Alan Foster - The Icerigger Trilogy

Because Hunnar and his friends had to return home. Even if Hunnar was in no hurry to assume the mantle of Landgrave’s heir and even if he and his people were interested in exploring still another unvisited region of their world, he was technically on his honeymoon. Did Tran have honeymoons? Maybe newlyweds were expected to go out and butcher a Droom or something equally adventurous.

It made no difference. They had to return to Sofold if only to inform their friends and relations of their continued existence. For all Elfa Kurdagh-Vlata’s father knew his daughter was dead and the crew of the icerigger with her, the great ship destroyed, the bones of her crew gnawed by scavengers. Regardless of how they might respond personally to Cheela Hwang’s request they were obligated to return home if only to convey news of their survival. The citizens of Sofold were unaware they were now members of a great and growing union of city-states. Hunnar and Balavere Longax were obligated to inform them of their future. There were relationships to be renewed, songs to be sung, deeds to be told. No choice in the matter.

He said as much to Cheela Hwang and her colleagues, hoping it would satisfy them and put the matter to rest in a manner which would preclude any need for future defensive recriminations on his part. He forgot he was dealing with people who were used to extracting answers from meager data. Blanchard found one before Ethan could excuse himself.

“What you’re saying, then, is that if you could convince them to take us, they’d be prohibited from doing so because of their need to report back home.”

Ethan nodded vigorously. “Circumstances beyond my control, or Skua’s, or anyone else’s.”

Blanchard looked gratified. “Not necessarily. What’s the minimum crew for a ship like your icerigger?”

“I don’t know,” said Ethan, taken aback. “I never really thought about it. I was just a passenger. If you’re talking about sailing, you don’t need near as many as the Slanderscree normally carries. If you’re talking about exploring a new part of the planet and defending yourself while you’re doing it, that’s something else again.”

“This would be a journey purely for research,” Blanchard argued. “We don’t anticipate any fighting.”

“You never do,” Ethan told him, “but Tran-ky-ky isn’t exactly a benign world. There’s plenty of hostile fauna around besides uncontacted Tran.”

“We would go properly equipped,” said another of the scientists. “No advanced weapons because that’s strictly forbidden, but we could take other equipment which would be of help. And if you’re trying to frighten us you’re wasting your time. We’ve discussed this among ourselves and we know what we’d be letting ourselves in for. We’ve traveled on and around Arsudun. We’re not entirely innocent of the dangers of this world.”

Ethan didn’t bother trying to explain that a jaunt of a few days around a relatively stable, civilized island like Arsudun bore no relation to a journey of many weeks into unexplored regions of a hostile world. Why waste the time? They weren’t going anywhere anyway. But Blanchard wasn’t through.

“What we could do is hire a merchant vessel to take the elderly, the injured, and the chronically homesick back to this Sofold. We have some discretionary income in our budget and we know how starved the Tran are for metal. I’m sure we could find a captain willing to undertake the trip. Those of your friends who insisted on returning wouldn’t have to work or fight on the trip back. They could relax. They’ve earned it. And we’d still have plenty of funds left to hire your icerigger.”

“This Balavere Longax, the senior soldier you speak of in your report, could be put in charge of the returnees,” Hwang added. “As a respected member of the court of Wannome his report would be believed and honored. In fact, you could argue that it’s his place to deliver such a report and not the younger knight you call Redbeard. The remaining crew could sail us to the southern continent.”

“Let this Longax person,” Blanchard went on, “assure the people back home that all is well. He can tell them about this union you’ve instigated, about the exploits of his comrades and friends, and of the royal marriage you attended recently. He can also explain the delay in the Slanderscree ’s return and the importance of this journey we have to undertake. As to payment, we want to be sure we don’t offend the dignity of this Redbeard person.”

“There ain’t a Tran alive adverse to taking money,” September said, “but you won’t hire the Slanderscree and its sailors for a few chunks of iron.”

Hwang smiled. “The outpost has its own compact smelter, Mr. September. There’s ore deep in Arsudun which the natives cannot make use of but which we can. The smelter is here so that we can build and repair outpost facilities. That doesn’t mean we can’t use it to turn out ingots, bars, tubes, nails and bolts, swords and arrow points, and whatever else would please your Tran. We can fill the hold of their ship for their return journey. They can give us a detailed shopping list and we’ll fill it.”

Hwang had just made the closest thing to an irresistible offer one could propose to a Tran. Trade in sophisticated goods like electronics was still forbidden on Tran-ky-ky save for a few simple devices which would eventually break down. Nails and swords would last on a world where steel was more valued than gold. Even one as homesick as Hunnar would find it hard to turn down the offer.

“You can also tell them,” Blanchard continued, “that they would be expanding their knowledge of their own world and extending the hand of friendship and union to new peoples.”

That was as much an appeal to him as to the Tran, Ethan knew. By going along he would be doing business, making new trading contracts, perhaps finding new goods to buy. In a civilization like that of the Commonwealth, where electronics and goods and services were available cheaply and readily, exotic handicrafts and artwork were among the most highly prized of new goods.

Why the hell not? He was stuck here anyhow.

“I’m still not sure if this is a good idea or not or if it wouldn’t be better taken care of by some kind of remote survey craft, but I’ll put your proposition to Hunnar and his people. They have the right to turn you down themselves.”

“That’s all we’re asking.” She glanced up at September. “What about you, sir?”

“Me wishes all of you the best of luck, but my ship departs orbit at oh-eight hundred tomorrow morning. I’ll wave on my way outsystem. I’ve been cold long enough.”

Hwang was persistent, stubborn, or both. “The region where we’re going is warmer. That’s the problem.”

“Your problem, not mine. I’m off to where it’s warm all the time. Maybe I’ll regret not taking you up on your offer—in a year or two.”

She turned to Ethan. As far as she was concerned now, September had already departed. “I’m sure you’ll put our offer to your Tran friends as openly and honestly as we have put it to you. I only wish I could convey the importance of ascertaining the cause of this meteorological disturbance as rapidly as possible. There are crucial contradictions that require immediate resolution. Try to convey that to your friends along with our offer of cargo and transportation home for those who won’t come with us.”

“I’ll make sure they understand all the details. Why don’t you come with me since you feel so strongly about it? Tell them yourself.”

She shook her head. “I’m not good with people and I don’t know the language. None of us do. In that way our translators are electronic crutches. Speaking in person is infinitely more effective than talking through a device. Besides, these are your friends. It’ll sound much better coming from you. If they agree to help, then maybe I’ll be able to think of them as my friends as well.” An approving murmur rose from the scientists.