Second Chances (110 page)

“That's what bothers me. I've been looking into this theory to reprogram DNA plus plant RNA. Some plants have this ability...we're using that as a template in order to figure out how the Memes achieved it. But we're not built that way. We're supposed to pass on a gene package that intermingles, instead of a clone,” Sandra said softly. She hugged herself.

“The thing that bothers me, the aliens said they don't do that until after a few generations. So why did they do it to us now?” Maggie asked.

“We're special?” Ducky asked. He frowned. “That is an interesting question my dear. Perhaps we should investigate it?”

“How?”

“By examining the children, that were born prior to our recent contact with the aliens as well as those conceived prior...and then comparing their DNA to their parents,” he suggested. Sandra and Maggie both nodded.

“And by extension you could do the same with the animals too,” Mitch suggested.

“Oh dear me. I believe we're going to be doing a great deal of lab work,” Ducky said. He shook his head. “We do need more information on this.”

“We'll have to ask the Memes. If they ever get off whatever cloud they are floating on to bother to talk to us again,” Sandra said in disgust. The others nodded.

------*------

When Miles realized Chambers wasn't going to commit to any sort of formal trade or override Fen he stormed about in their quarters. “I know you’re pissed, but you can't have everything. That shit Trinika pulled has everyone in a bad mood. You know it backfired,” she said, doing her nails.

“Yeah well...” Dunn flopped into a chair. “This sucks,” he finally said. It did, he thought, he'd started to count on the materials he was getting from the base. Finished materials and equipment. He had plans, and he couldn't move on them if he couldn't get the equipment and supplies he needed. “Any ideas?”

“Well, you could look up the department heads. See what they need? Maybe they'll do some horse trading with you direct?” Ciara asked absently.

The colonel frowned as he thought that over. “Interesting,” he murmured.

“Whatever they agree to, Chambers will have to as well unless he wants to piss them off. If he does he'll drive a wedge in between them,” she said. Miles nodded. “Did you get anywhere with the Aussies?”

“Them?” Miles asked in disgust. He'd thought that by allowing Jesus to fly the other community leaders in they'd get some gratitude. Apparently not enough to bring pressure on Chambers. They acted like allies, but they didn't commit...and they definitely didn't follow his lead. He wondered if they understood that he controlled all the trade coming from north to south.

“We haven't known them long enough. We need to get our hooks in deeper,” the colonel said.

“True,” Ciara said, setting the file aside as she stretched. She caught him looking and smiled, preening ever so slightly at his hungry gaze. One thing she did like at base was the silk fabric and clothes that woman Selma put out. The red nighty she was wearing for example; they couldn't do anything like the soft silk in the fortress.

Sure their leather craft had improved noticeably when the Estaban woman had arrived...but she was clearly unhappy. She'd gotten a few of the guys to court her, but Juan had been the one to seduce her to them, and she was clearly not thrilled about sloppy seconds. She couldn't blame the woman; most of the men were brutes. Hairy, slovenly, smelly...she shook her head.

She wished she cold snag Selma as well, but the woman's gifts were largely due to access to the textiles the base put out. Without the crops, polyester yarn, wool, and most importantly the textile mills, the woman was practically useless.

Miles said he was working on expanding their own base. She wanted it, wanted that badly. He'd already improved things a lot. When he had heard Chambers had suggested tiles be made in Copper Town, he'd imported a few to use as molds, then instructed their own people to make copies. They now produced plenty for their needs and even a small surplus to export.

Her hacienda mansion was slowly taking shape. She'd almost given it up, but Miles had backed her on its construction. It was more fortress than mansion in some ways, but she fully agreed with the thick protective walls. Miles was also into indoor plumbing and modern amenities, so he'd backed her trades for copper imports.

He was a piece of work. She hadn't thought they'd work out for long, but so far so good. She'd been attracted to him not so much for her role with Sydney than the power and protection he presented. She knew the psychology involved, the attraction of a male who was powerful, dangerous, and a good provider. Miles was all of them. She heard him get up and come up behind her. His hands touched her shoulders and neck. She dropped her chin, purring as he rubbed.

