Freedom's Ransom

Chapter Nineteen

Natchi and Erbri appeared at the gangway of Kapash's gig as they disembarked. Ferris was with them, and so relieved was he to see the women being escorted by Zainal that he let out a ululation that startled everyone on the dock. Then he raced away to find trans-portation.

It was Natchi who helped Kathy onto the small motorized cart that arrived, and it was actually Natchi who paid for the hire when they reached the KDM. Jax and Floss wept with relief when they saw their friends gliding past the berths. Then Clune and the Doyle brothers appeared. Ninety all but carried Kathy on board, seeing that she was by now so weak with shock.

Chuck arrived with Gino and Sally Stoffers, having been sum-moned back from the marketplace by Ferris. Eric came, too, looking as concerned as everyone else, though he went back to his current pa-tient, whom he had left in the chair with Tavis in attendance.

There was freshly made coffee and Floss sliced bananas, deciding that the last of the ripe fruit would be easy to digest as well as good for them.

Kris and Kathy both finished the snack, grateful for Floss's care and solicitude. Then they decided they would feel better after a shower and clean clothes and excused themselves.

"Well?" Chuck asked Zainal, cocking a bushy eyebrow. "Kapash, your people took off with the rest of the coffee." Then leaning close to Zainal, he asked in a lower tone, "Was that the price of their freedom?"

"It was," Zainal admitted.

"Well, they're worth it. They don't look as if they suffered any great harm."

"Fortunately, no," Zainal said with such an edge to his voice that Chuck grinned. "Do you care to inspect our holds, Kapash, to be sure the bargain has been kept?"

Kapash flicked away such a consideration. "You are an honorable man, Zainal."

"There were only two full bags left," Chuck said, "and what bagged beans we brought back from the market while we awaited your return." Heavy in Chuck's eyes was the suspicion that Kapash might have trumped up the charges just to get the beans.

"Shall I give you a refund on your stall rental, Zainal, now that you have no reason to remain?" Kapash asked with studious po-liteness.

"We still have tradable goods, Market Manager," Zainal said with equal courtesy and showed the man to the main exit.

"He did rig it, didn't he, Zainal?"

"It's a possibility," Zainal admitted, knowing how devious the mar-ket manager was. Greed was Kapash's main motive, which, of course, meant that he had seen how popular the coffee was. Zainal left the galley to go to the control room. Curious, Chuck followed and found him lighting up the main computer screens. Zainal entered four let-ters and sat back, watching the unit deal with the code.

When a menu appeared, Zainal typed in another series and sud-denly the screen scrolled down line after line of what Chuck thought were ship IDs.

"And what have you got here, Zainal lad?" Chuck asked, taking another seat.

"I met our beloved space station commander and he very kindly accessed some files for me, updating me though I'm sure he didn't mean to." A smile wreathed Zainal's usually bland expression. "He gave me the chance to see two of his codes. One, this"-here he struck a save button and then an order to print the entire file "is a list of all ship activity in and out of the station for: oh, probably ten years. That's as much as it's necessary to save."

"And what was the other code, Zainal?"

Zainal went back to the menu and tapped another code. "This one will take more time and effort," said Zainal. "But it might be worth it. It will give us the movements of all Eosi ships in and out of Barevi. I have also learned that the Eosi did not keep their share of earnings in any holding establishment, but secreted their treasures where only they could access them. If we examine their flights and destinations, we might discover where they stopped along the way."

"Well, a good day's work for all the anxiety. You got Kris and Kathy back, and also found what you've been looking for."

Paper was spewing out of the printer now. "Yes," said Zainal with satisfaction, "we'll know considerably more about the ins and outs of all shipments of slave labor following the Catteni invasion. I might even find out how much Ladade earned from his cut of the cap-tains' loot."

"I heard that Ladade is pretty honorable." The end of that sen-tence posed a question.

"Depends on your standards of honor," Zainal replied. He reached over and removed a wad of the hard copy from the basket, riffling through the pages. "We must get back to Botany and then return to Jarth. Did you get any more automotive parts?"

