“On screen, please.”
A grizzled Squirrel came on the screen. “Nice show you put on, Captain. I’m assuming I’m talking to that so-called ‘infamous monkey’, Bob Wilson?”
“Yes, you are. Who do I have the pleasure of talking to?”
“Natti Dressi, and yes, I am aware how that sounds in your language, Captain.”
“So, you’ve made the run to Earth after walnuts before?”
“That I have, Captain. I hear you have some out this way, that I could deal for without having to worry about sneaking past your Patrol.”
“I do. What sort of things do you have to trade?”
“Technology of various kinds, gold, other things. What might you be interested in?”
The light bulb over my head went off. “Would you be able to haul some passengers, if we restrained them for you?”
“I’m not sure I understand what you’re asking, Captain.”
“We have several ships worth of your Navy, shoveling outhouses down on the planet. We would like to send them home, but we’d rather not have to make the trip to Oak again.”
“How do you propose to keep these fellows calm enough for us to transport?”
“We have a little badge that goes on the temple. It will keep a person asleep as long as it is in place.”
“That sounds like a handy thing to have. Any chance we could get that technology?”
“There’s always a chance. It all depends on what you have to trade.”
“I think I’m going to like doing business with you, Captain.”
“So, you don’t mind doing business with monkeys?”
“No. I’m well experienced at monkey business.”
“I bet you are. Would you like to bring your ship aboard, so we can see one another’s wares?”
“Sounds like a good idea.”
“Follow the flashing lights.”
The connection dropped. I said, “Sally, could you make sure Andre and his fellows are around, in case these folks aren’t as friendly as they seem?”
“Already on their way, Boss.”
“I love this crew.”
When the transit dropped me off, I found Dingus, Dee, and Grandma Cachi waiting for me. I said, “What? Sally didn’t page Jane? She’ll be upset she got left out.”
Dingus said, “She commed and said she’s on her way. She should be here before the ship is docked.”
“I’m glad I have Sally watching my back.”
Dee said, “She is good help. You ever think about giving her the ship, and going to Shaved Ape Key to raise those kids?”
“Not until you mentioned it. She needs a little more confidence, before she has to run the Gene on her own. She did a heck of a job when I was stunned yesterday, though.”
Grandma spoke up. “When are you going to figure out something cute to keep those stunners from affecting us?”
“Scotti is working on it. I’m sure she’ll have something amazing to show us soon.”
“You don’t worry that she won’t figure it out?”
“If she doesn’t, I’ll be surprised. She’s forgotten more tech than I will ever know.”
Dee said, “Besides, if she gets stumped, that just gives Frank something to chew on.”
Jane walked in. “What did I miss?”
I replied, “Nothing yet. These fellas sounded real nice on the comm. I expect them to come out ready to fight.”
Jane replied, “The Squirrels haven’t done a thing to make you more trusting, have they?”
“No, Ma’am.” The ship came in and settled into the docking clamps. As the hatch began to open, I saw everyone around me settle into a fighting stance. We all breathed a sigh of relief when the Captain came strolling out, by himself. He looked around, and said, “I see you have had dealings with some of my less scrupulous fellows. I don’t have anywhere near the kind of force it would take to steal your goods.”
I replied, “Given how your fellows have treated us, we’ve learned to be wary. No offense intended.”
“None taken. Just shows that you are a cautious businessman, Captain.”
Saucy and Shorty came in, with a pallet on a pallet jack. Saucy said, “Sally thought you might need these, Cap’n. Fresh off the General McAuliffe.”
“Thank you, Saucy. How much do you have there?”
“Little less than a half-ton, about eight hundred pounds.”
“Leave ‘em there for now. That’s close enough to make the good Captain drool.”
Then Captain Dressi spoke up. “You’re an evil man, Captain. I do believe we can do business.”
“Let’s see what you have to trade.” He made a motion, and a couple of younger Squirrels began bringing out different items and putting them on a couple of folding tables they had set up. I said, “Shorty, do you mind having a look at their stuff?”
He looked at me, and said, “Me, Boss?”
“You have the same training as Taz, don’t you? I think you’ll do just fine.” He locked up a second, talking to the other bots to get an idea of what he was looking for, I presumed. Then he went up to the table, scanning the items. He looked one over, seeming to approve of it. The second one, he asked, “Boss, how uptight are you about trackers in this stuff?”
“Is it something Scotti can get out easily, or will it ruin the part trying to get it out?”
Shorty replied, “Scotti is good, but I don’t see how that is coming out without ruining the device.”
“Could she scan it and make us one without the tracker?”
“I don’t see why she couldn’t.”
“What does it do, anyhow?”
The Captain said, “It’s a comm unit. You would be able to contact me when you had something to trade.”
I asked, “Shorty, could Scotti get the paired crystal out of that thing without destroying it?”
“Nope. It has the tracker inside it. Neat design.”
I said to the Captain, “I guess I’ll be giving you one of our comms. We know how to get the trackers out of
