After the meeting they went back to the harbor and met with the ship captains. They were doing well enough, though Churro was fretting about Telini not showing up yet. Waymer had a repair crew looking at a rudder problem for him. Lewis asked both captains to keep an armed guard on their gang planks and not let anyone aboard without a good reason that could be verified. Resupply was scheduled for the next day. Lewis also asked Churro how to find Lon’s place.
“No, Lieutenant,” Churro replied. “I really don’t think it is wise for you to go the maze on foot and without an escort. Would you like me to try to find someone to escort you? We could stop by there on our way out, you know.”
“We will go after we’re done here then,” Lewis agreed.
On the way back to the base Gomez wanted to see Derrik and have him try the pink liquid that Eol had given them. Lewis agreed on the condition that Derrik was bad enough that the doctors didn’t think they could save him. At the hospital they found Roquette in the waiting room. She told them that Derrik had finally stabilized enough that the medical staff could do surgery. They convinced her to leave her vigil and accompany them to the café. They ate a hardy lunch of stew and bread. Roquette went back to the waiting room and the rest went to their houses so Lewis could call Ascore.
When they reached the houses Telini and Stander were eating sandwiches and making notes on a ledger full of figures.
“Well, Lieutenant,” Telini looked glum. “There’s the stuff, but the company is complaining that the previous Port Mist trip had run up a tab and they want it paid.”
A bowl of grain sat on the table, which looked like barley to Lewis. He popped a few in his mouth and chewed thoughtfully. Stander moved aside so he could look at the ledger. It included two ship loads for Port Mist and one for Ascore, as well as Port Mist’s past due amount. The total was ten thousand five hundred.
“Credits or kolas?” Lewis asked Telini.
“Kolas.”
“Is there a lab that could analyze the grain for impurities?”
“Yes, Sir,” Stander informed him. “But I’ve never heard of it being used for civilian food supplies.”
“Run over to Hardwin’s office and attempt to get a request form validated,” Lewis said firmly. “And don’t forget the sample.”
“Yes, Sir!” Stander said, grabbing the bowl and dumping its contents into the sample bag. He hustled out, slamming the door behind him.
“You did say run, Sir,” Gomez laughed.
“I suppose I did,” Lewis couldn’t help smiling, even though it made his face hurt. “Sergeant Telini, see if you are able to reach the DeLeah’s.”
“Can do, Sir,” Telini fetched the radio and dialed in the proper frequency. He was able to establish a connection, but Lenon’s voice crackled and faded. He went over and retrieved his little computer and turned it on, running a patch cord to the radio.
“I’m trying to boost the signal,” Telini mumbled, concentrating. “Five hundred miles seems to be a little bit too much for this unit. Cool, I think it’s gonna work. Gotcha!”
Lenon’s signal sounded distant, but clear. Telini attenuated the input and turned up the volume. Lenon came in loud and clear.
“You're late, we were starting to wonder,” Lenon said. “What is going on?”
“I had some trouble with an assassin,” Lewis said. “We found the grain, and Sir Trun’s letter worked like a charm. Port Mist left an outstanding balance with the grain supplier that they want paid, deal breaker?”
“Do not look at it as a deal breaker, but as leverage. How much is owed?”
“One thousand, five hundred.”
“And the grand total.”
“Ten thousand, five hundred, kolas.”
“What is your current status as regards an assassin?”
“I’m alive, he’s incarcerated, it was kind of a comedy of errors on both sides.”
“I look forward to hearing more about it later.”
“Captain Inu should be here in a couple of days.”
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“Good, buy that grain and deliver it. I will feel better when it’s done.”
“You got it.”
When Lenon signed off, Lewis turned to Telini.
“If that test is approved and comes back clean,” he told Telini. “Go to the ship and get ninety three silver coins, and then use that to purchase the grain. I’m going to walk around and get to know this city a little better.”
“OK, I’ll wait for Stander,” Telini said. “Meanwhile I am going to dig a little deeper into what this computer will do.”
Lewis took Gomez and Blair, and went to explore down town. About a third was ruins, with intact buildings dominating the skyline. Some of them disappeared into the constantly rolling smoke clouds that hung at around the ten story level. The streets were clear of rubble and shops were visible on the ground level floors of most buildings. Street vendors pushed carts or sat on blankets with wares arranged around them. It all looked surreal to Lewis, with a dull orange glow to the smoke above and all the people looking sooty and wearing dark and somber clothes and expressions. Soldiers patrolled in teams of six and two teams were conspicuously visible at any given time. The soldiers wore clear face shields and enhanced plastic armor, rifles carried at the ready at waist level.
