Long View - Zelde M'Tana Part 37

Lynne's eyes widened. "Nothing like that around here.

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People caught robbing and thieving don't live to do it twice. Why, the Council hasn't had to hang one up on hooks, to dry there, for-oh, it must be nearly five years now."

So, were there Police? No-Lynne said that anybody had Police authority if it was needed. Zelde didn't see how that would work, but Lynne said it did, so Zelde left without asking anything more.

Outside, walking, she felt the late-afternoon breeze-hot, off the southern desert- and took off her jacket to hang it over one arm. She met a few people coming the other way; about half of them smiled or nodded or said h.e.l.lo. Keeping her own pace, she pa.s.sed several going in her own direction, and one-a young boy, moving at a trot-pa.s.sed her. Two groundcars came by, raising dust that made her hold her breath unti l it blew aside. Then a car pa.s.sed her and stopped just ahead. The driver-one man alone-looked back to her. "You want a ride?"

The heat had her sweating; she moved quickly and climbed in. "Thanks," and the car moved again; The man-thin, and probably in his bio-thirties-liked to ask questions, so Zelde told the bare facts about her stay on Fair Ball. ". . . and so I'm at River House until another ship comes along."

He gave his own name: "Jady Trevaile-that's from J. D., my initials," and told her he was a Chief Mechanic at the Port. They were on pavement now, between blocks of buildings, not separate houses. He pointed out City Hall, a brick front showing four rows of windows; the lower one, so near the ground, had to be a half-bas.e.m.e.nt floor. "If you're here a while, they like you to register with Immigration. No big fuss, but in case you run into any problems, it's as well to be on record." In front of the building, he stopped.

"Here we are. Anything else I can do for you?" So she asked him about transportation to the Port, and learned that a bus made that trip three times a day and would pick her up at River House if she called the depot in time. "Or I could, for that matter, if you reach me before seven hundred hours when I leave for work.

Jady Trevaile-got it?"

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"Yeah-and thanks." She stepped down now, and he drove away.

City-Hall meant Authority; Zelde looked at it a while, reminding herself that this was a Hidden World, not one of UET's. Then she tipped her chin up a little and climbed the steps, and walked in. Two doors back, along the corridor behind the lobby, the sign read, "Department of Fisheries, Mines, Fuel Refining & Immigration."

Inside, three desks-two were vacant. At the third, a young Oriental woman looked up. She pushed at the coil of hair on top of her head, and spoke. "Can I help you?

And which hat do I wear?"

"Immigration, sort of. I'm off Kilimanjaro-the ship just in today-staying a while but not for keeps. Fella gave me a ride, said I should ought to check in with you people."

"Surely. Just a moment." Moving to another desk, the woman brought out some papers. "Now, then-"

There weren't many questions. Name? Zelde gave it. Age? "Bio or chrono?" The woman wasn't sure; Zelde gave her best guess at both. Occupation? Ship's officer.

Reason for coming to Fair Ball?

That one took some thinking; ship's business wasn't hers to tell. Finally, "It was the closest Hidden World we knew of. Why I'm stopping over-just looking for a new berth, is all."

Skills? The woman smiled. "We have no openings for ships' officers, of course- but if you run short of money while you're waiting, perhaps we could help you find work."

"Don't expect I'll need to, but thanks anyway."

The woman set the completed forms aside, but she wasn't done talking. Was Zelde interested in traveling? The freighters on Main River took pa.s.sengers, up to the edge of the Outfield Mountains or down-current to the ocean. Or aircar pa.s.sage could sometimes be arranged-and there were overland convoys to the mines and their small settlements. "Keep us advised where you'll be, if you leave the city for any length of time. That's so we can get word to you, if a ship arrives."

"Well, thanks." Zelde paused, then said, "This here, it's my first Hidden World.

The idea, coming in to register-I 290.

almost didn't. But you sure's h.e.l.l run things different from UET."

The woman smiled. "I'd hope so. Though if you'd found Elzie Kretchlein here instead of me, you might wonder. She acts like a judge sentencing a thief. But of course no one has to take her seriously!"

Zelde laughed, and reached to shake hands. "Glad to meet you."

"You haven't, quite. I'm Sandra Wing."

Well, all right. Leaving the building, Zelde felt fine.

No sun now, but twilight was holding up good. She walked the town, sorting out where things were, until the sky began to darken. Then, pa.s.sing a small tavern, she smelled food and decided she could use a snack.

Inside, she liked the place-low look-over part.i.tions of woven reed, with the same kind of patterns covering the walls. Seated, she asked the waitress-a blonde girl with short frizzled hair-to recommend something. "Try the twenty-year soup. The kettle's been hot that long, and every day they add to it, it gets better. Over bread- that is, a slice at the bottom-it's best." So Zelde ordered the twenty-year soup and a big mug of beer.

