The Inheritors - A. Bertram Chandler [39]
"Let me pass!" huffed Danzellan.
"The queen insists on privacy," said one of the men.
"But I know Janine. We are good friends."
"The queen said, sir, that she and Captain Kane and her other guests were not to be disturbed."
Grimes nodded to Maya. Possibly she would be admitted while the offworlders were not. The Morrowvian woman walked forward until her breasts were pressing against the haft of one of the spears. She said indignantly, "You know who I am. Let me in!"
The spearman grinned. His teeth were sharp and very white. He said, "I am sorry, lady, but I cannot. Janine mentioned you especially."
"And what did she say?" demanded Maya.
"Do you really want to know, lady?" The man was enjoying this.
"Yes!"
"She said, lady, 'Don't let Commander Grimes or any other foreigners in here while I am in conference. And the same applies to that cat from Cambridge.' "
"Cat from Cambridge . . ." muttered Maya indignantly. "You can tell Janine that should she ever visit my town she will not be received hospitably."
"Well, Commander Grimes," asked Danzellan, "what are you doing about this?"
"What can I do?" countered Grimes irritably.
"We can talk things over," suggested Maggie Lazenby.
"Talk, talk!" sneered Danzellan, "while that damned pirate is raping a planet!"
"It's all that we can do at the moment," Grimes told him. "I suggest that we return to our pinnace. And I suggest that you, sir, do some talking."
"All right," said the shipmaster at last.
* * *
"The Dog Star Line's interest in this world will bring nothing but good to the people," stated Danzellan.
"Mphm," grunted Grimes skeptically.
"But it is so, Commander. If we are allowed to run things our way the planet will remain virtually unspoiled. There will be no pollution of the air, the soil or the seas. Unless the Morrowvians so desire it—and I do not think they will—there will be no development of heavy industries. The small luxuries that we shall bring in will demand power, of course—but solar power will be ample for their requirements."
"It all sounds very nice," admitted Grimes, "but what do your employers get out of it?"
"Oh, they'll make a profit—but not from the Morrowvians."
"From whom, then?"
"From passengers. Tourists. As you know, we have been, for many years, primarily freight carriers—but there is no reason why we should not break into the passenger trade, the tourist trade specifically. Trans-Galactic Clippers have been doing very nicely at it for some years now. But TG has the game sewn up insofar as the worlds on their itinerary are concerned.
"Now we, the Dog Star Line, have a new planet of our very own. We can build our own hotels and vacation camps, we can run cruises over the tropical seas in big schooners that we shall build and man—already recruiting for their crews is being opened on Atlantia." He smiled sympathetically at Maya. "I'm afraid that's necessary, my dear. Your people aren't very sea-minded."
"And you think that this scheme will work?" asked Grimes, interested.
"Why shouldn't it work, Commander? The advertising need only be truthful. Think of the posters, the brochures with photographs of all the beautiful, naked women—and, come to that, of the equally beautiful naked men. Visit Morrowvia—and shed your clothing, your cares, your inhibitions! Why, it'll have Arcadia licked to a frazzle!"
Maggie looked very coldly at Captain Danzellan. She said, "Arcadia is not a holiday resort for the idle rich, nor does it wish to be one. Our naturism is a way of life, not an advertising gimmick."
"Are you an Arcadian, Commander Lazenby? But what you said about naturism being a way of life on Arcadia applies equally well to Morrowvia. And we, the Dog Star Line, will do nothing to destroy that way of life. I have studied history, and I know how very often a superior race, a supposedly superior race, has ruined a simple people by forcing upon them unnecessary and unsuitable clothing. We shall not