Star Trek - DS9 - Saratoga - Book 18 by Michael Jan Friedman

Author:Michael Jan Friedman [Michael Jan Friedman]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2010-08-07T14:12:10.658000+00:00

CHAPTER

lO

JAKE COULDN'T HELP but be aware of how empty his

quarters felt without his father around. He had hoped

having Nog over for a Fretillian fizz would change

that. Unfortunately Nog wasn't very good company

lately.

"He's in trouble," said the Ferengi, leaning back

into Sisko's couch. "I know he is."

Jake shook his head. "You don't know that. Your

father might be doing a great job."

Nog grunted. "I know my father. And I tell you, he

is not doing a great job at all. Despite his good

intentions, he may throw a..." He paused, searching

for the right idiom.

"A what?" asked the human.

"You know," said the Ferengi, looking annoyed.

"An implement used by animals or something--

small, hairy animals with bowlegs. You said they were

your ancestors, though I think you were joking."

Jake thought for a moment. Finally it came to him.

"A monkey wrench," he announced triumphantly.

"Yes," said Nog, pointing at him. "A monkey

wrench, exactly. That is what my father will throw

into the negotiations."

The human sighed. "You've got to have confidence

in him, Nog--the same way you would want him to

have confidence in you."

The Ferengi peered up at him. "You don't under-

stand. My father is putting his career on the line--

maybe even his life."

Jake looked at him askance. "His life? What do you

mean?"

Nog scowled. "I mean my father hasn't exactly

impressed anyone with his ability to transact busi-

ness. And a Ferengi without a head for business has

no future. He might as well be dead."

The human scowled back at him. "You really

believe that?"

Nog gnawed pensively on one of his knuckles.

"No," he said at last. "Not really. But all the rest of

my people believe it, so what difference does it make

what I think?"

"It makes a lot of difference," Jake insisted. "I

don't think your father cares all that much what other

Ferengi think. But I think he'd be hurt if he thought

he'd disappointed you."

His friend pondered the advice. After a while, it

seemed to comfort him. "I suppose you're right," he

said, "in a hu-man kind of way."

Jake smiled. "That's the only way I know."

"You know," said Nog, cheering up visibly, "I think

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