Tor's puzzlement was back. "But, how can you know how to describe someone, without getting into trouble?"
Jirik smiled. "You'll learn, son. But until you learn what terms are offensive where, your safest course is to not refer to any highly visible attributes. Even referring to someone as 'tall', or 'small' could get you into trouble in some places. It's usually safe to identify them by sex, or nonhumans by species, but other than that, be very careful. Sorry about the lecture, kid. I guess I'm getting talky in my old age."
Tor shrugged. "That's all right, Captain. I'm beginning to realize that I've got an awful lot to learn."
Jirik laughed. "That you do, son, that you do. But, we'll help try to keep you from the wrong end of a laser or blaster bolt."
They left the restaurant and hailed a verticab to take them to the Library, an imposing edifice some ten stories high, and covering over ten acres. Jirik patiently negotiated his way through bureaucratic layers until he finally, many credits poorer, worked his way up to someone with the authority to negotiate the deal. By that time, very little of the work day remained for the negotiations themselves, but they succeeded in arranging discussions for the following day.
Tor was outraged. "On Boondock, I made an appointment with the head of the library with one vidphone call, and got the appointment for two hours later! Here, we spend all afternoon trying to get to someone who can discuss the deal!"
Jirik chuckled. "That's called 'bureaucracy', son. On populous planets, the power of a person can be judged by how many people he can put between himself and someone who wants to see him. The theory seems to be that he's too busy to talk to someone unless his business is important, and if it's important, the visitor will stick to it. It seems that the importance of the business is judged by how many layers a visitor is willing to fight his way through."
"But, that man wasn't busy," Tor protested. "His terminal wasn't even activated until we got there And, How come we had to pay some of those people? Wasn't it their job to help us?"
Jirik smiled patiently. "Tor, the empire has what is called a 'mature' society. For which, read 'corrupt'. It cost us hundreds of credits to get to see that 'deputy assistant' whoozis. Chances are, it'll turn out that he doesn't have the authority to make the deal, and that it'll cost us another pile of credits to get to see someone who can." He shrugged. "It's just another part of doing business on the inner planets."
Tor wasn't mollified. He continued to protest as they returned to the Shuttle Port, and throughout the shuttle ride to the space station. By the time they arrived on the station, it was nearly time to meet Bran at the restaurant.
Bran was waiting for them when they arrived at the restaurant. Tor didn't even wait until they were seated before launching into a recital of his opinion of the Empire planets, Alpha, bureaucracy and venial officials. Bran listened politely for a few minutes, then looked quizzically at Jirik.
"Tor's been learning about bureaucracies, and the cost of doing business in the Empire," Jirik explained patiently. "I've been hearing about it ever since we left the Library."
Bran chuckled. "I understand. All right, Tor, we get the message; you disapprove. Now how about letting the Captain tell us what's going on, and why we couldn't meet on the Lass."
Tor instantly subsided, turning an attentive face to Jirik.
Jirik shrugged. "To take your last question first, I couldn't be sure that Tomys didn't have the old bitch bugged by now. There've been people climbing all over her all afternoon, offloading cargo. We needed somewhere public." He shrugged again. "Of course, he could have the restaurant bugged, too, but we'll just have to take that chance. I don't want to get as paranoid as he is."
Bran glanced around uncomfortably. "All right, Captain. Now, suppose you tell us what you've done. I've been worried since this morning!"
Jirik looked apologetic. "I know, Bran, and I'm sorry; but I was worried about being bugged. Anyway, I got to thinking. We've been dealing with this ourselves. I decided that it was time to get some help." He told them about talking with the Guild lawyers, and what they had recommended. Then, he told them about his encounter with Tomys, and finished by playing for them the tape of the meeting.
When he finished, Bran leaned back in his seat. "I'm not sure that I would have recommended that action, Captain, but you may have been wise. Tomys was certainly angry!" He grinned.
Tor had listened to the tape with fascination. "What do you think, Captain? Did it help us? If this Tomys is really mad, can he hurt us?
"Damned if I know for sure, kid," Jirik replied. "But, to tell you the truth, I think that maybe it did help us. Oh, we still have to do what Tomys wants, play out the game. But maybe he'll be a little more careful with the Guild looking over his shoulder. Can he hurt us? Definitely. A Class I has a helluva lot of power, if he decides to use it. But, I don't think he'll do anything until his mission is completed, whatever his mission is."
"And, frankly, I don't expect him to do anything nasty to us afterward. That would be sheer vindictiveness, taking out his hurt feelings on us, and I don't think he'll do that. A Class I doesn't get to be a Class I by being petty over hurt feelings."
"You hope!" Bran added sarcastically.
Jirik smiled. "Fervently!" he agreed. They continued to discuss the situation as they ordered and ate. Jirik asked if Bran had had a chance to talk with Tor. Bran nodded.
"Yes," Tor said, "But, Captain, I thought that you'd arranged to avoid having an agent assigned as our Astrogator!"
Jirik nodded. "I tried, kid. But there's no way to be absolutely sure. What if one of the Guild clerks is an Empire agent? He could phony up any records that he wanted to, including the listing dates for Astrogators looking for a berth, and he'd be happy to cooperate with an Alley Class I. We'll still have to assume that whoever we sign on is an Alley spy, and behave accordingly."
"That means that from now on, we don't discuss any of this spook crap on board the Lass. If we have anything to say about it, we'll invite each other out for lunch, or something. And not always at the same restaurant. If this one isn't bugged at the moment, you can bet that it will be by morning. I'm sure that this meeting will be reported to Tomys." He smiled as Tor glanced nervously around.
"You mean we're being followed?" The boy asked incredulously, "Now? Right now?"
Bran chuckled. "Tomys would be a fool not to have us followed," he replied, "And Tomys is no fool. Stop looking around! Just ignore it."
Tor looked uncomfortable, but stopped swiveling his head anxiously.
"That's better," Jirik commented. "Look, Tor, from now on, you'll just have to assume that anything that you do will be watched." He grinned at Tor's grimace of distaste. "Look at it this way," he continued, "You've got a bodyguard keeping you out of trouble. You've never been safer. Tomys is definitely going to make sure that nothing happens to any of us until the job's done. Use your time off to get out and see Alpha. Have a good time."
Tor glowered. "You make it sound as if it were a service that we should be paying for!"
Bran laughed. "It is, son. Believe me, there are a lot of ways that a farmworlder can get into trouble on Alpha. If we didn't have Tomys, I would have suggested a bodyguard. It's a good investment for a first visit on an inner world. Just relax and enjoy your visit, and remember that the only time that we can discuss the Tomys situation is when we're in public off the Lass. All right?"