"We got some truck tires from Nilink, the man you were sup-posed to deal with earlier, and he was right annoyed when Kapash's men cut him off at the pass, as it were."

"Did he deliver to us or did you collect from his warehouse?" "We collected but he has that place well secured."

"Full?"

"What you got is only a single column of the hoard he has. What-ever did he have in mind when he stocked up on tires? You can't use them on any Catteni vehicle, and there's nothing you can do with tire rubber. It's not something you could melt down like metals. By the way, he has batteries, too."

"You know, Chuck, I think we've gone about this the wrong way round."

"If you're thinking what I'm thinking, Zainal, indeed we have." He smiled and chuckled, rubbing his hands together. "And that'll show Kapash."

"Speaking of whom, let me just see:" And going back to the original menu, Zainal picked another file and opened it. "This is ex-actly what I need: the prison duty roster." He scrolled backward and stopped at a date. By now, Kapash's name was familiar to Chuck in Cat-teni script. Zainal finally highlighted the name "Kapash" and a date.

"Now that wouldn't just happen to be the date we got launched to Botany, would it? With Kapash on duty?"

"Perceptive of you, Chuck. That's exactly what it is." Now it was Zainal who rubbed his hands together.

"Wish I had access to Kapash's office files," he muttered, though he was well enough pleased to discover that Kapash had, indeed, con-nived in his being dropped. For he now had proof that Kapash had been on duty the day he and Kris and the others were sent off to Botany on a slave ship. Kapash's "duty" should have included the res-cue of an obvious Catteni from such a shipment. "And now I have proof and cause." An odd smile played on Zainal's lips but, with a shake of his head, he changed to his customary bland expression.

"Speaking of greed:" Zainal paused, jiggling his fingers on the worktop. "Where would one least expect to find treasure?"

"Right out in the open?" Chuck suggested.

"Quite likely. Pe was an odd personality, even for an Eosi." Zainal chuckled softly. "It's worth a look on our way out."

"Our way out?"

"We would be less noticeable then and we can always come back. Meanwhile, I intend to reduce Kapash's greed. A thief should not be allowed to enjoy it."

"But you gave him the beans for the women's safety."

Zainal gave Chuck an odd smile. "As market manager, Kapash is not only allowed to punish thieves, but he also has to indemnify the merchants for any losses they may incur while their products are un-der his protection."

Chuck's jaw dropped open. "Zainal?"

"He owes me a debt, as one Catteni to another, for unlawful im-prisonment, and I shall take no more than is legal to acquit that debt and the several insults to my women." or the evening meal, celebrating the safe return of the women, Natchi, Erbri, and Tavis were included among the guests. Erbri had brought in a roast of a beef-like animal that was hunted in the forests of Barevi. As the hunters were usually Catteni enjoying shore leave, they often sold their kills to local merchants, though occasion-ally they had the beasts butchered and took the best cuts back to their ship for better food than their captain would supply. The roast was tender and juicy, and everyone had second servings.

"I have one more task to complete," Zainal said when everyone, even Ferris, said they had eaten enough. He glanced at Peran and Bazil. "Then we will lift for Botany."

"Oh no, I can't do that," Eric said, looking astonished. "I have too many clients waiting for crowns and bridges to leave right now" "Oh, we'll be back, I assure you," Zainal said.

"Look, Dr. Eric," Tavis said, "you can stay here. My family will be glad to have you as a guest, and I have so much to learn from you." "And I will stay, too. Can't I, Dr. Eric? You know how helpful I can be. Please, Zainal, please?" Ferris begged.

"I'll think about that, Ferris. You could be vulnerable."

"No," Tavis said with suddenly unexpected dignity. "If he was in the employ of Dr. Eric, of course he must stay. And my family will protect him, too."

"You have learned much already, Tavis," Eric said kindly. "Zainal, I really can't leave or all the groundwork that has been laid for den-tistry on Barevi will go for nothing."

"I have no objections to your staying, Eric. In fact, I would prefer it, though it does leave you exposed. Professionally, you are not in-volved," Zainal said cryptically. "However," and now he stared at Tavis, "can you keep Eric safe within your family compound?"

