Plague Ship | Page 7

of
her port in the early morning and was brought back, protesting with both voice and claws,
at the end of the day by that member of the juvenile population whose turn it was to
collect the standing reward for his forceful delivery. Within three days it had become an
accepted business transaction which satisfied everyone but Sinbad.
The scrape of metal boot soles on ladder rungs warned of the arrival of their officers. Ali
and Dane withdrew down the corridor, leaving the entrance open for Jellico and Van
Rycke. Then they drifted back to witness the meeting with the Eysies.

There were no prolonged greetings between the two parties, no offer of hospitality as
might have been expected between Terrans on an alien planet a quarter of the Galaxy
away from the earth which had given them a common heritage.
Jellico, with Van Rycke at his shoulder, halted before he stepped from the ramp so that
the three Inter-Solar men, Captain, Cargo-master and escort, whether they wished or no,
were put in the disadvantageous position of having to look up to a Captain whom they, as
members of one of the powerful Companies, affected to despise. The lean, well muscled,
trim figure of the Queen's commander gave the impression of hard bitten force held in
check by will control, just as his face under its thick layer of space burn was that of an
adventurer accustomed to make split second decisions--an estimate underlined by that
seam of blaster burn across one flat cheek.
Van Rycke, with a slight change of dress, could have been a Company man in the higher
ranks--or so the casual observer would have placed him, until an observer marked the
eyes behind those sleepy drooping lids, or caught a certain note in the calm, unhurried
drawl of his voice. To look at the two senior officers of the Free Trading spacer were the
antithesis of each other--in action they were each half of a powerful, steamroller
whole--as a good many men in the Service--scattered over a half dozen or so planets--had
discovered to their cost in the past.
Now Jellico brought the heels of his space boots together with an extravagant click and
his hand flourished at the fore of his helmet in a gesture which was better suited to the
Patrol hero of a slightly out-of-date Video serial.
"Jellico, Solar Queen, Free Trader," he identified himself brusquely, and added, "this is
Van Rycke, our Cargo-master."
Not all the flush had faded from the face of the I-S Captain.
"Grange of the Dart," he did not even sketch a salute. "Inter-Solar. Kallee,
Cargo-master--" And he did not name the hovering third member of his party.
Jellico stood waiting and after a long moment of silence Grange was forced to state his
business.
"We have until noon--"
Jellico, his fingers hooked in his belt, simply waited. And under his level gaze the Eysie
Captain began to find the going hard.
"They have given us until noon," he started once more, "to get together--"
Jellico's voice came, coldly remote. "There is no reason for any 'getting together,' Grange.
By rights I can have you up before the Trade Board for poaching. The Solar Queen has
sole trading rights here. If you up-ship within a reasonable amount of time, I'll be inclined
to let it pass. After all I've no desire to run all the way to the nearest Patrol post to report
you--"

"You can't expect to buck Inter-Solar. We'll make you an offer--" That was Kallee's
contribution, made probably because his commanding officer couldn't find words
explosive enough.
Jellico, whose forté was more direct action, took an excursion into heavy-handed sarcasm.
"You Eysies have certainly been given excellent briefing. I would advise a little closer
study of the Code--and not the sections in small symbols at the end of the tape, either!
We're not bucking anyone. You'll find our registration for Sargol down on tapes at the
Center. And I suggest that the sooner you withdraw the better--before we cite you for
illegal planeting."
Grange had gained control of his emotions. "We're pretty far from Center here," he
remarked. It was a statement of fact, but it carried over-tones which they were able to
assess correctly. The Solar Queen was a Free Trader, alone on an alien world. But the I-S
ship might be cruising in company, ready to summon aid, men and supplies. Dane drew a
deep breath, the Eysies must be sure of themselves, not only that, but they must want
what Sargol had to offer to the point of being willing to step outside the law to get it.
The I-S Captain took a step forward. "I think we understand each other now," he said, his
confidence restored.
Van Rycke answered him, his deep voice