Trade World Saga 1: Manual Interpretation (39 page)

Andrew tilted his head down and looked a little sideways and grinned as he swallowed too much of a sip. "She says...(cough)...shoo... she says that we ought to go out there and ask if they intend to trade with us or what."

"Do what?"

"Yep," Andrew said. "She thinks we ought to go out there and act like none of this shit ever happened. Ask them why they took our honored guest, Mister Oshira. "

"I'll be damned," Brad said and took a sip. He raised his glass a bit and grinned at Andrew. "Here's to Susan."

"I'll drink to that," Andrew said.

UmBllatt, Captain of the Ullumff Trader was getting very tired of the protestations of this 'raymondoshira' being. It had been a little over an Ullumff day or so since they had left. It is always prudent to leave when there might be trouble. Too bad his sensors could tell little from this range. He had considered staying away another week or two to 'sweeten' the deal but he didn't know if he could stand this 'raymondoshira' much longer. Imagine. This little being had defecated in one of their sleeping areas, urinated on some artwork and complained about the food. It was unimaginable. Wonder if they would miss him if we just returned without him. Of course...they would complain and try to insist on his importance and try to trample us for more trade goods. I suppose it wouldn't be in the best interest of the mission. Pity.

Captain UmBllatt was shaken out of his reverie when a crewman lightly grunted for attention.

"What?"

"A small ship is approaching," said the crewman.

"Only one?" he asked.

"Yes Captain. I'm receiving a message."

"Well! Relay it to me. Have the come to beg us to come back...if so, let's just sit here a while and let them look for grazing," said the Captain very proud of his analysis. They'll beg us to come back and we can get more trade concessions because of this trouble at their quarantine station.

The crewman grunted almost inaudibly.

The Captain swung his oculars around to gaze at the crewman in a very unfavorable light.

"Captain. They said for us to trade or apply for visa extensions. They said we have several 'days' left on our trading visas and we knew where to find them if we wanted to return. They also said something I do not understand."

“What is that?” The Captain inquired.

“What does
do you want to fish or cut bait
mean?”

"They insult us. I will not stay here and have them argue endlessly over who did what and… " the Captain noticed the crewman manning the communications station was beginning to shuffle around and oculars looking up at the ceiling. "Yes. What is it now?"

The crewman snorted and said, "They have already left Captain and are out of efficient communications range.

The Captain looked at 'raymondoshira's' sleeping form on the floor and wanted to butt it and trample it. The angry cinnamon smell of the Captain was very apparent to the crew. Now we will trade.

Ling, Susan, Andrew, Brad, Tod, Joel, Fran, Desiree sat around the lounge toasting the completion of the repairs with other off duty base personnel. It had been two months of relative time within the field but only days of 'normal' time since the attack. The main problem had been the enormous logistics problems of raw materials of food stockpiles and repair materials. It was obvious they could produce heat, light and water with their almost limitless energy source of the cold fusion but food and manufactured materials were easier to consume than to produce. They had finally kicked back a bit and were having an, 'old home week' party to celebrate the completion of their Herculean labors.

The Hawk and the Constellation were two of the ships that were constantly on guard now. Three additional ships had been completed in the Arizona Enclosure and were now in service and, literally, tons of supplies had been ferried to the lunar station. The Constellation reported the Ullumff vessel first and shadowed it as the navigational system directed the ship back toward the lunar base. Colonel Kyger was alerted.

"Sir. They are about twenty-five minutes from docking sir. We're bringing them in much slower this time. I want them to see that there is no damage and everything is nominal."

"Good job Ari. I'm glad you're still able to escort them in. Hope they recognize your ship," Brad said.

"That's a big roger to that," said Ari remembering the recent fate of some of his sister ships. "I doubt they'll be able to tell the difference between ships much yet."

"Imagine you're right. Look out for any unwanted guests will you?"

"Will do, sir."

Brad turned to his friends and said, "Shall we see what is up? Ling. Who do you want with you? I'm more concerned about Oshira then I am about UmBllatt and friends."

She paused and then spoke. "How about two security and Desiree? Two security men carted Oshira away for a debriefing in a field. Tod. Can you help with his interro... ...interview?" Everyone nodded or gave a 'thumbs up'.

"Good. Other suggestions. Andrew?" Brad looked to Andrew.

"I think we ought to tell them as much of the truth as we can and do that as policy. The truth is easier to stick to than some tale and they aren't dumb. Remember what Rett said. No telling what Oshira has convinced them of. I think we ought to treat him as a criminal and Brad, see if you can get him banned from any thing like this again," Andrew said to his friends who generally nodded. “Brad. Would you get someone to look for any unscheduled transmissions that were picked up just before the attack? I didn’t think about it ‘til now but I bet Oshira and Alexander exchanged words about then.”

“Will do,” Brad saw that they were ready, "Let's set the port to Ullumff conditions and get set for our guests."

They filed out to their appointed areas as support, negotiations or liaison.

Captain UmBllatt was still angry when he returned to the lunar base. He wasted little time after the ship was secure to indicate which of the crew was to go with him and who was to escort 'raymondoshira'. He felt sure that these beings would be angered by his abduction of their 'oshira' and worried about it delaying the talks. There appeared to be no damage to their complex though and he wondered what had happened. It had certainly looked like an imminent attack situation. No doubt, these beings, these men, would lie about the cause and extent. He came here for trade and trade he would pursue. There was huge profit potential if that
calculator
was any indication. Imagine that 'oshira' being saying they were worthless. Obvious he was some political appointee. Well here come the squeaky little stick beings.

