Читать книгу Somewhere in the long forgotten future - Kevin Colbran - Страница 1

Somewhere in the long forgotten future, in a far distant solar system, Killa ambled into the warehouse dressed in flight overalls replete with a large parrot on shoulder, pilot’s cap and a pirate beard. A low-slung gun completed the outfit. This planet was on the rough side of the Galaxy, and it is usually better to look dangerous than seem an easy victim.

I could spend several pages describing the warehouse. Hey, you've seen one you've seen them all, a big box of a building with office and counters in front of stacks containing the merchandise.

Unfortunately today, Killa's welcome was somewhat less than cordial, instead of exchanging the usual banter. “What the hell do you want? Your credit is non-existent, so if you don’t have cash plus what you owe; do us all a favour and buzz off,” Roxz grumbled.

“Now Roxz, is that the way to talk to your best customer?” Killa asked trying to smooth things over. “Here I am ready to do you a big favour, and that’s the way you greet me?

Roxz grumped, “OK, in that case just put the money on the desk, and we can talk. I hope you notice that I am not turning pink from holding my breath.” He couldn’t turn blue because that was his natural colouring.

“I am offering to work the balance down a bit by collecting your outstanding bills from those not able to deliver them.” Killa offered, “I noticed that several of your friendly bill-collectors have retired.”

“Hilarious, I can do without the hospital bills. What makes you think that it would be easy since you are one of the worst offenders?” Roxz replied not bothering to look up from his work.

"Sorry about Toxz but trying to stand over Humph was a silly thing to do,” Killa sympathised, “Then again I suppose Toxz wasn't to know old Humph was a bit irritated with the exciter coil. I am sure that his arm will grow back just nicely, and he should appreciate the flowers.”

“Yes, out of my wife’s garden, which will be on the bill if ever I collect. I suppose you know that Jaya has added your name to the list, now that he has made an example of Sol?” Roxz said as he quirked an eye at Killa. Then he asked, "There is the problem with the Bogan corridor?”

“Yes, the proverbial flash rat is not brave enough to go down there in case they plan to nick his gold tooth,” Killa agreed.

“And hold a BBQ in his honour, so that didn’t answer the question,” Roxz carried on the saying.

“I can ask Humph to come with me as Jaya the Hut. Scared the hell out of me the time he did that,” Killa returned, “I have a fully operational Fearnaught suit with an additional accumulator; it can absorb anything that can move on a planet.”

“So what about Humph?” Roxz asked curiosity tickled.

“He treats a ray blast as an extra snack. He lives mostly on any radiation with an occasional bite of anything organic together with some dirty water. As he excretes fresh air and water, it is like having a free air plant on board,” Killa said.

“Bully for you. Does that suit have one of those Firebrand fields that blows-up the beam emitter and the target as well? I don’t want that happening in my town,” Roxz focused both eyes on Killa.

“If someone fires a beam that big at you; the hole that it bores goes through at least 3 metres of something like bedrock, would make it moot for the target surrounds. If the gun blows up as well just too bad,” Killa said, “However once the story goes around about me wearing one, no one should be crazy enough to test the theory. A small gun just takes the hand-off clean, doesn't even need dressing.”

“So if they just pile on and smoother you?” Roxz asked.

“Well as Humph is a being of many parts. He can either come as a dozen Imperial troopers or perhaps create some real excitement he could be one Allosaurus,” Killa was enjoying the reactions as Roxz just about choked on that idea, an Allosaurus is a couple of tonnes of talons, teeth and bad attitude. “Humph has a drawer full of trooper carbines and can form the armour with a thought.”

“Ha! As I said, put the money on the table, and you will make me a believer; the how I could care less.” Roxz was becoming irritated ready to give Killa the boot but relented. “OK, here are a couple of names as a start and a deposit card.”

