Authors: Alan Black
TASSO MADE a quick change into fresh coveralls before meeting Cherry at the main hatch. He was trying to both hurry and not get lost while going to meet the Okparas. Even after months on the ship, he still floundered while finding his way around. He had only been to the main hatch twice. Once just yesterday, but he was coming at it from a different direction this time and was unsure. He glanced down at the dataport map readout, turned a corner, and bumped into a crowd of men, some young and some a little older. One of them was Flacco, and they were obviously waiting for him.
Tasso’s initial reaction was to start swinging. Flacco had attacked him in the shower and would have attacked him at the elevator if Gordo and Security hadn’t been there to stop the fight. He’d been pushed enough to make anyone angry. These boys had pushed him more than enough! He was fuming. Although, he wasn’t furious enough to throw the first punch. No, not this time.
He didn’t have any desire to try to get away, even though he knew there were more boys and men than he could successfully fight. A couple of the men had mature muscular frames and were well past their youthful years. Tasso was tough and strong, having spent his young life working at farm labor and breaking rocks in the rough highlands north of the McWithy Range, but not this strong. A beating was coming, but he was angry enough he didn’t care. He’d get his licks in before he went down.
He pointed at the ceiling, indicating La Dueña Dunstan was listening. One of the young men snickered, “I work in Security. It didn’t take much to set up a malfunction in this section. La Dueña Dunstan is deaf and blind along this whole corridor.”
Tasso said, “Flacco, I guess since you couldn’t take me in a four against one fight, you had to call in more reinforcements.”
One man shook his head. “No, Menzies, we’re here to make sure you fight fair this time and not jump Flacco from behind.”
“From behind?” Tasso snorted. This wasn’t the time for diplomacy. “Anyone who says that is a liar. So, how many of you do I have to fight at the same time? I mean, Flacco hasn’t been able to face me one on one yet. I’d be surprised if he has the courage to do it now?”
Flacco said, “Are you calling me a coward?”
“Yes and a liar.” Tasso wanted to toss out some quick-witted retort, but nothing came to mind. He let his answer stand for itself.
Flacco rose up on the balls of his feet, raised his fists, and began dancing in front of Tasso. “Come on, you gringo sack of shit. It’s you and me, face to face so you can’t sneak up on me.”
Tasso didn’t raise his fists. Instead, he shot out his left fist, sliding it between Flacco’s hands, landing a stinging punch on the other boy’s nose. He spun, jumped into the air, and using gravity and momentum, he threw his whole body weight behind his forearm, driving it into Flacco’s stomach with a snap of his elbow. He’d made the same move every time Grandpa’s rock jack was stuck in a small crevice. The move often broke the rock trapping the chisel point. The move was hard-hitting, but it always left Tasso down on one knee. If he didn’t hit Flacco hard enough, the boy would remain standing over him.
Flacco was still standing. Tasso almost jumped back, but Flacco wasn’t moving. He was gasping for breath as his nose leaked blood across his mouth. His knees looked wobbly. Tasso wanted to beat Flacco to the deck and hurt him so bad that he wouldn’t get up again. This was the third time Flacco had challenged him and he didn’t want a fourth time. He stood, prepared to hit Flacco again, but he didn’t strike. Stepping back, he said, “Who’s next?”
Flacco gasped, “You sucker punched me.”
“Really? Why, because you were looking right at me when I hit you? I thought you were ready.”
Flacco sneered through the blood, getting his breath back. “You got in a lucky hit.”
Tasso hit him again and Flacco’s knees buckled.
Tasso shouted, “I’m tired of taking crap from you—” His voice cracked in anger. He pointed at the security man standing behind Flacco. “You’re next. You helped set this up.”
The young man shook his head and smiled. “You don’t want to try me. I’ve fought in the ring.” He stepped forward and raised his fists. A surprised look came over his face when Tasso suddenly stepped forward and hit him twice in the face, once with each hand. Tasso knew the man would be harder to knock down than Flacco, so he kicked sideways into the side of the man’s knees. As the man’s legs wobbled, Tasso hit him three times under the ribcage before the man crashed to the deck.
