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Updated: June 15, 2025
At a gesture from their Cargo-master, the I-S men set down a small chest. Groft, his chin resting on a clenched fist, lost none of his lazy air. "They are received," he retorted with the formal acceptance. "And no one can have too much good fortune. The Howlers of the Black Winds know that." But he tendered no invitation to join the feast. Kallee did not appear to be disconcerted.
Ten percent of a cargo which can't be assessed the gang on Limbo kept no records of what they plundered." "We don't know what he was carrying when he crashed on Limbo," countered Kallee swiftly. "We'll base our offer on what he carried to Axal." Now Van Rycke chucked. "I wonder who figured that one out?" he inquired of the scented winds.
Kallee replied: "We'll take up your contract, at a profit to you, and you up-ship before the Salariki are confused over whom they are to deal with " "And the amount of profit?" Van Rycke bored in. "Oh," Kallee shrugged, "say ten percent of Cam's last shipment " Jellico laughed. "Generous, aren't you, Eysie?
For a moment Kallee was disconcerted. But he rallied quickly. "It has not been tested you do not know how it will affect your people " The storm priest shook his head impatiently. "We are not lacking in intelligence, Trader. This plant has been tested, both by your master of life secrets and ours.
So they had not lifted from Sargol. They showed no signs of uneasiness it was as if their rights were being infringed by the Free Traders. And Kallee, their Cargo-master, swaggered straight to the bargaining point. The chatter of Salariki voices was stilled, the Sargolians withdrew a little, letting one party of Terrans face the other, sensing drama to come.
"Yes?" the Queen's Cargo-master prompted politely. But Kallee had taken his Captain's arm and was urging Grange away from the spacer. "You have until noon to lift," was Jellico's parting shot as the three in Company livery started toward the road. "I don't think that they will," he added to Van Rycke. The Cargo-master nodded. "You wouldn't in their place," he pointed out reasonably.
But Kallee had lost little of his assurance. "You haven't heard the last of this. A tape of the whole proceedings goes to the Board " "As you wish. But in the meantime " Van Rycke gestured to the waiting Salariki who were beginning to mutter impatiently. Kallee glanced around, heard those mutters, and made the only move possible, away from the Queen.
And they did not doubt that Kallee had, in some way, triggered the scales against them. Jellico made the best of it. "We accept challenge," his voice was level. "We, being guesting in Groft's holding, will fight after the manner of the Salariki who are proven warriors " He paused as roars of pleased acknowledgment arose around the board.
Plainly he was one who believed in getting down to essentials at once. Kallee could not be overawed. "These Free Traders have introduced among your people a powerful drug which will bring much evil," he spoke slowly in simple words as if he were addressing a cub. "You have evidence of such evil?" countered the storm priest. "In what manner is this new plant evil?"
Kill!" That was the Salariki, all their instinctive savagery aroused. But Jellico spoke to Groft. "By our customs we do not kill the conquered. Let his friends bear him hence." He took the claw knife the Eysie still clutched in his hand and thrust it into his own belt. Then he faced the I-S party and Kallee. "Take your man and get out!"
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