The Privateer (7 page)

Ararat's jump point was not picketed, and local traffic seemed rather light. Cale boosted
L'rak
's acceleration and approached Ararat in only twenty-two hours.

Ararat did not permit starships to ground, no matter their size. All ships were required to dock at the small moon that had been converted into a space station. Regular shuttle service was provided to the capital, Yahweh. Ararat was the only one of the "glory worlds" on which religion had remained a potent force. The excesses of the repressive 'Mission for the Greater Glory of God' had initiated violent rejection on the other six inhabited worlds the 'Glory' had ruled with an iron fist. Cale had made it a point to study the rigid morality and manners of Ararat.

Being forced to leave
L'rak
on the moon station didn't bother Cale as much as it might. Ararat had virtually no crime for profit, due to effective law enforcement and draconian punishments. They were not so meticulous when it came to customers. Quite a few of the better-known pirates, including Emo Arror, the infamous Terror, had numbered bank accounts on Ararat. Of course, Cale wouldn't access that account if he could. He was trying to
avoid
attention, not attract it. No, Cale would play it rigidly straight here.

He strolled casually down Yahweh's quiet streets, occasionally stopping to look in a shop window and make sure he had not attracted any attention or followers. He turned into a grilled doorway bearing a discreet sign "Gems."

"May Lordsman's be of assistance, sire?" asked an obviously robotic voice.

Cale smiled into the red eye of the camera. "I hope so; I have a gem to sell."

"Very well, sire," came the reply. "Please step in front of the scanner."

Cale stepped to the indicated place, and in only seconds, there was a click as the heavy grilled door unlocked. Law enforcement and draconian punishments were not the
only
reasons for Ararat's lack of crime.

"Thank you sire," the robotic voice accompanied the click. "Please be welcome to Lordsman's, and may God's grace shine upon you."

Cale pushed through the door. Ararat was one of the few places where beards were favored, thanks to the residents' religious beliefs. Here, his beard made him more typical, not less. Only his offworld clothing had marked him as an outsider. However, the gem shop had not been Cale's first stop. He now wore the same dark knee-length coat and drab trousers and tunic that were nearly a uniform on Ararat.

"A good morning, noble sire," he was greeted by a plump young woman. "May I have the honor of serving you?" Her ankle-length dark blue skirt was unrelieved by color or pattern. A loose gray long-sleeved blouse that buttoned tightly at the neck topped it. Her blond hair was tucked into a white cap. But her smile was genuine and warm as she rendered a pretty curtsey. Not a single gem was displayed in the shop, which more closely resembled a study in the home of a tasteful wealthy man. Four rich, overstuffed armchairs surrounded a round table near the center of the room. The table's clear plas top was lighted so that the gems carried through the rooms only other door could be conveniently examined.

Cale bowed. "The honor would be mine, mistress," he replied, "but sadly, I fear the transaction will require the attention of the owner."

An expression of irritation flashed across her face, quickly replaced by a smile that was neither warm nor genuine. "I assure you, sire, that I am licensed to appraise virtually any gemstone." Her tone had sharpened.

Cale bowed again. "I beg your pardon, mistress. I did not intend to impugn your skills. However, since the stone in question is a sunstone . . ."

Her eyes widened in surprise. "A
sunstone
!" The surprise faded quickly, replaced by an impassivity betrayed only by the excited gleam in her eyes. "Of course, noble sire. If you will but abide a moment . . ." She ushered him to one of the overstuffed armchairs, and hurried out.

She returned a moment later, accompanied by a short, thin, middle-aged man in the black jacket that was a business suit on Ararat. Even his bushy brown beard could not conceal the sincerity of the man's broad grin. He bowed, then stepped forward and proffered his hand. "A great good day to you, most noble sire," he boomed. "I am Se Lordsman. 'Need a gem? Se Lordsman'" he quoted jovially.

Cale returned the bow, and shook the hand with a genuine smile of his own. This was no Peng. He began to feel better about his mission. "And a good morning to you, sire Lordsman. I am Rolf Amedon. I find myself in need of capital, and would like to sell my prized family heirloom." He pulled the folded velvet from one of his coat's capacious pockets, and carefully set the sunstone on the lighted table. Suddenly the entire room was bathed in multihued beauty. The girl gasped. The stone seemed to come alive on the light table. Its brilliance overwhelmed the subdued lighting of the store with a glorious burst of color that shifted as the stone moved on the table.