The soup lived up to the story and the cold beer was good, too. Zelde cut her lip once-and cussed a little, under her breath-before she saw the spoon had a sharp edge on one side. Yeah-it was made to double as a table knife. All right; after that, she was more careful.

When the soup was gone she had another beer, and a short whiskey alongside.

The whiskey wasn't much-it tasted a little off-so she didn't finish it. She paid, in plastic wafers, and left.

Outside, until her eyes got used to it, was dark for real- hardly any street lights, and not much light from buildings. No moon showing, or stars as such-a couple of bright spots in the haze, and a vague patch of lighter sky to the south. Big star cl.u.s.ter, she guessed-one of the Magellanics, maybe? But looking along the street now, she could see well enough to walk it.

Back at River House she showered again and had some real whiskey from the ship, and went to bed early.

291.

Light woke her-red sun just pulling free of the horizon. Rested and hungry, she dressed and went downstairs. A skinny young man in the office showed her how to find Jady Trevaile's phonecode-voice only, no screen here-so she called him.

Another man answered-voice deeper than she'd expected-but then Jady came on.

Sure, he'd pick her up. Half an hour? So she had time for a quick breakfast in the dining room, and met him outside. The air was cool yet- the sky a little bluer than yesterday but not much. She got in the car and they started off, he asking how she liked the city and she finding not much to say about it. "Safe to walk around in, anyway." And she told him about Parleyvoo on Terranova.

Then it was his turn to talk. The man who'd first answered her call was his wife's other husband. Lots more men than women on Fair Ball, so that's the way it worked, for many. One neighbor woman had five men all her own, and raised h.e.l.l when they wanted another woman in the marriage. "It takes all kinds, I guess."

Uphill now, the road slanted through scattered bushes- no real trees here-with broad, blue-green leaves. Timber for construction, he said, came from up Main River a way-no clearing off the trees in and around town until some logged-off areas regrew.

At the Port's main building, with instructions how to reach him for a ride back in the afternoon, he let her off and drove away.

Admin was concrete-orange, with green trim around the windows. Ugly as h.e.l.l, first look-but then Zelde decided she liked it. Inside, she found that Captain Cannes wasn't in, but Marisa Hanen-up one floor-saw her right away. Friendly enough- smiling, shaking hands-the woman showed Zelde the short-term investment program Cannes had set up for her. Not too hard to figure-her shares in safekeeping to back what she bought and sold, with expense money on hand to draw from Baseline Trading, in town. Good enough; for starters she put half her shares on general loan to the Port.

Checking the computer terminal further, Zelde made sure the ship's true log was entered, and Ilse Krueger's 292.

message for Tregare. She thought. "Can I add something here myself?" Hanen nodded.

More thinking, then Zelde keyed her entry to the log- Strike Three, the ship was now. She punched in, then, the Hat jobs she'd held-including command for a time- and her offer to buy up a berth, or depending on ships' customs, just work one on shares.

What else? Yeah-that she had recommendations from Dopples. And an offer to ride supercargo, maybe-work odd watches and pay for the rest of it-to get to someplace that got more traffic.

Satisfied, she turned to Hanen. "I think that does it."

"Quite welcome. Courtesies of the Port." Then: "Oh, yes-your ship called here, after failing to reach you at River House. Someone named Kestler. The message was merely to call back."

So Zelde called. Turk wanted to see her on the ship. All right-Zelde thanked Marisa Hanen, went outside and started walking.

The ramp guard greeted her. "How do you like the place so far?"

She grinned. "It'll do, for now. All right I go upship?"

"Sure." And going up the ramp and inside, she thought of when the Utie woman had first brought her aboard. But then, Parnell was here! She pa.s.sed the corridor that led off to Hold, Portside Upper-and farther up, peered into the galley and returned waves from people who happened to see her. By habit, she went on to Control-but stopped, just inside. I got no business here now.

The watch officer looked around-Torra Defose. "Zelde! I'm glad you're back." The woman came to her, hands reaching out, and would have embraced. But Zelde caught the hands and held them.

"Just not thinking, I come up here. I shouldn't of-"

Torra shook her head. "I can't stand it, your hating me. Can't we-"

"I don't-" But was she taking her own grotch out on Torra? All right. "When you get off watch?" Afternoon, was the answer. "Good. Can you come in town with me then? If you want to, I mean."

"Yes, and yes!" So now they hugged, and Zelde said where she'd be, and left and went down to Turk's place.

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Rooster was just leaving-cheerful as ever, he gripped her arm and shook hands.

Then Turk took hold of her shoulders, and said, "You're not easy to locate-but I'm glad you're here."

"Sure. Glad to be here, too. But-anything on your mind, special?"

"Have a drink first." Real bourbon again, with ice-and again Zelde realized how bad the local whiskey was. Then Turk said, "Rooster and me-we can get you back on this ship!"

Swallowing, Zelde choked-coughing, sneezing the raw booze out of her nose. "Turk- that's crazy!"

