Chapter 170 · In Business

The journey would take them several more days, including the final local connection to Quelli.

It was during this section of the voyage that Eli discovered the principal disadvantage of carrying cargo in the common room.

He could no longer move freely around his own ship.

The additional containers occupied only part of the compartment, but they had been arranged in such a way that reaching the galley required navigating between two particularly inconvenient stacks. The dining table was accessible from one side, the bench from the other, and the most comfortable seat had been temporarily commandeered to accommodate a smaller container that could not safely be placed anywhere else.

Ch'eth regarded the new arrangement with considerable enthusiasm.

Eli regarded it as a disaster waiting to happen.

The little kivren had to be supervised whenever he was allowed out of his enclosure, particularly after discovering that the narrow spaces between the containers provided an excellent environment for exploration.

On the second day, he managed to disappear beneath a stack of industrial components and resisted all attempts to persuade him to emerge.

Eli spent twenty minutes attempting to retrieve him with a piece of knotted fabric.

Stent, who had recovered enough to find the entire situation amusing, suggested using one of his toys.

"He's ignoring them."

"Perhaps he is comfortable."

"He's living under six thousand credits' worth of machinery."

"That does appear to be his preference."

Eventually Ch'eth emerged of his own accord, carrying a small cloth ball he had apparently decided to retrieve from beneath the containers.

Eli picked him up. "You're a menace."

Ch'eth attempted to climb his shirt.

"And you," Eli said, looking toward Stent, "are supposed to be helping."

"I believe he was retrieving his property."

"Oh, sure."

Despite the inconvenience, the remaining journey passed without incident.

They maintained their schedule, completed the necessary navigation checks and continued toward Quelli with a full hold and a common room that increasingly resembled a poorly organized warehouse.

Eli checked the temporary mailbox whenever they had a reliable HoloNet connection. There was still no reply. He was not particularly surprised.

They had been traveling for less than two weeks, and he had already accepted that Faro might require considerably longer to receive the package and respond.

Nevertheless, he checked.

Stent never commented on it.

Quelli's redistribution station was considerably busier than either of them had anticipated.

The installation served several neighboring systems and maintained regular connections with the major commercial routes passing through the region. Its orbital facilities were extensive, with separate terminals for general freight, industrial cargo and passenger transport.

The approach was crowded with freighters awaiting berthing assignments, although their contractual delivery status earned them priority over several vessels carrying less urgent consignments.

Eli considered that a particularly welcome benefit of their new commercial arrangement.

Their assigned berth was situated beside one of the station's industrial receiving terminals. The moment they completed docking, the station's logistics office transmitted a revised unloading schedule, a cargo-handling authorization and a request for confirmation that they had brought the entire shipment from Phindar.

Eli examined the request. "Every last miserable crate."

Stent smiled. "I suggest a more professional response."

"You're no fun."

He confirmed the full shipment.

The unloading operation began less than an hour later. Eli had rarely been so pleased to see a cargo lifter.

The station's receiving personnel removed the containers from the hold first, then proceeded to the additional cargo secured inside the common room. Their supervisor examined the arrangement with a mixture of professional disapproval and genuine admiration. "You brought all of it?"

"Every unit."

"In here?"

"Temporary supplemental storage."

The supervisor looked at him. Then he looked at the containers. Then he laughed.

"I don't want to know."

"That's exactly what the loading supervisor said."

"Well, the important thing is that it's here. We've got three facilities waiting for these components, and the original carrier isn't expected for another week."

Eli decided that this was a sufficiently enthusiastic reception to justify the inconvenience of having spent several days living among industrial machinery.

By late afternoon, every container had been removed, the delivery certificates had been issued and the revised payment had been authorized.

The common room was theirs again.

Eli stood in the middle of it, surveying the newly recovered floor space with satisfaction.

"Look at that. A whole room."

Stent was examining the cargo restraints they had removed from the temporary storage area. "It will require cleaning."

"Of course it will. But first, I intend to sit on that bench without having to climb over anything."

He did precisely that.

Ch'eth, released from his enclosure now that the cargo had been removed, immediately climbed onto his lap. Eli looked down at him. "Don't get any ideas. We're not turning this place into a playground." Ch'eth investigated his shirt.

Stent looked up. "I believe that decision has already been made."

The final administrative procedures were completed the following morning.

Their primary contracts were marked as fulfilled, the revised shipment from Phindar had been accepted without dispute, and the additional equipment they had transported from Hijado had earned them a modest but entirely satisfactory supplementary payment.

More importantly, the Imperial procurement system had accepted their completed deliveries as sufficient to finalize their provisional contractor registration.

Their five-hundred-credit performance deposit was returned.

Eli stared at the notification with considerable satisfaction.

"Well, would you look at that."

