Stranded on Haven by Zellmann William

Author:Zellmann, William [Zellmann, William]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Tags: Science Fiction
Publisher: WilliamZellmann.com
Published: 2014-12-23T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Heidi had given me a lot to think about, but her timing was horrible. It was all I could do to restrain myself from diving across the table and attacking her right there on the kitchen floor.

But we had an appointment. It had been very difficult for Heidi to arrange an appointment with the President of Cellia Metals, and we couldn't afford to be late. So, despite my excited state, the cold early morning twilight found me headed for the shed to light off the steam carriage. Heidi chuckled at my obvious excitement, but merely patted my shoulder. "Later, Jerd. Later."

My excited state didn't last long. While waiting for the steam pressure to build, I had to get dressed for our meeting. Business attire on Haven had evolved to become particularly uncomfortable, with high, stiff collars, cravats, weskits, knee-length jackets, and ridiculously tight tubular trousers that made sitting difficult and uncomfortable. I also added a false mustache to my eyeglasses. Photographs of me had appeared in all the major newspapers and magazines, and I wanted to make certain I wouldn't be recognized. By the time we had ridden that blasted train into the city, and a hansom cab to the huge, smoke-wreathed Cellia Metals smelter, sex was the farthest thing from my mind.

Two men awaited us in the President's small, cluttered office. The President, Raj Trunt, was a large man with a full brown beard and a florid complexion. He introduced the other man, a grizzled, gray-haired man with a large scar covering his left cheek, as "Fil Tarp, our Chief Metals Engineer".

Trunt looked us both up and down appraisingly. "So, you represent the star man. Do star people usually include women in their business discussions?"

I put on a surprised expression, though Heidi had warned me that most Haveners considered business a male domain. "Why, yes, sire. We are here as representatives of Jerd Carver, the Star Man. I'm sure you can understand that it is difficult for Messer Carver to travel without causing a ruckus. I'm afraid that Messer Carver regards gender as irrelevant to business discussions. If my colleague's presence is a problem, I'm sure she will be willing to wait in your outer office."

The big man waved dismissively. "No, no, it's not a problem, though it's rather unconventional."

I smiled. "I'm afraid that by Haven standards, Messer Carver is most unconventional. However, if it is no problem, perhaps we can get down to business." I turned to Tarp. "Tell me, sire, how much do you know about aluminum?"

Tarp straightened in his chair, and his eyes brightened. "Aluminum? It's an element, of course. On Old Earth, it was usually obtained from bauxite ore, and used in a number of useful alloys. Apparently, our ancestors brought quite a number of items made from the alloys, but nearly all of them have corroded to uselessness, though there are a few pieces in museums.”

He shrugged. "We have plenty of bauxite on Haven, of course, but the techniques for smelting and processing it have been lost.

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