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.Make love not war.They drove him out.Not quite like Pyrax but close enough,” the exec reported.“What are we going to do?”“We're going to finish here, then change our plans.I'll fill you in later.But this does open up all sorts of interesting possibilities.In the right hands this station.yes indeed.It definitely has possibilities.Yes, yes indeed.” the Captain murmured, smiling.*****The pilot looked up annoyed as the family of three approached them.He had enough on his plate running fuel and supplies up to the ship and then dropping back down.The Captain wanted it done yesterday, so he had barely enough time to unload before he had to turn around and drop again.He'd been tempted to let Raff take the stick a few times, the kid needed the flight time, but he had to live up to his reputation as a stick hog.Besides, he had two more flights before they were done.And then six months before he got to do it again.“Just what we need,” the cargo master sighed, shaking his head subtly.“Just be cool, you know the drill,” the pilot said as the family drew into range.“Something we can help you with folks?” he asked.“Yes,” the man said and then spat.He was nervous, but he was trying on a false bravado to cover it up.“Me 'n mine's lookin to vamoose from these here parts,” he said.The pilot looked the family up and down as the cargo master turned away to snicker.“Me 'n mines?” the cargo master muttered shaking his head.The pilot poked him.He turned back to the family.Each of the 3 were dressed in leather, each outfit exquisitely made.Too bad, since the parents weren't much to look at.The man had black leather pants on, a white linen shirt, and a brown vest.The vest and shirt were opened down to his navel showing his curly brown chest hair and fat beer belly.The woman might have been something a while back but she was pretty homely now.She didn't say anything, just stood behind her husband quietly, head down, hands clasped in front of her.They also stank a bit.The little blond girl though.“You are asking for a ride? An orbital hop or.”“To Gaston,” the man said.He grimaced and looked back at his wife.When she didn't look up he nudged her.“Well? Go on, say somethin!”The woman looked up.It was obvious she'd wasn't a looker now that they saw that homely face.“I, um.my uncle Lew owns a spread in Gaston,” she said softly.The pilot wanted to move upwind, the woman's breath was horrendous, rotten teeth and a diet of garlic and onions most likely.He had all he could do not to wave his hand in front of his face and pinch his nose.“He sent word back to come and he'd grubstake us,” she said and bit her lip.“Jarod could get work with Jerry the local blacksmith until he had enough to strike it out on his own if he wanted,” she added.“So you've been in touch with him recently?” the pilot asked, eyes narrowing.“Naw, like she said, he sent word in one of them papers.”“Letters,” the woman murmured.Her husband glared a bit at her.“Letters.Right.Hodges's done his level best to run us out of town, with all his taxes and fees and such.He used somethin called Eminent Domain to seize the farm last week.Something bout turnin it into 'Hodges's heavenly estates' another cemetery for rich folk,” he said in disgust.“That's not right,” Alice the flight engineer said, coming up behind the pilot.“Well! Hello! Who might you be?” She smiled down, leaning forward and down, hands on her knees as she greeted the girl.The little blond hid behind her mother shyly.“Well ain't you the cutest thing!” she said chuckling.The little girl peeked out at her and then back behind her mother's skirts, little hands gripping the red leather dress tightly.“What's her name?” Alice asked, looking up to the girl's mom.“Eh,” the man said, turning.“Emma Sue.Never mind her.” He grimaced and then decided introductions were in order.“Name's Jarod, Wife here's Loni.We're the Gronix family.”“And you are from here?”“These parts,” Jarod replied with a nod.“Been here four, five generations,” he said, tipping his hat back to scratch at his balding scalp.“I've been a tanner and a pig farmer my whole life,” he said.“Best buggy whip maker on the continent.”“So why not stay? Set up shop somewhere else?” Alice asked, straightening and making eye contact with Jarod.Jarod sighed and shrugged.“Cause of all the progress they call it.Vehicles, I think they said [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]