April 3: The Middle of Nowhere (44 page)

He looked them over critically and asked, "New guys?"

"Yes, we just got off the shuttle," Freidman admitted.

"Welcome aboard," he allowed. "Try not to bust anything," he said, smiling. "I'll probably have to fix it if you do." He didn't introduce himself.

D to A level went much faster than the upper part of their journey. When the doors opened there was an arrow pointing to the cafeteria and for the first time a bunch of people going about their business. They followed the maintenance man down the wide corridor past a couple businesses. Their noses said they were headed the right direction. There was a mix of savory odors. Every person they passed was wearing data spex, even a little girl who was maybe nine. Several people they passed had holstered pistols, but when a young woman passed them with an Uzi slung over her shoulder they could help looking at each other.

"I feel naked," Freidman told him in a low voice.

"I hear you brother. I haven't seen this many civilians packing since serving in Persia."

The maintenance fellow was already having plates set on his tray. There was a big screen with the specials for the day and then a larger list of standard items. A cheeseburger was $48USNA and fries $18. A half chicken roasted with potato, vegetable and rolls was $68 and coffee $5. Eric had about $700 in his wallet and didn't think Freidman had that much. It wouldn't last long at these prices.

The server was a pleasant enough young woman. 'Wanda' said the tag embroidered on her blouse. She had a diamond ring on that had about a three carat stone. Eric had an eye for jewelry and the metalwork said it was real to him. He didn't expect that sort of a ring on a cafeteria worker. Just then an older woman came in from the rear.

"I got it," she told the young one, "you go on home." Her blouse named her Ruby.

"Thank you honey, the sales report is printed out and on the desk, these two and one other came in after I ran it."

"That's fine." She agreed, turning back to the serving counter. "Brockman and Freidman I presume. Welcome to Home."

Eric was shocked speechless. Freidman actually had his mouth hanging open.

"Home is like a small town. Don't figure on keeping any secrets and you won't be disappointed," Ruby advised them. "Did you want something to eat?" she prompted them, since they seemed transfixed.

"Uh, yeah. I'd like the hamburger, no fries," Brockman managed, "and is there any charge for the water?

"You broke?" Ruby asked directly, but too softly to carry to the dining room. "Just off the shuttle you gotta be starved. Nobody your size is going to go very far on a bare burger and nobody just drinks water, 'cept a few health nuts." He couldn't take offence at her prying, because there was genuine concern in her voice and in her expression.

"Yes ma'am, I have to admit we are very low on funds, not sure where more is coming from and it seems very prudent not to blow it all in a day. I see that wouldn't be hard to do here."

"Nobody buys off the menu board full price unless they are just here for a day or two. Residents buy monthly access and can come in as often as they please. But what I'm hearing is that would be too dear if you are counting days. Am I right?"

"I'm afraid so. We have some work coming in six to twelve hours, but I'm not sure what it will pay and then we'll be looking for something. We also have to keep back funds to get access to station com too so we can contact this employer."

"You both order up a decent meal, something that will stick with you and I'll put it on my card. My husband and I never use up our full service. After being here a full shift last thing I want is to come back and eat supper here too. Besides, my husband is an excellent cook. I can do that a few days until you get established, so don't be shy to come back."

"Thank you. It means more than I can say. We have someone who got us up here, but no real promises if she'd sponsor us past that. We were frankly just concerned with getting out of North America with our hides and not too picky about the details."

"Um hmm," Ruby was pursing her lips like she either knew all that or wasn't much interested. "Pick something and then we'll get some of those other details out of the way for you. There is a shortage of qualified help in most fields here, so don't get all down just yet."

"I'd like the roast beef dinner, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans and coffee, please."

Ruby lifted an inquiring eyebrow to Freidman.

"That sounds fine to me too, I'll have the same and my thanks too."

"Freidman sounds Jewish," Ruby guessed. "Are you observant? The gravy has mushrooms, but I can put some chicken gravy on it if you'd rather."

