“Rhoda, you know Sisu can’t finance a ship unassisted.”
“Don’t be hasty, dear. Both Gas and Dupont would cosign . . . in their case, it’s the same as cash.”
“If their credit will stretch.”
“And New Hansea would jump at it — under the circumstances — and –”
“Rhoda! You were young, two Gatherings ago, but you are aware that the debt lies equally on all . . . not just Hansea. That was unanimous.”
“I was old enough to be your wife, Fjalar. Don’t read the Laws to me. But New Hansea would jump at the chance . . . under a secrecy taboo binding till the end of time. Nevertheless the carrying charges would eat too much. Did you get to see a Galactic Lambda?”
“I don’t need to; I’ve seen the specs. No legs.”
“You men! I wouldn’t call eighty gravities ‘no legs.’ ”
“You would if you had to sit in the worry seat. Lambda class were designed for slow freight inside the Hegemonic sphere; that’s all they’re good for.”
“You’re too conservative, Fjalar.”
“And I’ll continue to be where safety of a ship is concerned.”
“No doubt And I’ll have to find solutions that fit your prejudices. However, Lambda class is just a possibility. There is also you-know-which. She’ll go cheap.”
He frowned. “An unlucky ship.”
“It will take powerful cleansing to get those bad thoughts out. But think of the price.”
“It’s more than bad thoughts in you-know-which-ship. I never heard of a chief officer suiciding before. Or a captain going crazy. I’m surprised they got here.”
“So am I. But she’s here and she’ll be up for sale. And any ship can be cleansed.”
“I wonder.”
“Don’t be superstitious, dear. It’s a matter of enough care with the rituals, which is my worry. However, you can forget the you-know-which-one. I think we’ll split with another ship.”
“I thought you were set on doing it alone?”
“I’ve merely been exploring our strength. But there are things more important than setting up a new ship single-handed.”
“There certainly are! Power, a good weapons system, working capital, blooded officers in key spots — why, we can’t man two ships. Take firecontrolmen alone. If –”
“Stop fretting. We could handle those. Fjalar, how would you like to be Deputy Commodore?”
He braked at full power. “Rhoda! Are you feverish?”
“No.”
“There are dozens of skippers more likely to be tapped. I’ll never be Commodore — and what’s more, I don’t want it.”
“I may settle for Reserve Deputy, since Commodore Denbo intends to resign after the new deputy is elected. Never mind; you will be Commodore at the next Gathering.”
“Preposterous!”
“Why are men so impractical? Fjalar, all you think about is your control room and business. If I hadn’t kept pushing, you would never have reached deputy captain.”
“Have you ever gone hungry?”
“I’m not complaining, dear. It was a great day for me when I was adopted by Sisu. But listen. We have favors coming from many sources, not just Gus and Dupont. Whatever ship we join with will help. I intend to leave the matter open until after election — and I’ve had tentative offers all morning, strong ships, well connected. And finally, there’s New Hansea.”
“What about New Hansea?”
“Timed properly, with the Hanseatics proposing your name, you’ll be elected by acclamation.”
“Rhoda!”
“You won’t have to touch it. And neither will Thorby. You two will simply appear in public and be your charming, male, non-political selves. I’ll handle it By the way, it’s too late to pull Loeen out of the play but I’m going to break that up fast Your Mother did not see the whole picture. I want my sons married — but it is essential that Thorby not be married, nor paired off, until after the election. Now . . . did you go to the flagship?”
“Certainly.”
“What ship was he born in? It could be important.”
Krausa gave a sigh. “Thorby was not born of the People.”
“What? Nonsense! You mean that identification is not certain. Mmm . . . which missing ships are possibilities?”
“I said he was not of the People! There is a not a ship missing, nor a child missing from a ship, which can be matched with his case. He would have to be much older, or much younger, than he is.”