“Only one reason for szzt to have cryo. Intelligent cargo.”
I do not know what they are saying. “Two humans came from here. Are there more?” My heart gives an excited thump. Perhaps someone was missed?
But Cap-tan shakes his head. “Not likely.”
I bite back my disappointment.
“What happened to the crew?” Cap-tan asks.
“Dead,” I tell them. “One of the humans made sure they did not leave.” I gesture up ahead, where the cave forks into narrower passageways. “They are in that direction.”
“We need crew quarters,” Trakan says, moving his beam in that direction. He heads inside and then tilts his head. “Think I found a dead guy here. Frozen solid.” He bends down and pats the body. “Nothing worth taking.”
“Mmm.” I wait. Surely they will find something they want.
They do, some time later. They find a room with two strange chairs staring at a wall that is cracked into many pieces. Tiny buttons and sticks are laid out in front of them. “The bridge,” Cap-tan murmurs. “And look. Under the station itself…”
Trakan’s light-beam shines on a square on the floor. “Kef yeah. A blast-safe.”
Their excitement is palpable, and mine rises. I wait silently as they poke and prod at the thing for the next while, until one of them attaches a small square to the front and pushes buttons. New lights shine, and something chirps a sequence. “What is that?” Cap-tan asks, and his voice is disapproving.
“Best if you don’t ask, sir.”
Cap-tan snorts. “I had better not see that used on theLady, ever.”
“No, sir.” It chimes, and Trakan grins. “It’s open.”
Both men lean forward as the lid hisses up, and they shine their light-beams there. My curiosity rising, I look, too.
It is full of small boxes. It does not look exciting to me, but one of the men sucks in a breath. Trakan grabs the first box and pulls the lid off. “Kef,” he breathes. “Credit chits. Hundreds of them. These fools crashed with a fortune on them.” He pulls one out and flips it over, then looks at Cap-tan in excitement. “Nontraceable.”
Cap-tan sags in obvious relief. “That is good. That is very, very good.”
“This is your salvage?” I ask. “This is what you want?”
“This is amazing,” Trakan says, grabbing another box. “We’re keffing rich!”
I put a hand on his shoulder. “Good. I need something from you.” Excitement rises through me, and I force my expression to remain calm.
Cap-tan’s eyes narrow at me. “What is it you want? Credit chits are of no use to you here.”
“I want none of this.” I gesture at the cave-ship of the bad ones. “You can take all of it. I said I would take you here, and I did. But I want something in exchange for what you take. It is only fair.”
“Whatever you want, name it,” Trakan says.
Even Cap-tan does not hesitate. He nods. “Speak.”
I choose my words carefully. It is something Vaza and I have discussed, ever since the newcomers arrived and Farli resonated. There is still a chance out there for us. “This ship carried humans.”
“Slaves,” Cap-tan agrees. “Illegal slaves.”
“But there is a way to get more of them and bring them here.” I pause, and then continue before they can object. “I want a mate. There is no female of suitable age for me. Not in our tribe. Not for myself, and not for the four other huntersthat still wish for mates. I want you to bring back humans—these ee-lee-gull slaves you speak of—and bring them here. Five of them. We will take good care of them and make them good mates. They will be happy with us, like Shorshie and the others.”
They exchange a look. “What you ask is not easy,” Cap-tan says.
“That is my price.”
He nods. “I will see what I can do.”
