RISSA AND TREGARE.
THE LONG VIEW.
F. M. BUSBY.
PRELUDE.
IN the 21st century, the United Energy and Transport conglomerate is the most powerful government on Earth. Beginning with control of North America, UET has begun to expand its reign, not only on the planet but out to star colonies.
UET did not develop star travel. When the alien Shrakken visited Earth they were slain by treachery; UET"s labs copied the captured ship and began the exploration of interstellar s.p.a.ce. Not all their ships return: dissidents speak of Escaped Ships and the rebel colonies known as Hidden Worlds.
UET"s rule is harsh. At the age of five, Rissa Kerguelen and her older brother Ivan Marchant are consigned to a Total Welfare Center, after their parents were murdered by UET"s Committee Police. Basically, Total Welfare is slavery with UET as the slaveowner. Eleven years later, by a quirky backlash of a Welfare supervisor"s corruption, the man buying Official lottery tickets with Clients" money, she is not only freed but made rich. Escaping to Argentina, she undergoes survival training at the Establishment of Erika Hulzein; then, in disguise, she buys her way off of Earth. At the minor UET colony world Far Corner she makes contact with a Hulzein agent and secures pa.s.sage on the ship Inconnu, for the Hidden World called Number One.
Inconnu is the only armed ship ever to Escape; its captain, Bran Tregare, is called pirate and suspected of worse things; his behavior is arbitrary and arrogant. The battle of wills between him and Rissa ends short of affection but with mutual respect.
Arriving at Number One, Rissa falls afoul of the Provost, one Stagon dal Nardo, but finds haven at Hulzein Lodge, property of Erika Hulzein"s younger sister Liesel and of Liesel"s husband Hawkman Morey. Their daughter Sparline is also in residence. Rissa learns that Tregare the pirate is the son of Liesel and Hawkman, estranged from his family and embittered that, when they enrolled him (at age 13) in "the Slaughterhouse", UET"s s.p.a.ce Academy, they were unable to rescue him from that grim environment.
Rissa Kerguelen, product of Erika Hulzein"s survival training, has little option but to accept a death-duel with Stagon dal Nardo. By her choice, both fight weaponless and nude. The man is twice her weight and inflicts painful injuries to her, but Rissa kills him.
Dazed, she accepts Sparline Moray"s word that it is necessary, for "political reasons,"
to marry an unnamed man-but even though he is masked, she recognizes Bran Tregare.
She accepts the marriage.
Hulzeins never make any move that serves only one purpose. Rissa has made a bet, with a slightly shady business tyc.o.o.n named Alsen Bleeker, on her survival in the duel with dal Nardo. The bet is for ten million Weltmarks (from "welt," the Deutscher word for "world"), five of Rissa"s and five of Liesel Hulzein"s. But that bet is still to be collected.
Rissa is still playing her disguised role under the name of Tan Obrigo. Only the Hulzeins know her true ident.i.ty.
Rissa and Tregare SEATED, looking to his wife Rissa and his mother Liesel, Bran Tregare said, "Where"s Hawkman and Sparline? Something I want to explain."
"Busy elsewhere," said Liesel. "They"ll be calling in sometime this day. Why not tell me, and I"ll pa.s.s it along?"
"All right-it"s this. Rissa told you I"ve been slave trading." He raised a hand. "No, don"t blame her-from what she heard, I was. But the whole story.. ."
When he had told it, Liesel grinned. "A good Samaritan, at a profit. You relieve my mind-on both counts. Hawkman and Sparline will like hearing this, too."
"I notice you didn"t ask me about it."
"Anything you want me to know, I expect you"ll tell me." She turned to Rissa. "Now, then-first, are you in good enough shape to go collect your bet from Bleeker?"
"I suppose so-but is there any hurry about it?"
"As a matter of fact, yes. I don"t know how much longer-well, never mind that, for now.
And are you fit to drive an air-car?"
Before she could answer, Tregare said, "No need for that. I"l1 take her."
"You think she"s still in danger?" "After yesterday? Peace, no! I have my own reasons."
