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‘What? What? Have you any idea what we’ve been through, to get those triple-damned bloody<br />
dirt-scratchers here? We fought our way past legions of the worst kinds of vermin! We cast our lives<br />
upon the board and won through only by the very tips of our tails! Just look at my ship!’ Hesperus<br />
jabbed his finger up towards the hull of the Dubious Profit looming above them. As ever, she looked<br />
as if she was on the brink of falling to pieces.<br />
The agent didn’t even turn her head. ‘No doubt it is an inconvenience, Captain, but this shipment<br />
is bound for Te’en. If you wish to be paid you must carry it there. I am, however, permitted to offer<br />
you a small supp-lement to your fee. An additional two per cent, for your trouble.’<br />
‘Ten,’ snapped Hesperus.<br />
‘Two.’<br />
‘Eight.’<br />
‘Two.’<br />
‘Er…five?’<br />
‘Two, Captain. Precisely two.’<br />
‘Two on top of the original deal, made with Mr Tulka personally? Including all bonuses,<br />
premiums and emoluments hitherto agreed?’<br />
‘An additional two per cent, Captain, that is the limit of my auth-ority. Mr Tulka, however, is a<br />
respectable businessman, and I have no doubt that he will honour all previous arrangements.’<br />
Hesperus tugged at his whiskers in exasperation. What were the options? With an Ininish seal on<br />
the goods he couldn’t sell them to anyone but a mandated recipient: not legally, anyway, which<br />
meant not for anywhere near full price. Teen was almost halfway across the sector, a dozen jumps<br />
or more. Infuriating! He yanked his whiskers again. Not impossible, though. And the money was<br />
still good. A little better than before, in fact, if this hatchet-faced agent was telling the truth and<br />
Tulka didn’t try to weasel out of the extras on the deal. He closed his eyes, and fought down his<br />
bitter resentment.<br />
‘Very well. For a further additional two per cent, the Dubious Profit will carry Mr Tulka’s cargo<br />
on to Teen.’ He let go of his whiskers before he pulled any of them out.<br />
She sniffed. ‘I am glad to hear it. Also, I will need to inspect the merchandise, to ensure all is in<br />
order. The bill of lading, please.’<br />
‘Inspect the…we took on this cargo at Inines, you – madam,’ said Hesperus through clenched
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