Roxz shoved over a list with authorization to collect. Taking that as a farewell, Killa returned to his ship with no need to brief Humph as he was the parrot on his shoulder. They decided that rather than cause a panic; a troop of Imperial soldiers would be the go, with the Fearnaught suit tricked up to look like one of Adept Vater’s spare suits. As no-one in their right mind would tangle with that team; an empty corridor was soon opened through the Bogan area. The Bogan Corridor is infamous for neglect and rundown appearance, a haven for the local unemployed and those who would prefer to hide from authority.

The route taken was between derelict buildings held up by improvised hovels assembled from scrounged building materials; most people likened the Bogan area to a rat nest, which would be a flattering description.The progress was almost incident free. One idiot decided to test the suit with a handgun; there was a resultant flash and boom as the gun blew up. This event demonstrated that ‘yes that is what the Firebrand field does’ and was no rumour. One wonders about the mentality of taking a pot shot at Adept Vater as he would convert the area to the Great Bogan Desert.

Without further excitement, the team traversed the Bogan corridor, and the party emerged into relatively open suburban and manufacturing area. This area was fenced to keep the rabble away from the politer society of the harbour town; as the team entered the market area. Ahead, there was an array of shops and wholesale supply businesses. The troop marched into the first store and presented the bill to the stunned proprietor after removing the visor so that he could be recognised.

“Hi, Killa Mike Cox here to pick up the bill for Roxz,” Mike informed him.

“What’s this?” he asked after he recovered, “Where is Toxz, he hasn't been for months?”

“He had an accident. So out of the kindness of my heart, I am doing the task to help you settle accounts,” Killa explained, “Roxz would appreciate you completing the transaction so that he can continue providing the goods that you require.”

“Yes of course. And could you pass on a list of a few things that we are short of?” The shopkeeper asked scribbling a list and adding the required credits onto the card, "They keep cutting the phone lines through the Bogan area."

“That would be my pleasure to do business with you,” Killa responded gathering up the card and shopping list before leaving with a wave.

So the tour became an anti-climax as they went to each on the list and without further argument collected all the outstanding amounts. There was the usual number of shadows hastily ducking for cover as the troop clattered through the narrow alleyways to return to the city. Entering Roxz’s warehouse the funds were placed on the table to Roxz’s delight though he worked hard at hiding it.

“I had some grumbles from my customers, but I suppose they could have come themselves and saved the hassle,” Roxz said not smiling in case his face would crack, conceding, “Well I believe I can make a slight adjustment to your bill.”

“Big of you, I am sure,” Killa returned.

“Very liberal of me indeed,” Roxz stated, “Now to settle the rest and perhaps put your ledger in the black. I need someone to pick up an item from Grnatz and bring it back. I will provide enough fuel for the trip, but no more.”

“Grnatz, interesting place. I've heard most people avoid that sector like the plague,” Killa mused, “The merchant route is through Jaya’s sector and several cordons of Imperials; sounds easy.”

“Think about it otherwise, you will have white whiskers before you leave here,” Roxz added seeing that Killa was interested, “With Sol tied up at the moment, no one else is desperate enough.”

“’Desperadoes’ that is what they call us, I will get back to you shortly,” Killa decided.

“You aren’t going anywhere soon unless I say so,” Roxz said just to rub in the patent fact.

The pair then returned to the ship. Killa settled down comfortably and began planning the trip with Humph, “Well what do you reckon, worth a go?”

“Seems possible, we can circle the worst of the obstacles,” Humph considered, “If we can coax Roxz into a little extra fuel we should miss any risk of fighting. He doesn't need to know that our ship still has the best range if not quite the fastest.”

“OK, I suppose. As you often say tedious gives time to contemplate 'the whichness of the why',” Killa said a little tongue in cheek as Humph, while the adventurer of his people, still had the caution of a long-lived race.

On the other hand, Killa had his tail feathers burnt a couple of times. Then needing rescue by solid old Humph; just the sort of thing that breeds caution in the young if they live long enough to learn from the misadventure.