Lordsman snatched the stone from the table. The light show faded as though it were a vivid dream. The jeweler looked distressed. "Such displays are decadent and unseemly," he said in a stern tone. His eyes darted around before he relaxed into an easy grin. "But the lord has made sunstones magnificent, has he not?"

Cale nodded and smiled. "My sincere apologies, Sire Lordsman. I am from off-world, and failed to consider Ararat proprieties."

Lordsman waved a hand dismissively. "It is of no consequence, noble sire. Had you not said so, I would not have taken you for an outworlder. Your undoubted efforts to adapt your manners and dress to accommodate our customs do you great honor and are appreciated.

"Now," he continued, "To business. This stone is remarkable. Are you certain you wish to sell it? Perhaps a loan might be arranged, with the stone for collateral . . ."

But Cale was shaking his head. "I regret, sire Lordsman, that I need the funds for off-planet transactions, and so a loan would sadly not suffice. However, I greatly admire your willingness to make the offer. Few would make such to a stranger, especially an offworlder."

Lordsman's only reply was an absent smile. His attention was riveted to the stone he cradled in his palm. "Magnificent," he murmured. He dragged his eyes to Cale's face. "It is incredibly large for a sunstone. How did you come by it?" His tone was casual, but his shoulders tightened slightly. He was asking if the stone was stolen, and Cale knew Lordsman would refuse to deal if it were. He smiled slightly at his own surprise at encountering an honest businessman.

"As I mentioned, sire Lordsman, it is the last of my family's inheritance. The Amedons were once a prominent family on Warden's World. But since the Fall . . ." He shrugged as his voice trailed off.

Lordsman's grin was back. It was not an uncommon story throughout the Old Empire, as the fortunes of many noble, wealthy, and powerful families had fallen with the empire. "It must have been a noble family indeed, to possess a sunstone of such size. Fourteen millimeters?"

"Fifteen, noble sire," Cale replied. The niceties and social graces had been observed. They were getting down to business.

"Indeed." Lordsman took a caliper from a jacket pocket. After a moment, he straightened. "Indeed," he repeated. "Fifteen it is. And of course, there is no doubt of its authenticity after that display earlier. I almost fear to ask your price. I can only hope it is within the means of my poor shop."

"Sire Lordsman," Cale began, "You have honored me with your welcome and your obvious honesty. I shall be likewise honest. As I mentioned, I have obligations off world, where even Ararat ducats would suffer a severe discount. If you will consent to payment in diamonds, I will be willing to accept thirty thousand carats. Unfortunately, my obligations will not permit me to accept less."

Behind him, the young woman's gasp testified to the immense values being discussed.

Lordsman was unsurprised, however. "A mighty price," he murmured as though to himself, "A mighty price indeed. But for fifteen millimeters . . ." He paused, apparently lost in thought. Suddenly a slow smile spread over his face. Cale suspected he had just thought of a possible market for the sunstone. "Yes," Lordsman continued, in a louder, conversational tone. "For a fifteen millimeter stone it might just be done."

He straightened and smiled at Cale. "Sire Amedon, I believe it can be done. However, I'm sure you will not be surprised to hear that I do not maintain that large an inventory. I fear it will take several hours to assemble thirty thousand carats. Are there any special requirements?"

Cale nodded. "I fear so, sire Lordsman. I would prefer flawless white stones in sizes from two to five carats, I will, of course, wish to inspect the stones before accepting them."

Lordsman's smile spread into a genuine grin. "I would expect no less from such a cultured gentleman."

The young woman moved to her father's side. "In the meantime, sire Amedon, if you would like a meal, a fine choice may be had one block down the street at the sign of the angel." She stopped suddenly, and her hand flew to her mouth. "Oh! My apologies, sire Amedon, for failing to ask. Do you have ducats? "

Lordsman rose, sunstone in hand. "I shall leave those details to my daughter, sire Amedon, and with your permission begin gathering your diamonds. Will you trust me with the stone? I am uncomfortable with the idea of you walking the streets with such a treasure."

Cale also stood. "Thank you, sire Lordsman. I'm sure the stone is safer with you. When shall I return?"