"No need, I'm not very religious that way. My parents weren't either."

The portion seemed generous and included a small salad and a couple slices of wheat bread and real butter. They took the trays to the far wall away from the few groups.

"Are you going to ask her how she knew who we were?" Freidman asked.

"Not me. I figure they make the passenger manifest public and she read it. The thing that is surprising  is she is interested enough to read it. It can't be just for us. She must make the effort to check it out whenever a shuttle comes in."

"She's a neighborhood watchdog. I've seen one before. Having one can be very good or a constant trial depending on if she is the sort that calls the cops when she sees somebody breaking into your place, or if she is the sort who calls the city because you haven't taken your trash can in fast enough for her."

"Well we seem to be very much in her good graces and I'd certainly like to keep it that way. I do wonder if she knows not just our names, but
who
we are. I'm not about to ask because it can't make matters better as far as I can see and it might easily make them worse."

Freidman just nodded enthusiastically, his mouth being full.

Ruby finished serving another customer and called out fairly loudly to the dining room. "Gabriel! If you're done eating I have an errand for you." A lanky teenage boy closed up the hand comp he was reading, cleaned up his tray and went around behind the counter out of sight.

It wasn't long before the kid reappeared at their table.  "Ms. Dixon said to ask how you want to be listed on station com and I'm to run and get you spex while you are eating."

"Don't you need to take some money along for that?" Freidman asked.

"If Ms. Dixon asks Zack to send you spex he'll do it on her say-so."

"I'm getting the impression Ruby is not a simple waitress," Isaac Freidman said.

"There is
nothing
simple about Ms. Dixon," the boy informed him frowning at such an idea. "She always knows what's going on and her husband Easy is sudden death in both hands," he said holding his hands out open and closing them. "You keep both of them happy with you and life gets a lot simpler on Home. I'm pleased to do her a little favor anytime she wants."

"How does she do this? Do you know?" Brockman asked.

"I've got no idea. You know how a snoop may know you are taking up with a new lady before your current sweetie or your mama knows?"

"Yes, I've seen that sort of thing before," Brockman admitted.

"Well Ms. Dixon is
nothing
like that," the young fellow told him. He turned his head a little like he wanted to check she wasn't right behind him and then stopped. "She knows you're going to take up with the new girl before
you
realize you're thinking on it. It's
scary
," he assured them.

"That's interesting," Eric agreed, privately reserving judgment that he must be exaggerating just a little. "Would you happen to know what sort of background she's from?"

"She's from Detroit, spent a hitch in the Air Force, she said she was a Loadmaster, whatever that is and she is some kind of doctor of music, taught at a university for awhile."

Eric and Isaac just looked at each other. A cook with a doctorate?

"How you want to be listed? She doesn't see me go soon she's gonna ask why."

"Eric Brockman is fine."

"Isaac Freidman is good for my com," his buddy said. "You want it written down?"

"Not unless you use some weird spelling. I'm young, not stupid," he told them.

"No insult intended young man," Brockman apologized.

"That's okay, you're used to Earthies. I won't be long." He left jogging.

"After we see if Santos is on com I'd like to call Miss Lewis," Isaac said.

"Sounds like a plan," Eric agreed.

* * *

The sovereign of Spain, Carlos, called up his cousin Phillip who was a horse nut. He pretty much invited himself to their estate for a 'few days'. No need to be too specific in case his wife didn't recover as quickly as he hoped. Being king it was pretty hard to turn him down, but truth was Phillip really did like him. It was easy enough to tell the difference. Not that he wouldn't occasionally impose himself on someone who found him in dislike, if say the fellow had a problem like an over abundance of pheasant or partridge with which he would lend a corrective hand.

 Phillip knew from the past that Carlos was an easy guest who didn't hang on your elbow all needy. In fact if he had a reason to be gone a day himself it was no problem. The servants kept the place running smoothly and an extra guest or ten was no problem.