Tasso bellowed and would have rushed forward, but the remainder of Flacco’s backup stepped back. Another man said, “Enough, Señor Menzies. It’s clear to me you didn’t have to attack anyone from behind. It’s also clear to me I’ve been misinformed about you.”
Tasso felt like someone had burst his anger balloon. He deflated and all of his rage dissipated. He sensed someone behind him and spun about. There stood a security detail, led by an officer Tasso didn’t recognize.
The Security officer pointed at Flacco and the Security man moaning on the floor. “Take those two to medical, and if anyone asks, they were fighting each other in a friendly training match that got out of hand.” He looked at Tasso, “That is unless you want to file assault charges against these men?”
Tasso said, “How do you know I didn’t start this? They shut the computer down, didn’t they? I have my dataport recording if I need it, but you didn’t tap into that, did you?”
The Security officer chuckled. “We don’t listen in on anyone’s dataport. That’s a clear violation of your privacy. However, what many people fail to realize is that you cannot shut La Dueña Dunstan down anywhere without a report coming across my desk. We turned it back on and have a full scan of this corridor, but I hate the paperwork this little dustup will cause me. So, what say we forget this and everybody here get on with your business?” The officer looked at Tasso, “Besides, I’ve been asked to locate you and get you to the main hatch. There are people there looking for you.”
TASSO WAS SURPRISED to see Captain Rojo and Purser Rojo with Cherry waiting at the main hatch. He realized he shouldn’t be the least bit astonished. The trade prospects he proposed to her at last night’s barbeque should have piqued her curiosity, and there was enough potential profit to warrant their personal attention.
Bill Rojo shook his hand, “I hear you didn’t get much sleep last night. Neither did some of my evaluation staff. That building brick you brought us held up under higher stress levels than we anticipated.” The man was positively giddy. “The hydrostatic tests were off the charts! Water slides off this stuff like snot on a doorknob.”
Tasso wasn’t sure why anyone would put snot on a doorknob, but he could imagine it would make the knob slick. He smiled, not knowing what to say. He was shocked when Captain Rojo grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him into a deep hug. She said, “I’m indebted to you, mijo. You’ve touched my heart and reminded me of why I’m in space in the first place. I’d marry you if I was forty years younger. Hell, I’d let you marry one of my daughters, if I had any.” She released her hug, but slid a hand down around his waist and held onto him.
Bill laughed. “I’ll let him have any of my daughters. They’re all more problems than they’re worth.”
Tasso said, “Be careful, sir. I may take you up on that someday.” He wanted to feel uncomfortable with Captain Rojo holding him, but somehow it felt right. His mother’s face may be fading from his memory, but he remembered her hugs.
Cherry pointed at a wagon through the early morning heat waves coming across the baked Kaduna ground. “A wagon is approaching the main hatch.” That’s the Okparas. It looks like the whole clan.”
Tasso stepped to the opening, arm in arm with the captain. He could see Mr. Okpara sitting on the front seat of the cattle powered wagon with his wife. Seated in the back, with the few boxes holding their store’s complete inventory, was his son, daughter, and daughter-in-law. The man sat high and regal, his pride evident even at a distance. His son threw caution and pride away, waving like a small boy on an exciting trip.
When introductions became possible at the far end of the main hatch ramp, Tasso presented Mr. Okpara to the captain and Purser Rojo. Mr. Okpara was shocked when Captain Rojo grabbed his hand and shook it in greeting. He got over his shock at such familiarity with a strange female only because Cherry stepped up and hugged his wife and then grabbed him in a hearty embrace.
Tasso knew how the man felt. He hadn’t grown up in an affectionate family. He may remember his mother’s hugs, but he didn’t think his grandfather had ever hugged him. Living among people who gave away hugs and kisses as if they were easy to share was strange.
Bill cleared his throat. “I don’t know your culture, Mr. Okpara. In my culture we’d sit and share a few pots of coffee, have breakfast, tell each other our life stories, all before we’d get down to business. I suggest we take care of business first and then we can get down to the important part of becoming friends.”
