Milk Run (Smuggler's Tales From The Golden Age Of The Solar Clipper Book 1) (8 page)

Natalya sighed. “Your call.”

“I’ve got a couple of shipsuits, but that’s about it besides my dress uniforms and a couple of sets of undress khaki,” Zoya said. “Never thought I’d need more.”

Natalya shrugged. “Well, maybe we can fill in your wardrobe a bit while we’re here.”

The lock-call chimed at precisely 0645.

“That’s our escort. Ready to meet the man?” Natalya asked.

Zoya wiped her palms on the sides of her slacks and nodded.

Natalya keyed the inner lock and Zoya followed her in.

After the lock cycled, the outer hatch opened on a trio of people in Dark Knight utilities.

“Captain Regyri?” the lead man asked.

Natalya stepped forward. “Good morning. You are?”

“I’m the day-crew supervisor, Tony Eng.” He gave a little half-bow in lieu of a handshake. “If you’d follow us, we’ll see that you get to Mr. Kondur without any problems.”

“Of course.”

“Ms. Usoko will accompany us?” he asked.

“She will.”

“Very good.” He turned toward the station and extended a hand. “Right this way.”

His guards led the way out of the docking tube while Natalya closed the lock behind them.

The station’s light level might have been a bit brighter than earlier, but Natalya couldn’t be sure. The air in the passageway lacked the hydraulic tang she had grown used to in CPJCT orbitals, and carried more humidity and an earthy odor.

“Your first time on Dark Knight Station, Captain?” Eng asked.

“Yes. I visited High Tortuga and some of the other stations before. My father took me on a brief tour before I went away to school.”

“So you know about the procedures?”

“I’m familiar with the concept of extended visa, yes,” she said.

He offered a wide smile that seemed genuine enough to reach his eyes. “That will make things go more smoothly, I’m sure.”

“Tell me, does Mr. Kondur vet all new visitors?”

Eng shook his head. “No, usually he leaves that to the shift supervisor.” He glanced at her out of the corners of his eyes. “New visitors flying an exploration scout ship? That’s unusual enough. New visitors arriving in the
Peregrine
? Yes, he’d want to see you himself.”

“You know the
Peregrine
, then?” Zoya asked.

Eng nodded. “I know
of
her. She’s a stout ship. Made her share of registrations, she has, and then some. Steve Fick brought her out here back in—gosh, musta been like 2061 or ’62. She’s two centuries old by now. Doesn’t seem possible she’s still flyin’.”

“I’m not sure how many of her parts are original anymore,” Natalya said.

Eng chuckled and shrugged. “Doesn’t really matter. She’s still the
Peregrine
. She’s still flyin’.” He cast a glance at Natalya. “If you don’t mind me askin’, how’d you come to be flyin’ her?”

“Gift from my father,” Natalya said.

Eng’s eyebrows twitched up and down, but he nodded. “Nice gift. You wanna sell her?”

“What? And walk home?” Natalya asked, smiling at the man.

Eng chuckled. “You could buy three ships for what you could get for that one.”

Natalya shrugged. “Dunno about that. This one’s mine and I think I’ll keep it.”

“Don’t blame ya. I’d keep it, too.”

Their rambling walk took them deeper into the station. At one point they crossed an open, brightly lit atrium that went up at least five decks. A fountain splashed noisily in the center and planters full of frilly green plants surrounded it. Natalya watched a couple of teens in station jumpsuits working on a bed of flowers as they passed.

Eng said, “Jamey and Doreen. Good kids. Doreen keeps him in line but he’s got the knack for plants. They keep this space shipshape, and we give them a place to live and a meal allotment.”

Natalya’s gaze lifted to the open area and spotted huge planters filled with flowers and other plants all the way up to the ceiling. It took her a moment to realize what she was looking at. “These are your CO
₂
scrubbers?”

Eng looked up. “Some of them. We’ve got some industrial scrubbing units scattered about, but these clean up the air and make it smell good.” He took a healthy sniff. “Smell that.”

Natalya nodded. “I’ve been noticing the difference in air quality since I came out of the docking tube.”

“Where are their parents?” Zoya asked as they were about to enter a passage on the far side of the atrium. She glanced back at the two teens. “They don’t look any older than fifteen or sixteen.”

Eng paused and looked over his shoulder. “She’s eighteen and he’s nineteen. Their parents were killed in the belts a couple stanyers back.”

Zoya’s face clouded. “Accident?”

Eng sighed. “Claim jumpers. Come on. Mr. Kondur will be happy to tell you anything you need to know.”

