A novel by Matthew Jarpe  •  Home  •  About the Author  •  About the Book  •    •  Short Stories  •  

By Matthew Jarpe

Furtive whispers preceded the Terran onto the bridge. Workerclass hardshells scuttled out of the way of the entourage. Thinkerclass grubs surrounded him in a phalanx as he strode through the new construction.

Eric Finn was a tall man, even among his own kind. His gray hair brushed the unfinished ceiling, his gray eyes swept over the circular room. He said nothing as he stood and absorbed everything he saw. His eyes took on a distant look, and as he moved to speak the grubs leaned in to catch his every word.

‘Hunter green,’ he said, sweeping his hand over the upper part of the walls. He moved his hand lower and grubs scuttled out of his way. ‘And plum.’

‘Two colors, Mr. Finn?’ The voice came through a translator from the lead Thinkerclass grub.

Finn stared down at the grub and barely hid his revulsion. ‘Of course. The dividing line is here.’ He chopped his hand at the wall, at just the height where a Commandclass wingbearer’s thorax sprouted from its abdomen. ‘There will be a thin gold band separating the two colors.’ He held his fingers about an inch apart and the grubs tapped furiously on their sketchpads. Finn surveyed the rest of the room. ‘The ceiling is also hunter green. Recessed lighting in a series of concentric circles.’ He punched at the ceiling and a worker scuttled across the bare plastic to make marks where his hand hit. ‘Here, here, and here. Three rings. And one larger light in the center. What is this hideous thing?’

The grubs wriggled over to catch up to him and see what he was frowning at. ‘That’s the command center, Mr. Finn. Essential equipment.’

‘Put it somewhere else. It throws off the room.’

‘But we always put the command center in the middle, Mr. Finn. It’s essential.’

Finn ignored the grub. ‘What is that?’ He pointed to a cylindrical tank against the wall.

‘Holographic projector, also essential.’

‘Put that in the middle, and put this ugly thing against the wall. Finish them both in gold, but a brushed finish on the command center. We don’t want to draw the eye to it.’

‘But …’

Finn glared at the grub who had dared speak. ‘Do you want this to look good? Hmm?’ He didn’t wait for an answer. ‘Then do as I say.’ He strode back to the door. ‘Persian rugs on the floor. I’ll buy them. You wouldn’t have the slightest idea. We’ll figure out the desks …’

‘Interface consoles, Mr. Finn,’ the lead grub blurted out.

‘Whatever. Don’t put them in until I see the walls.’

#

‘Why the hell do they even listen to you, boss?’ Nine started up the putter and ran through the undocking routine. ‘It’s their space ship, why do they ask a human to decorate it?’ ‘Because I act like I know what I’m talking about,’ Finn said. ‘Think of it as a scam, if that makes you more comfortable. Except that in the end these guys are happy with the transaction.’

‘But Jerry tells me these guys see things at all different wavelengths than us,’ Nine said as he ran the putter back to the station. ‘How is it they’re happy with the way it looks? And it ain’t like you’re even really a decorator.’

‘That’s where you’re wrong, Mr. Nine-fingers,’ Finn said. ‘I’m a damn fine decorator. These places look really good when I’m finished. And as for why they’re happy? They get to tell everyone that a Terran decorated the ship for them, and they get to be smug about it. Or whatever passes for smugness in a race of insects. Everyone knows that Terrans make the best decorators, because everyone knows it. That’s how the Galaxy goes around, my friend.’

‘I don’t know, boss. This isn’t how we did things back in the old country.’

‘Different place, Nine. Different rules. How’d you make out?’

‘Aaah,’ Nine waved his hand and the putter veered to the left. He corrected its course with a lazy turn of his hand. ‘Nothing. The whole cargo is freezer units. Those kind you put a person in when you go to another star. You know.’

‘More freezer units? How many?’

‘I lost count at twelve million. Why bother? You told me we couldn’t steal them. Said there’s no place to fence them.’

‘You’re right, it doesn’t matter. I’m just curious. What the hell are they doing with so many freezers?’

#

The Terran section of Vega Ring was one of the smaller neighborhoods on the station. Terrans had been part of the Conglomerate for fifty years, and it took a long time to buy real estate, even if you had something to offer. Terrans didn’t have much. They were pretty good at piloting, but not great. They could do a bit of engineering, but there were a lot of species who could do it better. It seemed that the only thing Terrans could do better than anyone else was to pick out drapes. So the Terran shtetl became a design center.

Finn and Company was one of the most successful design firms on Vega Ring. A lot of species came to Vega to construct fleets because of the raw materials and the energy that poured of the blue-white star. The big accounts all sought out Finn for the finishing touches, and the company could pick and choose among contracts.

