The Inheritors - A. Bertram Chandler [52]
"Slave trading," said Grimes, "is prohibited by Federation law."
"Yeah. It is. But, Mr. Commander Grimes, such laws exist only for the protection of Federation citizens. The Morrowvians are non-citizens."
"How do you make that out?"
"How do I make that out? Because they're under-people, Commander—which means that they have the same status as androids, which means that they have no bloody status at all. They're no more than cattle—with the accent on the first syllable!" He laughed briefly at his own play on words, turned to glare at Dreebly when he essayed a snicker. "The only protection they can claim is that of the S.P.C.A.—and there's no branch of that society on Morrowvia!"
Grimes looked at Maggie appealingly. She flashed him a fleeting smile of encouragement. He looked at Danzellan. The portly shipmaster winked at him.
"Slavery," said Grimes firmly, "is still a crime, ethically if not legally."
"So is piracy, Grimes. Ethically and legally."
"I seem to recall past occasions in your own career . . . ."
"We're not talking about them. We're talking about this occasion in your career. The unprovoked attack upon an innocent merchantman. To begin with, Grimes, you can place your artificers at my disposal. If they make a good job I just might tone my report to your bosses down a little." He laughed lightly."A stiff note on paper, instead of a stiff note on cardboard . . . ."
"Mphm," grunted Grimes thoughtfully.
"In fact, Commander," went on Kane, speaking quite quietly now, his exaggerated accent gone, "I think that you could help me considerably . . . ."
And Kane, thought Grimes, owes his survival to the number of friends he has in high places. And Kane is an opportunist. For all he knows I might be an admiral myself one day. He's debating with himself, "Shall I put the boot in, or shall I let bygones be bygones?" Too, he's probably not quite sure if he is altogether in the right, legally speaking . . . .
"Don't trust him, Commander," said Danzellan.
"Keep your nose out of this!" snarled Kane.
"I discovered this planet," stated Danzellan. "The Dog Star Line . . . "
" . . . can go and cock its leg against a lamp post," Kane finished the sentence.
"Gentlemen," said Grimes soothingly. "Gentlemen . . . ."
"I can't see any round here," remarked Maggie.
"You shut up for a start," he told her. But he realized that her flippancy had broken the tension.
"What do you say, Commander?" persisted Kane. "You have a workshop, and skilled technicians . . . . Get the old Buster back into commission for me and you can write your own report to your superiors." He grinned. "After all, I'm just a semiliterate tramp skipper. Paperwork's beyond my capabilities."
"And what about me?" asked Danzellan interestedly.
"The Dog Star Line's big enough to look after itself, Captain, as I have no doubt that it will. My own activities, for quite some time, anyhow, will be confined to this continent of New England. You," he said generously, "can have North Australia."
"Thank you, Captain. I appreciate the gesture. But I feel obliged to tell you that my employers are not quite the soul-less bastards that they have often been alleged to be. They would not wish to share a planet with a slaver. Not," he added, "that it will ever come to that."
"So you're pulling out?" asked Kane.
"No."
"I warn you, Captain Danzellan, that if you or your people try to make things awkward for me, I shall make things even more awkward for the Dog Star Line. They'll finish up by buying me out, at my price. It will not be a low one." He turned to Grimes. "And what do you say, Commander, to my proposition to you?"
"No," said Grimes. "No, repeat no."
"You'll be sorry. My report—and it's a damning one—has already been written. My Carlotti transmitter is quite powerful, and will be able to raise the Lindisfarne Base station with ease. You'd better have your letter of resignation ready."
He turned to go.
"Hold your horses," said Maggie sweetly. "Hold your horses, Captain Kane.