He led the way down a passage so narrow, it was difficult to walk two abreast. The moist, green air gained a tang of engine lubricants and the bite of some kind of antiseptic. They took two more turns and Eng stepped out into a long gallery. Three stories tall and wide enough for a couple of lorries to drive side-by-side down the center. Moisture in the air masked the space at either end in a gauzy mist.

“Welcome to Main Street,” Eng said. “You can find anything you need and some things you didn’t know you wanted here.”

“Chandlery?” Natalya asked.

“Ship’s services are all back near the docks. Anybody can tell you where they are.”

“I’m wishing I’d left breadcrumbs. I’ll never find my way back,” Natalya said.

“Your extended visas have already been approved. You’ll be able to access the station’s network after your meeting with Mr. Kondur.”

“Well, by all means, let’s go get some breakfast.” Natalya smiled at Eng.

They turned left onto Main Street. Eng led them past clothing stores, drug markets, and bars. One store front featured scantily clad men and women lounging behind the armorglass displays. Natalya returned their smiles but didn’t stop.

Eventually Eng pushed through the front door of what appeared to be a bar. The light level dropped far enough that Natalya found herself blinking and trying to see what lurked in the gloom. It had that yeasty, beery smell of a good brew house and none of the stale beer and vomit that typically pinched her nose in dark bars.

“This way,” Eng said and led them to a large corner booth.

A round table filled the corner and a curved banquette worked around the wall. A beefy man in Dark Knight Station livery leaned against the wall near the end of the bench seating. He appeared to be giving more attention to his manicure than the room around him. Natalya didn’t believe it for a moment.

“Mr. Kondur, your guests. Captain Regyri and Ms. Usoko,” Eng said and stepped back.

Kondur leaned his elbows on the edge of the table and nodded to Eng before turning his gaze to Natalya. “Welcome to Dark Knight Station. Please have a seat.” He waved a hand at the banquette, then motioned at somebody across the restaurant. “Martin will bring us some coffee.”

Natalya slipped into the booth and scooted over to give Zoya room to join her. “Thank you, Mr. Kondur. We’re glad to be here.”

Kondur’s attention focused on Zoya for a moment before returning to search Natalya’s face. “Well, one of you is, at any rate.” He smiled. His close-cropped mustache and goatee seemed to move about his face as his lips moved.

A server in a white apron brought a tray of coffee cups, utensils, and a carafe to the table. He scattered them around and nodded to Kondur before slipping back into the shadowy interior of the dining room.

Natalya looked around but Eng and his two colleagues had disappeared while she’d been distracted.

“Tony has other duties,” Kondur said. He slopped a bit of creamer into his cup, added three sugars, and topped it off with coffee from the carafe. He slid the carafe across the table to them. “Try it. I think you’ll like it. I import the green beans and roast them here. Makes a big difference.” He lowered his muzzle into his cup and took a slurping sip while Natalya and Zoya filled their mugs.

Natalya held her cup up to her nose and took a deep whiff. The dark, nutty aroma struck her olfactory system like a belt of Scotch to her stomach and she immediately grabbed a taste. The hot liquid nearly burned her mouth but the flavors exploded and slipped down her throat.

“Good, huh?” Kondur asked. The corners of his eyes crinkled as he grinned across the table.

“Very,” Natalya said. “You sell it?”

Kondur’s smile stayed fixed on his face as he shook his head. “Can’t get enough beans to sell and I’m too self-centered to share.”

Natalya took another sip and glanced at Zoya. “Try it, Zee. You’ll love it.”

Almost reluctantly Zoya lifted the mug to her mouth and took a tiny sip. Her eyes widened momentarily in surprise. She took another sip and nodded. “Very nice. Yes.”

“Can I interest you in some actual breakfast? I haven’t eaten yet myself and I did invite you.”

Natalya nodded. “Breakfast would be great.”

“Yes, please.”

“You fussy about breakfast food?” Kondur asked, looking back and forth between them.

“I’m not much on fish in the morning,” Natalya said. “I’m good with anything else.”

“Fish?” Kondur asked, leaning forward a bit. “For breakfast?”

“I tangled with a kippered herring in a past life.”

Kondur laughed a little “ha ha ha” that sounded honest. “Don’t blame you. Ms. Usoko? Any preferences?”

“I’ll eat most things.” Zoya stared into her mug, a small frown on her forehead.

Kondur held up his hand with three digits extended. “Martin will bring us some food in a few ticks. In the meantime, why don’t you tell me where you’re from and why you’ve graced my humble station with that magnificent antique?”

