Every Man's Fantasy Ch. 23

She was also depressed by contemplating the women of Samothea, whose future looked bleak.

Danielle meant to call Stephen Oakshott on Earth after the presentation from Andrew Claydon but she kept putting it off, not knowing what to say to him. The possibility of a million colonists on Samothea and the ruin of its peaceful and friendly society was too upsetting.

Another reason to avoid contacting her old boss was that she was no nearer solving the problem of finding the forced move that would make the new hyperdrive technology work with the Beltway junctions.

It was the day before she and Roger would leave for their holiday and she couldn't put her duty off any longer. Danielle placed the videocall from her study and Stephen answered immediately.

They discussed the accounts Andrew had presented. Danielle was unhappy with the position of the settler company.

"You know, I've sympathised with Outworld Ventures since they offered to compromise during the first arbitration hearing," she said, "but I can't support their current position. It means handing Samothea over to Earth for full colonisation."

"Their projected costing is very thorough." Stephen replied. "I think they're right. So what are you going to do about it?"

"I don't know. What can I do? Earth and Outworld Ventures hold all the aces."

"I'm surprised at you, Goldrick. You've been away in academia too long. You've forgotten how to think like a businessman. What do I always say?"

"Feed the eggheads!"

"No, the other thing."

"Six parts gin to one part vermouth?"

"You're thinking of my wife. Come on, Goldrick, you know my methods."

"Make them an offer."

"Make them an offer!" Stephen shouted, punching his hand. "Make Outworld Ventures an offer for Samothea!"

"That's absurd, Stephen! No one can own a planet."

"Yet two months ago, a Court of Equity said that Outworld Ventures was the rightful owner of Samothea. Of course you can own a planet, if you can afford to buy one."

"How can I afford to buy Samothea?"

"Why not? How much do you think it's worth?"

"Well, Ezra's 5% finding fee was 100,000 Galactic pounds, so at least two millions."

"And how much could you sell the new hyperdrive technology for?"

"Tens of thousands, maybe a hundred thousand."

"What if you fixed the Beltway problem: how much would it be worth then?"

"Oh, God! Millions. Ten millions, maybe, over its lifetime."

"Of which 25% will be yours. So you could buy Samothea yourself. You can have my quarter of the business as well."

"Nonsense, Stephen, that's the pay-off you've earned."

"It's just money, Goldrick. Besides, I'll make plenty from the engineering work upgrading the Beltway junctions to your new system."

"If I solve the problem."

"When you solve the problem."

"All right, but the answer's still no to you giving me your 25%. Anyway, I know this is just a ruse to get me to work harder on the Beltway problem."

Stephen knew she was working as hard as she could. He said:

"It's summer on that barbarian world of yours, Goldrick. Isn't it time you took a holiday?"

"It is. Roger and I are leaving tomorrow."

"Good!" Stephen said. "I hope that lucky husband of yours is taking you somewhere to relax and stop worrying about Samothea and the Beltway problem. Give it time, the answers will come to you. You've never failed me yet."