Long View - Rissa And Tregare Part 11

SHE found Liesel and Hawkman at table. As she sat, Sparline entered, accompanied by Ernol. Keeping all reaction from her face, Rissa glanced quickly from the pair to Liesel.

The older woman chuckled. "Don't hold your breath, Rissa. Ernol's here to celebrate his promotion to chief of Liaison. Custom of the house."

"Yes. I recall you mentioned need for such a position."

Servers brought food and wine; as usual, during the meal there was little talk. When only wine and coffee remained, Sparline brought out drugsticks. Rissa abstained-and so, she noticed, did Ernol. The other three smoked briefly, and Liesel waved away Sparline's offer of another round. "Later, maybe. First let's talk from sharp minds, not mellow ones. Now-Rissa, how'd it go with you today? And with Bran?"

"With Bran, as intended; tonight he guides Limmer to Base Two. With me-I cannot join him for two days-it was thus-" She related first the procedure at the Hatchery. Then, hesitantly, she repeated what Estelle Marco had told her. "Bran was as angry as I. He-"

She stopped.

Unsmiling, Hawkman laughed. "I think I know. Liesel?"

"Peace, yes!" She slapped a palm on the table. "You're not giving anything away, Rissa.

My son, little as I've seen of him, can't fool me much more than my daughter can. He keeps his plans secret, so far-and that's his right. I can't guess the details, of course. I wish I could-anyone can benefit from consultation. But in the long run, I know what he's up to."

Rissa shook her head. "How can you know? What is it you suspect?"

"Suspect? Pull in your kite, girl-I know! He'll go to Earth-when and by what route I can't yet guess-and do his d.a.m.nedest to pull UET out by the roots like a rotten tooth!

What else could I expect from Bran Tregare?"

She glared, red-faced; then the corners of her mouth 82.twitched into a half-smile. "If I'm wrong, Rissa-I'll give you my half of the Bleeker bet, free and clear."

Again Rissa's headshake-these people! "Liesel, you have out-gamed me. But you must realize-Tregare's is a long-term plan."

"Well, I should hope so. I wouldn't want to think my only son believes real life is like the entertainment channels."

"He does not. His plans are-impressive."

"That's good. I-"

"Liesel." Hawkman spoke. "Let's get down to business."

"What business?"

"The business of how we can help."

"When he doesn't tell us anything, how can we?"

"Let's find out." He turned to Rissa. "What does he need most? Money? Men? Probably not. Weapons?"

"I am not certain."

"But ships-ships, that's what. Of course. Liesel, what do you say we ask Bran if we can invest in this enterprise?"

"Hawkman, in the name of peace, how can we get ships? They come and go-the only one here is already his. What do you mean?"

Instead of answering, he said, "Rissa, when does he plan to leave?"

"I do not know." She hesitated. "And before I say more, I must consult with Bran-for already, even to you, his own family, I may have said too much." She gestured. "If only you did not play games with secrets from each other! I am accustomed to it with enemies, but here-"

Hawkman clasped her hand, then released it. "Excuse me a minute, all." He left, and returned with the screen terminal from Rissa's room. "You want to call him now?"

She tried the port; Lefthand Thread had gone. She switched channels and called Deverel; he reached Limmer at Base Two and then Tregare was on the screen, barely recognizable as the picture wavered. "Rissa? Everything all right? We're fine here."

"Tregare-yes, and here, also. But I am at dinner with your family; Ernol is with us, also.

And-I did not mean to break confidence, but Liesel guessed your plan-the goal of it-and I could not deny her guess." She could see that he scowled; she said quickly, "I have called now because-they want to help."

83."Help? How?"

Hawkman turned the screen partway toward him; at an angle Rissa could still see it. "Son? We'd like to buy into your venture a little, if we may. My thought-and Rissa neither confirmed nor denied it-is that whatever else you may need, you'd like more ships. Am I right?"

"I could use more ships, no matter what I intended. But only under my complete personal control."

"That's understood. Bran-do we have the start of an agreement?"