What these species did not know, what the Terran provost knew but couldn’t let on, what every Terran knew but was afraid to speak of, was that Finn and Company was a front. They were not at Vega Ring to show carpet samples and color swatches to gelatinous trapezoids. They were there to extend the reach of the Earth’s oldest organized crime family into the depths of space.

Finn and Nine got nods of respect as they made their way through the crowded streets of the Terran shtetl. The cops gave them the eye, but stayed out of their way. Nine was a big man, heavily scarred and frightening. Most of the scars were from a decompression accident on Luna when he was a young boy, but he didn’t tell anyone that. He let them believe that he’d gotten them in combat, and that gave him stature. But not as much stature as walking next to Mr. Finn got him.

The front office of Finn and Company was filled, as always, with loitering young men. But this time the men were gathered around a newcomer. Finn looked the man over. He was from the old country, that much he could tell right away. The suit, the haircut, all screamed Earth. Nobody on Vega ring was wearing such a wide tie. Beyond that, Finn could tell he was prosperous and was used to being treated well. He knew what Jerry was going to say before he said it.

‘Mr. Finn, this is Hans Van Leiden. He’s a friend of ours.’

Finn took the man’s hand. ‘The Dutchman?’

Hans nodded. ‘That’s what they used to call me, back on Earth. You heard of me, then?’

‘Heard of you? You did the thing in Jersey City with the bazooka.’ He slapped Bogs on the shoulder. ‘I told you all about this guy, didn’t I? Come back to the office, let me get you a drink.’

The Dutchman held up his attaché case. ‘No, let me get you a drink. Good stuff, from the old country.’

Finn gestured back to his office. ‘Hey, we got good stuff here, don’t we Jerry? Let’s get some glasses and do a taste test.’ Finn took a seat in one armchair and left the other for Hans. He let Jerry and Nine and Bogs perch on the arms of the couch and lean in the door frame. To sit behind the desk would invite a power struggle and that, he didn’t need. Hans Van Leiden was here for a reason. It was a long trip from Earth, two years in the freezer. Not a friendly visit.

‘Single malt scotch, Laphroig,’ Hans said as he poured two glasses. Jerry helped himself and Nine and Bogs held back, aware as always of the pecking order. Finn brought the glass up to his nose and gasped.

‘Smells like a campfire, hey Jerry?’

Jerry sniffed and grimaced. ‘If you say so, Finn. I’ve never smelled a campfire.’

Finn nodded at Jerry. ‘Jerry Tollman, he’s my capo. From Titan. Been in space all his life, right Jerry?’

Jerry nodded and sat on the couch, secure now in his position. Not an equal, but a trusted associate.

‘Sounds like quite an operation you guys have got going here,’ Hans said. That was a bad sign. Getting down to business with the first drink. Something was happening, and Finn didn’t feel ready for it.

‘We’ll give you the full tour when you’ve gotten settled. We’ve got a lot of things going on.’

‘Old man’s a little concerned, though.’

Jerry coughed around his drink. It could have been the scotch, it was strong stuff, but it wasn’t. You just didn’t bring up the old man like that. You danced around it. Something was happening.

‘We’re in the black, double-digit growth, year on year,’ Finn said, probably a little too fast. Too defensive. He forced himself to relax. ‘Lot of money flowing back to the old country.’

‘Here’s the thing,’ The Dutchman said, leaning forward and cupping his scotch glass in his two meaty palms. ‘You don’t seem to be doing anything illegal.’

Finn smiled and sipped his little private campfire in a glass. ‘The Conglomerate is a different place, Dutch. Different rules.’ This felt like the lecture he’d just given Nine in the putter. ‘See, a lot of things you guys do in the old country, well, they’re just not crimes here on Vega Ring. The numbers racket is legal. There’s a lot of competition from the casinos. Drugs are legal, prostitution, even shylocking is legal except for the part about beating people up. And we all know that isn’t where the money is made, the beatings. That’s just a side benefit.’ He laughed and his boys followed him. The Dutchman laughed too, which was a good sign.

‘All right,’ Hans said. ‘You can’t make book here, I get it. But the whole point of coming out here is so you can boost stuff from the aliens.’

Finn nodded. ‘And we do. We’re out there on those ships when they’re all finished. We get cargo and equipment and fuel. They have no idea what we’re taking away with us when we deliver our carpet and wood paneling.’

‘It’s small stuff, though,’ Hans said. ‘It barely shows up against your bottom line.’

