Keith Laumer

“ Chip said.
They climbed on, crossed a shoulder of broken rock, reached the final slope. Above, the lodge sprawled, a long low structure of heavy logs, outlined against the deep-blue twilight sky. Smoke billowed from stone chimneys at either end, and yellow light gleamed from the narrow windows, reflected on the snow. Men and women stood in groups of three or four, skis over their shoulders. Their voices and laughter rang in the icy air.
Anne-Marie whistled shrilly. Someone waved. ”

“ Chip said. "He's quit kicking."
The captain bent over Skaw, gingerly rolled him over. He leaned close and sniffed.
"He's dead." The captain stared at Retief. "We're all dead men," he said. "These Soetti got no mercy."
"They won't need it. Tell 'em to sheer off; their fun is over."
"They got no more emotions than a blue crab—"
"You bluff easily, Captain. Show a few guns as you hand the body back. We know their secret now."
"What secret? I—"
"Don't be no dumber than you got to, Cap'n," Chip said. "Sweaties die easy; that's the secret." ”

“ Chip said. "Him and Mr. Tony and all his goons. You hit 'em where they live, that time. They're pals o' these Sweaties. Runnin' some kind o' crooked racket."
"You'd better take the captain's advice, Chip. There's no point in your getting involved in my problems."
"They'd of killed you before now, Mister, if they had any guts. That's where we got it over these monkeys. They got no guts."
"They act scared, Chip. Scared men are killers." ”

“ These planets were not friendly ones."
"I thought the Soetti attack would be a surprise to you," Retief said. "Have you made any preparation for it?"
"We have ten thousand merchant ships. When the enemy comes, we will meet them."
Retief frowned. "Are there any guns on this planet? Any missiles?"
Anne-Marie shook her head. "Bo Bergman and Tove have a plan of deployment—"
"Deployment, hell! Against a modern assault force you need modern armament."
"Look!" Anne-Marie touched Retief's arm. "They're coming now."
Two tall grizzled men came up the slope, skis over their shoulders. ”

“ And our people know how to live on the slopes—and how to shoot."
"There are too many of them, Tove," Retief said. "They breed like flies and, according to some sources, they mature in a matter of months. They've been feeling their way into the sector for years now. Set up outposts on a thousand or so minor planets—cold ones, the kind they like. They want your worlds because they need living space." ”

“ It's painful to touch their minds. We can only sense the sub-vocalized thoughts of a human mind."
"We've seen very few of the Soetti," Bo Bergman said. "Their ships have landed and taken on stores. They say little to us, but we've felt their contempt. They envy us our worlds. They come from a cold land."
"Anne-Marie says you have a plan of defense," Retief said. ”

“ Skaw stood poised, open pincers an inch from Retief's eyes.
"Show him your papers, you damned fool," the captain said hoarsely. "I got no control over Skaw."
The alien clicked both pincers with a sharp report, and in the same instant Retief half-turned to the left, leaned away from the alien and drove his right foot against the slender leg above the bulbous knee-joint. Skaw screeched and floundered, greenish fluid spattering from the burst joint.
"I told you he was brittle," Retief said. "Next time you invite pirates aboard, don't bother to call."
"Jesus, what did you do! They'll kill us!" ”

“ Chip said, shivering. "I've heard you folks don't believe in ridin' ever time you want to go a few miles uphill in a blizzard."
"It will make us hungry," Anne-Marie said. "Then Chip will cook a wonderful meal for us all."
Chip blinked. "Been cookin' too long," he muttered. "Didn't know it showed on me that way."
Behind the sheds across the wind-scoured ramp abrupt peaks rose, snow-blanketed. A faint trail led across white slopes, disappearing into low clouds.
"The lodge is above the cloud layer," Anne-Marie said. "Up there the sky is always clear." ”

“ Retief patted Chip on the shoulder.
"Don't worry about your sanity, Old Timer," he said. "That's exactly what they're doing."
VI
"We've never tried to make a secret of it," Tove said. "But we haven't advertised it, either."
"It really isn't much," Bo Bergman said. "Not a mutant ability, our scholars say. Rather, it's a skill we've stumbled on, a closer empathy. We are few, and far from the old home world. We've had to learn to break down the walls we had built around our minds."
"Can you read the Soetti?" Retief asked.
Tove shook his head. "They're very different from us. ”

“ Magnan drew a large folder from his desk.
"A show of resistance at this point is necessary. Unfortunately, Jorgensen's Worlds are technologically undeveloped areas. They're farmers or traders. Their industry is limited to a minor role in their economy—enough to support the merchant fleet, no more. The war potential, by conventional standards, is nil." ”

“ However, they lie deep in the sector into which the Soetti have been penetrating.
"Now—" Magnan leaned forward and lowered his voice—"we have learned that the Soetti plan a bold step forward. Since they've met no opposition so far in their infiltration of Terrestrial space, they intend to seize Jorgensen's Worlds by force."
Magnan leaned back, waiting for Retief's reaction. Retief drew carefully on his cigar and looked at Magnan. Magnan frowned.
"This is open aggression, Retief," he said, "in case I haven't made myself clear. Aggression on Terrestrial-occupied territory by an alien species. ”

