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The Whisper entertained its second set of visitors in an hour. Higgins looked bored. Marshall ran a finger over the airlock seal. She looked disappointed in Zofie's craft. Was their Banshee that superior? Judging by their well-worn dockyard suits, Zofie doubted it.
"This is my partner, Willie Renfrew." Zofie invited the pair to sit between she and Carver.
"You spend much time in the Eddy, Renfrew?" Higgins gave Carver an appraising eye. Marshall glanced at him once, then turned her attention back to the interior of the ship.
She was the prime evaluator. Her questions, if they came, would dig to the core of their interest.
"Some," said Carver. "Prospecting isn't my passion."
"What is your passion?" Marshall's attention to Zofie's partner returned in an instant.
Be careful, Carver. These might be clients.
"Maintaining a credit balance above the poverty line. Taking my retirement in snatches when I have surplus funds. I'm a hedonist."
Zofie didn't know if Marshall believed him or not but it was a good answer.
"Let's hope cooperation can allow us all to enjoy luxurious times." Marshall turned to Zofie. "What incentive are you offering?"
"The best rate of return on your goods in either Argosy Station or Bohr. Mister Renfrew and I have extensive contacts on both Argosy Station and on Gamma Hub in Bohr."
"Gamma is primarily a naval hub," said Marshall. "Isn't that a little dangerous? Dealing with the authorities overseeing importation enforcement?"
"Can you think of better camouflage?" Zofie caught Carver's attention.
He took up the narrative. "Depending on your goods, we can run them all the way to Bohr or be content with a reduced but less risky return by passing them on to a middleman in Argosy."
Higgins snorted. "We can get our shipment to Argosy Station as easily as you can. Who cares about Gamma? The Banshee's a stout barnacle. I'm not certain this tub has got more than two or three jumps left in her."
Zofie repressed an emotional reply before it left her mouth. Was he negotiating or just rude? Marshall's lips tightened in response to her partner's statement. Higgins thought he was negotiating.
"The integrity of the Whisper isn't in question," Zofie answered. "And even if it was, not your concern. As to you getting your goods to Argosy yourselves, that is quite possible. But you won't get the price I can, nor will you be replenishing your stock back here. Which you will be if you let us escort the transport."
"This is all moot," said Carver. "We don't know what you have or how much."
"We need to know if we can work together first, Mister Renfrew." Marshall stood up. Higgins followed a moment later.
Zofie's intuition was confirmed. Marshall ran their show. She could live with that. She preferred dealing with another woman, less emotion and fewer distracting hormones. "I agree, Marshall. We'll both evaluate partnership potential and reconvene on neutral ground or perhaps aboard the Banshee. That would give us a chance to appraise your overhead level. Renfrew and I believe in reinvesting our profits in additional cargo and ship fundamental maintenance, not frivolous decoration."
"I'll be in touch." Marshall stopped midway in the 'lock. "Are you contemplating business with the Reds?"
The tone was offhand but Zofie realized Marshall had likely seen the previous visitors to the Whisper come and go. It wouldn't do to minimize the facts. "We'll see. It's possible. Having more than one set of clients is often a good thing. Each shipment detracts attention from the other. Especially if your goods walk a fine line between legal and contraband."
"That fine line is a large grey band these days," said Marshall. She and Higgins left with no further word.
Back inside the Whisper, 'lock closed, she and Carver shared a drink.
"Do you reckon Marshall figures you're the lead here and I'm hired help?" Carver asked.
"Well, she knows I'm the frontperson, whether or not she underestimates your value, I couldn't tell. Higgins is a wasted suit. I don't understand why she needs him."
"He could be a temporary bodyguard." Carver rubbed his lips. "She doesn't act like a solo operator. I wager there's another partner somewhere."
"I agree. Marshall's the one we concentrate on."
Carver poured a second drink. His recovery from her drugs and deepsleep was coming along. "You're confused about something though. I can tell from the wrinkles on your brow."
"She didn't broach the subject of terms. She's confident whatever they want brokered has sufficient rarity and value that we'll take whatever percentage she offers."
"Higgins' comments about Argosy Station being a possible final destination might be a clue."
"That was a slip. Marshall flinched for a moment. Confluence territory is their goal. What's worth running naval blockades right now? Why not wait for the peace accord to settle and follow the rules?"
"Could be Schoenfeldium," said Carver. "You hear any rumors of a current find?"
"Nothing. Why ship it to Argosy? Worth just as much out here."
"Except there aren't as many jumpships out here as I would expect. Did the Realm Armada evaporate, move or never exist?"
"I've no idea. Could Marshall have a second alien find?"
"I suppose. If there's more than one, there could be a dozen."
"If so, the entire Eddy would know about it. No, Carver, it's something else entirely. I put my head on it. Until we hear from Marshall, I need to find a freighter for the Reds. And come up with a cover story."
"Why doesn't Willie Renfrew invest in surplus mining equipment? We'll ship it back to Argosy Station to resell to the next wave of would-be prospectors."
"A solid cover for the artifacts packed with the equipment, radiation-shielded to discourage detailed human examination." Zofie's thoughts leapt ahead. "I knew you'd be more than a lucky talisman, Carver. You'd best do your buying remotely. If one person recognized you, there could be more. Sorry, you are still confined to ship."
"At least let me get out and stretch my legs. I'll wear a hooded flimsuit."
"Okay. But you talk to no one."
"Not to be paranoid but an alternative explanation for Marshall's circumspection occurs to me."
Her suspicions were not unique. "I know. You're not being paranoid, just careful."
"They could be the authorities."
Zofie caught her breath. This complication so soon wasn't welcome. "Confluence or Realm?"
"No idea. The implication of either baffles. You're small fish, there'd have to be a more important target."
"I don't want to be bait. I'll make more inquiries. I'd like to see the Banshee. If they are undercover, Carver, you know what that means."
"Yeah, they'll identify me."
"There's no official bounty but I don't wish to lose my new partner before we begin operation."
"I'm not going back to Argosy with you. The politics don't interest me. I'd rather take the frontier risks in the Eddy than he duplicity of politicians proscribing new rules for their citizens in the guise of peace and prosperity. I'm waiting here for DualE and the brothers. I'll help you set up your transport but you're on your own back on Argosy or Gamma." Carver crossed his arms. "Or I walk into the shipyard and surrender to some actual authorities and wait for DualE and Admiral Rowland to get me free."
"I can live with that. If these artifacts are real, I'm happy not to share the proceeds."
She left the Whisper and headed back to the yard's business core, such as it was, loaded with questions. Each answer taking her closer to riches or disaster.
*
