Star Traders

Despite her lack of formal education, Jayne felt she understood a little better some of the conversations she had participated in back on E-1 with Eric the Elder and Eric the Younger.

Eric the Elder was obsessed with trade possibilities with the worlds of the Larn.

“The ancient Phoenicians were the traders of the world from about 1500 BC,” he said. “The reason they were so successful was because they were the only ones with the knowledge and the ships. Their Merchant ships enabled them to trade throughout the Mediterranean Sea. They were the most notable traders of the ancient world.

“Since we are the only ones with the ability to travel between the worlds of the Larn, I expect us to become the most successful traders history has ever known, as the Phoenicians were in their time. The Phoenicians traded in spices and cloth. We might be wise to follow in their footsteps. We need to find out what individual worlds want, discover a cheap source for those goods, and trade from world to world.

“Our final goal, never forget, is to amass as many finished gravity wells as we can. These wells will then be traded with E-1 to gain the manufactured goods for trade with the Larn worlds. I intend to wipe out the dependence on oil based power sources on E-1. Once we have a sufficient number of gravity wells, we will introduce them on Earth; thereby freeing the world of their dependence on that expensive oil based economy, and allows them to expand into space. The technology for capturing those wells, however, will be kept away from E-1. There is no way we need interference from E-1 here. When we are solidified in our control of the trade, we may introduce that knowledge on E-1. That’s far in the future, however.

“So, what are you going to be doing while I’m busting my chops opening a trade route to Epsilon 4?” Jayne asked. “Why aren’t you doing this yourself?”

“I have a different fish to fry, Jayne,” Eric the Elder said. “I plan to explore the stars around E-1. I have found from the Dran on E-6 that the Sol system of worlds is unique. While their own universe of E-6 is crowded with Larn, the rest of the universes are free of that life entirely. My first goal is to see if I can use the technology of the FTL drive to visit the stars around E-1. I have some ideas on that. If I can use the Sol system as a reference point, I think I can, in reasonable safety, estimate the special co-ordinates of most of the stars around earth. By doing so, I believe I can do without knowing their exact co-ordinates before setting off on a voyage to them.

“You see, the scientists on E-1 apparently are far ahead of those of the Larn in the field of astronomy. They have been plotting the stars for centuries. Recently, by studying the Doppler affect, they have been able to estimate quite accurately the speed of those stars in space relative to E-1. I think I can use that knowledge.

“I want to see if there’s anyone besides us out there. I know there isn’t in the universe of E-6, but maybe there is in the universe of E-1, or even some of the others. So, that’s what I will be doing, Jayne, while you are busting your chops getting to Epsilon 4!”

The third deck of the Earth Princess began more and more to resemble a flea market. Twenty tables full of goods extended on both sides of an aisle down the center of the display area. The first table dealt with dry goods. Stacks of shirts and jeans and jean jackets were piled high in the 30-foot cubicle. Cotton and silk, mainstays of early trade on E-1, was expected to be in demand, unless, of course, they happen to have those items themselves. The problem was, the traders had no idea what their prospective trade partners already had.

Next was a double cubicle with computers on display. Computer software was perfected relative to Larn years ago, and their number system is the same as that of E-1. That is, base 10.

Regardless where in the universe one is, there are certain universal truths. The speed of light is one of them. So is the relationship between the diameters of a circle to the circumference. 2 x 2 is always going to be four, no matter that four may look differently in each case. The mathematics of a computer may very well be one of those truths.

In any computer, the basis is in base 2 mathematics. The computer knows only two things; it either has power or it doesn’t have power. If we assign the number 1 to power, then the lack of power may be assigned the value 0. Carrying that a bit farther and creatively making those values into a number system, one could count to ten this way:

Base 2 Base 10

1 = 1

10 = 2

11 = 3

100 = 4

101 = 5

110 = 6

111 = 7

1000 = 8

1001 = 9

1010 = 10,

And so on. It doesn’t take a lot of imagination to realize the possibility of assigning alphabetic values to a base 2 numerical system. Thus we can then communicate with the system in language instead of a mathematical formula.

