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Updated: June 21, 2025
Van Rycke burrowed in his belt pouch and then held out his hand. On the broad palm lay a flat disc of metal. "Very interesting " he repeated. "I shall treasure this recording " The sight of that disc wiped all satisfaction from the Eysie faces. Grange's purplish flush spread up from his tight tunic collar, Kallee blinked, and the unknown third's hand dropped to his sleep rod.
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?
"The Eysie blasted last night," Rip informed him as they lounged in the sun on the ramp, sharing the blessed lazy hours of invalidism. But somehow that news gave Dane no lift of spirit. "I didn't think they'd give up " Rip shrugged. "They may be off to make a dust-off before the Board. Only, thanks to Van and the Old Man, we're covered all along the line.
Using his net as if it had been a thong, Jellico had brought down the Eysie with a move the other had not foreseen. Breathing hard, sweat running down his shoulders and making tracks through the powdery red dust which streaked him, Jellico got to his feet and walked over to the I-S champion who had not moved or made a sound since his fall. The Captain went down on one knee to examine him. "Kill!
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!"
Now and then he raised his smelling bottle to his nose with an elegant gesture which matched those of the befurred nobility around him, as if not a thought of care ruffled his mind. The Eysie feinted in a opening which was a rather ragged copy of the young Salarik's more fluid moves some hours before.
And under his level gaze the Eysie Captain began to find the going hard. "They have given us until noon," he started once more, "to get together " Jellico's voice came, coldly remote. "There is no reason for any 'getting together, Grange. By rights I can have you up before the Trade Board for poaching. The Solar Queen has sole trading rights here.
Dane began to think it had gone on for weary hours. And he was dimly aware that the Salariki were also restless. One or two shouted angrily at Jellico in their own tongue. The end came suddenly. Jellico lost his footing, stumbled, and went down. But before his men could move, the Eysie champion bounded forward, his net whirling out. Only he never reached the Captain.
Ali registered faint amusement, an expression which tended to rouse the worst in the spectator, as Dane knew of old when that same mocking appraisal had been turned on him as the rawest of the Queen's crew. "But does he wish to speak to you?" countered Kamil. "Just stay where you are, Eysie, until we are sure about that fact." That was his cue to act as messenger.
In the meantime the Eysie contingent fumed below while Ali lounged whistling against the exit port, playing with his sleep rod and Dane studied the grass forest. His boot nudged a packet just inside the port casing and he glanced inquiringly from it to Ali. "Cat ransom," the other answered his unspoken question. So that was it the fee for Sinbad's return. "What is it today?"
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