"Sure, Hawkman. But in the time I have-"

"Bran!" Rissa leaned toward the screen. "Later reinforcements could help, also.

If you left installation teams at Base Two-?"

"Yeah-maybe. All right-you can buy in all you want; I accept, and gladly. Too bad it couldn't have been earlier, but that's my stubborn fault, so don't try to apologize and make it worse." He turned to one side. "Just a minute, Vanois." Then, facing the screen again, "Hot skull-session going here; I should get back to it. Tell you what- can I call you tomorrow, or come over in a few days and talk at length?"

"I leave tomorrow," said Hawkman. "Riding the local packet out to Big Icecube.

So let's settle one thing-if I can get you Sten Norden's Valkyrie, do you want her? And with or without Norden?"

"Holy peace! You need a lot of deciding in a hurry! Yeah, I know-circ.u.mstance won't wait." He paused, running a hand up his forehead and through his hair. "All right. 1 want the ship. I'll buy into it-arming Valkyrie in return for its use on my mission-or I'll buy Norden out fairly, at his own option to stay on or not, long as he's willing to take orders. He's a good man; I'd like to have him along." Bran shook his head. "Just make it all clear, in the d.i.c.kering." A pause, and then, "Look- Hawkman-how long you figure to be gone?"

"A month-maybe less. Why?"

"Then that's all right; I'll see you when you get back."

Hawkman smiled. "I'm glad of that. Well, I won't keep you longer, now."

"Yeah. I haven't said thanks yet. Well, I do. To all of you."

The screen went gray. Hawkman looked around, face to 84.face, at all of them. "Well, Liesel? Do you approve of our new venture?"

Her brow wrinkled. "I'm not sure. Oh, it's all right, Hawk-man-I'm just thinking of some of the consequences."

"Consequences?" said Rissa.

Hawkman answered. "I know what she means. Why do you suppose we-or any groundhogs, except UET, of course-never bought into ships before?"

She thought. "Most people, no matter how much money- yes, I see it. But the Hulzeins take the long view, so-"

"And what good," said Liesel, "does the long view do you, if your ship's people decide to keep going and not come back? A second generation of Escapes at our expense? No, thanks!"

"But now," said Rissa, "with Tregare-"

"With Tregare, yes." Liesel nodded. "And no matter he's out for war, and peace take commerce!-he'll turn us a profit, too, before he's done." She sighed. "I hope I'm alive to know it."

"Wait a minute," Sparline said. "The Valkyrie was our next relay to Erika's faction.

And what about the cargo commitment?"

"Frozen gases are in no hurry," said Liesel. "We buy the rights and sell them to the next ship that turns up freelancing."

"And I wasn't happy," said Hawkman, "Using Valkyrie for our relay to Earth. Towing those pods, that first leg would be a slow haul. Odds are we get a faster chance before the year's out." He shrugged, then grinned. "Or maybe buy ourselves one, now we're into the habit."

"Hawkman!" Liesel's voice came near to anger. "On only one drugstick you say that? A ship we can't control, once it's up?"

He laughed. "Drug or no drug, we can control any ship we ride. Liesel-haven't you ever wanted to see Earth again? And now-with Bran Tregare going there?"

After a moment, Liesel said, "A new thought, Hawkman- it'll bear nursing a while. To change all our plans?" She touched his hand. "But that's you talking, not the drugstick!"

Even seated, Hawkman managed the hint of a courtly bow. "I do like being appreciated- especially by you. And-"

85."Just a minute." Sparline's voice held an edge. "You'd leave me holding the baby- your plans for this whole planet!"

"You've never had half the responsibility you could handle," said her mother, "and that's my fault. Now reef it in, Sparline-this is all kite designs, so far, not firm planning. But truly-if Hawkman and I were to do such a crazy thing, I'd have full confidence in your management."

Her gaze on Ernol, she grinned. "And besides-wouldn't that simplify your own plans?"

Sparline's knuckles rapped the table. "Liesel-you're impossible!"

Hawkman laughed. "No, my dear-only highly unlikely."