Ling and Desiree were with two of the largest security people on the base. The security fellows; like pro wrestlers but bigger, were also wearing environment suits that made them appear even larger; nearly the same size as the Ullumff. The women looked like pixies compared to their larger escorts and the visitors. They could see a very bedraggled Oshira being obviously escorted in the back of five Ullumff. The captain, UmBllatt appeared to be in the front and Ling caught the cinnamon scent immediately...he smelled wonderful...sexy? Yep. He smelled sexy...imagine that! She chuckled to herself.

"Greetings Captain," Ling said. "Your vast experience served you well as you avoided an unfortunate attack on our station by a rogue military group. Several ships were destroyed but the situation has been resolved and there will be no more unexpected interruptions. Thank you for saving Mister Oshira. I hope he was not too much of a burden."

"Burden! I understood that," Oshira shouted in English and pressed forward through the Ullumff. "I resent that. Do you know what I've been through? I'll dare say someone will answer for this!"

Desiree nodded to the security men who moved in and took Oshira up under the arms effortlessly even with the heavier Ullumff gravity settings. Ling said in
Trade
. "I desire your trade here to be successful for all."

The captain was puzzled. Admitting an attack... Pleased that they had rescued that 'raymondoshira'. Interesting. I don't see the signs of any damage so they must have defended this base pretty well. Odd. I wonder what underlies their admissions. I don't like little stick beings even though two of them are of reasonable size. Those two big ones almost gave me a turn, he thought, and snorted. The other Ullumff in his party caught his humor scent and wondered what made their captain laugh.

Ling continued as the captain absorbed the situation. "We will, of course, change the terms of any agreement we make with you..."

The captain swiveled ears and oculars toward her and the cinnamon scent became strong again.

"...to make the conditions more favorable for you and your crew. You were inconvenienced with a hasty retreat and being
saddled
with an unwanted guest."

"
Saaddulled
?" UmBllatt said questioningly at the English word.

Ling thought her Ullumff vocabulary wasn't up to the task but then she thought of, "...carrying a heavy, unwanted load." Ling and Desiree looked at each other as all the Ullumff went crazy with snorting and oculars looking around madly. She was worried because just then, one of the Ullumff in the back obviously passed gas from the smell and all the Ullumff went around snorting and snorting while almost jumping up and down.

Deity. The captain thought as he fought to catch his breath after laughing so hard he almost fell down. An unwanted burden... How funny! I think we can do business with these beings after all.

"Your rooms are the same and have been restocked with more of the refreshments. Your bracelets have been reactivated and will open the same doors as before. We thought you would want to eat, drink and," Ling couldn't think of the Ullumff equivalent to 'freshen up' so she just said, "wash."

The captain replied with a polite grunt which surprised the rest of the crew aware of his earlier rage. They had been hoping that their captain didn't ruin their chances of viewing
documentaries
and cold
beer
and
peanuts
. The yellow bracelets had become a status symbol on board the ship and they were glad they didn't have to give them back.

The four crewmembers enjoyed seeing
their
room and wasted no time in raiding the refrigerator and turning on the display.

The captain went to his room for a short while, came out, and barked some orders to one of the crew. The crewmate jumped up and practically ran out of the room back toward the ship with the bellows of the captain receding behind him.

Andrew and Brad looked at the monitors with alarm near the conference room.

"Think it's bad?" Brad asked.

"Don't think so... " Andrew answered and sat back as the Ullumff came bolting back out of the ship carrying a meter long tube and a small cloth sack. "Think we were right. He'll ask to see us soon I think."

Brad raised his eyebrows and took a sip of water, missing his Jack Black.

UmBllatt had learned enough and arranged to have trade negotiations to start again. The humans were all filing into the conference room and the Ullumff clomped in and leaned against their support 'chairs'.

UmBllatt raised himself to his full height of fully two meters and grunted. Even the humans understood that he intended to speak first and had an important announcement to make. Even though he seemed odor neutral now an acrid reek began to emanate from the other crewmembers. UmBllatt raised a meter and a half tube about ten centimeters in diameter level over the table.

"For my trading partners as a gift," he said and handed the tube over to Andrew.

Brad opened the end after a brief description of the procedure from the Ullumff navigator. UmBllatt was silent with oculars rigid.

Andrew swiveled the end of the open by squeezing as indicated and inside was a rolled up sheet of plastic...metallic...thin material. They slid the material out and unrolled it. Fran just happened to see what it was and gasped followed shortly after by Desiree and then every human in the room sucked in air or muttered when they saw it... a star chart. It was not like anything they had ever seen. It had markings that were obviously names or inscriptions near them and lines of various thickness and colors and lengths between the vividly colored stars. It was a wealth of information like none had ever seen. The humans were struck absolutely speechless...it was so very beautiful…so very functional.

UmBllatt broke the reverie again with a more abrupt grunt and indicated something beside one of the Ullumff. The crewmember reached down and picked up a heavy sack which he handed over to UmBllatt. UmBllatt, with great theatre, held the bag high over the table and slowly reached into it. He drew forth a thick book which he held in front of him.

"This is a book explaining all the inscriptions under each system in the chart. It explains about each planet in the named system and the inhabitants and what has been successfully traded in the past. It has warnings about prohibited products or dangerous areas and navigation hazards. It rates each system through the use of many variables for ease of entry, facilities, quality of goods and the like. This Uoott Guide also yours as a gift," UmBllatt said.