"Wait and hear-and forget about share-votes. We've lined up enough people who'd walk off this ship-and stay off-that Dopples and Harger would have to knuckle under.

How's that?"

Tears came, but Zelde made the effort and laughed instead. Quickly, she hugged Turk; then she sat. "I-I may have friends as good as you, but none better. But now you hear-Dopples is right. At the party I said that, you maybe too boozed to hear me straight." Turk tried to talk but Zelde wouldn't stop. "There's too many, p.i.s.sed that I come out of cargo and pa.s.sed them to wear Hats-and then be Captain. Skipper's wh.o.r.e, I've heard whispered. And would I of got a Hat, hadn't been I was with Ragir?" She shrugged. "No way to know-but it's best I'm off here. I do thank you and Rooster though-peace knows I do." She drained her gla.s.s. "We got time for one more?"

Breathing hard, Turk took a minute to calm; then she could smile a little. "All day, if we want to. And-all right, Zelde-if you say so, we'll drop it. It's a shame, though.

We wanted to do something for you. . . ."

Pulling at her hair over one ear, Zelde grinned. "You could give me a haircut.

This is bushed out way too much." That stopped the argument; Turk took her time, cutting. Zelde looked at the result-like a tight cap of thick felt-and said, "Thanks-for everything."

Early for lunch, it was, but Zelde and Turk went to the galley. Rooster was there, having coffee, and Gil Charvel joined the group. The two men looked worried, until Turk 294.

said, "She'll have nothing to do with it, and convinced me she's right. So forget it- and pa.s.s the word."

Rooster left; Charvel said, "I'd have walked off, Zelde- believe that. But I knew what it would cost me to do it."

Sure-his shares and experience wouldn't buy him a Hat on another ship. "So it's good you don't need to. Just the same, thanks." He'd eaten fast; now he shook hands and left. Zelde turned to Turk. "Thank the rest for me, will you? Hey-if I'm nosy, say so. But who all else was there?"

Some of the names Zelde hardly knew. Henty Monteil, sure-and, yeah-then it hit her. Not Lera Tzane or Torra Defose, on the list. Well, 'course not. They'd be stupid; too much to lose. Still she felt-no, not angry, not with them, but a little sad.

Then she told herself she was being stupid, and said only, "So many? I wouldn't of thought it."

They got up to leave; just outside the galley they met Dopples. "Zelde! Turk, can I borrow this one for a few minutes? A little talk?" Turk nodded; Zelde followed Dopples to his quarters.

Inside, there, she realized something. "How come you're not in captain's digs? I mean-"

He smiled. "No hurry. And I wasn't sure you were done, there. You took hardly any of the booze-and you know I don't drink much bourbon."

Well. She hadn't wanted to be greedy, even if she'd been able to carry much more when she left. But when he offered to send a load to River House, she took him up on it. Bourbon, and some jash and trair, too. "And I thank you."

Serious now, he leaned forward. "And I want to thank you-for heading off Turk Kestler's plan."

"What?"

A wry grin. "Torra spotted it-so Turk's intercom sends whether she knows it or not, lately. I was pleased to hear you-"

"Wait a minute!" Zelde stood. "You was spying-right? Just like UET! I ought to- ".

His arms came up. "Zelde! I had to know what those people intended to do to this ship. So that I could-"

"So's you could what? Shoot somebody?"

He looked surprised. "You know me better than that! No-so that if Turk's group left, I'd be ready to start recruiting in town, and training people to replace them.

And 295.

one reason I'm glad it won't happen is that Turk's very valuable to this ship."

When Zelde couldn't find an answer, he said, "About Torra-she couldn't join the plan, of course, or even let on that she knew about it. But she's torn, Zelde-she's un- happy. I think if you asked her to go with you, to stay groundside-" He sighed. "I think she'd probably do it."

Why was he saying this? She cleared her throat. "And how about you? How do you feel?"

Dopples shrugged. "How do you suppose? I want to keep Torra-of course I do!

But only by her own choice." He clasped his hands together, fingers working, and looked down at them.

After a time, Zelde said, "I won't be asking her, Dopps. Not handing out any free gifts, me. It's just-she wouldn't get half the chance for herself off this ship, as on it,"

His head was still down; she said, "What if I did want to take her off here? What thing would you say then? And do?"

Showing no expression, he looked up. "I'd get on with running this ship-as I must, anyway. If you mean my personal life-well, Hilde and Helga don't care much for rat- ings' quarters. They keep whining about coming back." He stretched his arms wide, and yawned. "The trouble is, whining bores me-makes me wonder why I ever put up with those two in the first place."

No answer to that, so she said, "Just lucky, I guess." She turned, and Dopples stood and showed her out.

She looked around, here and there, and talked with a few people-Henty, Rooster, a quick chat with Turk: "Dopples was onto you all the time. There's no kickback, though-he's glad to keep you, is all." She didn't locate Lera Tzane, and left word for Torra that she'd be back to pick her up, late in the afternoon.