Q & A - Keith R. A. DeCandido [43]
His beady little eyes widening, his round mouth falling open, Neek spoke in a whisper. “You have the ink?”
“Three boxes of it. Shall we say a box per case of kanar?”
Neek recovered. “That’s ridiculous. It’s not worth that much.”
“It’s worth more than that, Neek. You said you’d pay any price for the Leyles ink.”
“I never said that.”
Vogusta had expected that. “Shall I play you the recording of our conversation on the subject?”
“You recorded our conversations?” Neek asked, outraged.
“Of course. While the Karemma do not have anything as eloquent as your Rules of Acquisition, DaiMon, we do have certain codes of conduct that direct our actions. That code includes an instruction that has become nigh inviolable in the ten years since your people and ours first encountered each other: always record a conversation with a Ferengi.”
“Recordings can be faked,” Neek said sourly.
Vogusta shrugged. “If that is your attitude, DaiMon, then I will return to Karemma with my Leyles ink, and you can proceed to meet the Vahni.” He moved to close the connection, knowing full well that he wouldn’t get the chance.
Sure enough, Neek screamed, “Wait!”
“Yes?”
Neek stared angrily at Vogusta over the viewer. For more than a year, Neek had been asking after Leyles ink. The secretions of a very rare aquatic creature from the Leyles system contained an aphrodisiac and was sometimes used in tattoos. Using Leyles ink for body art created a state of permanent bliss. Vogusta thought it a barbaric practice, but Neek had insisted that he would “pay any price” to obtain the ink.
Neek couldn’t afford to let Vogusta get away. The reason his profit margin was so high was that Neek didn’t report the business he did in this quadrant, and he didn’t pay taxes on it. Apparently Ferenginar had instituted a taxation system, a policy Neek violently disagreed with. While the Ferengi Commerce Authority had eyes all over the Ferengi side of the anomaly, they had many fewer on this side. Neek could do business “under the table,” as he had phrased it.
Vogusta didn’t care, as long as business got done. Neek had been a reliable client, and that was all that mattered.
Finally, Neek broke into a pointy-toothed grin. “Sometimes I’m reminded why I like doing business with you, Vogusta. Your honesty is very refreshing.”
“If you say so,” Vogusta said with a sigh. “So we have a deal?”
“Three boxes of Leyles ink for one of the cases of kanar.”
The haggling again. “Three boxes for all three cases, DaiMon, or I take my business elsewhere. I’m sure if I have Shipmaster Darsook take us through the anomaly, I can find any number of sources of kanar at more reasonable prices and who’d be willing to take the ink off my ha—”
“Fine, fine,” Neek said quickly, “one box per case of kanar.” He smiled. “I’ll see you in the morning, Vogusta.”
The wall shimmered as Neek’s face faded from view. Shaking his head, Vogusta returned to his hammock and continued reading until he fell asleep.
He was awakened by the voice of Operator Zali again saying, “Vogusta, this is the flight deck. Please respond.”
Blinking himself awake—Vogusta had always been a light sleeper—he got out of the hammock. Noting the time on the display unit, he realized that they were probably arriving at Gaia. He placed his hand on the intercom control. “This is Vogusta.”
“Sir, Shipmaster Darsook has requested your presence on the flight deck.”
“What for?” Vogusta asked, trying to keep the revulsion out of his voice. Darsook’s people were going to handle the transfer with the Ferengi. They didn’t need him walking around the ship, and especially not on the flight deck, which was only one small thin bulkhead away from space.
“We’ve arrived at the coordinates, sir, and Shipmaster Darsook feels you should be present for this.”
Testily, Vogusta said, “Operator, please inform Shipmaster Darsook that I’m familiar with what the