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They breathed bubbles that appeared to flow up the dress. At certain
wavelengths, depending on the il-
lumination, the sizable bubbles were transparent. The motile peekaboo effect
that resulted turned a number of heads as they entered the mess.
One corner was deserted save for Hwoshien. He wore the same stiff, utilitarian
dark suit he had worn earlier in the day. Cora looked at his chest for the
expected crimson insignia of a Commissioner. There
CACHALOT
63
wasn't one. His lack of pretentiousness is the most humanizing thing about
him, she mused.
There was some small talk and some absolutely
magnificent local food. Mataroreva had managed to slip quickly into the chair
next to Cora. Merced and
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Rachael sat on the other side. Occasionally Merced would lean over and
hesitantly whisper something to her and she would giggle. Then he would turn
rapidly away, as if embarrassed by his own temerity in talk-
ing to her, and shovel his food.
The interchanges troubled Cora, but she was too busy talking with Hwoshien to
pay much attention.
Not that she could have done anything to prevent them.
"What would human agents have to gain by de-
stroying the towns?" she asked. "Surely you must have some suspects?"
"Were that only the case." Hwoshien caressed his tall drinking glass.
"Cachalot's oceans hold many riches. You saw a tiny sample of them today. Some
small, independent operators would be happy to see their better-organized
competition obliterated.
"For example, there are the people of the ships.
They live and work on old-fashioned ocean-going boats. Not suprafoils, but
real ships in the ancient floating sense. They own their vessels, unlike the
peo-
ple of the towns, who only lease their homes and equip-
ment from the larger companies. They also refine some of their own produce
right on board.
"The quantity is small, but it still cuts into the pro-
fits of the large concerns by bypassing the expensive orbital factories. So
there has always been dislike between the people of the ships and the citizens
who inhabit the floating towns."
Cora speared a forkful of a delicate white meat, chewed as she spoke.
"Wouldn't they be easily dis-
covered? Wouldn't a sudden rise in some ship's pro-
duction be noticed?"
64
CACHALOT
CACHALOT
65
Mataroreva shook his head. "They don't have to ship off-world via Mou'anui or
any of the other atoll bases. A shuttle could put down anywhere on Cacha-
lot and take off fully loaded with refined goods or raw materials."
"Expensive," Hwoshien commented, "but with the
produce and booty of an entire town to pay for it, such an operation would be
immediately profitable.
Eliminating the populations involved would be the best way of covering such
piracy.
"Economically it is feasible. One would think the inherent danger would
override such potential profits, but there are people who do not think such
things through very clearly, to whom murder and destruction require little in
the way of rationalization.
"Actually, we have been questioning the ship folk intensively. But you must
understand that the existing rivalry precludes our making any overt
accusations without irrefutable facts to back them up. We can't afford to
alienate a large segment of the populace by accusing it of something none of
its number may be responsible for^Off-world agencies may be involved.
The AAnn, for instance, would enjoy watching and abetting chaos on any
Commonwealth world.
"But as I have said, that is not your problem. Spec-
ify what equipment you wish, and Sam will have it drawn from government stores
or billed to the local
Commonwealth account. The question of personal financial recompense was
settled, I believe, prior to your departure for Cachalot."
"You say you want to try to keep our purpose here a secret?" Rachael asked.
"You will be treated as visiting specialists engaged in typical commercial
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exploration. Escorts for such visitors are not uncommon, so Sam's presence
among you should not be remarked on." He stared down at his plate. "This
destruction must stop. It is bad for living, and bad for business."
They ate on in silence, finished with a dessert that
Mataroreva informed them had been produced from the jellied insides of a round [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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