“The
Peregrine
?” Natalya asked.

“Unless you have some other magnificent antique stashed away?”

“Margaret sent us,” Zoya said.

Kondur’s eyebrows rose and his head swiveled so his gaze raked to Zoya’s face. “Margaret.” He made it a simple statement but something in his eyes made Natalya uneasy. “I know a lot of Margarets.”

“Newmar.” Zoya’s voice barely sounded loud enough to reach her coffee mug, but Kondur’s eyes flickered at the name.

“I see.”

The server brought three platters loaded with eggs, potatoes, sausage, pancakes, and toast. He slapped a small pitcher of syrup onto the table and paused for a moment.

The fingers on Kondur’s left hand twitched and the server scuttled back into the kitchen.

“What did Margaret tell you?” Kondur asked after staring at Zoya for a few heartbeats. He picked up his fork and began slicing through the eggs and sausage, mixing them before forking a bite.

Zoya poured a dab of syrup on her pancakes before answering. “Just that we should come here and talk to you. Thank you for inviting us to breakfast.” She placed the syrup back on the table where the server had set it.

Kondur sighed and nodded. He looked at Natalya. “Who’d you kill?”

“Me? Nobody.”

Kondur paused with his empty fork half way to his plate. His gaze flipped to Zoya and back to Natalya. “Margaret doesn’t send me people who haven’t killed somebody already. She didn’t kill anybody.”

Zoya sat up stiffly. “What makes you say that?”

“What? You? Kill somebody? No. You’re fleet through and through. Boot third mate. Probably just graduated.” Kondur stared hard at Natalya for a moment. “But you? Maybe. That’s why I asked.” He dug into his breakfast again and watched them from under his eyebrows.

“They think I did,” Natalya said after working through half her eggs. “At least they say I did.”

Kondur’s eyes narrowed. “That explains it.” He sopped the loose egg yolk up with a piece of pancake and popped it into his mouth. “Love this guy’s pancakes. He always makes ’em thick and fluffy.” He leaned back in his seat, pushing his plate away and bracing an arm against the table’s edge. “So, what are you going to do now?”

“Re-provision the ship. Look for work.” Natalya shrugged. “Pay some dues. Make a life. What else?”

Kondur looked a Zoya. “And you, Fleet? You’re a long way from home.”

“I’m with her,” Zoya said.

“Why are you with her? Inertia?”

Zoya glanced at Natalya before answering. “Maybe. I can’t go back so I guess I go forward.”

Kondur stared at her while he ran his tongue around inside his mouth and over his teeth. After several heartbeats he said. “How linear.” He looked at Natalya. “What kind of work?”

“Courier, maybe. Mining, if I need to.”

“You any good in zero?” Kondur asked.

“I get by.”

“Shuttles? Ore haulers?”

“I can fly a shuttle,” Natalya said.

“Haulers,” Zoya said, earning another stare from Kondur.

“Really?” he asked.

Zoya shrugged. “I wasn’t always fleet. I grew up between the belts in Margary.” She glanced at Natalya. “Not exactly in the curriculum.”

“My goodness, Ms. Usoko. We may make a Toe-Holder out of you yet,” Kondur said. His tone sounded faintly mocking but Natalya saw something closer to respect in his eyes. Kondur looked at Natalya again. “You say you got the ship from your father?”

“Yep.”

“Got title?”

“Yep.”

“Wanna sell her?”

“Nope.”

He grinned and shrugged. “Can’t blame a guy for askin’.”

“She’s old and she’s a little cranky but she’s sound and she’s mine. Day may come when I need the credit more than the ship, but until then she’s got long legs, low overhead, and she’s paid for.”

Kondur nodded. “Regyri. I knew a Regyri once. Best rock-knocker in the belts. Son of a bitch could smell the ore, I swear.” He squinted at Natalya. “He was a pretty good pilot, too. Dominic?”

Natalya shook her head. “Don’t know any Dominic Regyri.”

“You play close to the vest, eh?” Kondur grinned. “I can respect that. You’ve got his eyes and a fair slice of his stubborn, too, I bet.”

“Who?” Natalya asked, the hair prickling on her arms.

“Your father. Demetri. Who else.”

“You know him?” Natalya wasn’t sure if she believed him, but it wasn’t the first time somebody had commented about her eyes.

“Yeah. Long time ago we flew together. Did some mining for Mel. Made a few cargo runs for—” Kondur stopped speaking and ran a hand across his mouth. “Well, let’s just say we ran a little cargo. He ever take you out in the belts?”