‘Can I help it if we’re making more money on the legitimate side of the business?’ Finn asked. ‘That’s just the way it works sometimes. One door closes and another opens. You’ve just got to roll with it.’

‘But it’s embarrassing,’ Hans said. ‘Interior decorating. That’s just not what we do. It’s no business for a real man.’

Finn sat and stared at Hans, saying nothing. The silence drew out for a long time. There were not many men who could withstand that stare, that heavy silence. But the Dutchman didn’t squirm, he didn’t babble to fill the uncomfortable pause. He stared back.

Finally, Finn turned to Jerry. ‘We’re going to need some Persian carpet for the bug ship. I’m going with hunter green and plum, with gold highlights. The specs are in my file.’ The Dutchman was dismissed, as if he’d never existed.

#

‘So boss,’ Bogs said as they walked over to the Provost’s office, ‘this Van Leiden guy, he speaks for the old man?’

Finn looked out of the corner of his eye at his soldier. ‘Why you asking me this?’

Bogs shrugged. ‘He’s been talking down at Rax.’ It was three days since the disastrous meeting with the Dutchman, him walking out and slamming the door like he’d been the one who was insulted. Since then Finn had seen him around, playing pool at Rax, talking to people in the street. Random people. He didn’t know who to talk to, not yet.

‘Let me tell you something about the old man, Bogs.’ Finn clapped his hand on the other man’s shoulder. Bogs was short and solid, slow to anger, quick to laugh, and all business when the job called for someone to get hurt. ‘He’s one of the last Sicilianos in the Family. Very conservative. When I got made, the old man fought against me and damned near started a war over it. Then when I brought in the black market gene mod farms and the money that went with it, he’s all hugs and kisses on both cheeks and so forth. He doesn't like change, Bogs, but he does like the money.’

Bogs nodded. ‘But what if the old man doesn’t come around? What if he decides to start a war over this?’

‘We can’t worry about that, Bogs. We can’t run the operation that way. We’ve got to react to the situation, think on our feet. Earth’s 26 light years away, they aren’t clued in to the way things are around here. Hell, it takes two years just to get a simple message across that gap. Instructions 2 years out of date are no good to us, here at Vega. Take the Provost we’re about to see. She doesn’t take orders from the old country. She runs her own show. Why should we be any different?’

Bogs nodded again, thoughtful. ‘That’s a bold position to take, Mr. Finn.’

‘You may be called upon to take a bold position of your own in the near future, Mr. Bogs. You think about what I just said.’

They walked up to the reception desk of the Hall of Government, Terran Enclave, Vega Ring, and Finn placed his palms on the desk and leaned in. ‘Hiya, beautiful, what’s your name?’

The woman behind the desk, forties, mousy, high neck sweater and wrist braces, giggled like a schoolgirl. ‘Mr. Finn, it’s Marie. You know me.’

‘Marie? Marie? You look fantastic, Marie. What did you do to your hair?’

Marie plucked at her dishwater blond locks. ‘Nothing yet. I was thinking about coloring it, though.’

Finn framed her face with thumbs and forefingers. ‘Don’t you dare. Don’t change a thing, Marie. You’re perfect.’ He nodded at the Provost’s office. ‘She in?’

‘She’s in,’ Marie said, then lowered her voice. ‘She’s in one of her moods. Be careful.’

Finn thumped his chest. ‘You leave her to me. Bogs, you stay out here and keep Marie company. Tell her that joke you told me, the one about the priest, the rabbi, and the Kleechie mathematician.’ He walked around Marie’s desk and knocked on the Provost’s office.

‘What?’ came the answer from within. Finn opened the door, entered, and sat on the couch.

‘We can’t work when the police stop our transports coming and going from the job site,’ Finn said. ‘I want that to stop.’

Killu Torkka scowled when she saw Eric Finn in her office. She stood up from behind her desk, stalked past him, and shut the door. He followed her with his eyes as she crossed the room, traveling up and down, taking in the whole package twice.

‘You want it to stop?’ she said, standing over him and tapping her foot.

‘Now. That’s a nice dress, Killu. I’m glad to see you took my advice. Pastel blue works for you. I knew you were a summer. Orange wasn’t doing you justice at all.’

‘You’re stealing from the Kercach. And I didn’t take your advice, I had this dress.’

‘That’s Krchiatch, from the back of the throat. Get some pleghm going there. And they have no concept of private property, so you can’t really steal from them. They don’t know what it means.’

‘We do,’ Killu said. ‘And we’re here to protect their interests. If they find out it could create a diplomatic incident that could harm Terra’s position in the Conglomerate.’