The most pressing problem facing Eric the Elder was the development of a transformer to take the current from the Larn gravity well engines in one end and make it available to both 110 and 220 volt systems manufactured on earth. The manufacture of these transformers had to be on E-1, for that’s where the technology was. It was the only way traders could be sure that such transformers would make the transition from E-1 computers to the use in those same computers on Epsilon 4.

Next to the computers was a cubicle using games on the computers. The software for games was one of the popular trading items on other worlds where trade had been opened up and was expected to do quite well. Power tools, nails and nail guns, hammers, screws, and all construction tools were also popular on those same worlds. It seems the Larn were somewhat shy on building technology. That was in the fourth cubicle

Another cubicle contained scented candles. Great interest was exhibited by the Larn on both E-6 and three of the trading worlds in the candles. The Larn had candles, but no scented candles. It was a novelty to them, but one that may be practical too. The lack of power seldom happened on the Larn world. Each home had its own power source and several back-up sources. There was more apt to be a breakdown of the generators the sources powered than the sources themselves. Each home was powered by several sources. All power was generated by gravity wells. Heating, cooling, cooking, washing machines, dryers, milking machines, tractors, etc. Power was cheap.

Some interest was exhibited in jewelry on other worlds, and a small cubicle displayed cheap jewelry. The Dran did wear some jewelry, but the Larn showed no interest in it. No one was expecting a large trade here.

It had been found that reading was one of the biggest pastimes on the Larn worlds. Their books covered everything from “how to” books to childish outdoor adventure books. Several old series from E-1 had been translated to Larn for trade. Some old Tom Swift books, Campfire Girls and Hardy Boys novels had been re-arranged to fit the Larn level and experience. Nancy Drew would probably be a favorite also. An entire library gave plenty of variety in the 6th cubicle.

A variety of spices occupied the next two cubicles. A demonstration of their use was moving along well. Items included mace, pepper, nutmeg, garlic, onion, etc. If it was used successfully in cooking on E-1, it was included in their trade items.

Television sets and DVD players along with DVD’s were also offered. The DVD’s had been translated into Larn by experts, and the recordings might be a good trading item. They were certainly playing it by ear. Their clear guide was E-6. Whatever the Larn wanted there would be a good indication of a hot trading item. Strangely, the use of dies for brightly colored clothes seems to have escaped the Larn. Dyes and their use were also included in trade items.

“The Phoenicians kept their superiority in trade for 1000 years,” Eric the Elder had said. “I just hope we can last half that long.”

At the end of the line of cubicles was the food court. The main draw here was expected to be the use of sugar and spices in food. The Larn cooks had been practicing with recipes for two weeks. They would have more time to practice when the Earth Princess broke out of hyperlink.

Jayne felt she was somehow unplugged from reality when around the Larn. The apparent lack of interest in anything other than their own narrow portion of their existence reminded her of the last election she participated in at home. She laughed again at the memory.

She had been sitting at a table playing poker when a man came and sat down along side of her. The man looked enough like one of the proposed democratic candidates, Wesley Clark, to be his twin brother. She had turned to him and said, “My God! You look just like Wesley Clark!” The man looked at her in confusion. “Who does he play for?” he had said.

Jayne thought that was the funniest thing she had ever heard. To think that an entire segment of the American population was so out of touch as to not know whom the candidates were in that important election was hilarious to her. Later, when sitting at a blackjack table, she told the story expecting a roar of laughter. Instead, a little old lady at the end of the table said, “Well, who does he play for?” Jayne had given up, never to tell the story again.

Jayne spent a lot of the time while they were in Hyperlink in her cabin. The crew and even the Larn were doing quite well without her looking over their shoulders all the time, even though she was interested in everything going on in the ship. She could keep tabs an anything from her cabin, anyway. Her camera bank was always at her fingertips.