Lordsman glanced at his ring watch. "I should say all will be in order in two hours or so. Shall we say at a quarter past fifteen?" At Cale's answering nod, he bustled off.

Cale turned to the woman. "My apologies for the interruption, mistress."

She smiled sweetly. "Not at all, sire, not at all. Business first, always."

"Thank you," he replied. "In response to your earlier question, I'm afraid I have few Ararat ducats. Do you think the inn will accept New Chin wen?"

"Oh, dear," she responded. "I doubt it. It is just a family inn, after all. Of course, any of the banks would exchange the currencies for you."

Cale chuckled. "Of course. How stupid of me. Where is the nearest bank?"

This time she laughed aloud before clapping her hand over her mouth. "Yahweh is a city of banks, sire Amedon. There is one on nearly every street corner. I believe there is one on the same block as the inn."

"Excellent," Cale smiled. "I'll also need to purchase a bag large enough to carry thirty thousand carats of diamonds without being conspicuous. Where might I obtain such a bag?

She led him to the door, nodding as it opened. "Godssons. One block down, two blocks right."

Cale bade her goodbye, and strode off

The bank exchanged his wen at a reasonable discount. The food at the sign of the angel was simple, but very well prepared and presented. The meat, called 'cabra', passed well for beef, and a large array of accompanying vegetables left Cale feeling stuffed.

Despite the austerity their religious beliefs imposed, Cale found the citizens of Yahweh to be bluff, hearty, cheerful, and honest, for the most part. He liked them, and enjoyed wandering the downtown area until the allotted time.

Promptly at a quarter past fifteen, Cale returned to the gem shop. This time the door swept open at his approach. The young woman was just inside to greet him warmly, and Lordsman himself bustled from the rear of the shop with a bag of diamonds even larger than the one he had taken from Peng.

Lordsman seated him at the light table and, after making sure a cup and a carafe of hot tea were available, left him to examine each diamond with a scanner.

It was nearly three hours later that Cale stood stretched stiff muscles, and smiled at Lordsman. "Excellent quality stones, sire Lordsman, and at least a full measure of carats. It is an honor to deal with a man of such integrity"

Lordsman nodded. "Thank you, gracious sir. It has been a rare pleasure to deal with so mannerly an off-worlder." His eyes twinkled and he leaned close "I would have paid thirty-five!" he murmured with a wide smile.

Cale smiled conspiratorially. "I'd have taken twenty-five." Both men laughed aloud as Cale left the shop. Cale hailed one of the rare animal-drawn cabs and headed for the shuttle port.

Both his transactions had been successful, and Cale now had over fifty thousand carats in diamonds of easily negotiable size. He could afford to live a luxurious life anywhere in man-settled space. In fact, on many planets, he would be the world's richest private citizen. It was time to do some serious planning. Did he really want to retire? Did he want to study law on Ilocan and settle in as a prominent attorney, able to pick and choose his clients? Or perhaps try to sneak into the Alliance, with its peacefulness and high living standard? He was surprised to find that he was reluctant to leave
Scorpion
. It would be hard to smuggle her into the Alliance with her weapons intact. And he still might need those weapons. He knew better than to underestimate Townley and his pirates.

Of course, there was his "plan B"; travel the Old Empire as a courier, offering high-speed transport of high value passengers and freight. It was tempting, but Cale knew that eventually one of those high value shipments would attract pirates. And successfully fighting one off would be almost as bad as being taken. Rumors circulate quickly in the interstellar underworld, and the last thing he needed would be to draw attention in pirate circles!

As
L’rak
pulled away from the orbiting station and headed for the jump point, Cale began to worry. Was Yan right? Did he really need a "plan C"?

He had to admit that retirement held no attraction for him. In his mid-thirties, he was far too young to just sit in one place and vegetate. Besides, people his age living luxuriously with no visible means of support attract the attention of tax and law enforcement authorities. Yan was right about one thing. He was not a businessman. Twice he had failed miserably at trade. He was not tempted to try a third time.

Cale had still reached no conclusions as he jumped. As the violent inside out, twisting sensations of entering jump faded, he heard a strangled retch from the tiny "cabin" behind his head. Astonished, he yanked the door open and a figure tumbled to the deck, retching and covered with vomit.