Jellico, his fingers hooked in his belt, simply waited.  And under his level gaze the Eysie Captain began to find the going hard.

“They have given us until noon,” he started once more, “to get together—­”

Jellico’s voice came, coldly remote.  “There is no reason for any ’getting together,’ Grange.  By rights I can have you up before the Trade Board for poaching.  The Solar Queen has sole trading rights here.  If you up-ship within a reasonable amount of time, I’ll be inclined to let it pass.  After all I’ve no desire to run all the way to the nearest Patrol post to report you—­”

“You can’t expect to buck Inter-Solar.  We’ll make you an offer—­” That was Kallee’s contribution, made probably because his commanding officer couldn’t find words explosive enough.

Jellico, whose forté was more direct action, took an excursion into heavy-handed sarcasm.  “You Eysies have certainly been given excellent briefing.  I would advise a little closer study of the Code—­and not the sections in small symbols at the end of the tape, either! We’re not bucking anyone.  You’ll find our registration for Sargol down on tapes at the Center.  And I suggest that the sooner you withdraw the better—­before we cite you for illegal planeting.”

Grange had gained control of his emotions.  “We’re pretty far from Center here,” he remarked.  It was a statement of fact, but it carried over-tones which they were able to assess correctly.  The Solar Queen was a Free Trader, alone on an alien world.  But the I-S ship might be cruising in company, ready to summon aid, men and supplies.  Dane drew a deep breath, the Eysies must be sure of themselves, not only that, but they must want what Sargol had to offer to the point of being willing to step outside the law to get it.

The I-S Captain took a step forward.  “I think we understand each other now,” he said, his confidence restored.

Van Rycke answered him, his deep voice cutting across the sighing of the wind in the grass forest.

“Your proposition?”

Perhaps this return to their implied threat bolstered their belief in the infallibility of the Company, their conviction that no independent dared stand up against the might and power of Inter-Solar.  Kallee replied: 

“We’ll take up your contract, at a profit to you, and you up-ship before the Salariki are confused over whom they are to deal with—­”

“And the amount of profit?” Van Rycke bored in.

“Oh,” Kallee shrugged, “say ten percent of Cam’s last shipment—­”

Jellico laughed.  “Generous, aren’t you, Eysie?  Ten percent of a cargo which can’t be assessed—­the gang on Limbo kept no records of what they plundered.”

“We don’t know what he was carrying when he crashed on Limbo,” countered Kallee swiftly.  “We’ll base our offer on what he carried to Axal.”

Now Van Rycke chucked.  “I wonder who figured that one out?” he inquired of the scented winds.  “He must save the Company a fair amount of credits one way or another.  Interesting offer—­”