Let's Make a Deal (Bob and Nikki Book 11), стр. 42
“Thanks for the warning, Commodore. Shall we resume our talks?”
We started in, working on arrangements for trade. If that was what being a politician was about, I could see why they got the attitude that they were better than everyone else. Sitting through that was almost more than I could do. I’d rather go shovel Morning Flower’s outhouses than do it on a regular basis. We came to a stopping place. I’m sure my sigh of relief was heard throughout the ship. I asked, “Do you fellows think you can make it back tomorrow, if you go back to your ship? I’m sure my Marines would love the practice, but I just don’t think that’s the way diplomacy is supposed to be done.”
Natti said, “No, I don’t think it is. Snappi thinks things are back the way they are supposed to be. If we can’t even go back to our ship to sleep, any agreement we work out isn’t going to be worth the time it took to come to it, so we might as well find out where we stand.”
“Sounds reasonable. If you find out that your services aren’t needed, I’ll have a job open for you.”
“I may take you up on that yet, Bob. This Ambassador stuff isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”
“Tell me about it. I hire people to do this kind of work.”
“I wouldn’t be offended, if you sent someone else. As long as it wasn’t the Grannies.”
“The only other person I can think of to send in for me, would be worse.”
“Who is that? Captain Sloan?”
“I’m sure he could do a passable job, but he wasn’t who I had in mind. Snappi, you met Charlie, what do you think?”
He replied, “I think it is a wonderful thing you are doing, Commodore, saving us from his wrath.”
Natti asked, “This Charlie, he is fierce?”
Snappi said, “He is a young boy who managed to get the Commodore to help him by force of intellect. He was the pilot who ferried our ships back to the fleet, before the idiots regrouped for the attack. The Commodore told me I should not deal with him, if I wished to keep my clothes.”
Natti turned to me. “Commodore, you have the most interesting crew. I wonder how you collect them?”
Nikki said, “That just depends, Ambassador. Some he rescues, some he recruits because of their skills, I can think of one he shot in the butt to get her attention.”
“What, pray tell, does she do?”
I said, “She’s the Chief Engineer on her husband’s ship.”
Natti said, “Take me home, Snappi. I’ve learned all I can stand for one day.” Nikki and I walked with them down to the landing bay. On the way, Snappi asked, “I heard you have one of the crewmembers from our scout ships in custody. What did he do?”
“I haven’t had time to check up on that. Let me find out for you.” I said, “Gene, connect me with Angus, if you would.”
“On it, Boss.”
“Yes, Boss. What can I do for you?”
“The crewmember from that Squirrel ship we brought aboard, that you had to pick up, what is it that he did?”
“Hang on one, Boss. I’ll have Gene run the video record for you.” A video came up on one of the walls, showing a Squirrel pulling an access panel, and putting in what appeared to be a bomb. After the video finished, I asked, “Where was that device placed, Angus?”
“Between your cabin and the outer hull, Boss. It was set to go off in the middle of the night. Your cabin would have been in vacuum before you woke up.” I looked at Snappi. “I can’t say that I think my people overreacted, Captain.”
“I can’t either, Commodore.”
“Will he be punished if I send him back with you?”
“As fragile as our control over the fleet is right now, I wouldn’t want to give you my word on that.”
“I think we’ll hold on to him for a bit, then. Sorry if that makes things more difficult for you.”
“No, I’m sorry he tried to space you, Commodore.” We got them loaded up, and sent back to their fleet. I turned to Nikki. “Do you think we’ll ever see them again?”
“I wouldn’t want to have to risk money one way or the other, Caveman.”
“Me either. Surely it’s time to sack out, just to be a good example for Janet.”
“Just to be a good example, huh?”
“Okay, I’m busted. Those negotiations take it out of me. I’m seriously considering getting Charlie up here for the next round.”
“You’re doing fine, Caveman. It’s hard work, but you’re getting good results out of it.”
“If the Emperor stands behind the agreements. I can’t say I’m confident of that.”
“That’s why it’s so hard for you, isn’t it? You think you’re going to all this trouble for nothing.”
“I think you may be right about that. Natti and Snappi really aren’t that hard to deal with, there must be more to it.”
“Sleep on it. Maybe tomorrow, you’ll see a new angle.”
“Sleep? You tired too, Space Cadet?”
“Okay, maybe there are other things we need to do first.”
We headed to the cabin. When we got there, Janet said, “Dad, I think Snitz wants you to take him to the grass room. He wouldn’t go with Alice and me.”
“I can take care of that. Did you get all settled in?”
“I think so. It’ll take a day or two to get a rhythm going, you know?”
“Yep. Just ask, if you need anything.”
“I will. Thanks again for