Alcantaran 1: Alien Abduction (34 page)

Ron gave Fu 1700 rudia.
 
He told him that he would like to pay for a weeks parking and then see how much longer it would take to make a trade.

"I'll get you a receipt.
 
Do you wish to get a trading permit now?" Fu asked.

"Do we need a permit to look around and see if you have anything we need to trade for?
 
How much is the permit and how long will it take to get it?"

Tik was getting impatient to get out and look around.
 
Ron and Gus both were broadcasting for her to chill out.
 
They had to follow procedure here or they might wind up with trouble and wouldn't get their food supplies.
 
She settled down but still wasn't happy.

"The permit is 100 rudia and it usually takes two to three days.
 
You are welcome to look around our city but would really need the permit to check out trade goods." Fu replied.

"In that case, we'd better have the permit.
 
I have money in my pocket and if I see something I really need, it might burn a hole in my pocket," Ron said with a grin.

Fu returned the grin and started filling out the paper work.
 
He asked what the name of the space ship was and where they were from.
 
When he asked for a company name, Ron told him RTG Traders.
 
Fu finished the paper work and had Ron sign it.
 
Ron gave him 100 rudia and Fu gave him a receipt for both the permit and the landing/parking fee.

Ron casually asked, "Do you ever moonlight as a consultant or do you know a consultant?
 
We need someone to help us with the local customs.
 
I'd sure hate to offer to shake hands as a friend and find out that's an offer to fight here."

"Why, I've never been asked to consult before.
 
I try to answer questions here and point space travelers in the right direction.
 
I don't know…." Fu stammered.

"That's all right.
 
We wouldn't want you to break any rules or regulations.
 
We just need a consultant or guide.
 
We just figured if you had worked here very long, you would know the right and wrong way to get things done," Ron stated soothingly.

"Well, I have worked here for 10 years and I do have 3 or 4 personal days coming that I could use.
 
If I were to consult, how long would you need me and exactly what would you expect me to do?" Fu asked nervously.

"We definitely don't want you to do anything illegal or immoral.
 
If we ask something that fits in those categories here, we would expect… no, demand that you tell us we shouldn't do that.
 
We need someone to show us around and to make sure we aren't insulting the local people.
 
Our company insists that we be model citizens," Ron declared emphatically.

"In that case, I could help you out.
 
I'll be through here in two hours and we could start then.
 
I must warn you though, that I don't frequent those dives east of here that most of the space travelers go to.
 
I wouldn't know anything about them," Fu asserted.

"We're not looking for that type of place.
 
We would rather go to some place you would take your family.
 
Do you have a family?" Ron said.

"Oh yes.
 
I have a wife and two sons.
 
Here is a picture," said Fu as he pulled the pictures up on his comm unit and showed them to the trio.

Ron said brightly, "I have an idea, if it doesn't offend you.
 
Why don't you call them and we could all go to eat supper.
 
It would be our treat."

Fu was almost flabbergasted.
 
He said, "My family has always wanted to meet a space traveler.
 
I have told them about the ones that have come through here and have even sneaked a picture but they have never been close to any of them.
 
Let me call to see if the wife had anything planned."

While Fu called his wife, the trio was trading thoughts.

"That’s laying it on pretty thick, isn't it?" Tik asked Ron.

"No, he'll be able to keep us out of trouble with the locals and I'll bet the paper work will zip right through.
 
Besides, if we ever come back this way again, we'll go to the head of the line, as far as he will be concerned," Ron tossed back.

"I agree with Ron.
 
I'm scared to death that I'll do something taboo and all the local population will be after us.
 
We need to get those food supplies and this is one way to test our trading skills.
 
I know when we dealt with the Jiangau back home; we always tried to be extra polite with them.
 
We never had any trouble and always got a good deal.
 
Some of the other Sandghost groups were pretty rough with them and they had to double-check every deal they made.
 
The Jiangau didn't really cheat them but they drove a very hard bargain," Gus declared.

Fu came back and said his family was ecstatic about meeting them and would gladly accept their invitation.
 
He was to pick them up right after he got off of work.
 
The trio saw that a thought crossed his mind.

"I have a small vehicle.
 
How will we get you to the eating place?"

"Do you have taxies here or other vehicles for hire with drivers?" Gus asked.

"Yes, there are vehicles with drivers who take space travelers around.
 
They are larger vehicles that will haul persons of your proportions," Fu cried excitedly.

"Well, if you can call one for us, we'll meet you at the eating place.
 
We'd like to look around your city anyway and this will be the perfect excuse," Ron said.

Fu called the driver, who told him he would be there in 10 minutes.
 
He gave them a slip of paper with the eating establishment's name and address and then Fu excused himself to go finish the paper work so the trio moved out the front of the building.
 
Ron divided the money and gave each of them a third.
 
After the landing fee, parking fee and permit, they each still had almost 20,000 rudia.
 
They still didn't know if they were rich or how they would fare for prices but Ron had the feeling that they had a lot of money.

The driver arrived in 10 minutes as he said he would.
 
Ron checked on the price and was satisfied with the charge.
 
They loaded in the vehicle and the driver started up.
 
He started to turn east but Tik stopped him.
 
She directed him toward the city.
 