‘I don’t care about that,’ Finn said. He watched her cross the ocean of carpet that separated the couch from the desk. He stifled the urge to get up and move the couch closer. If he did that, he’d have to kitty corner the reading table, and the chairs would have to go. A whole can of worms. ‘I’ve got a business to run. I want you to work with me.’

‘Never,’ Killu snarled.

‘Not that. I know you don’t play dirty pool. I’ve got a lot of respect for that. But the other part of my business is growing fast. We’ve got the entire Krchiatch contract to work on. I can’t keep up. Every ship in their new fleet is to be individually engineered and decorated. I’m going to need help.’

‘What are you asking me to do?’ Her eyes narrowed, but her look of revulsion was gone.

‘The transport that just came in, I need to thaw out some passengers and bring them to work here on Vega Ring.’

‘More thugs for your army?’

‘No, Killu, designers. I’ll let you have a look at their records. A couple with fashion experience, some painters, even a couple of industrial designers. Business is great right now. I’ve got to seize this opportunity and grow the company. We’ve got to petition for more space in the shtetl. We’re becoming a vital part of the economy of Vega Ring. Now’s the time to expand.’

Killu shook her head. ‘You’re really good at this design thing, Finn. The Krchiatch speak so highly of your work. And yet you steal from them behind their backs. Why? You could be so successful with Finn and Company if you’d just give up the other side of the business.’

Finn held out his hand, palm up, and brought his fingers together. ‘This thing of ours, Killu, it’s what I am. I can’t fight that. I can’t go against my nature. I’m good at design? Maybe. But I’m also good at the other thing. And people count on me. If not me, somebody worse. And believe me, Killu, there are worse than me.’

Killu shook her head, staring at the files arranged on her desktop. ‘I’ll see what shuffling I can do. I really want your design business to flourish, Finn. I want it to work so well you’ll forget about stealing. I don’t know about this transport, though. The hub is at fifty-percent capacity for processing passengers. There was a flood or something. And then this new businessman, Hans Van Leiden, has just requested 50 of his associates get thawed out. We have to find lodging for these people. It’s getting tight. But I’ll see what I can do. Get me your list.’

‘Thanks, Killu. But about this other thing. I really have to get this resolved today. You’re going to stop looking at our transports. Stop it, now.’

‘I won’t stop it, Finn.’

‘I hate this part,’ Finn sighed. ‘Your chief of police is selling Krchiatch military secrets to the Ptang. The Krchaitch are going to find out about it.’ ‘He is not,’ Killu said.

‘It certainly appears that way. The evidence is on his home system, which has been regularly backed up into the Vega Ring central storage. He’s going to be in big trouble.’

‘We were prepared for this kind of thing,’ Killu said. ‘My entire staff has diplomatic immunity. Joseph, and all of the Terran Enclave government, is prepared to make sacrifices to stop you. We’re not backing down this time.’

Finn dropped his head into his hand. ‘I wish you wouldn’t make me do this. Did you see Bogs out there? I’m going to send him over to the University and find your husband, and beat him within and inch of his life. You understand what that means? He’s going to beat Thomas until he’s almost dead, and then he’s going to stop so Thomas will feel the result for as long as it takes to heal the damage. If he ever does.’

Killu’s ruddy face lost all of its color. She hurried to her desk and reached for her phone. ‘I’ll have both of you arrested.’

Finn took his phone out of his pocket and held it up. ‘He’s already on his way. You’re too late.’

Killu stopped, her hand on the phone. ‘You’re a monster.’ She sat in her chair, suddenly drained of energy. ‘All right, you win. We’ll stop the searches.’

Finn hit the speed dial button and held the phone up to his ear. ‘Bogs, we worked it out. You can go on home. … Naw, I can get back by myself. Your little girl is sick. Suku needs your help. You go on home and I’ll see you tomorrow. Thanks, buddy.’ He dropped the phone back into his pocket. ‘You shouldn’t make me do that, Killu. It accomplishes nothing. I don’t want to fight against you.’

‘Just get out of here,’ Killu spat. Finn stood up and let himself out with a fond farewell to Marie.

So, Van Leiden was bringing in 50 soldiers, and he couldn’t tell Killu what she was about to allow. The code of silence prevented him from even hinting that the Dutchman was about to launch a war. Finn sighed and considered his options for the evening. Suddenly, the Terran Enclave seemed claustrophobic. His house up in the high rent section would be too quiet, his family too predictable. He had to see Loni tonight. He called his wife on the way and told her he had to work late again. He said goodnight to the kids, suited up, and went through the airlock onto the Boulevard.

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