"I'll be careful. — What're we going to do, Mr. Macgregory? If a cargo goes up, the blast'll be almost literally infinitely worse than this little pop we just made. It won't be confined to a sterile, empty, shielded chamber, and more than one hold will almost certainly be involved even at the outset. Once the inevitable happens and the chain reaction starts, all the Federation's hells will be on us for a fact."
"We don't panic. — First, we've got to charge our blasters, get all our evidence together, then I hit the City Council with it. Luckily, everyone on it has some interest in the harbor. That should help jab a needle in their tails. — Doctor Cofort, I'll need your historical information for a backup."
"I've just got a temporary berth on the Queen and have nothing with me. However, I can tell you where to set your researchers looking."
"Good enough. Fasmit the details to me as soon as you get back to your ship. Mr. Van Rycke has the code."
The industrialist gave his head a sharp shake. "I've been remiss. It's past time for another evacuation drill."
"Evacuation?" Jan inquired.
"Canuche was spared during the Crater War. A lot of other worlds weren't. I've seen the tapes, both of those struck by the combatants and those hit even more viciously by jacks taking advantage of the general chaos. I've also seen evidence of what can happen when people don't respond correctly or in time to natural upheavals—storms, earthquakes, and the like.
"All my employees are required to keep on hand a week's supply of concentrates, water, first aid supplies, any necessary specific medications, and blankets for every human and animal member of their household plus a tent or other portable shelter for them all and a surplanetary transceiver to keep abreast of news. Periodically, I order them to carefully shut down the plant and feeder lines, take their emergency gear, and leave the city for the hardpan beyond. The only concession I make is to exclude ailing or handicapped persons and a caregiver if one is needed. I'm out to save lives, not take or endanger them."
"They put up with that?" Rael asked.
Macgregory smiled. All spacers had to accept discipline, but such blind obedience would be an alien concept to the mind of a Free Trader. "There's always something extra to sweeten the paychecks of those who comply. The odd one who doesn't finds a dismissal notice. Besides, one of the very few times in its history that Canuche Town suffered real injury from the ocean occurred only a few years back.
Our weather forecasters told us to expect trouble, and, because my people were concentrated in the most immediately threatened neighborhoods, I forced a full evacuation early. They spent one hell of a miserable night, but when
the waters came, nobody was hurt, and those whose property was damaged received financial help to repair or replace it.
"The rest of the populace wasn't told to leave until much later. There was haste» some confusion, and a little panic at the end. A handful of injuries occurred as a result and a few deaths, all of those among the fools who refused to go at all.
"My policy proved itself in the time of testing, and since then, I haven't gotten much static when I've demanded a refresher course on the procedures."
His lips tightened. "Now I see how much more important it is than even I'd realized. Danger's a lot closer to us than a chance attack from the stars or a freak, fairly readily predicted combination of foul weather or geophysical events."
Adroo squared his shoulders. "That's my business and Canuche Town's. Thank you, all three of you, for your help thus far. I may also want a deposition from you, just a description of our conversation today and what you observed here plus any knowledge you have about ammonium nitrate."
"That shouldn't be a problem," Miceal answered for his party. "I can't help with background detail, unfortunately, but I'll apply to Trade records and see if we can't uncover more for you. Van and Rael will, of course, do what they can as well."
"Again, my thanks. — In the meantime, I have a living to make. To get back to our original reason for meeting, Captain, how soon can you begin to accept deliveries?"
"Right away."
"We'll start tomorrow morning, then." He turned to Rael. "Here's my card, Doctor. It lists my private code. I haven't forgotten my offer. Hell, after all this, you needn't take a sales job. Name what you want, and if it isn't on the books now, I'll create a post to your specifications."
She nodded gravely. "I'll keep that in mind, Mr. Macgregory, and if I turn it down, it won't be for want of gratitude."
20
Miceal Jellico watched the spaceport manipulator swing a huge, metal-banded crate to the Solar Queen's wide-open hatch. There, Rael deftly guided the clamps of the starship's smaller version of the all-purpose large-cargo handler into place and signaled to Van Rycke, who was at the controls of their machine, to lock them. A second wave to the outer world caused the holds on the port manipulator to be released.
Once more, the crate rose. It disappeared through the hatch, where it would be delivered to Dane in the bulk cargo hold for final stowing.
Jellico walked over to the Cargo-Master. "That the last of the big stun?"
"Aye," he said as he switched off the motor and swung down from the control seat. "Just those boxes now." He pointed to a tall stack of space-sealed containers of several different types and sizes. "We could handle those manually if need be, not that anyone's Whisperer bait enough to do it while better's available. We won't be getting the real small stuff until tomorrow morning."
"You and Thorson can manage without your assistant?"
"We had to manage before she came." He turned his head. "Cofort!" he shouted. "Come on down! Our Captain's pulling rank and commandeering your services."
Seconds later, the woman joined them. "What now?" she asked, smiling. As she spoke, she rubbed her hands against the legs of her trousers to dry them. Machine help or none, loading and sorting bulk cargo was still heavy work.
"As Van says, I want to borrow you for a few hours."
"Sure thing." She saw that he had rented a flier and glanced back at the ship. "It'll only take a few minutes to wash and change ... "
"No need. Just grab your cap and silicates to screen out Halio's rays."
"Will do," she responded.
The Medic returned to the waiting men an edifyingly short time later. "All set," she informed them.
"Excellent." Jellico pointed to the flier's front passenger seat. "Hop in."
"Good luck with your lizards," Van Rycke called after him.
His commander scowled but then raised his hand in farewell. "Just see that none of this valuable cargo's left out to face the rigors of the night air."
With that, he activated the controls, and the vehicle, a light-duty passenger four-seater, shot away from the Queen.
Mfceal laughed softly. "He's right about the lizards. I am stealing you to help me on a personal project."
"So I gathered," Rael responded. "That's tri-dee gear I see on the rear seat unless I'm very much mistaken. — What's the story about the lizards?" she asked curiously. "I thought Canuche didn't have anything worth mentioning in the way of wildlife, especially here in the north."
"Nothing much in terms of variety, size, or high development on the intelligence scale," he corrected. "What's here is both interesting and important, simply because they are here, if for no other reason.
"The lizards we're seeking are a prime example. They're small—three inches long excluding that much again of tail—winged, and a beautiful deep green in color. They're relatively common in their natural range but can't be kept in captivity—Canuchean conservation and anticruelty laws forbid any further attempts to do so—and no one's ever been able to study or make any sort of pictorial record of them in the wild. As soon as a person gets even within long-lens range, every lizard present drops into the foliage. If they can be discovered at all, they're hunched up in tight little balls that won't release again until the intruder is gone, depending on camouflage and the poison in their skins to protect them.