Diary of Cuvier's Captain

[Starfish]

Cuvier stopped. I had not been well-educated about internal Kusari life, but when bomber pilot asked me of "donation" in utterly polite manner, I quickly realized the situation. Nothing unusual - many pilots of the Union Corse spoke before attack in the same way, really. So I continue to talk ... but at the same time make small, almost imperceptible movements of turning the ship to the Docking Ring. Involuntarily notice that Ring also differs from Gallic analog.

Well, tension lessened. Asked sum was quite modest - a very modest, as matter of fact, - and, of course, little payment was preferrable to urgent docking in alien space. After payment I say good-bye to bomber pilot - he identified himself as "Farmer alliance", appears that famous Kyushu rice is grown by his fellow-villagers on planet below. Cuvier moves on - the next system was the New Tokyo. Finally.

***

As a trader I hated an empty runs so I buy at New Tokyo a basic alloys to fill a Cuvier's hold on way to Kyushu.

Once more I met the familiar farmer in bomber's cabin near planet. I gave him a friendly nod and landed without any delay. Rice was in plenty on Kyushu - likely it was a main export goods of planet. I sold alloys - minor profit but better then nothing - bought the full hold of rice and immediately took the return course. True journey is return - so says an old book taken by my ancestors from the Old Earth many years ago.

On returning route I meet a new danger. In last Tau system, near the Orkney hole, group of dangerous-looking fighters appeared on screen. They were marked as "Outcast" and they were clearly aggressive. Happily, battleship Guillestre was close enought to give attackers some attention. Jump to Orkney, short rush through empty system, minefield passage - on cruise engines, of course! - another jump - and home, sweet home!

By the way, I don't drop all rice at New Paris. Rice was very good. So good, that I decided to replace the standart food supply by it and leave small amount of rice for Cuvier. Crew appreciated the change - men were tired by food rations long ago.