Solbidyum Wars 3: Pirates of Goo'waddle Canals (27 page)

I looked up to see everyone in the room now was awake and looking at me like I had just farted and no one knew what to say or do.

“The behavior you describe is not unheard of on the lesser populated worlds.  On my home world of Gosney, when I was young, we played outside and kids were pretty much everywhere.  But the planet was mostly rural and agrarian.  On your more industrial, more densely populated worlds, children are largely confined to indoor activities; the places they are allowed to go outside in those areas are more restricted.”

I had to confess that this was becoming a growing trend on Earth also, and it was one I didn’t like.

“When we get back, I want to see some changes made.  Other than for just a very few areas, I want restrictions lifted for children.  Obviously, some discretion will be needed, based on ages, as we would not want an infant crawling about the halls without anyone knowing where they were; but for older kids who can find their way around, I think we can allow access to the gardens and the lakes, streams and woods.  I want the kids to be able to climb trees and make treehouses and forts.  Let the girls pick wildflowers or whatever it is they want to do out there.  In fact, there is a large tract of land on the south end of the lake that is sort of a box canyon cove.  Let’s make that entire area a section strictly for kids to play and do what they wish…camp, boat, swim, fish, and whatever.”

Kala looked at me with a concerned look, but Marranalis chimed in.  “I like that, Tibby.  When I was a boy, we briefly lived near an old abandoned supply depot.  All the boys used to sneak off and play
there.  We built all kinds of stuff out of the old lumber and scrap materials.  Best fun I ever had, now that I look back at it.”

“There, that’s what I’m talking about,” I said to Kala.  “We need to make sure there are some piles of lumber and simple, basic tools for them to use to build stuff, if they want.”

“But what about supervision, Tibby?  You just can’t let a bunch of kids run wild like that — who knows what trouble they will get into,” Kala said with some concern.  “Just look what happened when Senator Tonclin’s daughter wandered off on the
NEW ORLEANS
last year.”

“What?  What happened?  She got lost for a few minutes…big deal.  Was she hurt by it?  I’m sure some of these kids will get lost in the forest or even in the house.  Damn, even I get lost in the house — it’s so gigantic.  But we have tracking systems and direction boards mounted all over the place that tell you where you are and how to get where you want to be.  If the kids are old enough to understand and work the directories, then let them roam about.  They won’t be hurt if they do get lost, and if they are outside in that box canyon cove area, it’s very unlikely they could stay lost very long.  I’m sure we can put some sort of non-invasive monitoring around the area that will allow them to play without feeling they are being spied on, or give them all some sort of tracking bracelets that make it easy to find them if needed.  But I don’t want anyone listening to their conversations.  Kids do deserve some privacy and secrets.  I’m sure they will learn a lot from the experiences, and I think they will grow up the better for it.  If nothing else, the fresh air and exercise will be good for them.”

“I agree with Tibby,” Marranalis said.

“Oh, you would — all you men would,” Kala said with a grin.  “OK, I’ll see what I can arrange.”

“One more thing — I want the same thing to apply to the
NEW ORLEANS,
as well.  Well, with some restrictions, perhaps.  Persons on the
NEW ORLEANS
who have children should be allowed to have their children with them.  Let the kids have access to the accommodation sections of the ship, with the exception of operational spaces, like the engine room and bridge and the more frequently used office and conference areas.  Oh, and the firing range, and security areas where military equipment is stored and, of course, the hangar bay and the airlocks…”

Kala was laughing now.  “See what I mean, Tibby?  Just look at all the dangers you are bringing up.”

“When I was on the
DUSTEN,
I saw children there in the general living spaces and in the gallery and atrium.  The
NEW ORLEANS
may be a little smaller, but it certainly is large enough to accommodate the families of our crew.  What do you think, Kerabac?  You’re the captain of the
NEW ORLEANS
.”

“Honestly, Tibby, I love the idea.  While I have no bond mate or children of my own, if I did, I certainly would want them on the
NEW ORLEANS
with me.  I’m sure we can figure something out.  The ship is well designed and equipped; it should be possible to do what you ask without too much difficulty.  We certainly do not lack the space.”

“Great!  Then it’s settled… We’re going to do it!” I said with one of those feelings as if I had just made a truly important decision. 

Kala walked over and hugged me and gave me a kiss on the cheek.  “Tibby, you are truly amazing.”

In the back of my mind, perhaps to ease the fire and grief in my chest, I imagined Tanden playing on the estate – free of fear, free of the yoke of slavery, and free of the Brotherhood – just being a boy and doing what all boys everywhere should be doing and enjoying.

As morning light began to filter in through the windows, Padaran returned.  All of us were hungry by this time.  Marranalis, Sokaia and Padaran went to the slave house and returned shortly thereafter with steaming bowls of some tasteless but nonetheless filling stew.  We were just finishing when Endina’s vid pad pinged with a message from the furniture supplier saying they would be delivering the furniture just before noon.  The late morning delivery gave us an opportunity to view the grounds around the house, which occupied about a tenth of a square kilometer.  It was obvious that this estate was once part of the vast expanse beyond the walls; but now that land was under Brotherhood control and used exclusively for growing the plants that produced God’s Sweat.  Near the wall adjacent to the slave quarters was a large iron gate that divided the estate from the fields.  It was obvious that, at one time, this was the route used by the slaves when going to and from the fields.

“Where does the Brotherhood keep the slaves when they are not tending the fields?” I asked Tanden.

“We’re kept in large tents at the other end of the
calgana
.  When the harvest is complete, we take the tent down and move to another
calgana
for another harvest. The harvest is over now; so in a few days they will return to plow the land and plant the next crop.”