He was also trainable with the right incentive she thought smugly. Miles had been a bit rough when they'd first gotten together; hell in many ways he still was, just like his gauchos. The rough passionate sex had been fun, but it had been short, entirely too short for her to savor it.

He was a bastard, crude and simple, all about his own needs...at least at first. But he had stamina when he wanted to focus, and with a little carrot she could get him to focus on what
she
wanted. She smiled as he continued to rub but also caress. His fingers brushed the straps of the nighty off her shoulders, a decidedly bold question for him. She knew what that meant. Speaking of carrot she thought as she slowly rose and turned to kiss him, letting the nighty drop to her feet. He returned the hungry kiss with his own as his arms wrapped around her, politics momentarily forgotten.

------*------

Anne found out that Bottom's Up and the Pacific Islander Village collected and were ready to export latex and other tropical plant products. “The bloody problem is getting it off the island,” Betty Smith, Bottom Up's rep said making a disgusted face. “There are some right nasty flakes and monsters off our shores.” Anne nodded.

“We're beyond the black stump...we don't want to be bludgers. But any ship that goes about will come a cropper with those beasties,” she said shaking her head. “No way.”

Anne puzzled out some of the terms and then wrinkled her nose. She got the gist though. “Yes, I know shipping is out, at least by sea. So, we've got to go by air, which means freighter aircraft.”

“Fair enough,” the other woman said, bobbing a nod. “Thanks again for the shout, I know you blokes are loaded, but it's bonza that you mates are doing all this,” she said. “We Aussies should play our part. Do you have the petrol for it though?”

“Fuel?” Anne asked and then nodded. “We can figure it out. We've built a couple AN-38s over the winter. To make this work we'd need bigger. But we'd also need an airfield to land at,” she said.

“Crikey, you are serious!” Betty said, wide-eyed. “Well, good on you sheila, we'll do our part,” she said with a grin.

“I heard you do road trains with the islanders?” Anne asked, wrinkling her nose.

“When they don't come a cropper and bingle with a tree or something else,” Betty said making a face.

“Well, once regular trade is established maybe something can be done about the roads.”

“G'donya. That'd be aces,” Betty said with a nod. She looked over to a male waving to her. “I've got to shoot though; you tell Chambers to not let that Jackaroo Dunn knock him,” she said, punching Anne lightly in the shoulder.

Anne nodded. “I will. Take care,” she murmured as the woman waved and left with her companion. She shook her head. “I know she speaks English, but I need a translator or something,” she said in wry amusement.

------*------

Mitch found out that Maggie had arranged to buy domestic dinos from Colonel Dunn and other communities like Prairie and one of the Asian communities while he'd been listening to Ducky's lectures. “Why?” Mitch asked, thoroughly confused. It wasn't like they needed more animals...

“Why not? We can't use them for blood lines, but we can use them. Colonel Dunn showed me a few of the animals. From what I've heard they have been broken in and domesticated, but I'm betting they've been roughly treated. They most likely broke their spirits.”

“Okay...so why? If this is some sort of misguided rescue...you do know they'll just go get more right?” he asked.

She frowned and then shrugged. “It's not just that. I'm selling a couple of our Struthomimus to Jack and Chief Roberts as well as Mike. Half our herd actually.”

Mitch nodded. “We've also domesticated that orphaned Hungarosaurus. Sam brought in last week.”

“The one he said thought his truck was its mother?” Mitch asked, snorting in humor. She nodded.

“It's an Anklesaurus type. Small, about the size of a dog, but broad. No club tail. The kids love to ride it.”

Mitch nodded. He'd seen the feisty thing; it loved to play and acted like a dog. He wasn't sure how it would act when it got to adult size. Having something that size romping with a club of a tail swinging about...he winced. Then he remembered what she'd just said, no club. He frowned...he still wouldn't like to be whacked with the tail of that thing. It was bad enough when one of the dogs got him.

