It was on the world Ginevera that this happened, many, many years ago. It was in the season of summer heat when the tempers of all were short with the long hot and dusty days. When all green had become pale with lack of rain. Many weeks of no rain. Imagine the dust that seemed to fill mouths.
Into this dryness I came in search of a friend. Arriving at his home in my TARDIS," hands gesturing to encompass all that surrounded them, "and bringing a great box filled with special treats sent to him by his family. It was sitting there," pointing to a spot five feet away near the wall, "heavy and ready to be delivered to him. You see, he lived far from his home and his family knew he missed them and all the things that were of his home.
I was pleased to be able to deliver the gifts of his family to him. But when I stepped from the TARDIS into his house, there was no one there. All was still. Not a single soul about. A meal left out on the table, half-eaten. The outer door wide open, flies buzzing in and out. A chair turned over. A cup broken on the floor. Well you will know what I thought.
The creature looked blankly at the animal, totally confused. Exactly. My friend had either run from his home in a panic or had been taken suddenly and unwillingly. I feared the latter, knowing the reputation of the society of Ginevera. But how to determine what had happened? My friend lived alone so there was no one in the house to ask.
I stepped out into the street, glancing left and right. Then I noticed an old man seated on a bench in the shade of a large, dusty tree. He had a perfect view of the entry to my friend's house. 'Excuse me,' I asked him, ' have you been sitting here long?' He stared up at me and nodded without speaking. 'Did you see the man who lives in that house opposite leaving his house today?'
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The old man drew back, eyes narrowing but he did not reply.
'Please, my friend is missing and I need to find him. If there is anything...' When there was no response, I shoved my hands into my pockets in frustration. My fingers touched the bag of jelly babies.
"Jelly babies?" the creature inquired. "You know, those sweet candies you ate when we were outside. In the paper bag?" At his nod, the animal continued his story. So pulled out the bag and with my best smile, 'Jelly baby?' I shook one onto the palm of my hand and popped one in my mouth. When I extended the bag to him, he took a candy, stared at it and then ate it. His face broke into that wide surprised smile that happens every time. 'Another? '
I offered and he took a second one but before he ate it, he leaned forward and whispered, 'the Constrictors took him.'
'The Constrictors?'
'Yup.' The candy disappeared into his mouth.
A deep breath, 'my friend was taken against his will?'
'No one goes with the Constrictors willingly.'
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'Where would they take him?'
'The Darkened Fortress.'
My heart shuddered. I had heard of the terrible things that went on there. 'How do I get him back?'
'Hope they throw his body out into the rubbish yard.'
'No, alive.'
'Ah well, that is a problem. Got to find out which Clan authorized it. Get a release from the Clan. Like I said, a problem.'
'What would he have done to make them go after him? He is just a scholar studying Ginerverian literature.'
'Maybe he looked the wrong way at one of the Clan's women or bumped into a senior Clan member. Or ...no reason.'
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'How do I find out which Clan?'
'You can't.'
A grunt of frustration and I paced a step or two away and back. More to myself than him, 'Then I need to talk to all the Clans and try and find out why and what will appease them.'
'If you just want to contact the Clans, that is not hard.'
I stepped closer again, interested in whatever he was thinking.
'Do it subtly. Have something they want. And be prepared to sell it.'
'Such as?'
'Weapons, drugs.' The old man grinned at me. 'If you want to attract their attention, you go to the Kithaan Market and mention to the man who sells wine by the glass in the square that you have something special to sell. Then come back here.'
'Telling him where I am staying.'
A headshake of long pale hair. 'No need. They'll know. You are a stranger. Someone already knows you're here and will be ready to sell that information.'
That made me grin. 'The Street Drum, hmm?'
He blinked and then smiled. 'That what you call it? Yup. Works real good.'
I reached out a hand and shook his. 'Thank you.'
'Careful, young man. They are dangerous. '
'So am I when a friend's life is at stake. Why are you helping me? Aren't you afraid someone will tell the Clans?'
'Don't care. I'm old. And they took my grandson last year. Only got part of him back. I wanted to kill them for that. Couldn't, so, this will have to do. You just be careful, watch your back.'
'Not to worry. I 'm a lot sneakier than I look.'
The old man laughed. 'I'll keep watch. 'Case I have to tell another of your friends what happened to you.'
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I left him then and found the Kithaan Market. A few words with the wine seller about the stock of a special imported substance I had to sell and I headed back to my friend's house, wary all the way back. I knew I was being followed by someone who was quite good at what he did -- but not quite good enough.
Back at my friend's house, I realized I was hungry. Must have been the excitement of the hunt, the need to be ready for whatever would come. I found enough things in my friend's larder to satisfy me ... some rough bread, a vegetable patè and apples or something like apples. I cleared the table before I sat down to eat.
