Owner's Share (Trader's Tales from the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper) (47 page)

Ms. Arellone winced. “Ouch.”

I shrugged. “It worked out in the long run, but I’m a little superstitious here.”

Ms. Maloney looked a question at me, and then Ms. Arellone.

“Missed priority means a penalty payment to the shipper. We ran that load for free.” I told her. “It worked out in the long run because the owner of the ship we rescued on the way paid us for the run.”

“Rescued, Captain?” Ms. Maloney asked.

“Long story, but yes, Ms. Maloney.” I shook it off. “It doesn’t matter for the purposes of our efforts here at the moment. We need to get ready to take passengers, should we find some, but we need to get that shipment to Ten Volt on time.” I turned to the chief. “How are we on tankage, Chief?”

“Right fine, Cap. Right fine. Be up to tippy top noon tomorrow, see if we hain’t.”

“How are you doing on the list of discrepancies I gave you?”

“Working through them as time allows, Cap. Got a few of them done.”

“Thanks, Chief.”

I looked at the pair across the table. “What do we need to do besides find linens, and install the new consoles so that the passenger compartments are ready?”

They shared a look and Ms. Arellone spoke. “Just those two things, I think, unless we want to go with artwork, sar.”

“If I remember correctly Mr. Schubert got mine in the Flea Market on Diurnia. If we get time we might be able to cruise here, and see what we find.” I looked around the table. “Ms. Maloney, we need to find you some civvies. I’d like to go out for dinner, but someplace other than the oh-two deck.”

“I have some outfits in my apartment, Captain.”

“You have an apartment here on Welliver?” I don’t know why that surprised me.

“Yes, sar.”

“Well, twenty kilograms is your mass limit, but right now you’re at zero so if you’d like to pick up a few things...?”

“Thank you, Captain.” She turned to Ms. Arellone. “Stacy? Would you be willing to give me a hand? I could use some help picking out things that would be appropriate...”

I felt the chief stiffen beside me, but he didn’t say anything.

“Picking up clothes?” Stacy shrugged. “Sure. Be glad to.” She looked at me. “You’re not planning on going anywhere without us, are you, Captain?”

I shook my head and glanced at the chrono. “It’s barely 1600 now. Why don’t you take care of that? I’ll stay aboard and hang screens. When you get back, we can go grab a bite.”

Ms. Arellone beamed, and even Ms. Maloney smiled. They rose and headed down toward their compartment, presumably to freshen up before heading out. I stood and stretched, then went to refill my mug.

“Well, no time like the present,” I said to nobody in particular. “You going to hang out here, Chief?”

He shook his head. “’F it’s alla same ta you, Cap, I think I’d like to go ashore myself and stretch a leg or two, yanno? Take a lil walk around?”

“Thought you might, Chief. Have fun.” I gave him a little wave and headed for my cabin. On the way I fired up my tablet, and zipped a reservation for us at the Plum Blossom restaurant.

While I was ordering new units for the passengers, I went ahead and ordered a set for everybody. I even added one for the galley so we wouldn’t have to tie up our tablets, and we could keep a bridge repeater running there all the time. Under the circumstances, I saw no good reason not to start with my own unit. A few ticks later I heard Ms. Maloney and Ms. Arellone heading for the lock. I didn’t hear the chief but I was pretty sure he wouldn’t let Ms. Maloney off the ship without his escort. I still didn’t understand the bodyguard fetish, but for the moment, I was willing to play along.

Swapping out the console components was simple and fast. Other than some initial confusion when I tried to plug the keyboard into the wiring for the electronic door lock release, the new unit went in without a hitch. The new larger monitor clipped to the bulkhead brackets without a problem, and within half a stan I had my new machine powered up. It worked very well, but the internal network was still slow, and the links to StationNet were worse. I couldn’t quite fathom why they’d installed such slow components, but perhaps it was one of the options that the original buyer asked for. It saved a few credits in the short run, but paid for them again every time you tried to do something.

I bundled up the used packing material, tossed it down to the cargo deck for disposal, and headed for the first passenger compartment. There were four of them in all, each could hold two passengers. Two of the compartments held double bunks, and two held singles for a total of eight potential passengers. When I stepped into the compartment, one with a double bunk, I had to admit they had done a bang up job. The compartment was clean, freshly painted, and they had used a bit of the dark blue paint to highlight some of the details. Once the mattress had some linens on it, it would look better. The new, oversized display console would add a bit of finish.

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 had 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.