Whitney Micrathene

The Eolas Anatolijus

7/13/2025 11:05pm

The upfront money from the lawyer was just slightly more than it took to get the Bubo into good enough shape to make it to Kle-hemet and back, with something heavy.

"How 'bout some lunch, cap'n? This maintenance is hard work! Especially in the middle of the day, especially with this hot desert sun, and the lack of..."

Ok the upfront money was entirely spent.

"Zephyr Air Transport certified you said?"

It was the lawyer. She was back early.

"Check your watch," she said. "This is the time we agreed to."

Damn watch!

I handed her the Bubo's ZAT papers. But I didn't need her actually reading them.

"Why don't you come inside, up to my ready room. For some mint tea. My men are just putting the finishing touches on now, and we'll be on our way shortly. This way! Watch your step!"

The Eolas Anatolijus

11/26/2024 4:27pm

"She says she wants to go to Kle-hemet. And bring back something heavy."

Why Kle-hemet for gods' sakes, I wondered. Every local scrapper had been over that place twice. And it wasn't an easy trip, necessarily. If you ran into trouble it was a long way back, and the desert out there could be a bit unforgiving.

"Did she offer a price?" I asked.

There were only two other lifters in our class at Sh-khem these days, since the Hedgehog disappeared. In that very area. And the other two had steady contracts, on the payroll of a franchise out of the district capital. They didn't mind getting paid for being idle.

"Double what we would have quoted her."

Well, that settled it. The Bubo was definitely in the need of some repairs, and this job sounded like just the thing. Her balloons were just a little leaky, the frame was overdue for a bit of shoring up, and we'd really need to sew up a rip or two in the fabric. But we could definitely get some serious weight from Kle-hemet to here. If there really was anything there to pick up.

"When would she like to leave?" I asked.