Endina had ordered only minimal furnishings — beds, a table and chairs and cooking items for the kitchen, even though she had also ordered a top-of-the-line food synthesizer.  I think she was secretly hoping, as were we all, that Kerabac would prepare some of his feasts for us.  He was a gourmet cook; and during our sojourn to Goo’Waddle, he had prepared a few exquisite meals for us from some of the limited, though adequate, onboard supplies. 

Much to my surprise, the furniture arrived on time, no doubt due to a large incentive that Endina offered them for rush service.  While the deliverymen were present, we kept Tanden out of sight in a back room.  We had no difficulty getting him to hide, as he feared he might be found and returned to the Brotherhood, after which he was sure that he would be killed.

Marranalis, Padaran and I sweated and groaned as we unloaded the delivery vehicle.  It turned out to be a supply boat that came up to the back of the house through a small waterway connected to the main canal network.  We looked properly miserable as we toiled to get the items from the boat unloaded and arranged in the house.  This was no act, as it was quite warm and humid and the items were heavy.  Beyond that, we needed to navigate several sets of stairs and passages before finally reaching the house.  Endina performed another award-winning performance, yelling insults and threats at us, while we slaved away to put the items in place.

At one point, I heard one of the deliverymen comment to his partner that he was glad he wasn’t a slave of hers.  I noted that both deliverymen were wearing slave collars.  I assumed they had some sort of tracking devices installed, and possibly even an explosive device similar to the one on the wristband Kerabac was wearing in his courier band.

While we unloaded the furniture, Kerabac managed to contact Agama in the city and made arrangements to meet with him to transfer the package.  Strangely, Agama did not want Kerabac to come to him; instead said he would meet with him at the estate.  In the meantime, Endina sought out an
interior decorator to come up with décor for the place — she assumed it would be quicker than trying to do it all ourselves.

The first thing we saw to after the delivery was complete was to install the new food synthesizer.  It only took a few minutes for the unit to warm up once it had been attached to the power and hooked up to the water supply.  Organic material similar to a bag of sawdust was poured into the machine to prime it and serve as a source for molecular reconfiguration; but from what I had learned about the food synthesizer from the ship’s computer on the
TRITYTE
, the synthesizer could use any organic material. 

A short time later, we gathered to eat enjoyable and tasty food dishes.  From the eagerness with which Tanden was attacking his food, this was surely the first flavorful food he had eaten in a long time.  After we finished eating, we set up the beds in the slave quarters for appearance’s sake, in the event anyone examined the estate as part of an inspection or investigation.

We had barely completed setting up the beds when several men arrived at the gate.  From their appearance and the timing, we assumed it was Agama and some of his men.  Padaran was sent to the gate to let them in, as a proper house slave would be expected to do.  Marranalis and I started removing the empty furniture crates and made ourselves busy so it would look like we were fully occupied slaves.  From my vantage point at the side of the estate I was able to observe Agama being led into the main house where, through the large picture window, I discreetly watched Kerabac greet him and his entourage. 

Without delay Kerabac presented Agama with the package and, while I could not hear the conversation, it seemed as though things were going well.  Agama opened the box Kerabac handed him by entering some code.  He glanced inside in such a manner that no one but himself could see the contents.  Then he smiled.  Kerabac seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and then held out his arm and said something.  Agama nodded to one of his cohorts, who stepped forward to disarm and remove the courier band from Kerabac’s wrist.  Agama then said something to the second man in his party, who reached into a pocket and brought out an object, handing it over to Kerabac.  Kerabac smiled as he took the object and then turned to Kala and Sokaia with some kind of instructions.  Both immediately turned and left the room. 

Agama again began talking to Kerabac and I noted one of Agama’s men glance at us out the window.  It wasn’t until then that I realized I had at some point stopped working and was just standing there, so I quickly began moving the crates and didn’t glance back toward the window again for several minutes.  When the opportunity presented itself to glance in that direction without it being obvious, I saw Kerabac and Agama each having a drink.  Apparently that was where Kala and Sokaia had gone earlier, as they were back in the room, standing to one side and holding trays of drinks.  In my quick glance, I noted that neither of Agama’s men had taken drinks, and one was now standing directly in front of the window, watching us intently.

“Whatever you do, don’t look toward the house,” I muttered to Marranalis with my head down as we moved the last of the crates to the disposal area.

“What shall we do now that we’ve finished?” he asked.

“I would imagine it would appear normal if we headed back to the slave quarters and wait things out.  I wonder where Endina is.  I didn’t see her in the house,” I said as we entered the slave quarters.

I glanced about the large room.  “Have you seen Tanden?”

“He was here earlier, but I don’t see him now,” Marranalis said.

Just then, a grill on an air vent popped off and Tanden crawled out.  “I was hiding, just in case the men in the house came out here,” he said somewhat sheepishly.

“Do you know these men?  Have you seen them before?” I asked.

“No, but they might be Brotherhood men looking for me,” he said.

“I don’t think these men are in the Brotherhood, but I’d sure like to know what they’re up to.”

Marranalis had moved to one of the small windows near the end of the slave quarters that gave him a partial view of the main gate.  “I think we’ll find out soon enough,” he said.  “Our guests are leaving.”

“Let’s wait a few minutes before we return to the main house,” I said.  “You never know – they might return for some reason.”

We waited about fifteen minutes before heading in the direction of the house. Endina intercepted us before we could enter.  She held one finger to her lips and then motioned for us to return to the slave quarters.  Once inside she said, “I needed to stop you before you got inside and said anything.  One of Agama’s men placed a bugging device under the windowsill while Agama was talking to Kerabac and both Kala and Sokaia were out of the room.  Apparently, they are still suspicious of Kerabac and want to check him out.  Right now, he and Kala are acting out a drama that should sound normal and convincing to Agama and his men.  But we’ll have to be careful that we don’t say or do anything in range of the bug that will give us away.”