“It wouldn’t be easy to invade this place,” Blair observed. “Although I can’t imagine why anyone would want to.”
“Think about it bra,” Gomez said in her island girl voice. “They make new things here, that makes ‘em a good target. Take it a little further, mon, maybe the island people don’t like being subjugated, maybe they stage uprising. Colonel watsis-name would need lotsa muscle showing.”
“I suppose you’ve got something there little lady,” Blair spoke with a slow drawl. “Them damn injuns and their uprisings. Ya just never know. And don’t call me your bra.”
All three were laughing when Lewis noticed a small child standing ten feet away and looking at his face. He smiled at the little one and took a slow step forward. He was pretty sure it was a boy, probably Hagen, but everyone here looked like a chimney sweep so it was hard to tell. The child, who was maybe six, stood his ground.
“Mama says to say she can help, come on,” he said.
They followed. At first Lewis thought nobody noticed, until he saw what looked like a general shifting in the crowd. About a third of the people in the street were moving with them. The soldiers apparently saw it. They were standing on the far curb watching them follow the little guy, who stayed well out of reach. The child stopped, after moving about two hundred yards, in front of an ancient Hagen woman. She sat on a blanket and had another wrapped around her. In front of her were jars, bags and small boxes, at her right shoulder stood a teenage girl with a pistol on her left hip, keeper strap undone and tucked neatly behind the piece. She wore soft body armor and one black stripe on her right cheek, her long hair was in two braids and she had a dead serious expression.
“Mama,” the little boy said solemnly, holding out his hand to indicate the old woman and then stumbling a little in his haste to stand behind the girl. Her left hand moved up her thigh a fraction of an inch and Lewis realized her eyes were locked on Blair.
“Stand down,” Lewis whispered.
Blair, who was slightly behind him, must have done something right, because he saw some tension melt away from the girl’s posture.
“Mama,” Lewis said respectfully to the old woman, with a bow. “What can we do for you?”
“No,” Mama said quietly. “I can do for you.” Mama slid a primitive looking shotgun out of her blanket and laid it aside. She then reached down and picked up a small jar and handed it to Gomez.
“You could be a healer,” she said to Gomez. “Come see me sometime. I live in Hillar. Put this on his face and this,” she reached into the folds of her blanket and produced two tiny syringes. “Put one in his arm tonight and the other is for your wounded brother, tomorrow.”
Mama picked up the shotgun and slid it back under her blanket.
“You can go now,” said the girl standing behind her.
Lewis tossed a gold coin on her blanket, hoping it was enough, and then took a step back, turned and walked away.
“Thank you, Grandmother,” Gomez said as they left.
Nobody talked as they made their way back to the base.
Back at the house Telini and Stander were cooking, and it smelled good. Roquette set down the book she was reading and told them that Derrik’s surgery had gone well and he was expected to be moving around in a few days.
“What’s up with Blair? He looks, um, distracted.” She inquired, after he excused himself to take a shower.
“Well,” Gomez said, almost giggling. “He almost got into a fast draw contest in the market. The lieutenant had to order him to stand down.” Roquette looked annoyed. “Why is that funny?”
“I guess you had to be there,” Gomez commented. “May I Sir?” She produced the jar that Mama had given her.
“You think it will help?” Lewis asked. “Somebody already tried to kill me here.”
“What’s that?” Roquette asked suspiciously.
Gomez ignored her. “Mama doesn’t have it in for you, now don’t be a baby.”
“Staff Sergeant!” Roquette barked, and looked angry.
“Sorry ma’am,” Gomez shrank back. “I didn’t see any malice, except maybe in Mama’s bodyguard.”
“Lieutenant?” Roquette asked, softening a little. “Do you think this is wise?”
“Yes, Alice, I do,” Lewis suddenly felt tired.
“Fine, go ahead,” she said to Gomez.
The salve had a faint aroma of herbs and was cool and soothing. His face began to feel better immediately, along with the relief he could feel vitality creeping in to replace fatigue.
The evening meal was exceptional with stew, rice and potatoes or a local equivalent. After dinner Gomez produced the syringe.
“Time for your shot, Sir,” she said cheerfully, glancing at Roquette.
Roquette nodded slightly, and then watched the whole procedure like a hawk. After a few minutes she was shining a flashlight in his good eye. Lewis could hear them talking, but he could not make out their words.