"We would pledge his safety if that is necessary, Zainal," Tavis said with an upward jerk of his chin to show his willingness and determi-nation. "Emassi Doctor Eric has many, many influential and wealthy patrons. No harm would come to him."

"Good. We shan't be gone long, but there may be some reper-cussions."

"Repercussions?" Eric asked. "Oh, because no one's going to like dealing with Kapash for their coffee."

"I did hear something that puzzles me," Natchi said, looking dour. The old veteran had really enjoyed his early-morning cup and a place to sit in the sun. "That Kapash would be dealing with coffee beans from now on?"

"His supply is limited to what he has," Zainal said.

"Then he doesn't have the single concession to sell beans?"

"He may think he does," Zainal said with a little smile, "but this market is free to all traders, and that is not a rule he can bend. As we shall make certain. Now, I have discovered sufficient evidence to prove to me that Kapash was the duty officer at the prison the day we were dispatched to Botany."

Wide-eyed looks and gasps echoed the surprise of those around the table.

"I knew it, I knew it," Natchi said, swearing oaths in such a jum-ble that no one quite caught their sense, which was just as well, Zainal thought. "Greedy swamp wart. May he drown in his own slime."

"He might-quite legitimately, if you are all willing to take some risks before we depart tomorrow"

"What? What do we have to do?" was the eager response to risk-taking.

Even Kathy looked determinedly eager to cooperate, judging by the vengeful light in her eyes.

Zainal propped his elbows on the table but gave first Natchi and then Erbri a long look.

"I had already intended to take you two back to Botany for your mechanical skills but it might be as well-if you agree to tonight's business-to take you with us for other reasons."

"Such as?" Natchi challenged.

"We are still missing considerable spare parts-"

"And we're going to steal them so Kapash has to pay insurance!" Ferris bounced up and down in his chair, believing he had perceived Zainal's plan.

"But, Father:" Bazil, his more conservative child, protested, glancing at Brone, who evidently had no qualms with what was be-ing suggested.

"Yes, yes, it is wrong to steal, but it is very proper and Cattenish to respond to insult. And Kapash has insulted me and mine once too often. Especially now I have proof of his complicity in my trans-portation."

"What proof do you have?" Brone asked blandly.

"I have the duty roster for that particular day, and he was on it as prison warden. That means he was supposed to oversee who was shipped out. I know he had orders to include everyone caught up in the riot, but that did not include a Catteni."

"And Zainal was certainly not part of that riot," Kris said firmly, eyeing Bazil sternly. "Neither was 1. But I was Terran and uncon-scious, so I had no chance to proclaim my innocence in the affair." "So, what must we do to assist you, Emassi?" Erbri said.

"Since you and Natchi have repaired all those lift glides, can you also help load them?"

"Sure, but all the places you need to get into are secured," Natchi pointed out.

"Some are even guarded," Erbri added cautiously.

"Shorting out the security system is no big problem," Bayes said, as their electrical expert. "Most of it needs to be repaired. Plenty of faulty lines." He shrugged. "Could go anytime."

"You can always get in from the roofs, too," Ferris said, and Ditsy nodded emphatically.

"Oh, can you? To which storage sheds in particular, Ditsy?" Zainal asked, suspecting that Ditsy had checked out such matters when he was looking around all the storage places.

"Oh, like Nilink's and Luxel's. Cut a panel out of the ceiling and with a lift on the roof we could load it in next to no time."

"And leave all the front tiers of tires to make 'em think no one's tampered with their stuff," Ditsy added.

"Zerkay's merchandise can be handled the same way. Steal the back layers and he won't be much wiser."

"He was the nicest of the lot," Kris said with dismay on her face. "He has no need of the things he looted, and we can't play fa-vorites if we're planning a widespread heist."

"It's not theft," Peran said. "It's restitution of impounded materials that were stolen in the first place."

Zainal gave his son a quick look for that bit of sophistry. Brone shrugged as if to imply he had not put such words in the boy's mouth. "We have to be careful to go for only the things we know we can use or we're cut of the same cloth," Zainal said. "Where are our lists?" Sally Stoffers opened her account book and held out copies.

