Freedom's Ransom Read Free Page A

vehicles.”
    â€œAgreed, to the necessity to repossess the parts, especially those communication elements,” Kris said.
    â€œBusiness on Barevi is at a standstill, and the merchants refuse to surrender trading goods,” Paxel repeated, as if that was the most important consideration.
    â€œEven if we used the same technologies . . .” Peter began, irate.
    Kris held up her hand. “It’s a fine sample of Catteni psychology,” she said, smiling at Paxel. Being a firstborn was some protection for Paxel as far as
his
treatment as the messenger was concerned, but Kris did not intend to mince words or exchange false courtesies. “It drops, it stays—until it’s paid for—one way or another,” she went on, using the slogan facetiously in an effort to relieve the tension in the office.
    â€œWe were promised restitution of materials forcibly removed from Earth’s manufacturing facilities,” Peter said. She gave him a long, cool look.
    â€œThe merchants require compensation.”
    â€œThat’s piracy,” Dorothy said, equally annoyed.
    â€œThat’s business,” Kris said. “I know the merchants. They love haggling. It’s a way of life. Besides which, we’ve already made use of many pirated commodities that the first Barevi expedition brought back.” She gave Dorothy a quelling look. Dorothy probably hadn’t considered those goods as “loot” since they had been paid for, at least at the Barevi market. Now Kris could wonder if the merchants had been paid for the tab run up against a bogus ship’s account. Oh well, that was for the Catteni accountants to resolve.
    â€œBut Kamiton—” Peter began.
    â€œSupreme Emassi Kamiton,” Paxel said, “promised in good faith what regretfully he cannot now deliver. He is trying to resolve a delicate situation for all concerned.” His bow to Zainal was full of respect.
    Zainal was impressed by Paxel’s poise and tried to hide his disappointment at finding many of his own, perhaps too ambitious, plans now being thwarted by Barevian high-handedness. Establishing easy communication links between Botany and Earth was vital as the present connection was fragile and subject to more delays than mere distance. The “spurt” technique of communications, developed for contact with the Martian colony, was ideal for shooting wads of messages from Earth to Botany and reduced, somewhat, the time lag, but he had hoped to install similar links to the other forced colony worlds that would strengthen Botany in the new balance of power in this part of the galaxy—at least in having easy communication with like-minded, Terran-populated worlds.
    The restoration of some basic commodity manufactories in the food industry, flour mills and food preservation, was essential not only to revive local economies and open the infrastructure of the damaged urban areas, but also to provide trade goods to the now hungry markets of Barevi. The setback of having to ransom what the Barevian merchants had lying about useless in their stalls was a further insult. Of primary importance was the repair and recommissioning of power sources that had fallen in the initial Catteni onslaught, or later when the Resistance forces were trying to force the Catteni conquerors off Terra. The restoration of easy communications was vital to the reconstruction effort. It was imperative to know where relief supplies were most critically needed as well as how to help relieve local emergencies. Priorities had to be assessed by appropriate experts and on-site information was needed to do so. He would like to see comm sats above the other nine Catteni worlds and links to Catten and Barevi. He grinned at Paxel: messages would then be easier to send and less dangerous to give. He wondered idly if Kamiton had quite anticipated the problems he was facing as the new leader of the Catteni. Certainly, when the