The very next morning in fact Phillip did exactly that, running off for a business meeting and leaving Carlos to breakfast with his family and another guest. His wife Adriana was with child and no great horsewoman anyway, so he asked their other guest if he'd like a ride? When he declined he was reduced to finding a riding partner from among the stable hands. His security rode, but they were no fun. They spent all their attention scanning the trees for snipers and made single word replies or even grunts to his attempts at conversation.

Ernest, one of the trainers, was happy to go with him, saying he had a Bay that needed to be exercised. He started saddling her up and was going to do the Appaloosa the king had favored before next, while the security fellows took care of their own. They had been here before. Carlos threw a blanket on his ride antsy to go and waved Ernest away when he tried to his help.

"I guess I remember how to saddle a horse just fine," he groused. "It's not like my arm is broken." He lofted the saddle in place with an ease Ernest honestly hadn't felt in a few years. He soon caught up and they finished about the same time. Earnest usually gave his sovereign a little help to mount, his horse was pretty tall, but before he could approach to do that he swung up in the saddle with ease, eager to get going. In fact he clicked his tongue at the big gelding right out of the gate and gave him a little heel. "Wake up big boy!" he barked at the horse and brought him to a trot, laughing. He was too far ahead to see the amazed expression on the trainer's face.

* * *

"Hello, are you Miss Lewis?" the young man on com asked earnestly.

"I'm April, unless you are a bill collector, in which case you have the wrong com code. But we won't be talking long if you don't identify yourself."

"Of course, I'm afraid I'm paying so much attention to how to make the call that I'm forgetting basic phone courtesy. I'm the Eric Brockman, who wrote and requested your help to get myself and Isaac Freidman to Home. Gabriel, a young friend of Ruby the cafeteria worker, obtained spex for us and he's showing me how to detach a camera and establish a call to you. Here, let me show you my buddy Isaac."  The camera swung to the side and showed another face wearing spex. The fellow brought a hand up and gave a tentative wave.

"Have him show you how to bring Isaac in on a conference call," April suggested.

"Sure, that's no problem," a detached voice assured him. First we set up your camera the same, like this. You see a thumbnail down in the corner?  Okay, now go back and pull down the menu for com and pick the network icon, now click on the plus and you'll have a line that says - build a conference call. Now pull down your addresses and double blink on Freidman." Her screen split so both lieutenants were visible.

"So you finally made it up here! I wasn't able to communicate with Papa-san for a long time. I had no idea what was happening, but he said he'd collect you if I couldn't, so I had every confidence in him it would happen. He doesn't make promises lightly," she assured them.

"So you didn't hear the reports his ship was lost?"

"I did, but discounted them given the sparse report. If they had a body and claimed a DNA match I'd start to worry. A dinghy and some junk on a beach? No way. Papa-san wouldn't bite off more than he can chew sailing and I've rode through a storm with him before."

"We were fortunate enough to have relatively calm sailing, but in general we observed the same level of competence you're suggesting in everything he did. We really appreciate your efforts to help us. It's no exaggeration to say we owe you our lives."

"Well you are certainly forgiving for the fact we were turning a mountain to gravel while you were trying to get out from under it. Glad you don't hold a grudge," she laughed.

"It was war. I'm not about to sulk because you did it better than us," Freidman spoke up.

"And glad it's over," Brockman took the conversation back. He seemed the dominant one.

"I'm sure you had some adventures though. I'd like to get together when you can and hear some. I'm always looking for breakfast partners if you could meet me some morning soon."

"Actually, we need to see you for business if you could arrange a service for us. We should have asked Mr. Santos if he could help us close out our North American bank accounts, but it didn't occur to us to impose even further upon him at the time. Now that we are up here he suggested you might know somebody better positioned to do it from Home. He indicated his contacts on Earth worked much better face to face and doing a physical delivery."

April got an abstracted look and pursed her lips up. "I'll have to ask someone. He is a partner on the same bank board with me and he recently did basically the same thing for me, but that was from an Italian bank. I don't know if his reach extends into North America. Give me a second."