“Ye-es?” Rafik said. “Some of the Starfarers have mentioned another Linyaari-a hornless one. They say he survived the Khieevi, but surely-”
“Survived he has, indeed! A worthy man in many ways, rrom what I have seen of him. But that is neither here nor there, he -waved his hand dismissively.
Karma captured Hafiz’s -waving hand with her own ringladen one.
“Actually, nephew of my husband,” she said, “the point is, that it is not here but there that Acorna wishes to stay for a time at least. Your uncle, benevolent and kindhearted patriarch that he is, wisely has chosen-with my help, of course-to view this circumstance not as an obstacle to our future trade with the Linyaan, but as an opportunity.”
Rafik raised an eyebrow politely.
Hafiz slipped Karina’s hand through the crook in his elbow and patted it. “Can you guess what I intend, scion of my house?”
“I believe there is no need for me to hazard such a guess, 0 founder of my fortune, as it appears you can barely contain your wish to tell me all about it.”
“Even so, my boy, even so. I will give you a hint. Is it not written that if the profit cannot go to the mountain, the mountain shall go unto the profit?” Tea and kaf arrived, along with cool bowls of sherbet that had been flown in from Hafiz’s main compound at Laboue in anticipation of his arrival, and many assorted pastries and savory morsels. The lounge began to fill up with people from the ship and those who had come to greet them, among them the Starfarers, many of whom now were young adults. The Starfarers were permanently planetless space travelers, their ship serving them as world, country, state, city, and family home all rolled into one. Rafik waited patiently until everyone had exchanged greetings, then steered conversation back to the matter at hand.
“The profit will go to the mountain. … So it is written in the third of the three books by the third of the three prophets, Uncle,” Rafik said with a respectful inclination of his dark and handsome head. Then he looked up sharply, a smile dawning on his face. “Uncle, surely you do not intend to …? No! I can see that you do.” He was not really as shocked as he sounded, but he enjoyed watching his uncle’s pleasure in his reaction. “But how? Is not the Linyaari homeworld still closed to visitors?”
“It is,” Hafiz said.
“Then how? Surely you would not risk offending them and endangering our business, not to mention our relations with Acorna’s people, by violating their privacy?”
“Absolutely not, my son! That would be unthinkable. Inconceivable. We will, of course, wait for an invitation-which will naturally not be that long in coming. In the meantime, however, we will undertake an enterprise so courageous, so farsighted, so monumental, that the fame of House Harakamian will rise like the proverbial djinn from the proverbial smoke of the proverbial bottle, and bring with it all of the riches, the luxury, the beauty, and the bounty that accompany such great good fortune.”
“You mean to establish a branch of House Harakamian beyond Federation space, my uncle?”
Hafiz spread his hands this time, indicating his innate generosity. “Someone must, my son. These people are surely lacking all that we have to offer and possibly are unaware that they are even in need of it! How will they know unless we show them what they are missing? And the Linyaari are shy. Had it not been for their need to warn other innocent races about the Khieevi, they might never have ventured into Federation space, might never have found Laboue or Maganos Moonbase. While it is true they might one day venture out of their territory again, an enterprising businessman does not leave such matters to time and chance any more than a doting parent would the happiness 01 his adoptive daughter. We are in good odor with the Linyaari at present-”
“Due to the bravery and innovation Hafiz showed in the rescue of all of their important space traveling people,” Karma put in, looking up at her spouse with adoration.
“True, true,” Hafiz said. “I covered myself with glory, it is true. But in my experience, gratitude is an ephemeral commodity, and the memory of those who are indebted to one is even more so. Therefore, we must move with the swiftness of a desert storm if we are to take maximum advantage of our past good works. We must organize our exhibitions, the travel for our exhibitors, sales and support staff, security, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.”