Under Twin Suns by John Cleve

Author:John Cleve [Cleve, John]
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

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Cinnabar returned to the 'Satana Suite' during the night, having left the far more spacious suite above before its lordly proprietor returned. By that time the Jarp's companions were asleep. Checking the locks on the doors, Cinnabar wondered if Trafalgar was asleep. . . . The Jarp accommodatingly avoided disturbing anyone. Cinnabar stretched out on the floor - that is, on the deep, soft carpet that absolutely covered the suite.

It was awakened next morning by Hellfire's voice. She was conferring with their new friend/ally/adviser, Yaood. Today the big Ghanji wore a white dasheek decorated in red and black, over full-cut black pants.

They shone like satin, which they were.

Cinnabar tried to blot out their voices.

Asked to identify the least valuable of their treasures, Yaood was waffling. Because the Knorese gauds were hand-wrought and obviously so, though far, far from crude artisanry, he avowed that he could not possibly say what value a person might set on which. Gemstones had a value of their own, because they were gemstones. That depended on their cut, their size, their brilliance, their perfection or lack of it. A particular piece of jewelry, on the other hand, might to one person be the

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most beautiful thing she had ever seen and instantly coveted, while another might well feel the same way about an altogether different piece. In that case 'value' - or at least the price to be realized - depended upon the preference of the individual.

"Yes, oh firm, I understand, of course," Hellfire said with an impatient air, and she repeated her request.

"Yaood, we have few stells and no cred at all, on Jorinne. Zero. There's cargo on my ship, but nothing like our collection, here. I don't want to bother with trying to market it, now that I know we really have something. The problem is the meanwhile, Yaood. See, we need some things - clothing, for one. I want someone to advance us some cred or live stells on something here." She gestured at the sparkling array of their gemmy wealth. "Not as advance against purchase; as a loan. Obviously it is secured!"

"Ah! Why did you not say so?! Captain Hellfire, you have taken me into your confidence and trusted me further than that. Why, we have even fought off bandits together! Come, my friend - I need only make a call or two."

A few moments later Hellfire, Janja and Cinnabar had learned just how respected and well off Yaood Pilishishi was. They also had credit, on Jorinne. Smiling, slipping on a Knorese bracelet that was more than nice, Hellfire turned to Janja and made a suggestion. (Trafalgar Cuw had still not put in an appearance.) Soon Janja and Hellfire, without eating but wearing shipboard garb that was at least newly cleaned courtesy of Hotel Lex, departed in quest of better. At least they were handsomely bejeweled.

Yaood warned them to have care. Both women, the short and the tall, gave him open looks and tapped the butts of their holstered stoppers. And Hellfire winked.

"One thing we're good at, Yaood my dear friend.

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