Freedom's Ransom Read Free

gravity. His grayish skin and yellow eyes were expectable. Zainal’s Botany tan had altered his skin tone to a more vibrant shade of taupe and made Paxel seem drabber by comparison. But it was in the features that the main difference was plainly visible. She had always liked Zainal’s nose, which was not as fleshy as most Catteni. Certainly, Zainal’s mouth was better shaped, not as thick as Paxel’s and far more flexible, often giving her hints as to his mood. It was severe enough right now, though; she noted the little flattening of his lips, indicating that he found this situation disagreeable and wanted to get it over with as soon as possible. She suspected then that he was anticipating a problem.
    So, in his capacity as one of the governors of Botany, Zainal greeted his nephew Paxel affably and offered him coffee—a great new favorite of Catteni. Paxel grinned, showing three gold caps, a sight that caused Kris to have to hide an astonished grin. Zainal covered her astonishment by introducing Paxel, name and rank, first to Dwardie.
    â€œThis is a sister’s firstborn, Emassi Paxel. I make you known to Eminent Dwardie, and my mate, Excellent Lady Emassi Kris, and Peter Easley.” He reached for the message, which Paxel somewhat reluctantly handed over.
    It bore Kamiton’s name, plus the characters that confirmed that other Catteni officials were aware that a message had been sent to him. That did not bode well. He waved Paxel to a chair at the table in the hangar office. Then he broke the seal and could not suppress a grunt of dismay. When he had digested its import, he tossed the letter across the table to Kris, who could read some Catteni, though probably not all the diplomatic terms and courtesies. The gist of the message stood out as if written in red: “Barevi merchants will not surrender any Terran goods retrieved by the Eosi or Catteni captains.”
    Paxel’s eyes had mirrored astonishment when Zainal gave the message first to Kris, rather than to Peter. Very few Catteni women were ever consulted on matters of significance.
    â€œYou mean, they need a bribe to give us back anything?” she demanded, outraged. “And sent your sister’s firstborn with the news so you wouldn’t kill him out of hand?”
    Zainal managed not to grin at her quick understanding of the ploy. She flicked the message across the smooth table toward Peter.
    â€œWhat?” Dorothy Dwardie was equally incensed. She read the note over Peter’s shoulder.
    â€œThey’re very acquisitive, the merchants of Barevi,” Kris said, having dealt with them during her enslavement on the trade planet and more recently during her clandestine visit disguised as a Catteni officer.
    â€œThey don’t mind dealing in stolen goods?” Dorothy asked, frowning at the message that Peter peered at in a total lack of comprehension, for it was in Catteni script.
    â€œMost if not all of what they sell has been ‘acquired,’ one way or another,” Kris said, watching Paxel’s reaction.
    â€œBusiness is at a standstill now that there is no new material coming in from Eosian”—Paxel cleared his throat—“development.”
    â€œDevelopment?” Peter echoed, glaring at the young man.
    â€œPolite terminology for forced acquisition,” Kris translated composedly. “However, knowing how Barevi operates, this doesn’t surprise me,” she said, indicating the message. “I didn’t think we’d get anything back without a quid pro quo.”
    â€œA what?” Zainal frowned at words he didn’t understand.
    â€œOld Latin saying. Something for something,” she told him in a low voice.
    â€œBut we
must
have the loot returned to us,” Peter said,“since the production lines for many essential parts are no longer functioning. The spare parts that the Catteni ‘acquired’ could rectify a great many useless