Robert Asprin – Tambu

“Well, I want to put a motion on the agenda then,” Momma pressed stubbornly. “I think we should put a top limit of a hundred ships on the fleet.”

Tambu noted the murmurs and nods of assent among the other captains. There were also several angry faces and hands being thrust violently into the air. The meeting was poised on the brink of another argumentative digression if he didn’t exert control immediately.

“Momma,” he asked, “are you volunteering to withdraw your membership from the fleet?”

“Me?” the woman blinked, taken aback. “No! I never said that.”

“The fleet is already over a hundred strong,” Tambu pointed out solemnly. “To adopt or even consider your proposal would imply a willingness to remove several existing member ships from the roster. I assume you would not suggest such a thing unless you were ready to accept the same exile as you were suggesting for others.”

“No,” Momma admitted, “I-I didn’t know there were that many ships already.”

Defeated, she sank into a chair, avoiding the eyes of the other captains. Tambu deliberately waited several moments before offering a lifeline.

“You have raised a good point, one I feel all the captains should ponder prior to our expansion discussion tomorrow. The subject currently under consideration, though, is the treatment of our crewmen during their visits planetside.”

Several hands went up, seeking recognition. Tambu’s attention, however, was drawn to one figure whose raised hand was accompanied by a thoughtful expression, a marked contrast to the eager or angry faces around him.