I had just taken my second bit of patè when the outer door opened and a large man clumped into the room, glared balefully at me and checked around. At a call from him, a smaller man came in and without permission, sat down. His eyes studied me. We stared at each other in silence for several minutes.
Finally, 'You got something to sell,' he stated boldly.
'Yes.'
'Let's see it.'
'It's not here.' The man stood up but my voice made him pause. 'First we discuss price.'
'Before I see the goods?'
'Yes.'
'Not the way I deal.' He started toward the door. I let him get there.
'For guerarian?'
He whipped around, eyes wide and then narrowing. 'What quantity?'
'Twenty dlats.' One hundred times the quantity usually available in such transactions and enough to last a dozen mercenaries three years.
His eyes got wide again and I thought I would like to play poker with him. He moved back toward the table. 'Well we can discuss the cost.'
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The creature grunted. "What is guerarian?" "A powerful drug -- rare, costly and illegal to sell. It enhances the senses beyond normal levels. Also can produce significant explosive effects if treated carelessly." At the creature's puzzled stare, "as if someone gave you special sight and smell that let you find easily all the food that are hardest to find and best to eat." A nod and the story continued. The man was almost salivating with interest. 'What do you want for it?'
'One thousand standard measures of fine kithanstone,' I said, my voice cool.
A grunt of shock from him. "That's too much. I can get that from someone else at a better price.'
'Go ahead.'
He was not good at bluffing but he tried. 'Right. Sorry we could not do business.' The man moved back to the door. Just before he stepped outside, he paused and turned back. 'Look, we could perhaps consider that price if we had a sample to test for quality.' At my headshake, he frowned. 'All right. Half the amount.'
'For three quarters the price.'
'What!'
'I prefer volume sales. If you don't buy all, I have to find a buyer for the other half. One of the other Clans?'
'Don't be hasty. I'll have to consult my treasury officer.'
'I need to have your answer by 3:30 this afternoon. Precisely at 3:30. And come alone.'
Another frown and he nodded and left me. I sagged in my chair, relieved that my bluff had worked.
It was another 20 minutes before the next one came. He smiled the entire time he was with me. I began to wonder if it was a physical disability, a rictus of his facial muscles, since neither his eyes nor his voice smiled.
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'What do you have?'
Right to the point. 'Guerarian.'
'How much?'
'Twenty dlats.'
'Cost.'
'One thousand of fine kithanstone.'
'No.'
'Fine.'
He stared at me, the eyes like ice. This one would be tough to play poker with, a challenge. 'I'll take it all.'
'Good.'
'Credits?'
'No. Kithanstone.'
'Don't have that with me.'
I was certain he would not, hence my request for it. 'Come back at 4 this afternoon. No earlier, no later.'
Another stare, a nod and he was gone.
It was only 10 minutes before the last one came. He strode in, no guard, no knock, as if he owned the place. Stared at me as if I had come to him.
'They say you have something on offer.'
'Yes.' I had decided I liked the monosyllabic approach of my second visitor. It annoyed this one.
'Well, what is it?'
I waited, fingers steepled before my face before answering. Just as I judged he was about to speak again, I said softly, 'Guerarian.'
His whole body paused into its forward motion and he straightened up, lips pursing. 'Impossible. That is unobtainable in this sector.'
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I did not reply.
'You aren't claiming it was from Misyyakka?' Still not words from me. 'Well, how much do you have and what ridiculous price are you asking?'
'Twenty dlats. One thousand standard measures of fine kithanstone.'
He shook his head vehemently. 'That's...you are mad. No one would pay that. I'll give you 400 standard measures.'
'Good day.'
'What!? What do you mean? That you won't deal on this?'
'Twenty dlats for 1,000 standard measures of fine kithanstone.'
His face got red. 'Look, I don't know if you are aware of how things operate on Ginevera but the former tenant of this house was arrested. Just today taken by the Constrictors. That can happen to you too. I can make that happen like I did to the other alien.' The last word came out as an obscenity.
'Twenty dlats for 1000 standard measures of fine kithanstone .' My voice tone was still cool and calm, though that was not what I was feeling. This was the man who had sent my friend to the hell of the Darkened Fortress.
He threw up his arms. 'Well do I at least see a sample? You can't expect me to deal without a sample to test.'
'Bring payment today at 4:30. Exactly 4:30 or no deal.' I crossed my arms over my chest.
He shook his head. 'No one on Ginevera does business like this.'
I smiled at him, just a quick ironic smile. 'I'm not from this planet, am I?'
He growled something and stalked out.
Now I had to hurry. I had three angry and potentially dangerous men coming to see me in 3 hours and I had no guerarian and I had no one to help me get any. Luckily, these sorts of obstacles were my food and drink. There were challenges to work up an appetite on.
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| Part One Part Two Part Three |
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