Stent examined the confirmation.

"We have recovered our deposit."

"We've done considerably better than that."

Eli brought up their accounts and displayed the final balance.

Even after fuel, docking charges, handling fees and the additional expenses incurred on Phindar, the three jobs had produced a considerably higher return than their previous individual freight contracts.

They had also completed an entire commercial itinerary without losing a shipment, missing a delivery window or attracting unwanted attention from Imperial security.

Admittedly, one member of the crew had nearly been incapacitated by seafood, and another had spent several days attempting to establish a permanent residence beneath the cargo containers, but Eli considered those relatively minor operational difficulties.

Stent examined the final statement.

"Our registration is now active."

"Which means?"

"We can apply directly for subsequent supplemental allocations without repeating the provisional registration process."

"Exactly."

"And the latest regional assessment?"

Eli opened the procurement portal.

It was there, available for download.

No appointment. No administrative argument. No performance deposit.

Just an updated list of regional transport requirements, provisional civilian allocations and anticipated shortfalls in several neighboring operating corridors.

Eli stared at it for a moment. Then he began to laugh.

Stent looked at him. "What?"

"Nothing. Absolutely nothing. It's just that I spent an hour and a half talking my way through an Imperial administrative building to obtain a document they're now perfectly happy to send us automatically."

"The registration process served its intended purpose."

"Yes, well, I'd appreciate it if you didn't defend it."

Stent returned his attention to the assessment.

"We should examine the available routes before deciding where to go next."

"We should. But first, I believe we've earned a day off."

"A day?"

"At least."

"We still need to replenish our supplies."

"Perfect. Shopping."

Stent considered that proposal.

Then he looked toward the corner of the common room, where Ch'eth was engaged in an energetic struggle with one of his remaining cloth toys. "I do need some socks."

Eli grinned. "Finally admitting defeat?"

"I have accepted that the missing pair is unlikely to be recovered in a wearable condition."

"Very sensible."

"And I intend to obtain materials for replacements."

Eli looked at him.

"Materials?"

Quelli turned out to be an excellent place to buy socks.

It was also, much to Eli's surprise, an excellent place to buy yarn.

They discovered this during a visit to one of the station's larger commercial districts, where a collection of small independent shops occupied the lower level of a passenger concourse. Most catered to travelers passing through the junction, offering everything from replacement clothing to imported food and inexpensive electronic equipment.

Stent located a shop specializing in locally produced textiles.

Eli followed him inside, fully expecting to spend ten minutes waiting while the chiss selected a couple of perfectly ordinary pairs of socks.

Instead, Stent became interested in a display of locally produced wool.

The shop's proprietor explained that the yarn was made from the fleece of animals raised in Quelli's cooler agricultural regions. It was particularly valued for its softness, durability and insulating properties.

Stent examined several skeins before selecting two. He then turned his attention to a display of knitting needles, comparing several sets before choosing one of double-pointed needles.

Eli watched with increasing curiosity.

"Planning to take up knitting?"

"I already know how to knit."

Eli blinked. "You do?"

"Yes. I've made socks before, among other things."

"Of course you have. Is there anything you can't do?"

"Several things. Would you like to learn?"

Eli considered the offer. "What, knitting?"

"Yes. It is not particularly difficult once you understand the basic techniques. I could teach you during our next journey."

Eli looked at the needles, then at Stent. "I'll think about it. Although I suspect you'd spend most of your time correcting my mistakes."

"That is generally how teaching works."

The proprietor, who had been listening to their conversation with an increasingly amused expression, smiled as Stent added the needles to his purchases.

"And how long does it take to knit a pair of socks?" Eli asked.

"That depends on the pattern, the available time and the knitter's skill," Stent replied.

"About a week for a reasonably experienced knitter," the proprietor offered.

Stent nodded. "That would be a reasonable estimate."

"So what are you going to wear in the meantime?"

"I intend to purchase two pairs."

And he did. Both were perfectly respectable, in a dark color that Eli considered entirely consistent with Stent's usual approach to clothing. Then he paid for the yarn and his new set of double-pointed needles.

Eli examined the purchases as the proprietor packaged them.

"Remind me why we aren't simply buying four pairs of socks."

"Because I prefer making my own when I have the opportunity. Besides, we have several days of hyperspace travel ahead of us. I might as well make use of the time."

"Fair enough. And I suppose you'll be teaching me, too."

"If you wish."

"I'll think about it."

Eli decided not to pursue the matter. Apparently, Stent had been knitting socks for years without ever considering it a fact worth mentioning. Then again, after nearly six months aboard the Faded Glory, Eli was beginning to suspect that there were quite a few things he still didn't know about Stent.

Besides, it was difficult to object to an activity that might eventually provide Ch'eth with a fresh supply of discarded socks.

