Helliconia Summer - Brian W. Aldiss [502]
‘From today, this city is under military law. You obey orders, understand? If you don’t, if one of your cargoes leaves this port for foreign parts, you are liable to be tried by military court and sentenced …’
The major let the words bang in the air before adding two further words in his best leather: ‘… to death.’
‘It will mean ruin to me and my family,’ Odim said, trying to wrench a smile out of himself.
The major beckoned to one of the privates, who produced a document from his tunic.
The major flung it on the table.
‘It’s all down there. Sign it to prove you’ve understood.’ He let his teeth air while Odim blindly signed, before adding, ‘Yes, as a foreigner, you report every morning in future to my under officer in charge of this whole area. He has just established an office in the warehouse next door, so you’ve not far to go.’
‘Sir, let me repeat, I am not a foreigner. I was born round the corner. I am chairman of the local trades committee. Ask them.’
As he made a supplicatory gesture, the wadded-up poster fell from under his coat. Besi stepped forward and put it carefully on the fire. The major ignored her, as he had all along. He merely stuck his tongue between teeth and upper lip, as if considering Odim’s impertinence, and then said, ‘You report every morning in future to my under officer, as I just said. He’s Captain Fashnalgid and he is next door.’ At the mention of this name, Besi leant over the fire. It must have been the flames from the burning poster which caused a brief ruddiness in her cheeks.
When Major Gardeterark and his escort had left, Odim shut the door into the packinghouse and sat down by the fire. Very slowly he leaned forward, picked a chewed match from the carpet, and tossed it to the back of the grate. Besi knelt beside him and held his hand. Neither spoke for a long while.
At last Odim said, with an attempt at brightness, ‘Well, my dear little Besi, we are in difficulty. How can we meet it? Where can we all live? Here, possibly. Perhaps we could do away with that kiln we scarcely use and house some relations in there. The room could be made nice … But if I am not allowed to trade, then … well, ruin faces us all. They know that, the scoundrels. These Uskuti would have us all for slaves …’
‘Wasn’t he horrible, that man? His eyes, his teeth … like a crab.’
Odim sat up in his chair and clicked his fingers. ‘One stroke of luck, though. First, we start work with this Fashnalgid in the next warehouse. By good fortune, that very captain is at present billeted with me – you may have caught a glimpse of him. He reads books and perhaps he’s civilised. And my wife feeds him well. Perhaps we could persuade him to help us.’
He lifted up Besi’s chin so that she was forced to look him in the eye.
‘Always something can be done, my chick. Go round to this nice Captain Fashnalgid and invite him here. Say I have a present for him. He’ll bend the regulations for us, for sure. And, Besi … he’s as ugly as a mountain devil, but never mind. Very very sweet to him, eh, chick? As sweet as you can be, and that’s very sweet. Even a little tempting – you know? Even if you have to go to the limit. Our lives depend on such things …’
He tapped his long nose and smiled coaxingly.
‘Run along, my dove. And remember – stop at nothing to win him over.’
IV
An Army Career
The Restrictions of Persons in Abodes Act met with the mixed reception customary for proclamations from the Oligarchy. In the more privileged sectors of the city people nodded their heads and said, ‘How wise – what a good idea.’ Nearer the docks, they exclaimed, ‘So that’s what the biwackers are up to now!’
Eedap Mun Odim gave no overt expression to his dismay when he returned to his crowded five-storey home. He knew that the police would call soon enough to inform him that he was contravening the new law.
That night, he patted his children, settled his modest anatomy beside the slumbrous bulk of his wife, and prepared his mind for pauk. He had said nothing to his spouse, knowing that her display of anguish, her tears, her undoubted