The Universe Maker by A. E. van Vogt Read Free Book Online Page B

social structure. Surely, he thought desperately, he could figure out some way to take advantage of this situation. He moved irritably and the chain rattled, reminding him that all the plans in the world could not directly affect metal.
    Carmean, closely followed by Bouvy, brought her chair back to the ship. Setting the chair down, she walked slowly over and stood in front of Cargill. She half-turned and said, "I could use a husky guy around, Bouvy."
    "He isn't for sale." That was Lela, her voice curt.
    "I'm speaking to your Pa, kid, so watch your tongue."
    "You heard the girl," said Bouvy. "We've got a good man here." His tone was cunning, rather than earnest. He sounded as if he were prepared to haggle but wanted the best of the deal.
    Carmean said, "Don't you go getting commercial on me." She added darkly, "You'd better watch out. These Tweeners haven't got any religion when it comes to a good-looking girl."
    Bouvy grunted but when he spoke he still sounded good-humored. "Don't give me any of that. Lela's going to stick with her Pa and be a help to him all her life. Aren't you, honey?"
    "You talk like a fool, Pa. Better keep your mouth shut."
    "She's fighting hard," said Carmean slyly. "You can see what's in the back of her mind."
    Bouvy sat down in one of the chairs. "Just for the sake of the talk, Carmean," he said, "what'll you give for him?"
    Cargill had listened to the early stages of the transaction with a shocked sense of unreality. But swiftly now he realized that he was in process of being sold.
    It emphasized, if emphasis was needed, that to these Planiacs he was a piece of property, a chattel, a slave who could be forced to menial labor, or whipped, or even killed without anyone being concerned. His fate was a private affair which would trouble no one but himself. "Somebody's going to get gypped," he told himself angrily. A man as determined as he was to escape would be a bad bargain for Carmean or anyone else. In the final issue, he "thought, he'd take all necessary risks and he had just enough front-line army experience to make that mean something.
    The bargaining was still going on. Carmean offered her own ship in return for Cargill and the Bouvy ship. "It's a newer model," she urged. "It's good for ten years without any trouble or fussing."
    Bouvy’s hesitation was noticeable. "That isn't a fair offer," he said plaintively. "The Shadows will give you all the new ships you want. So you aren't offering me anything that means anything to you."
    Carmean retorted, "I'm offering you what I can get and you can't."
    "It's too much trouble," said Bouvy. "I'd have to move all our stuff."
    "Your stuff!" The big woman was contemptuous. "Why, that junk isn't worth carting out! And besides, I've got a ship full of valuables over there."
    Bouvy was quick. "It's a deal if you change ship for ship with everything left aboard."
    Carmean laughed curtly. "You must take me for a bigger fool than I look. I'll leave you more stuff than you've ever seen but I'm taking plenty out."
    Lela, who had been sitting silently, said, "You two are just talking. It makes no difference what you decide. I caught him and he's mine. That's the law, and you just try to use your position as boss to change it, Carmean."
    Even in the darkness, Carmean's hesitation was apparent. Finally she said, "We'll talk about this some more tomorrow morning. Meantime, Bouvy, you'd better teach this kid of yours some manners."
    "I'll do just that," said Pa Bouvy and there was a vicious undertone in his voice. "Don't you worry, Carmean. You've bought yourself a Tweener and If we have any trouble in the morning there's going to be a public whipping here of an ungrateful daughter."
    Carmean laughed in triumph. "That's the kind of talk I like to hear," she said. "The old man's standing up for himself at last."
    Still laughing, she walked off into the darkness. Pa Bouvy stood up.
    "Lela!"
    "What?"
    "Get that Tweener inside the ship and chain him up good."
    "Okay, Pa."