit a piece. Nobody ate for free.”

  Ms. Maloney shook her head. “Now I’m jealous, Captain.”

  I arched an eyebrow in her direction. “Jealous of what, Ms. Maitland?”

  “Your relationship with Jimmy Chin.” She shook her head in mock despair.

  The lift doors opened, and I started to step off onto the docks before I realized that we’d stopped one deck short. A tall, bookish looking man rushed on, and ran headlong into Chief Bailey. He bounced off with a muttered apology.

  The chief grabbed him, and started to fling him to the deck, but held his impulse. As the lift doors closed, the man blinked a couple of times looking at the chief’s face carefully while the chief’s hands twitched.

  “Well, my word! It’s Gramps, isn’t it? Gramps Bailey? Where’s your lovely charge?” He exclaimed, his eyes raking our group. His gaze froze on Ms. Maloney. “There she is!” He tried to untangle himself from the chief briefly before he realized the chief held him firmly by the front of his jacket.

  “Andrew? Andrew Leyman? Is that you?” She stepped forward to greet the man with a hug, forcing Chief Bailey to release him and step back.

  The lift continued down to the docks, and the doors opened as they continued their effusive greetings. We stepped off the lift to make room for a group of spacers waiting to get on. The chief and Ms. Arellone both twitched as we slipped around the crowd of too many people all at once. I sighed inwardly.

  “I never expected to run into you here, hon. I thought you lived over on Diurnia. What are you doing here?” Mr. Leyman asked when the initial greetings ran down. His eyes went to her spacer cropped hair. He didn’t comment on it, but he clearly wasn’t expecting it.

  “Normally, I do. I’m just passing through,” she said. “But what about you? What in the world are you doing here? I thought you had gone back to Vervaire to teach.”

  He shrugged. “It was too boring. Same silly students quarter after quarter. All wanting top marks for average work. And if that wasn’t bad enough, I practically drowned in committee work. I gave it up, and went back into the field.” His eyes flickered to me, and then Ms. Arellone, as he talked.

  “What are you doing on Welliver?”

  “Oh, I’ve been down on the planet doing some survey work on the substrata distribution of mineral deposits.” He grinned. “When I left university, I started my own business. Leylines. It’s worked out splendidly. Beyond my wildest dreams. Who’d have thought seismic survey work would be in such demand?”

  She got the high sign from the chief, and I had to admit standing there in the icy cold dock was beginning to strain my tolerance.

  “Well, that’s wonderful, Andrew!”

  He stopped gushing about his business for a moment, and his face turned serious. “What about you, hon? I heard about your father. How are you? I was so sorry to hear.”

  “I’m fine, Andrew,” she reached out to touch him on the arm. “Thank you. It was a terrible shock, as you might imagine, but life goes on.”

  He sighed. “Oh, I know. I lost my mother a couple of stanyers back. It’s just so unexpected when they pass on so young.” He smiled at her in sympathy, genuine warmth in his eyes. As if suddenly realizing that we were all standing around freezing on the docks he stepped back. “Well, I won’t keep you, hon. I see you’ve got things to do, but it was so wonderful to see you.”

  “And you, Andrew! You take care of yourself.”

  “Always do,” he assured her with a grin. He pressed the call button on the lift, and we started to walk along when he called after us. “Say, Christine?”

  The chief flinched as his voice carried her name out and across the docks.

  She turned to look at him.

  “You might be able to help me. Do you know any ships going to Ten Volt? I’ve got a new job there the first of next month, and I’ve shipped my gear, but getting there myself is proving a bit of a challenge.” The lift doors opened, and he stood in the opening to keep them from closing as he spoke.

  She shot me a look, and I shrugged. “Can’t hurt to talk to the man,” I said.

  We changed course, and followed him back onto the elevator. He looked around at us curiously, and Ms. Maloney pressed the button for Deck Six.

  “Andrew? This is Captain Ishmael Wang...” I nodded to him. “And Ms. Stacy Arellone...” She continued to size him up. “And you know Chief Bailey.” He gave his happy-go-lucky grin, and a nod. “For security reasons, I’m Catherine, not Christine. Let’s get so
me coffee, and we’ll have a little chat, shall we?”

  “Ok. Sure,” he agreed, curiosity painted on his face. I had to give him credit he didn’t ask any questions, and followed her lead in spite of his obvious confusion.

  When the doors opened, we all stepped off. Ms. Maloney cued Ms. Arellone to lead us to starboard where we found a quiet coffee shop with a few booths around the edges and a lot of empty tables. After getting our drinks, Andrew, Ms. Maloney, and I slid into a booth, and the chief and Ms. Arellone settled at the nearest table.

  Andrew noted the arrangement. I could see his eyes flick curiously at them as we settled. “Seems like overkill doesn’t it, Chr—ah—Catherine?”

  Ms. Maloney shrugged . “Insurance company requirement. Not much I can do about it.” She sipped her coffee before getting down to business. “So? Tell me about Ten Volt.”

  “I’ve got a rush job. The company there found some new deposits, which for obvious and non-disclosure reasons I’ve already said too much about, but I need to get there by the first of the month to do some subsurface mapping. I’ve got a couple of tons of equipment in transit there already, I think, but getting me there is not so easy. As much traveling as you do, you know as well as I how difficult it is to get that far in less than half a lifetime.” He sipped.

  “Couldn’t charter a packet?” she asked him with an eyebrow raised in my direction.

  “Oh, there were plenty who were interested when I started looking a week ago, but when they found out I needed to go to Ten Volt, they lost interest quickly. They all had passengers or cargo commitments that kept them from taking a charter and none of them were heading in Ten Volt’s direction.” As he talked he kept glancing in my direction. He didn’t ask but it was clear from his expression he hoped I was the solution to his problem.