Humph brought up the holographic map of the galaxy displaying the sectors that had to be traversed to arrive at Grnatz.

Using the controls, Humph ran a probable path from the present position to the destination. “This line is the most direct, however at these points, there are Imperial custom stations and ships; and at this point adjacent to Tatooine is our old mate Jaya and his crowd,” As he spoke and manipulated, colour patches and icons appeared highlighting the choke points. This map now resulted in several blockages across the commerce route.

“Using the smuggler's route puts us through Imperial blockades and pirate zones,” Humph pointed at these and added to the display, “So if we use this line adding about 40% to the distance we should avoid the nasties.” The path now weaved around the coloured zones and passed through a couple of nebulae. “The nebulae slow us, and with the extra distance the fuel for the return journey should be about 100 tonnes, so if we ask for 150 tonnes, which is what a standard freighter would require for the direct run, Roxz should be happy with that.”

Mike calculated and suggested, “If we load some freight to Grnatz and perhaps intermediate stops we can pick up a little spending money and also give a cover story for our primary quest. Allowing for inspections, acceleration and deceleration the round trip would take 80 days in a standard freighter, still going the long way we should do the round trip in less than 40 days.”

“That should satisfy Roxz though he doesn't have to know the details,” Humph concurred.

So with this in mind, Killa transferred the data onto a stick to present to Roxz and assembling his gear wandered back to the warehouse.

“Here you go, old fellow,” Killa said as he placed the stick on Roxz’s desk.

Roxz grunted and loaded the stick onto his computer. After reading the information, Roxz asked, “Not leaving yourself short are you?”

“With a bit of coasting, no dramas. I even added a smidgeon if we have to duck and weave,” Killa breezily replied.

“OK then, I will organise some extra freight to take to Grnatz. Though not much as it is painful to transact business with those bandits,” Roxz added, “Likely they will try to pay in freight back to here. If you make a couple of credits, good luck, you’ll need plenty. I notice that the route you are taking is not in the data?”

“The walls may have ears, shouldn't give all our secrets away,” Killa responded.

“Sound thinking,” Roxz agreed then demanded, “So what are you leaving behind to guarantee your return?”

“What don’t trust us? I’ll have to ask Humph,” Killa said faking a shocked look then listened to Humph the parrot then reporting, “He has about 40 tonnes of various panels and equipment he could put in storage. It has to be secure, as some might be considered valuable.”

“I have a quarantine warehouse, and I can put plague stickers on it,” Roxz suggested wryly, “I expect to have loaded the freight and fuel in a day or two after we store your stuff.”

Consulting the data, “So if the traders need to send up to 24 containers you can handle that,” Roxz commented putting his merchant hat on and then waving Killa away after he nodded.

On the way back to the ship, Humph complained, “That hostage demand is annoying; I don’t want to lose any of my good stuff.”

“As long as it looks like junk to most people, it should be safe,” Killa said. This banter was ongoing between the two old friends as Killa thought it was junk that Humph recycled into hull panels and power equipment of dubious reliability.

So loading a container with several completed panels, a couple of sub-light engines together with one ion cannon ready for restoration for use. Humph probably intended to install at the next refit. Humphs delivered the filled container to Roxz’s warehouse with an injunction to store safely. Anyone would think that Humph was leaving his first born son with hyenas, if Killa hadn't been necessary as a crew, Humph would prefer him as the hostage.

“Don’t fret old fella; your babies will back to you in no time at all,” Killa said in mock sympathy, then grinned when he received a hurt look.

Still, their usual routine of freebooting freight and exploration was on hold until they repaired the credit imbalance. Needs must when your creditors called the tune.

Years before Humph had tempted Mike away from the farm to explore the Galaxy. As a younger son of a farmer, he would have had to leave home to seek employment in a city as an apprentice or something similar. So when offered the chance to become a crewman on a spaceship, he jumped at the chance. Since then, Humph had taught him all the tricks of a travelling merchant and pilot.