"It's even better than I dreamed!" Tor enthused. "It gets a little boring during long runs in Supralight, like the last leg to Boondock. But that just gives me time to study." He looked thoughtful. "I've been trying to learn my job."
They entered the restaurant and grabbed a table in the corner. Evidently classes were in session at the University, because the place wasn't crowded. Their uniforms garnered a few looks from the patrons, but they were unmolested as they placed their orders.
Tor picked up the conversation. "Uh, Captain, I . . . uh . . . guess this is a silly question, but, uh, Why do you really need a Communications Officer? I mean, uh, I've only been on this one leg, but it seems to me that since there's no FTL communications, the only time you need a Comm Officer is in intrasystem space. Couldn't one of the other crew cover it during that time? I'm not trying to talk myself out of a job," he added hurriedly, "But it does seem that you're paying shares for an unnecessary crewman."
Jirik paused while the waiter delivered their orders, and then replied, "No, kid. Comm Officers aren't wasted. This was hardly a typical planetfall. Normally, everyone's up to their ears in intrasystem space. Bran has to transition from Inertialess drive to Inertial drive, and keep it humming. Valt is busy computing the most efficient orbital changes to make planetfall as quickly and economically as possible. I pilot. As Comm Officer, you are responsible for monitoring comm traffic, establishing contact with the target world, arranging berthing, negotiating docking fees and customs requirements, contacting consignees if our cargo is consigned, or locating possible markets if it isn't, and on and on. Believe me, kid, when you make your first normal planetfall, you'll earn every credit of your share."
Tor looked relieved. "Thank you, Captain. I was just beginning to feel unneeded, an odd wheel, if you know what I mean. Don't worry, sir, by the time we make that first planetfall, I'll know what I'm doing. I won't let you down!"
Jirik laughed aloud. "I know you won't, Kid. I was you once, remember?"
Considering that it was both the central public library and the University library, the Boondock Consolidated Library's home was not an impressive structure. The bookchips themselves were maintained in underground vaults, so the visible part of the building was only two stories high, and not unusually large. The main floor consisted mainly of row after row of cubicles with computer terminals. Users called up their choices either on the library's terminals, or electronically from their home vidphones. The chips below were either accessed by the terminal or phone directly, or, if the user preferred, copied to a blank chip for a small copying and copyright fee.
The Department offices were on the second floor, and were as unprepossessing as the building itself. The Department Head's secretary ushered Jirik and Tor into an office whose austere simplicity surprised Jirik, accustomed as he was to the more luxurious facilities of the inner worlds.
Jirik was also surprised and annoyed to find two men awaiting him, instead of the one he had expected. Neither was particularly well dressed. Both were wearing the simple tunics so common on the streets of the city. One of the two's height and slimness marked him as not native-born to Boondock. The other, short, wide, and muscular, was more typical of Boondockers.
The taller man arose as they entered, and stuck out his hand. "Good morning, gentlemen. I'm Jon Fanlin, Head of the Library Department."
Jirik took the proffered hand. "Good morning, sir. I'm Captain Jirik Jeffson of the Independent Trader Bonny Lass. This is my Communications Officer, Tor Jankys."
"The Bonny Lass, eh?" interjected the Boondocker. "I've seen her at the port. We're not used to seeing such big ships this far out. DIN Class Combat Hauler, isn't she?"
Jirik nodded. "Yes, sir. Alliance surplus. As for her size, she's just right for our usual routes between the Empire and inner Alliance." Jirik noticed with some amusement that the Boondocker's lips twitched in distaste at the mention of the Empire. "And, may I ask whom I'm addressing, with no offense intended?"
"Your pardon, Captain," Fanlin said hastily. "Permit me to introduce Boondock's Minister of Trade, Albet Cony. I asked Mr. Cony to be present because I rarely receive requests for appointments from ship's captains, and I felt that his expertise might provide a mutual ground to smooth our discussions. If you would prefer, of course, I know that Mr. Cony would excuse us."
Jirik shrugged indifferently. "I don't mind at all. In fact, I appreciate your courtesy in making such an effort to smooth our business."
Cony nodded his approval. "It's just that we assumed that a Trader would want to talk about trade, and I'm afraid that trade is an area quite far removed from Mr. Fanlin's usual concerns. I must also admit to some curiosity as to what an innerworld trader would want with a librarian."
"Nothing nefarious, I assure you." Jirik was suppressing a smile at Fanlin's scowling reaction to Cony's "librarian" label. "May we sit down? I'm afraid that 1.4G is rather more than we're used to."
Fanlin jumped to his feet and hastened around the bare desk, pulling up two rather hard chairs for his visitors, apologizing profusely for his oversight and lack of hospitality. Cony simply shifted in his chair, his lip curling slightly at the visitors' admission of weakness.
"Now that everyone's comfortable," Cony said, his slight emphasis on "comfortable" further evidence of his disdain, "Perhaps you'd care to tell us the purpose of your visit?"
"Of course," Jirik replied easily, ignoring the Boondocker's tone. "As you may be aware, we originally came out here on a priority run with a cargo of medical electronics. Our regular routes, as I mentioned, are along the inner rim of Alliance. Unfortunately, the Lass was holed by a small meteorite just as we emerged from supralight at the edge of the system, destroying our Inertial drive generators. The tow, repairs and delivery penalties have seriously eroded our operating capital.
"Thanks partly to your department, Mr. Cony, we have been able to begin contracting a cargo of heavy metals which will permit us to return to the inner systems with some small profit. This will allow us to contract at least some low-value cargoes, which, over time, will let us build our working capital back to its previous level. But that will be time-consuming, and we may have come across a better suggestion."
Cony had nodded acknowledgment at Jirik's mention of his department's help, though otherwise remaining impassive. Fanlin was looking attentive, but perplexed.
"I'm afraid that I don't understand the connection to the Library, Captain," Fanlin queried, "What do we have to do with this?"
"My apologies, sir," Jirik replied, "My remarks were preliminary. I was just coming to the point. It was suggested to us that we might perhaps recoup our losses if we could run a single, high-value cargo from the inner worlds back out here to Boondock. I have come to you to ask if you could estimate the value of a shipload of bookchips from the Empire Library on Alpha." Fanlin shot to attention in his chair, and even Cony was looking interested.
"You see, sir," Jirik continued, "The cargo we're taking on here is bound for the inner worlds anyway. Given this sector's reputed appetite for reading matter, we wondered if there would be any commercial value in returning with a cargo of literature. We had considered either contracting with you, or an association of book dealers, or even doing it on speculation. I was hoping that you could give us some advice on the matter."