The two who had snatched up Reese originally, escorted him to a small room we'd prepared. He entered with a rolling gait,to eye us, close mouthed and tight lipped.

I motioned to a seat, really a sort of ad hock bench we'd knocked together for the occasion. I made a mental note to stop somewhere and grab up a mess of chairs and simple furniture later. He stood his ground, and growled, “What's this about. What do you intend to do with me?”

“We want to do a deal. You're in no danger. Please, sit.”

“A deal?” Some of the clouding left Reese's face. Deals were his staff of life.

The meeting became more animated. Nearly everything Gary, Henry and I had talked about came up, save of course the burned away colonial cane field.

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Surprisingly, the contracts he had made with his business confederates for colonial farming and mining output, worked in our favor, as they could mostly stand. Reese would stay sole importer. He stipulated that our cane field would be burned. Something we quickly agreed to since that had already been done. His requirement that Segudson be released to monitor the contract, we denied. Segudson was a criminal in the colony's eyes, and his staying on there, I pointed out, would only amount to suicide. But, we added, he would be released on Earth, banished from the colony, so to speak.

To end it, we stated our intention to notify the Kreeb's Queens about the plant, and that they would undoubtedly police any regrowth thoughts. The fact that the Earth looked savable provided a long term view, meaning his business here could continue into the future. Clacks was called on to verify that the queens, when informed, would most certainly police the use of cane, and that Clacks would personally see to working with Rebecca on the planet's rescue.

In the end, Reese walked free from the ship, in a fair mood, and the ship was loaded with the remaining goods intended for the colony. We lifted ship.