Liesel nodded. "Good ones, I"m sure. All right-Rissa, when Bleeker tries to stall you, and he will-he can"t help himself just now-there"s something I want you to do. You don"t have to-the bet"s all in your name though I covered half of it-but if you don"t, it"s a great waste." Her eyebrows rose.
"Of course-I knew the bet was part of a larger plan. Tell me what you wish."
Liesel explained. "You understand it?" Rissa nodded. "Just don"t let him talk you out of any part of it."
"Bleeker? He could not talk me out of a mud puddle, if I wished to stand in it!"
A laugh. "No, I suppose not. Well, then-ready to go?"
"I must go up for a jacket, and of course I do not have the Tari Obrigo accessories applied yet-"
Tregare rose. "I"ll get the jacket-the green one all right? For the rest-you won"t have to thumbprint anything, and the shape your face is in, pardon my saying so, n.o.body"s going to notice any details you can"t hide with sun goggles." He turned to leave.
"AH right, but bring a cap. The fuzzy one, that matches the jacket-so I can tuck my hair up under it."
"Done." She heard his steps, running upstairs, then a pause and more fast clatter as he descended and returned. "Here you are."
As Rissa arranged her appearance, Liesel said, "Call me if anything unforeseen happens.
Otherwise, I"ll expect you in a few hours."
"Yes. Tregare? I am ready now."
THEY rode in silence. Rissa, thinking only of Liesel"s instructions and what they implied, did not ask Tregare"s thoughts. He landed alongside Bleeker"s building and they proceeded to the fifth floor.
This time the receptionist said, "Ms. Obrigo? Mr. Bleeker was not expecting you so soon.
He-"
"I am sure he will be pleased to see how quickly I have recovered." As before, she did not pause, but walked in to confront Bleeker unannounced. Tregare followed; in a side glance she saw him suppress a smile.
Behind his desk, Bleeker rose. "Ms. Obrigo! I-" Then; "Tregare! Look, man-I didn"t know! You can"t-"
Tregare waved a hand. "My wife"s business comes first. Get on with it."
Bleeker sat slowly and looked at Rissa. "I didn"t expect you today."
"As I told you before, I imagine many things happen, that you do not expect. At any rate I am here-for my ten million Weltmarks."
"But-" Bleeker shook his head. "I don"t have-I don"t have time right now. An appointment-it"s urgent-I must go-"
"In less time than you have already wasted, you can prepare the necessary certificate. If your appointment is indeed urgent, I suggest you do so-for until you do, you will not leave this room."
Unspeaking, Bleeker looked to one side, then the other, as if seeking an answer. Rissa answered for him. "What you mean, Bleeker, is that you cannot raise the money within five days. Correct?"
"That devil! She has me stretched thin as kite string. Tied up here, tied up there-how did she do it? It all seemed to be working. Now-"
"Now to pay me would cost you twice the bet in forced liquidations. Is that true?"
His brow wrinkled. "Not that much-but crucial holdings, control-oh, never mind. I can"t pay you today, and that"s all there is to it."
"Is it, now?" She paused. "Tell me-what happens to your shaky financial structure when I announce on public view-screen that you have welshed on a recorded, bonded wager?"
"You can"t!"
"If it is true, I certainly can. Write me the certificate."
"You"ll ruin me!"
"If you are ruined, it is through your own greed and poor judgment. But... perhaps you are not."
His eyes narrowed. "What are you up to?"
4."This bet-it is not large, is it, in comparison to your overall holdings?"
"No-of course not. It"s just that everything"s tied up."
"Then you have no difficulty. Write-and immediately, before leaving this room, I will exercise my option to convert the certificate into twelve million in shares of your interests.
You will lose a sliver of your frozen moneys instead of having to liquidate much more under harsh circ.u.mstances." He hesitated; she pitched her voice to ring. "Write! Or I leave and have it announced that you welshed."
Sweating, he nodded and obeyed. "There. Are you satisfied?"
"To this point, yes. Let us get on with the conversion."
"Of course. Let me see-I can let you have three million in shares of the s.p.a.ceport warehouse complex, two in water-borne transport, and-"
"Oh, no! It is my choice, Sleeker. You know that; do not deny it." She heard Tregare chuckle-now she would set the hook.