Okpara said, “Eminently practical. The cattle began off-loading at dawn through the underground tunnels and our cowboys are moving them up and into our corrals. I have a competent foreman overseeing that business. Moving the cattle should take much of the day. My wife has a few goods Miss Cherry and my friend Tasso agreed to buy. Once the exchange is complete, it will conclude our business. Forgive me for bringing my family along for such a minor sale. They are curious to see the inside of a spaceship. If it is possible, may we step inside for a brief peek?”
Captain Rojo laughed and said, “Mr. Okpara, you and your family are my guests for the day. We hope you will accept our hospitality for more than a brief peek.”
Cherry stepped up and handed Mrs. Okpara a small purse of credits. “This is the agreed payment for your inventory. I do hope you will take the time to visit my shop today, but I’d like to get these goods on my shelves to sell, so I need to rush off. I have to get my store open.”
Mrs. Okpara stared at the purse and handed it to her husband. He dumped the handful of credits into a deep pocket and handed the purse back to Cherry. Cherry completed the round robin and gave the purse back to Mrs. Okpara.
Cherry said, “The purse is a gift. Please enjoy it.” She and Tasso loaded her goods onto a pallet along with the carvings Tasso had agreed to buy from Okpara’s son. Cherry waved farewell and disappeared into the ship.
Captain Rojo led the rest of them to a conference room near the main hatch. Tasso knew how the Okparas felt as he watched them gawk at everything they passed. He was still in awe of the spaceship, although there were times, he had to stop and remember that the ship was in space and that he wasn’t inside a huge building on some strange planet.
Once inside the conference room, Bill gestured towards a sideboard stacked with refreshments. “Y’all please help yourself. Let’s make ourselves comfortable while we discuss business.”
Tasso had missed breakfast, so he grabbed a plate and stacked it high with fresh fruit. No matter how many days he had bananas and oranges, the taste was always such a thrill. His favorite fruit was still pineapple. He realized the Okparas were still standing, not taking seats, or partaking of the refreshments. The captain had seated herself with a small cup of tea and was thumbing through reports on her dataport.
He couldn’t help but remember how no one had ever told him to help himself to the dessert lines in the galleys. Tasso walked over to Ndubuka’s wife, gently took her elbow and guided her into a chair. He set the plate of fruit in front of her and said, “You start with that.” He wrapped an arm over Ndubuka’s shoulders, realizing his touch was much like Captain Rojo’s hug to him. “Ndubuka, old buddy, let’s get ourselves something to nibble on.” He guided the young man to the sideboard, almost forcing a plate into his hands.
Tasso caught Ndubuka trying to look at his father for approval. He deliberately stood between the two men as he filled his plate with fruit, cheese, and a few meats for variety sake. Ndubuka hesitated to put anything on his plate, so Tasso filled it for him with a stack of pastries and fruit. He guided the man back to the table and almost had to force the man to take a seat before his father would.
Tasso said, “Eat up, you two.”
Okpara’s daughter had backed away from the table and stood with her head down. She had the look of a wild animal, startled, frightened, and about ready to bolt. Tasso could have laughed, understanding her feelings all too well. No matter where Tasso stood, she wouldn’t look at him. He wasn’t about to give up on her. Grabbing her hand, he pulled her toward the refreshments. Her hand was dry and rough, and spoke of hard work, not at all like Anisa’s hand. The young woman tried to pull away, but Tasso’s hands were strong from work as well. He hung on until he managed to force a plate into her other hand and began filling it with whatever was in reach.
She didn’t try to pull away when he tugged at her hand and led her back to the table. He seated her next to Ndubuka’s wife. The two women spoke in such soft whispers that Tasso, sitting on the other side of Ndubuka, couldn’t hear them. He could see all three of the younger generation glancing at the plates of food, but they hadn’t dared touch them.
He peeled a banana and munched on it contentedly, encouraging Ndubuka to taste the banana on his plate. When the man did, his eyes lit up and he stuffed half the banana into his mouth before breaking off a piece to stuff into his wife’s mouth. Okpara’s daughter tentatively picked up a small strawberry and took a tiny nibble. She squealed in delight and covered her mouth in embarrassment, but when Tasso and Ndubuka laughed, she grinned and popped the whole thing in her mouth with a sigh.
