Anne McCaffrey Doona 2 Crisis On Doona

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anxiety and waving his hands about. "But I can't let them in unless I have
proper authorization. They absolutely refused to let me contact Spacedep or
Codep . . ." He flinched as bass and baritone rumbles reinforced that
prohibition. "Inspector DeVeer, I can accept your authorization to unseal the
Albatross?" It was more entreaty than query.
"It's like this, Inspector,' and a swarthy, hooknosed wiry man with a stubbled
chin, bleary-eyed, stepped forward. He wasn't a large man, but he exuded an
air of authority that DeVeer related to immediately, accepting him as
spokesman for this crowd. "Ya see, Todd and Hrriss are supposed to have made
these nine warp jumps in the Albie on their way back from that Hrrethan do.
They say they didn't. The engines in a ship that has been tightly sealed
since that Spacedep chair pilot charged "em with all that piracy will show to
this impartial'-and a long stained hand waved at the crowd silently listening-
"jury of experts just how much wear and tear those engines took since their
last service." He hauled flimsies which DeVeer recognized as maintenance
records. "We got these from Martinson here and the Hrrethan Space
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Authority, dated, sealed, and all legal-like, as proof of the most recent
service checks the aforementioned Albatross had. You sign the authorization.
We all take a look, write up official reports, and I'd bet you credits to
cookies, we'll all discover- not to our amazement but what we all know without
having to check-that those engines'll prove those boys
didn't take no nine warp jumps in that vessel like they're accused of doing.
whaddaya say?" DeVeer had had to concentrate to follow the rapid-fire
explanation in a hot cramped space. It took him a moment to absorb the
points.
"It will not prove who did, 0' course,' the captain went on before
DeVeer could respond, "but those engines will prove those boys didn't!
Hear you got word the Mayday beacon turned up, if you know what I mean?"
The captain winked. "By the way, I'm All Kiachif, skipper of the White
Lightning,' and he offered DeVeer his hand.
Absently DeVeer accepted and the slender fingers were as strong as his own
though the hand was half the size of his.
"I believe that could prove a profitable investigation, Captain
Kiachif." DeVeer turned to Martinson, who was wiping the sweat from his face,
looking haggard and harassed. "Can you supply me with the proper documents,
Mr. Martinson?"
"All made out, ready for your John-Cock on the dotted line,' Kiachif said,
wiping out a second sheaf of official-issue flimsy and spreading it out on the
one clear portion of Martinson's desk.
Writing implements were offered by eight or nine different obliging hands.
DeVeer, for once feeling completely overwhelmed, twitched the nearest one free
and poised it over the quintuplicate form. He was far too experienced an
executive to sign what he had not scanned, but he was a speed-reader. The
form had been filled in properly,- and when he actually started to sign, a
deafening cheer resounded from office and corridor"You must of course be
present during the unsealing and the investigation, Inspector,' Kiachif said,
seizing the form and separating its sheets, crumbling the first one, which he
fired at Martinson, shoving a second into DeVeer's hand, and, waving the rest
over his head, pushed his way ou of the office while the cheers still echoed.
Realizin that DeVeer was not on his heels, he paused an beckoned urgently for
him to follow.
Several hours later, the truth of Captain Kiachif: allegation was proved
beyond question. In al particulars, the engines were in excellent runnin1
order, no wear, tear, or abuse visible: rather n more than was consonant with
a journey to an from Hrretha, and this was verified not only by th(
Hrrethan Space Authority maintenance check hu by nine fully qualified
warp-drive engineers anc nine fully qualified space captains of impeccablc
integrity. In order to prove their qualifications anc allegations, DeVeer
learned more about the workings of warp-drive engines, fuel capacities, gauges
the pitting of ship skins from forced warp jumps and the condition of
lubricants, greases, flux levels and rocket tube encrustations than he would
evei again need. He fully appreciated why Martinso had looked so fraught: he
felt rather wrung out hiniseff.
"Ah, Inspector, I see you are in need of sustenance,' Kiachif said, folding
away the sheaf 0 formal declarations from captains and engineers.
"Lads, we can't let this fine gentleman suffer a moment longer." DeVeer had no
option but to accompany the jovial group to the pub. He also had
no memory o how he got back to the accommodations he had been assigned on the
Treaty Island. Some thoughtful soul - possibly All Kiachif- had left a small
vial and a brief note where he could not fail to see it the moment his eyes
could focus. "Drink this!" the note said. He did and rather more quickly
than he thought possible, his condition improved.
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Others had celebrated during that evening of which DeVeer had few lucid
memories. For immediately upon finishing the scrupulous inspection of the
Albatross, All Kiachif had informed the Reeve family.
"Don't fret too much about the smuggling charge either,' Kiachif said.
"Got friends working on that, too, if you know what I mean.
It'll take a bit more time "cause we've more to check."
"All, you must be calling in favors by the container load,' Ken said,
immensely grateful.
"Give a little, take a lot's been my motto for decades, Reeve.
And, like I say, we all got a lot at stake, same's you Doonans. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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