"What do you want?"
"The entire twelve million in shares-voting shares-of the parent company, Bleeker, Ltd."
"Control! You-she-that"s what you"re after." He scribbled on a pad, then laughed. "Well, you won"t get it."
"You are breaking our agreement?"
He shook his head. "Of course not. Your twelve million won"t swing it, that"s all. Not with-I"ll have to retrench, once this squeeze is off, but-now if I"d bet fifteen the way you wanted, I"d be in tight. No, you get your shares. The market price is-let me see-" He punched viewscreen b.u.t.tons for data. "Here-come look for yourself. Will you take conver- sion as of now?"
She moved and stood beside him, watching. The quotation gained a fraction, held there a few seconds, then dropped back to the original value. Perhaps half a minute she watched, and it did not change again. "All right. Two-thirty-nine it is. Fifty thousand shares and a little over." Then; "No, wait-I will convert also the half-million you paid me earlier. So that will be-fifty-two thousand, seven hundred twenty shares-less eighty Weltmarks, which I shall pay you in cash."
He looked at her, then punched the figures into his desk calculator. "You"re right. Let"s see the eighty."
When the transaction was completed, she put the share certificates in her shoulder bag.
"Thank you, Bleeker. Dealing with you has been ... interesting."
"Yes, I"m sure." His shoulders sagged. "Is there anything else?"
Tregare spoke. "A while ago you were b.l.o.o.d.y anxious to talk withme. I"m still here."
"Why-I"d forgotten! Look-at the port, that was just a business thing. If I"d known who you were-Tregare, you got away with my goods at the price you intended. Can"t you let it go at that? So many difficulties-"
"Our little argument? Is that what worried you? Bleeker, that"s garbage out the airlock-forget it. Just don"t let me catch you trying it again, is all."
"You mean that? Why didn"t you tell me?"
"Tari"s business had priority-I didn"t want to distract you." And this time it was Rissa who had to hide her amus.e.m.e.nt. Bleeker did not answer. Tregare said, "Well, good day to you," and they left.
NOT until he had the aircar at cruising alt.i.tude did either speak. Then he said, "I wish we had that scene recorded, for Liesel. Granted, she gave you the bones of it-but Rissa!-the way you improvised!"
"And it was most helpful, Bran-the way you refrained from distracting Bleeker." They laughed together. "We work well in concert, do we not?"
He reached to squeeze her shoulder. "Yes. I should have you with me on Inconnu-but you"ll do better for yourself here."
She turned to him. "Bran! What kind of marriage is that- to sit and grow old while you are gone? I will go with you. I-"
"Not this time-maybe later. And no point in talking, now -I don"t know my own plans yet. When I do, then we"ll talk."
She made no answer; if he wanted silence, he could have it. Sidelong, she saw him turn to watch her occasionally, but he said nothing. Then it was time to land; still silent, they entered 6.the Lodge and went to Liesel"s office.
"Well! You two look as if you lost the argument. What happened? Did Bleeker have an extra string to his kite after all?"
Rissa shook her head. "No, nothing like that. It is merely that Bran and I-no, never mind. Here is the paper for the shares you wished me to obtain. Give me the proper form and I will sign your part over to you as agreed."
"Then it went according to plan?"
"You should have been there," Tregare said. "When she pulled his string tight, I thought he"d melt down to a puddle!"
"But," said Rissa, "if it was control you wanted, we did not succeed. Bleeker thought of that, scribbled a few figures, then laughed and said he could safely part with these shares. I am sorry, Liesel, but I did carry out your plan."
Liesel"s palm slapped the desk; she grinned. "You did enough-Bleeker"s wrong.
a.s.suming you vote with us, we have control-he"ll find that out at his next board meeting."
She looked at Rissa. "You don"t understand? Ever hear of sleeper dummies? A lot of my stock"s been voting Bleeker"s way, up to now, to keep him off guard until I could grab the decisive block without his knowing."
She nodded. "No, Rissa-you didn"t fail. Bleeker"s about to go down the drain."
"What will happen to him?"