“Tasso Menzies!” Captain Rojo shouted. Her voice startled everyone. “Why is it I get reports on your conduct with such disturbing frequency?”
Tasso clamped his jaw shut. He assumed she’d received the security report of the incident with Flacco and the other man. The security officer said he wasn’t going to do the paperwork on it, but something had generated some kind of report.
Rojo snapped. “This doesn’t mention you by name, but I have two crewmen in medical and a report of an incident in a corridor that appears to not be covered by La Dueña Dunstan, yet covered by her at the same time. This has your fingerprints all over it.”
Tasso wanted to deny it, but he’d been more than peripherally involved. “It wasn’t my fault, Captain. They—”
“I know that,” she interrupted. “But you must be some kind of magnet for ‘it’s not my fault’ incidents.”
Tasso was worried he was in trouble once again.
Captain Rojo smiled and winked at him. “Consider yourself properly chastised.” She sipped her tea and turned to Mr. Okpara. “Young Mr. Menzies showed me a mud brick you’d given him. Do you make them?”
Okpara nodded, “It was a common block. I do not see why he wanted such a thing. They lay about so much that we have to stack them up to keep them out of the way. I have my cowboys make them when the cattle are fed and resting in the fields. That way they are busy and do not become lazy.”
Ndubuka, emboldened by a full stomach, spoke up. “My father is being modest. He pays his help to do busy work so he will not have to lay them off in the slow season. If he laid them off, their families would starve.”
Okpara waved his hands as if it was nothing. “We do what we do, do we not? You have people you are responsible for, Captain Rojo?”
The captain nodded. “Mr. Okpara, we may be able to buy some of your excess bricks if we can come to an agreement on pricing and delivery. Do you have any bricks you might sell us now?”
“I have about ten thousand bricks we were going to use to build some fences, but we really already have more fences than we need. How many of the ten thousand bricks would you want?”
Bill Rojo shook his head. “Ten thousand? Well, if we can get the price down to fifty bricks per credit we would like two million bricks for the first order.”
The Rojos and Okparas came to terms for those two million bricks, settling on a price of one credit per twenty bricks. One million bricks were to be ready for delivery when the Araña Rojo returned in eight months. The second million were to be completed and ready for delivery when the Escorpión Rojo returned to Kaduna in sixteen months. They would take all available ten thousand now, as soon as the cattle were off-loaded.
Mr. Okpara thought they were all crazy to pay so much for mud, but when Captain Rojo paid him a cash deposit, he actually danced. The captain danced with him.
Based on test data, Bill already had commitments to sell both shipments to rain-soaked Murphy’s Rest at five times what they paid. Bill said they could sell ten times the two million mark without even getting close to Murphy’s Rest requirements. That was without searching for other markets. He told Mr. Okpara they would keep him busy making mud bricks year round.
Tasso finally tired of listening to the negotiations when they started discussing Okpara’s purchase of tools he needed to increase the volume of bricks and the purchase of two used sleds to help move adobe bricks to the spaceport. “Excuse me, Captain,” Tasso said. “While you nail down a few final details, may I escort Mr. Okpara’s family up to the promenade? I’m sure Mrs. Okpara would like to visit Cherry’s shop, where her dresses will be offered for sale.”
The captain and Mr. Okpara nodded their consent and turned back to discussing how much of a down payment Okpara needed for a couple of used trucks. She glanced up as Ndubuka hobbled past. She held up a finger, holding Tasso in place. “Oh, Tasso, why don’t you take my shuttle cart. Have my driver send it back when you’re done. And before you go, give me one moment, please.”
The captain tapped her dataport, “Doctora Valenzuela, please meet Tasso Menzies on the promenade at Cherry’s.”
The doctor’s voice growled back. “I’m already on the promenade, Lil. Come on! It’s my day off. There are other medical staff on duty. And Menzies broke …?”
Captain Rojo rolled her eyes at the hanging sentence. “Never mind who he broke. He’s fine. Just do it as a favor to me, Erendira. He’ll explain when you see him.” She glanced at Tasso and raised one eyebrow in question.
He grinned, glad to be involved in a conspiracy, knowing exactly what she wanted.