He wisely kept that thought to himself.

They returned to the Faded Glory that evening with fresh supplies, two pairs of socks, two skeins of wool and several small purchases that Eli maintained were absolutely essential to the continued operation of the ship. Stent disagreed about the last part.

Nevertheless, their accounts were healthy, their cargo hold was empty and they were under no immediate obligation to depart. For the first time in several weeks, Eli felt that they could afford to take their time.

He prepared a light dinner while Stent settled into the common room with his new purchases. Ch'eth investigated the shopping bags with considerable interest, although Stent had the foresight to place the yarn well beyond his reach.

By the time Eli brought dinner to the table, Stent had cast on a number of stitches and was already working with his new needles. Eli watched him for a while, mildly impressed by the speed and ease with which he handled them. He had expected knitting to be a rather laborious business, but Stent appeared perfectly comfortable carrying on a conversation while his fingers worked.

What surprised him was that, after a relatively short time, Stent stopped and examined his work.

Eli leaned closer. It was a small square of knitted fabric, barely larger than the palm of Stent's hand.

"Is that how you start a sock?"

"No. It's a gauge swatch."

"A what?"

"A sample. I've never worked with this particular wool before, and I need to establish how many stitches and rows it produces over a given area with these needles."

Stent laid the little square flat on the table, straightened its edges and retrieved a small measuring tool from his sewing supplies. "Different yarns produce different results, even when their nominal thickness is the same. The way the yarn behaves also depends on the needles and the tension with which I knit. Without measuring a sample, I cannot reliably calculate how many stitches I need for a sock of the correct size."

Eli examined the square with considerably more respect. "So you're doing a test run. To make sure your socks actually fit"

"Precisely. I would rather discover a discrepancy now than after knitting an entire sock."

Eli grinned. "That's an awful lot of engineering for something you wear on your feet."

Stent looked up from his measurements. "You, of all people, should appreciate the importance of correct specifications."

"All right, fair enough. But if you start producing technical drawings for your socks, I'm going to be concerned."

Stent made a note of his measurements on the datapad. "I had intended to calculate the required dimensions, yes."

"Of course you had."

Eli shook his head, still smiling, and returned his attention to dinner.

They had been traveling for a little over two weeks, leaving approximately three of their agreed five-week waiting period. There was still plenty of time for Faro to receive the package and reply, although Eli was beginning to appreciate just how long five weeks could feel when one was waiting for something important.

He closed the mailbox and opened the latest regional transport assessment instead.

Across the table, Stent had finished measuring his gauge swatch and was entering the results into his datapad. Ch'eth had settled in his lap, apparently content to watch the knitting needles now that Stent had resumed working. Eli suspected that the little kivren was merely waiting for an opportunity to jump on the yarn.

"Well, Captain. Where to next?"

Stent glanced up. "Have you found anything promising?"

"Not yet. But now that we're officially registered, I thought we might see what the Empire has to offer its newest and most distinguished freight contractors."

"Distinguished?"

"We delivered everything on time, didn't we? Including twelve units they hadn't originally contracted us to carry. I'd say that deserves some recognition."

Stent set his knitting aside and opened the assessment on his own datapad. "I would be satisfied with another contract offering comparable returns."

"See? We have exactly the same ambitions."

They spent the next hour examining the available allocations, comparing destinations and calculating which combinations of contracts might produce the most profitable itinerary. There were considerably more opportunities than Eli had expected, particularly now that they could access the supplemental freight listings directly. Several would take them along major commercial corridors, while others offered substantial premiums for deliveries to smaller facilities that regular carriers had apparently decided were not worth the inconvenience.

Eli selected three promising possibilities and sent inquiries to the relevant suppliers. Stent found another two that could potentially be combined into a single journey, provided their collection windows were compatible.

By the time they finished, they had the beginnings of a new itinerary, several applications awaiting confirmation and a considerably better understanding of how to make their recently acquired contractor status work in their favor.

Eli stretched and put down his datapad.

"Not bad for an evening's work."

"We have yet to receive any confirmations."

"Give it until morning. Somebody out there is bound to need a reliable freighter."

Stent retrieved his knitting, carefully ensuring that Ch'eth couldn't reach the working yarn.

"And if they don't?"

"Then we'll find somebody who does."

Eli collected the empty plates and carried them to the galley, leaving Stent to his knitting and Ch'eth to his increasingly unsuccessful attempts to investigate it.

For once, they had no particular reason to hurry. They had an empty hold, credits in their account and several weeks in which to make the most of their new business arrangements.

And, Eli thought as he glanced toward the datapad still lying on the table, perhaps somewhere in the Imperial postal system, a package was finally finding its way to Admiral Faro.