Read Online Rissa and Tregare by F. M. Busby - Free Book Online Page B

looked out over the faling ridges as the aircar crossed them.
    "It's primitive, Rissa. Only the basic repair facilities, and less fuel storage than I'd like. But I needed a place away from One Point One, where ships could gather."
    "And they are gathered?''
    He laughed. "Just one- Carcharodon. This morning, on the squawkbox, Vanois accepted my terms and moved across the Hills. Rissa-I have another ship!"
    She looked at him until her silence drew his gaze. "I was right long ago-back on Inconnu -was I not? You build your-self a fleet and-I am certain-intend to arm it. Two questions remain."
    They dipped low over a ridge; he turned right, to parallel the formation. "Only two?" he said. "I thought there'd be more."
    "In detail, perhaps-but basically only two* How many ships? And where will you take them?"
    "You're right." His voice was low. "The rest depends on those two things. Well, then-how many? I don't know yetand I wish I did, for the matter of where to go depends on how many I can gather."
    "Tregare." His look was puzzled; she laughed. "You have your own roles, as I have mine. In whatever home we may have, you are Bran. But as a ship captain, I can know you only as Tregare."
    At his nod, she said, "I cannot imagine you building a fleet to attack Far Corner or Terranova or the Twin Worlds. So-is it Stronghold? Or-Earth itself?"
    "How the hell did you figure that out?" He shook his head. "No, you needn't answer. It's because we think alike, you and I."
    "At some times we do. And-"
    "Hold it a minute-we're getting close, and I want you to catch the landmarks." He pointed. "The peak we're passing
    -there to the right, with the slant-cut top. Now just past it-the half-circle, almost, that ridge makes? We go up and over it-and there-the flat-bottomed crater, where once a moun-tain threw its insides up!" As they descended, she saw that the crater floor's natural flatness had been improved, in places, by artificial grading. At one side near the rim a group of buildings, blank-walled, formed a short arc.
    Near them stood a ship. At the nose, several plates had been removed and now hung from scaffolding.
    "Yes,'' she said, "the insigne reads Carcharodon.''
    Tregare landed near the ship, Unbuckling his safety har-ness, he removed a gun from his jacket and tucked it into a recess beside his seat. "I don't need this, and Vanois is touchy about being trusted, so why annoy him?" Disembarking, Tre-gare carried only a briefcase.
    They were halfway to the ship when a man walked down its ramp to meet them. "That's Vanois," Tregare said.
    The man's appearance surprised her-squat and heavy, with mud-colored skin and hair. The hair and beard were un-trimmed and uncombed. In contrast his clothing appeared clean, was brightly colored and tailored snugly.
    "He talks an odd jargon sometimes," Tregare whispered, "but don't let it fool you. He's smart enough, Vanois is."
    "You are the negotiator here. I will follow your lead."
    He chuckled. "Sure. Don't forget-I've seen you impro-vise." Now they neared the ramp; Vanois stepped off it. Tre-gare said, "Hello, Raoul. Ready to sign? But hey-first, meet my wife-Tari Obrigo."
    "You does me honor." The man's voice was clear and sweet, like a child's. He shook Tregare's hand, then Rissa's. "It's pleasured, Ms. Obrigo."
    "And I, Captain Vanois."
    The man turned again to Tregare. "It's to sign, now? Yes. But first you says again the terms."
    "For a half share and control, you get the amount we agreed-half in Weltmarks, the other half in equipment, in-stallation, and training. Under my direction you keep ship command and full discretion concerning your own people. I think that's the gist, isn't it?"
    Vanois nodded. "You says it same as before. Y'knows-I hates it some, you needing control. But I hasn't the money only to keep going as I has-and maybe not that, the way things is gone. With the guns and all-and when does I get 'em? How long is we got to wait here?" As he talked, Vanois briefly scanned the contracts