After a pause, Ernol spoke. "Some of this I don't know enough about, to make sense of it. Yet. But one thing- Madame Liesel-"

"No, Ernol!" Sparline pulled at his arm. "Not now."

Eyes narrowed, Liesel waved a hand. "Let the boy talk."

Rissa leaned forward. "No-it's not fair, Liesel. He has no way to know your games."

"He won't learn any younger."

Ernol shook his head. "I never thought I was stupid, so I guess I just don't know the language. All I wanted to say, Madame Hulzein, is that while you're here, what you say goes." Liesel's mouth tightened. "Now wait a minute-let me finish, please. If you leave, what you say still goes-in a way. I mean, if Sparline still wants to and you leave me in proper status for it, we'll marry. If you don't-well, I couldn't accept the status from her if you didn't give it to me. It wouldn't look right."

He stood. "I guess that's all. Should I go now?"

"You try it," said Liesel, "and I'll kick you. Sit back down and listen." She sighed; Rissa heard breath catch in her throat. "Ernol, you've d.a.m.ned near convinced me.

There's just one thing. You were lying a little, weren't you?"

"No. Not any. I only lie when I'm joking."

"Well, I guess we can't have everything. And you're young yet."

"I don't understand."

"Sparline, you can teach him, can't you?"

86.Sparline gasped, spread her arms wide and whooped, then reached to smother Ernol in arms and kisses. After a time she sat back and said, "But Liesel-why did you give me the game so easily!"

Liesel could not suppress her smile. "I never like to waste intelligent innocence-it has such great possibilities. I trust you to develop them."

Before Sparline could answer, Rissa said, "Now I understand. Yes, Liesel-this is one way to do it, and a good one."

An hour or so later, carefully keeping her euphoric mind in step with her gravity-bound feet, Rissa made her way upstairs. Once she was in bed, sleep came soon.

THE next day Hawkman left; Rissa saw him briefly at breakfast. Liesel was busy, Sparline away to One Point One. Deprived of company, Rissa came close to sulking. She called Bran, but he had time for only a few words. The day seemed like ten. When she woke next morning, thinking, Now I can get this done with, she came alive again.

SPARLINE had more business in the city; Rissa rode with her, "Shall I drop you at the Hatchery? I go within half a mile of it, anyway."

"Let me off where you are going. We are early for my appointment, and I will enjoy the walk."

"All right." Sparline landed at the end of a row of aircars, beside a domed building labeled "Fennerabilis & a.s.sociates." "If you want to meet me here I'll be in the Offworld Trade section-if I go anywhere else I'll leave a note in the car."

"That is fine. Thank you." From the air Rissa had noted the DRC building; she set off toward it. About halfway she recognized the building to her left; she was pa.s.sing Bleeker's headquarters. She looked at her watch-still early-well, why not?

She went inside and proceeded to Room 522.

The receptionist-the same she had met twice before-looked up. After a pause, he smiled. "Ms. Obrigo-I'm sure Mr. Bleeker will see you immediately." He rose and led the way.

- 87.

Bleeker stood to greet her, one hand pulling at his goatee as he reached the other to shake Rissa's. "Ms. Obrigo. What business brings you here?"

She accepted his motioned offer to sit. "Nothing in particular. I was pa.s.sing and thought to say h.e.l.lo. How are you?"

He sat also and clasped his hands on the desk. "You mean that, don't you? I know gloating when I see it, and you're not. Well, I'll tell you-it was a real shock when Liesel Hulzein played her sleeping dummies and took control. Hard to swallow."

He smiled. She thought his smile would never be attractive, but now it was more relaxed. "But I did swallow it-had to- no choice. And you want to know something?"

"Of course, if you wish to tell me."

"It's a relief, that's what! I'm as good as most, I think- kept my holdings when a lot went under. But once I knew the Hulzeins had the crunch going on me, I ran scared- anybody would. And now it's over. I'm just a figurehead, and it's no secret."

"Yet you do not seem depressed, Mr. Bleeker."

"And I'm not." He leaned forward. "There's a time coming here-some won't believe it, but it's true-when the big ones will shake all the rest off the tree and then have it out among themselves."