Jayne liked to watch the Larn at play in particular. Their games were childish and simple, and very satisfying to them. She could recall reading the journals of Lodge 16 relative to the games their children played, and how those games evolved as the children grew older. The children’s games were soon abandoned, as the young people became more and more sophisticated in their playing. When the children mastered one game, it was then time to move on to another. The older children had moved from a simple hide and seek to games that tested their skill in hunting and fishing and team sports. As the children grew to maturity, the playing of games was abandoned altogether, though some of the adults would then teach the young children the games they had played as they were growing up.

The members of Lodge 16 encouraged the participation of their children in all games and to their credit most of their children excelled in those games. Lodge 16, however, did not encourage their children to continue the games beyond college age. They instilled in their people that games were for children and adults should fine a better outlet for their life’s ambition than playing with a ball. There came a time in all their lives when it was time to put away childish things.

Games, of course, are played by every civilization to hone the skills of the young to better prepare them for their future lives as productive members of their society. The games differed somewhat from society to society, depending on the needs of that society.

The Larn reflected that necessity in their games. Jayne had observed, back on E-6, the games the young Larn were taught. Most had little familiarity to Earth games she had known when she was young. Hide and Seek, however, seemed to be universal.

The games played by the Larn aboard the Earth Princess were undergoing a change. Many of them had to do with cooking and the making of clothes. Competition had been set up cleverly and the Larn seemed to enjoy the games.

The main game of the Larn, however, did not change. It seemed that, whenever Larn met, they participated in knife throwing. Their target practice was quite sophisticated, dealing with accuracy, depth of penetration and distance. Every day she observed such competition. The knives used by the Larn were individually decorated. Some were beautiful. All were deadly.

The time in Hyperlink had been productive, Jayne thought. The crew had jelled as a unit as well as could be expected. The only surly member was Peter Johnson. While not being obvious about it, all could tell he was resentful for some reason. Some of them knew why. Most didn’t have time to wonder about it.

“The Larn are wary of Johnson, Captain,” Lars Pierson worriedly said one day upon meeting Jayne outside of her cabin. “Any idea why?”

“Yes, but not one I’m prepared to share with you at this time,” Jayne answered with a frown as they walked together toward the lift. Both were headed for the bridge for their watch. They were all doing a duty of 4 hours on and 16 off. Such a “day”, they found, was close to what they would find on Epsilon 4.

“Well, it worries me!” Lars said vehemently, punching the button for the 10th deck hard. “The Larn won’t tell me why they are wary of him either. It would make my job much easier if I knew what the hell was going on!”

Jayne looked at him with concern. “I can only tell you that there certainly is something going on. I have promised not to reveal what it is, however. You are right to be concerned. I’ll just ask you to keep your eyes and ears open for any information about Johnson. I, too, am concerned. He does not treat the Larn very well, and that is what concerns me most of all. I will not countenance cruelty of any kind. And I think that man could be cruel.”

“I’ve seen him push them around a bit. Nothing outright out of line, but close to it. Kinda reminds me of myself before I came aboard!” Lars laughed.

Jayne grinned some at that, for that’s exactly what she had observed the first time she saw Lars. He had certainly changed a lot in the past month. All for the better. He had become a fine officer, as good as any she had aboard and better than most. She had come to depend greatly on his ability and experience. She was hard-pressed to choose between Lars and Jake as her trusted right hand.

The lift stopped at the 10th deck; the command deck. Jayne and Lars stepped off onto the bridge.

“The Captain has the Com!” Jake beat Kristin to it this time, and grinned at her. She smiled back at him.

Hmmmmmmmm! Jayne thought. Wonder if they have something going there? Maybe just good friends? She had heard Jake had a fiancée back on E-1.

“As you were, people!” Jayne waved. “New rule! No one stands when I come to the bridge any more. You all have a job to do here. I’d rather you concentrated on that than giving me all this respect!” She was grinning as she said it, but they all knew that it was a direct order, and was to be obeyed.

“According to the mission counter, we have about 24 hours before breakout at the Epsilon system, Captain,” Jake said, indicating the counter under the forward Simscreen. He was smiling, clearly looking forward to the next phase of the mission, that of reaching and contacting Epsilon 4.

Jayne felt her crew was as ready as they would ever be. As the breakout time approached, they all seemed to have their fingers crossed. Their hopes were high.