“Here now, I don’t have all day,” he said roughly. It was always better to keep the upper hand in a negotiation like this. He didn’t want them to feel bullied, but he also didn’t want to give them too much time to think. They were ripe for the taking, and he wanted that ship.
“Either you like the deal or you don’t. I have other customers to help,” he added, despite the fact that they were his only prospects at the moment. It wasn’t often that he had the chance to acquire a ship like theirs, especially for such a price. It was stolen, of course, but that wouldn’t matter if he moved it quickly enough. There were plenty of customers who’d be interested in buying a prize like that one.
“All right,” the freckled one said, looking panicked at the thought of him losing interest. Karinvass gave her a broad smile, then held out his hand to shake on the deal.
She looked at him, confused at the gesture, and for a moment he almost felt sorry for her.
She really was green. These two were going to be eaten alive if they weren’t careful.
“I’ll be right back with your credits,” he said, and they smiled at him nervously.
Shaking his head in bemusement, he turned and went into his back room. Once the door was locked, he activated a small control panel on the floor. A tile moved noiselessly across the floor, revealing his safe. As he counted out the thousand-credit chits, he briefly considered short-changing them. He’d bet they’d never seen a credit chit worth so much–it would be easy to pawn off some counterfeits.
Then an uncharacteristic wave of compassion came over him. He was already making a fortune off of them, he reminded himself. They were on the run, any fool could see that. Besides, if he let them go now, he could always make more money later if someone came looking for them. He smiled again at the thought, then closed up the safe and walked back out into his shop.
“Here are your credits,” he said, counting the money out carefully before them.
“Fifty thousand, just like I promised.”
Their eyes widened, and the quiet one–she was taller–gave him a smile so lovely it took his breath away. She really was quite pretty, he realized. Maybe he could… Then he laughed to himself. He was getting too greedy, now. He’d already taken enough from these two little birds. Better to let them go.
“Here are the access codes,” the little one said, pressing a piece of paper into his hands.
“I’ll find you if they don’t work,” Karinvass said, although he wasn’t concerned. He was sure it had never occurred to them to double-cross him. They were too innocent.
They left the store quickly, turning out into the main corridor and out of Karinvass’
sight. Calindra station wasn’t really that large of an outpost, he reflected, if you knew the right people. If he changed his mind and wanted to find them again, he would be able to.
Deciding he had worked enough for one day, Karinvass left the store–locking it carefully, as always–and headed across the wide corridor. The station’s open gallery rose four stories above him, stretching as far as the eye could see. Either side of the gallery was lined with shops. Up two levels was his favorite drinking house, where the bakrah was cheap and the women were friendly. It was time to celebrate his newfound wealth, he thought with satisfaction. It had been a most profitable morning.
“Calla, I don’t trust that man,” Sarai said, looking at her friend anxiously. They were walking quickly along the wide boulevard that was the station’s center of commerce.
Earlier that day, Sarai had watched all the activity around them with wide eyes, but now all she could think about was escape. “I think he knew we weren’t the real owners of the ship.”
“I think you may be right,” Calla replied. She clutched their bag of precious credits closer. People seemed to be watching them; they weren’t safe, she could feel it. “But we’ll be gone as soon as we find a transit. We just need to figure out where we want to go.”
“And what we’re going to do when we get there,” Sarai said faintly, her expression troubled. “Calla, I don’t know how to do anything. How am I going to support my children?”
“Sarai, we’ve been over this before,” Calla said, trying to stay patient. “If we can just find the right place, we’ll open a hostel. I know all about hostels, I’ve worked in one all my life. We’re going to be fine.”
“I’m sorry, Calla,” Sarai said. “I know, I’ve got to trust you.”
“That’s all right,” Calla said, flashing her a quick smile. She and Sarai had grown close in the two weeks since their escape from Bethesda base. A wave of sadness came over her, the same feeling she got every time she thought of the day she had left Seth behind on the asteroid. She missed him so much. Suppressing a sigh, she said, “Here we are–I think the hostel is down that corridor.”
Together they turned into the quiet corridor. In contrast to the busy boulevard, this area of the station was more residential. There were blocks of apartments, small food shops and even a book and vid store. Their hostel was nestled in the middle, a little gem of hospitality. A kind-looking pleasure worker at the space port had directed them there the night before. Not only was it quiet, it was inexpensive, which was important. They couldn’t afford to waste the few credits Calla had from Jess’ stash, or those from the sale of the ship, either.
When they walked through the door, a chime rang but no one was at the front desk.
Calla could hear voices, though. Able and Mali were in the back, talking with someone animatedly and laughing. She looked over at Sarai, whose face had grown cold. They had told the children not to open the door for anyone, and now Able and Mali were out of the room completely.
Moving quickly through the small lobby and living area, Calla and Sarai walked into the kitchen. Mistress Bannings, the hostel’s owner, and her daughter, Erika, were sitting at a table with the children. Erika’s children were there, too, and the entire group seemed to be playing some kind of board game. Erika looked up and smiled.
“I hope you don’t mind that we invited the children into the kitchen to play,” she said brightly. “We don’t usually get guests with children, and my girls were so excited to meet them.”
Calla’s heart melted at the sight, but Sarai’s lips were tight. Erika shot a concerned look to her mother for support.
“Now, Sarai,” Mistress Bannings said kindly. Her gentle face was covered in wrinkles, most of them from laughing. She looked every inch a beloved grandmother; Mali and Able had been utterly charmed by her from the start. “Don’t worry. The children were perfectly safe, and I knew they must be hungry. Speaking of which, neither of you have had anything to eat yet today. Would you like something?”
Mistress Bannings so obviously meant well that Sarai couldn’t stay mad. She sighed, then said, “Yes, that would be very nice. Thank you.”
Erika immediately jumped up and started fixing them some food, while Mistress Bannings gestured for Calla and Sarai to join her at the table.
“Why don’t you girls take Able and Mali into your room to play,” she told her grandchildren. They jumped up, and all four ran off together laughing. “The girls will keep them occupied while we talk. You have lovely children, Sarai.”
“Thank you,” Sarai replied, unable to keep herself from smiling at the compliment.
Erika brought them plates of food, then joined them at the table.