“ Magnan spread his fingers, folded one down.
"First," he said. "The Soetti War Plan—in detail. We were fortunate enough to make contact with a defector from a party of renegade Terrestrials who've been advising the Soetti." He folded another finger. "Next, a battle plan for the Jorgensen's people, worked out by the Theory group." He wrestled a third finger down. "Lastly; an Utter Top Secret schematic for conversion of a standard anti-acceleration field into a potent weapon—a development our systems people have been holding in reserve for just such a situation." ”

“ The Jorgensens can handle it very nicely; every other man is a mechanic of some sort."
Retief opened the envelope Magnan handed him and looked at the tickets inside.
"Less than four hours to departure time," he said. "I'd better not start any long books."
"You'd better waste no time getting over to Indoctrination," Magnan said.
Retief stood up. "If I hurry, maybe I can catch the cartoon."
"The allusion escapes me," Magnan said coldly. "And one last word. The Soetti are patrolling the trade lanes into Jorgensen's Worlds; don't get yourself interned." ”

“ What are Jorgensen's Worlds like?"
"One of 'em's cold as hell and three of 'em's colder. Most o' the Jorgies live on Svea; that's the least froze up. Man don't enjoy eatin' his own cookin' like he does somebody else's."
"That's where I'm lucky, Chip. What kind of cargo's the captain got aboard for Jorgensen's?" ”

“ Five minutes later, Retief cut into a thirty-two ounce Delmonico backed up with mushrooms and garlic butter.
"I'm Chip," the chef said. "I don't like the Cap'n. You can tell him I said so. Don't like his friends, either. Don't like them dern Sweaties, look at a man like he was a worm."
"You've got the right idea on frying a steak, Chip. And you've got the right idea on the Soetti, too," Retief said. ”

“ Chip shouted.
"All clear, Chip," Retief called.
"Hang on. I'm comin' with ya!"
Retief reached down, lifted the chef bodily through the port, slammed the lever home. The outer door whooshed, clanged shut.
"Take number two, tie in! I'll blast her off," Chip said. "Been through a hundred 'bandon ship drills...."
Retief watched as the chef flipped levers, pressed a fat red button. The deck trembled under the lifeboat.
"Blew the bay doors," Chip said, smiling happily. "That'll cool them jaspers down." He punched a green button.
"Look out, Jorgensen's!" ”

“ Don't seem to worry 'em none, though."
"Chip," Retief said, "how much do these people know about the Soetti?"
"Dunno," Chip said. "We useta touch down here, regler. But I always jist set in my galley and worked on ship models or somethin'. I hear the Sweaties been nosin' around here some, though."
Two girls came up to Chip. "Hey, I gotta go now, Mister," he said. "These gals got a idea I oughta take a hand in the kitchen."
"Smart girls," Retief said. He turned as Anne-Marie came up.
"Bo Bergman and Tove are not back yet," she said. "They stayed to ski after moonrise." ”

“ Chip said. "I gotta go now. If you need anything, holler."
Retief ate slowly. Time always dragged on shipboard. Four days to Jorgensen's Worlds. Then, if Magnan's information was correct, there would be four days to prepare for the Soetti attack. It was a temptation to scan the tapes built into the handle of his suitcase. It would be good to know what Jorgensen's Worlds would be up against.
Retief finished the steak, and the chef passed out the baked Alaska and coffee. Most of the other passengers had left the dining room. Mr. Tony and his retainers still sat at the Captain's table. ”

“ Chip picked up the tray. "I'll scout around a little and see what's goin' on. If the Sweaties figure to do anything about that Skaw feller they'll have to move fast; they won't try nothin' close to port."
"Don't worry, Chip. I have reason to be pretty sure they won't do anything to attract a lot of attention in this sector just now."
Chip looked at Retief. "You ain't no tourist, Mister. I know that much. ”

“ He stood by the door, listening, then turned to Retief.
"You want to get to Jorgensen's perty bad, don't you, Mister?"
"That's right, Chip."
"Mr. Tony give the captain a real hard time about old Skaw. The Sweaties didn't say nothin'. Didn't even act surprised, just took the remains and pushed off. But Mr. Tony and that other crook they call Marbles, they was fit to be tied. Took the cap'n in his cabin and talked loud at him fer half a hour. Then the cap'n come out and give some orders to the Mate."
Retief sat up and reached for a cigar.
"Mr. Tony and Skaw were pals, eh?" ”

“ Magnan snapped. "There must be nothing to connect you with the Corps."
"They'll never guess," Retief said. "I'll pose as a gentleman."
"You'd better be getting started," Magnan said, shuffling papers.
"You're right," Retief said. "If I work at it, I might manage a snootful by takeoff." He went to the door. "No objection to my checking out a needler, is there?"
Magnan looked up. "I suppose not. ”

“ In and out o' there like a grasshopper, ever few weeks. Don't never pick up no cargo. No tourists any more, like I says. Don't know what we even run in there for."
"Where are the passengers we have aboard headed?" ”