part0028

Before getting overly excited about the bounty in Kaesare’s holds, Craze had Rainly copy the inventory and ship’s manifest to his tab. Guns were listed as going to the Jixes. He checked on the names, investigated the crates, and pinged the pertinent data to Talos. Then he went back to the inventory, researching every name and shipment on InfoCy, taking notes.

Rainly grabbed a couple of big, fluffy blankets from a carton of household goods and went off to sit with Dactyl, leaving Craze alone with the treasures.

Treasures they were. He could furnish his quarters in luxury, set up a nice dorm for hire-ons, make sure his friends outfitted their homes and businesses nicely, and have plenty left over for trade. He could also decorate visitors’ suites on Pardeep as lavishly as any on a first-class central world, spoiling the tourists, ensuring they left happy and babbling about wonderful Pardeep to their rich friends.

With great care, he checked out the folks expecting shipments. If any of them held any influence, it’d be best to get their goods to them, despite Backworlds law stating criminal’s ships and property could be confiscated and used to compensate the victims.

The Backworlder expecting the giant ricklits caught Craze’s attention. She’d been shrewd enough to lead her world to a level above spit hole. He wondered how she took a planet in permanent dusk like Vodag to something notable. Pardeep had more going for it than that dim rock. It spoke volumes about Chenna. She was someone Craze should get to know. He entered her code into his tab, donning his best smile while waiting for her to pick up the ping.

Chenna’s wrinkled and chapped face showed how hard it was to achieve any level of prosperity on the Edge. Her head was very round and punctuated with huge ears and eyes, probably to aid her in living in the never-ending dusk. “What do ya want?” she snapped.

Craze didn’t let her manner daunt him, introducing himself with warmth. “The vessel carryin’ your shipment of Wonder Ricklits has been confiscated. If you want to come ‘n pick up your herd, we’ll hand them over.”

Her dark eyes squinted, and the tips of her ears twitched. “Just like that? Out of the goodness of your heart?” Her laugh sounded as chafed as her cheeks. “How much for me to get back what’s mine? I already paid for them.”

“Just whatever it costs you to come ‘n get them,” Craze said.

Her thin, leathery lips puckered. “Why? What ya up to? I note your Verkinn features.”

“I admit bein’ nice to you could help my business. That’s what I’m hopin’ for. There’s my angle. Plus, I’m makin’ the same offer to several other folks.” Craze rattled off the names and the worlds they lived on, figuring total honesty was the best ploy with her. ‘”Perhaps some of you can hire a transport together ‘n come get your things. I struggle as much on Pardeep. I know what it’s like ‘n don’t want to take from good folks.”

“Ya should no take from bad folks either, gopperhop.”

He’d never heard of a gopperhop, doubting it was complimentary, and couldn’t argue about the rest of her advice. So he kept silent and let her do the talking. On Siegna that often worked very well for any scheme. Only this wasn’t quite a scheme, it was just good business.

“Ya want something more in return, though. I’d bet my ass ‘n my daughters on it,” she said. “Spit it out, so I no have to waste chips on a hire-on to snuff ya later.”

“Honestly, I’m curious to meet you ‘n talk over how you took Vodag from a pit to on the verge of a business hub. That’s what I want in exchange.”

Silence stretched between Pardeep and Vodag. As taut as an elastic, calculation ‘n decision hung between the two worlds. Craze waited for it to snap. Another minute and Chenna did.

“I’ll see what I can do.”

“Great. I’ll be waitin’ to hear from you.” If he could turn Chenna into an ally, Pardeep’s future would be guaranteed.