“He's got two of them. I figured they'd give junior company,” Maggie said. “We haven't found any others in the area.”

“Okay, Mags,” Mitch sighed. “So what is this costing us?”

“I'm also getting scads of tack,” Maggie said, grinning. “And it's not costing a lot. I'm working with Ducky and Doc to come up with meds and supplements Dunn and Adam requested. And I'm trading them some of our chickens.”

“...And?” Mitch drawled, raising an eyebrow as she looked away.

She bit her lip and then shrugged. “Some other stuff. Minor tools, some more oil and other fluids. I know we don't use motor fluid much; it's mainly for trade. You've got all the vehicles here set up as electric.”

“All but the construction equipment,” Mitch said. “And they are electric hybrids, Mags. What else?” he demanded.

“Some brake parts. Tubes, I've got a list.” Slowly she pulled out her tablet.

“Maybe next time you'll run it past me before you commit us to selling stuff we may not replace?” Mitch asked, hand out. Reluctantly she handed her tablet over. He frowned thoughtfully as he looked it over. “And of course Paul has to go pick them up and bring them back. He's going to love you for that one,” he said.

“I can go,” Maggie said. He glanced her way. She shrugged. “I'm serious. I know handling animals on the road isn't easy.”

“It's not just hard, it's dangerous, Mags. Transporting the animals over what, two thousand kilometers? Predators coming after them because of their smell?”

Maggie paled a bit. “I forgot that,” she mumbled.

“Right. You did. And we can't fly the damn things in,” Mitch said. He scowled. Some of the parts were for Dunn's plane. There were also some clothe and polyester yarn. Also a few things he was fairly sure Dunn hadn't known Capital was producing...which meant someone told him. Rozerita possibly. He scowled. Then shook himself. Or he could have noted it in the tours, he thought. “You gave away everything but the kitchen sink for what?” He scrolled up.

“Sixty animals,” Maggie said, hunching her shoulders. “Thirty from Dunn, twenty from Prairie, and another ten from the Asians.”

“Lovely,” Mitch sighed. “A regular animal drive. Right through Velociraptor territory,” he growled. He shook his head. “Well, I'll back you on this, but you have to make it work. You get to pick them up like you said. And you get to break the news to Paul and the others.”

“Others?”

“You traded stuff that isn't in your department for these animals. So you get to talk to Lisa, Brian, and Bob about it. Something tells me they aren't going to be happy with you either,” Mitch said. Maggie frowned. “Of course they may want something in return...” Mitch said, envisioning the snowballing situation unfolding as Maggie looked up in confusion. “It's like a couple MASH episodes I saw as a kid. A lot of horse trading. You started it, have a ball finishing it. Don't dig it in too deep though,” he warned.

“I...I really did get in over my head, didn't I?” Maggie asked ruefully. Mitch didn't say anything as he passed her the tablet back and then walked off. She sighed. “Yeah. I thought so. Me and my big mouth,” he grumbled softly to herself. She kicked herself for getting so excited and caught up in the moment.

She perked up though when another thought struck her. At least she'd get a chance to see Rozerita and the kids when she went to Dunn's fortress. That was one small ray of sunshine on the whole affair.

Chapter 49

The first week of summer had them finish the conferences. Colonel Dunn was unhappy that he hadn't gotten Mitch to commit to anything else...and his method of going around Mitch to make deals with the department heads had dried up with just the one trade to Maggie the vet.

Mitch was bemused by what had transpired. They'd tried to pressure him to make Paul and Sam do what they'd wanted, but he'd backed his people. He'd worked out some agreements with some of the communities...and some long range plans had been made by Anne. He wasn't sure if they could pull it off, but he'd like to think they could. They'd already come a long way in a relatively short time. But they had a long way to go before they could build the cargo jets she had proposed to the Aussies.