Plague Ship | Page 5

putting before him the same type of equipment Dane had produced for Van
Rycke. The Cargo-master of the Solar Queen showed no surprise, if the Eysies'
appearance had been such to him.
One of the younger warriors in Paft's train got to his feet and brought his hands together
with a clap which echoed across the silent gathering with the force of an archaic solid
projectal shot. A Salarik, wearing the rich dress of the upper ranks, but also the collar
forced upon a captive taken in combat, came into the enclosure carrying a jug in both
hands. Preceded by Paft's son he made the rounds of the assembly pouring a purple liquid
from his jug into the goblet before each chieftain, a goblet which Paft's heirs tasted
ceremoniously before it was presented to the visiting clan leader. When they paused
before Van Rycke the Salarik nobleman touched the side of the plasta flask in token. It
was recognized that off world men must be cautious over the sampling of local products
and that when they joined in the Taking of the First Cup of Peace, they did so
symbolically.
Paft raised his cup, his gesture copied by everyone around the circle. In the harsh tongue
of his race he repeated a formula so archaic that few of the Salariki could now translate
the sing-song words. They drank and the meeting was formally opened.
But it was an elderly Salarik seated to the right of Halfer, a man who wore no claw knife
and whose dusky yellow cloak and sash made a subdued note amid the splendor of his
fellows, who spoke first, using the click-clack of the Trade Lingo his nation had learned
from Cam.
"Under the white," he pointed to the shield aloft, "we assemble to hear many things. But
now come two tongues to speak where once there was but one father of a clan. Tell us,

outlanders, which of you must we now hark to in truth?" He looked from Van Rycke to
the I-S representative.
The Cargo-master from the Queen did not reply. He stared across the circle at the
Company man. Dane waited eagerly. What was the I-S going to say to that?
But the fellow did have an answer, ready and waiting. "It is true, fathers of clans, that
here are two voices, where by right and custom there should only be one. But this is a
matter which can be decided between us. Give us leave to withdraw from your sight and
speak privately together. Then he who returns to you will be the true voice and there shall
be no more division--"
It was Paft who broke in before Halfer's spokesman could reply.
"It would have been better to have spoken together before you came to us. Go then until
the shadow of the shield is not, then return hither and speak truly. We do not wait upon
the pleasure of outlanders--"
A murmur approved that tart comment. "Until the shadow of the shield is not." They had
until noon. Van Rycke arose and Dane gathered up his chief's possessions. With the same
superiority to his surroundings he had shown upon entering, the Cargo-master left the
enclosure, the Eysies following. But they were away from the clearing, out upon the road
back to the Queen before the two from the Company caught up with them.
"Captain Grange will see you right away--" the Eysie Cargo-master was beginning when
Van Rycke met him with a quelling stare.
"If you poachers have anything to say--you say it at the Queen and to Captain Jellico," he
stated flatly and started on.
Above his tight tunic collar the other's face flushed, his teeth flashed as he caught his
lower lip between them as if to forcibly restrain an answer he longed to make. For a
second he hesitated and then he vanished down a side path with his assistant. Van Rycke
had gone a quarter of the distance back to the ship before he spoke.
"I thought it was too easy," he muttered. "Now we're in for it--maybe right up the rockets!
By the Spiked Tail of Exol, this is certainly not our lucky day!" He quickened pace until
they were close to trotting.

Chapter II
RIVALS
"That's far enough, Eysie!"
Although Traders by law and tradition carried no more potent personal weapons--except

in times of great crisis--than hand sleep rods, the resultant shot from the latter was just as
unpleasant for temporary periods as a more forceful beam--and the threat of it was
enough to halt the three men who had come to the foot of the Queen's ramp and who
could see the rod held rather negligently by Ali. Ali's eyes were anything but negligent,
however, and Free Traders had reputations to be respected