She explained that they wanted to see some of the sights in town and that they were meeting someone.
 
She handed him the slip of paper and asked if he knew where that was.
 
He did and he took off for town.
 
They plied him with questions and he gladly answered and volunteered information about the different buildings on the way into town.
 
He gave a guided tour of the local points of interest.
 
He went into a history of the area, which the trio knew in general but their guide filled in a lot of blanks.
 
Ron asked if he was booked for the rest of the week and the driver said he was open.
 
Ron hired him for the rest of the week to drive them around.
 
The driver dropped them off early at the eating place and Ron told him they would need him later when they were finished eating.
 
The driver gave him a phone number to call but said he was just going to wait in the parking lot.
 
Ron asked if he needed to eat and the driver said he had brought a meal.
 
Right now, they wanted to walk around a little bit before they met with their appointment.
 
The entire trio was impressed with how clean the city was and how friendly the people were.
 
The buildings all seemed to be four stories or less and were painted in pastel colors.
 
There were lots of shrubs, flowers and trees even in the downtown area.
 
The trio all agreed that it felt good to walk on solid ground with the sun shining on their faces.
 
They noticed that some of the people stared at them but were very polite about it.
 
Tik saw that it was getting close to time to meet Fu so they returned to the eating place.
 
As they walked up, Fu and his family were just getting ready to enter the building.
 
Fu introduced all of them and only had to struggle a little with Gus' name.
 
Gus told them to just call him Gus because it was much simpler and he might not recognize his full name anymore.
 
The Fu family laughed and led the way into the building.
 
Gus had to duck to get in the door and then had to watch his head inside.
 
The ceilings were only seven and a half feet tall.
 
Lights and other fixtures were right at head height for him.
 
The eating place had two special chairs for Ron and Gus to sit in.
 
They were larger and much sturdier than the other chairs in the room.

Fu's boys were miniature copies of their dad -- right down to the funny little hat.
 
The only difference was that the boys wore a dark blue suit whereas their dad wore black.
 
When they sat down to order, the trio had to ask what all the menu items were.
 
Fu explained what the different dishes were and Gus asked how big the portions were.
 
Fu told him and Gus decided to order two entrees.
 
Ron sat next to Fu's youngest son and soon started entertaining him with sleight-of-hand tricks.
 
The family had never seen anything like it and was delighted.
 
Ron knew he wasn't very good but it was fun amazing the family.
 
Other patrons sitting around were watching and enjoying the show as much as the Fu family.
 
Fu's boys wanted to hear about their space ship and their home planets.
 
Tik made a deal with them.
 
They would tell two stories and then the family had to tell one.
 
The trio wanted to learn about Europaische and the inhabitants too.
 
Tik told the boys that their space ship was named the Galactic Antiquarian but they just called her Auntie.
 
The trio kept quiet about escaping from the Bugs and all of the special equipment on the lower level.
 
They did tell about finding the asteroid and mining the silver but skipped the part about getting fuel from the blue super-giant.
 
Ron noticed that when they were telling stories about Auntie or their home planets, the conversation at tables near them died out.
 
Those patrons were listening just as intently as the Fu family.
 
The food arrived during one of the stories and the aroma brought the story to a halt.
 
After eating the slop the Bugs had provided and the plain fare on Auntie, the food was heavenly.
 
The trio savored each bite.
 
The Fu family could tell they were enjoying the meal and were delighted that they had been a part of bringing the trio here.
 
As the meal progressed and the trio wasn't so absorbed in eating, the stories started again.
 
Ron had an idea and broadcast it to the other two.
 
He took out a small silver bird and presented it to the youngest son.
 
Gus gave a silver animal to the oldest son and Tik gave another silver bird to Fu's wife.
 
The family protested that they couldn't accept such rich gifts but the trio insisted.
 
They said that anybody who introduced them to food fit for the gods deserved a lot more than these little trinkets.
 
Ron gave a small six legged silver animal to Fu.
 
The trio didn't realize that those little trinkets were worth thousands and thousands of rudia because they were from space travelers.
 
Those four little trinkets were worth two to three times what Fu made annually.
 
The entire trio did notice the buzz of interest from the other patrons in the eating establishment.
 
Everyone wanted a closer look at those trinkets.
 
The waitress was at their table a lot, not so much for service but so she could hear the stories and then to see the trinkets.

The trio debated by thought most of the evening about inviting the family into Auntie.
 
They knew they couldn't allow them to see the lower level but would it hurt if they saw the upper level?
 
What about the middle cargo bay?
 
They didn't think anyone should see the conservatory or a lot of the other rooms right now.
 
They decided that they could invite them to see the upper area.
 
Ron asked if the family would like to see the inside of Auntie.
 
He asked Fu if that would be against any rules or regulations and Fu said it was permitted but he had never heard of anyone in his ten years of service getting to do it.
 
The boys were ready to go right then but Ron told them that they needed to clean up their rooms first.
 
He told them that they had wanted to get on the planet so bad, they left everything a mess.
 
They arranged the tour for three days from now.
 
The boys had school for the next two days but would be off on the third.
 
The trio could see out of the corner of their eyes that it wouldn't take much and the entire population of the eating establishment would volunteer to escort the family on the tour of the space ship.
 
The trio was surprised by the interest.