"Nilink definitely. Natchi, figure out how many lifts we'll need to take the back third of his stock. Kathy, figure out the weight and cargo space this'll take. Fortunately, lifts can be taken right into the ship from the shadows of the dockside. There oughtn't to be too many people up and about in the early dawn. We'll need some light to operate by."

"We could arrange for some diversions, Zainal," Erbri suggested. "Nothing violent, just distracting?" His suggestion, as well as his ex-pression, was so eagerly helpful that Zainal saw the merit of it.

"We'll have to figure out exactly when, Erbri, but we would ap-preciate it and I'll repay any expenses when I can."

"Your word is good, Emassi," Erbri replied.

"Good. We mostly need to shift what Luxel's been sitting on-the satellite components-and Nilink's tires and batteries. They'll be bulky and heavy so we'll need six or seven lifts for those two sites alone."

"I'll volunteer for that," Bayes and Clime said simultaneously. "Brone, you'll stay out of this," Zainal said when the young tutor held up his hand. "In fact, Tavis, if you can shift Eric's things, with Brone's help, to your family compound, it will give you both alibis."

"Indeed, Emassi," Tavis said, expressing strong relief. Brone nod-ded with dignity, an attitude that did him no harm in the eyes of his young charges.

Zainal reached for a writing wand. "How many lifts have you been able to repair, Natchi?"

"Ditsy helped me, Emassi, but we have twelve in top working or-der and all powered up."

"Twelve:" Zainal murmured and started calculating weights and the time it would take to make round-trips from the storage sheds to the ship.

"No one would question our leaving after today," Chuck said. "I can stay on board on comm watch."

"No, I can assume that duty," Brone said. "I can also get our port clearance organized. I don't think there'll be any questions about that."

"Good idea." Zainal nodded his thanks. "Now," and he began to issue specific orders as to how many lifts would go to which destina-tion. "It won't take more than ten minutes by lift to make it to and from the most distant storage unit-Luxel's-so allowing half an hour for Ferris and Ditsy to load, Erbri, start your distraction at three forty-five. Chine, Chuck, the tires and batteries will be heavier to load at Nilink's, so if Erbri keeps a good watch, you should get in about the time the boys do. Ninety, you and your brother take another lift behind Clime and Chuck. It's tires and batteries and windshield wipers-we can use the most. You've got time to get some rest. You," and he pointed to Gail, "have some special signs to make for us."

"My pleasure. Who will you be raiding, Zainal?" "Kierse," he said.

"I'll come along for that," Kris said.

"Not in your condition. Floss comes with me. You and Kathy get a good night's sleep. You'll have to be all smiles and sociability when we close down our market stall tomorrow."

"But what if the thefts have been discovered?" Ferris asked, wide-eyed.

Zainal merely laughed. "All the more reason for us to be about the business of closing our stall and leaving in good order."

Very pleased with her assignment, Floss shooed Kris and Kathy to their quarters, saying loudly that Bazil and Peran would help her clear the galley. "And leave it spotless!"

Zainal would have preferred to keep his sons innocent of the lar-ceny, but since he had announced the reasons behind his actions, he felt they would understand that he didn't behave this way without cause. Revenge for an insult was a proper Catteni ritual under any cir-cumstances, and insult had been done not only to Zainal, but also to Kris and Kathy.

He awakened after a few hours' sleep and went to the galley, thinking that this morning, of all he had recently enjoyed, there would be no hot coffee to savor. He was amazed to find Floss ready to pour him a fresh cup.

"Kapash's men thought they were so smart, Zainal-they thought coffee was just bags of beans," she said with a laugh as he inhaled the fragrant steam, "But I had just poured three sacks of raw beans into the roaster when they arrived. They never looked there. Kris will be very pleased, too."

The rest of the men and boys who followed him were equally pleased, none more than Natchi and Erbri, who had kipped down in the hold for what rest they would have before the dawn's action. So, tugging the lines of lifts out of the main hatch as soon as Natchi de-clared the docking bay free from casual traffic, they spread out to their various assignments.