Chapter 9 #2
I wandered around, cataloging everything I saw as the Runams completed their transactions.
With their credit, they could afford a few more items, and they picked some out before cheerfully departing.
I got another friendly goodbye from Pasek as they stepped out into the colder air and headed home.
They surely had a clear trail to follow, but I still worried about them.
I thought of how helpless Tregen had been against that calroid.
I shook my head, shaking away this irrational concern for grown men who clearly knew what they were doing.
I was not their bodyguard. But I did need to know more about this merchant they had come to rely on.
With the Cloudbreaker empty except for myself and the Durbok, I turned to my host.
He clearly expected more than a simple transaction and rocked back on his heels with an affable smile. “And what can I do for you, my friend?”
“I am not your friend,” I said, crossing my arms.
“So what would you like to talk about, then?” he asked, too casually—clearly familiar with tense conversations from questionable clients.
“I would like to know why you chose this spot, which is so far from the Runam village. You have them walk hiks to purchase your goods.”
The Durbok chuckled. “The exercise is good for them. Keeps them from getting too soft.” He hooked a thumb over his shoulder, indicating west. “I also deal with the Runams in the cave mountains, further into the cold zone. This is an equal distance between the two. I see the mountain Runams tomorrow. They’re much tougher and meaner than the villagers, so I like to give the villagers first selection. ”
“What do you get from the mountain Runams?”
He waved a hand. “They sell flash crystal scavenged from the deserted mines. The previous occupiers were sloppy, hasty. The Runams who still live there are able to collect a fair amount. Enough for me to make it worth my while.”
I narrowed my eyes at the merchant, while nodding toward the crates stacked on the floor beside him. “And what is so appealing about this junver syrup that you collect from the villagers in lieu of galactic credits?”
“Well, now you’re asking questions that might cost a little something.” He rubbed a thick, three-fingered hand over his chin. “I might part with that answer for fifty galactic credits.”
I tapped the band on my wrist, having expected something like this. “Done.”
The Durbok smiled wider. “You’re already a fine customer. Junver syrup is a healing agent for the Purtho species. You may not have heard of them. They are from the Hemruk system, over toward the center of the quadrant.”
“I’ve heard of them,” I said testily. “What else does it do?”
“Well, for the Tutonas—whose species is struggling on Midrose Prime—it is an effective fertility treatment. It takes very little, and it has shown promise in stabilizing their numbers.”
“That’s it?”
The Durbok blinked his watery eyes. “I am a simple merchant. Do you think I would be so unwise as to get myself embroiled in the trade of substances that did more than healing and utility?” He shook his head, sending his jowls wobbling.
“No, friend. The Durbok has not lived this long by being greedy and delving too deeply into the dark corners of the trade business.”
“Keep it that way,” I said, leaning forward. “Don’t get greedy with the junver syrup. Don’t push these people to produce more than they can.”
The Durbok raised his hands, palms out. “My friend, I would never. Keeping the supply tight is better for business. Scarcity drives value. If the villagers flooded me with the stuff, I’d have to lower my prices.
As it stands, I make a tidy profit on modest quantities.
It is in my interest for things to stay exactly as they are. ”
I snorted out a laugh, but his logic was sound. “Very well, Greblin. I’d not see them harmed.”
“We are in accord on that,” the Durbok said, silk in his voice. “So I’ll tell you one other thing, for the price you paid. I use this location, in part, to keep the village hidden. In case I’m ever tracked.”
“Are you worried about being tracked?”
“No. But here’s the last answer I will give you, so we can move on to more pleasant business: Do I know every single effect that junver syrup can have on every single species?
I do not. There may be one out there for which this substance does more than cure disease and produce offspring.
” He shrugged. “So, for that reason, I take precautions.”
I leaned in, holding eye contact. “See that you continue to do so.”
He nodded, and I could see some of the tension ease from his features. Probably a calculated show, but I didn’t care. I knew what I needed to know for now.
“Since I value my throat intact, I shall,” he said. “Now—I hear that you need a gift for the Runams’ lovely leader.” He winked, and I resisted the urge to grimace.
“She invited me to their village founding festival,” I muttered. “I was informed it is good manners to bring a gift. Also, here are some other items I require.”
I gave him my list. The Durbok studied my list and seemed to mull it over.
“I have much of what you want, but not displayed here,” he said.
“My cargo bay is where I keep the products you are looking for. The villagers would not know what to do with half of it, so I tailor my shop to my customers’ needs.
Would you like to see the rest of my stock? ”
“Yes,” I replied. “Very much so.”
We spent a considerable amount of time in his cargo hold, which was vast, but well organized.
The Durbok found me everything I came for, including a nice wardrobe of clothing that would fit, a power convertor to replace one that had been acting up, several small solar arrays, a selection of fishing line I hadn’t tried before, and a few things I allowed myself to be talked into.
By the time I left, it was well past the time the Durbok would have normally closed up shop and I had spent a significant sum of credits.
I’d managed to haggle him down on some things and noted that what he charged me was higher than what he charged the villagers with their store credit.
That actually reassured me. He was maintaining a stable trade relationship with them, which was the sign of a decent merchant.
As I stacked my containers by the exit, I knew I’d be taking multiple trips. The Durbok smirked as he watched. “Next time, park your shuttle a little closer so you don’t have to carry things so far. We’re not as young as we used to be.”
I grinned, showing all my teeth. “Perhaps not. But walking keeps us from getting soft, eh, friend?”
“Indeed. You’ll want to keep up with your new Runam friends.” The merchant glanced at his handheld inventory device. “Check your comm for the invoice. You’ll find the prices to be what we negotiated.”
I glanced at my wrist device and scrolled through the itemized bill.
He was correct. All was in order. I nodded.
“How about I add two hundred galactic credits to this, and if you learn of a threat to the Runam village, you let me know.” My gaze locked on his.
What I was offering was less of a choice and more of a threat, and both of us knew it.
But still, I was civilized. I could afford to pay for this particular service, and the Durbok was enough of a businessman to recognize an easy deal.
“If I hear of a threat to the village, I will alert you,” he said carefully. “And you will have learned it from somewhere else.”
I nodded. “Certainly. My own surveillance, perhaps.”
“Indeed.” He flashed his teeth again, sending a threat right back to me. “The Durbok is not involved. However, I suspect there will be no threats. This is easy money for me and I have nothing to gain by drawing attention to this little corner of the quadrant.”
I inclined my head, pleased with the deal. “Good.”
If the Durbok kept his word, everyone could just go on living in peace and quiet on this remote planet on the edge of the quadrant.
After several trips back and forth to my shuttle, carrying my purchases, I settled into my operator’s chair feeling lighter than I had when I arrived.
In my estimation, the Durbok was not a complete steaming pile of garbage and I had found something for Maive.
It was not something purple, but if I’d learned anything about her, this would be a far more welcome gift than some useless bauble.
As my shuttle lifted off toward home, I thought about what I had purchased for her and grinned.