And Trinli regaled them with a story—true actually, but with enough absurdities that they would know it false—about a Long Watch mission he allegedly commanded. "Fifty years we spent with only four Watch groups. In the end I had to break the rules, allow children In Flight. But by that time, we had a market advantage—"
Pham was coming down on the punch line when Trud Silipan jabbed him in the ribs. "Hsst! My Qeng Ho Lord, your nemesis has arrived." That got a round of chuckles. Pham glared at Silipan, then turned to look.
Qiwi Lin Lisolet had just sailed through the parlor's doorway. She twisted in midair, and touched down by Benny Wen. There was a lull in the room noise and her voice carried to Trinli's group up by the ceiling. "Benny! Have you got those swap forms? Gonle can cover—" Her words faded as the two moved to the far side of the bar and other conversations resumed. Qiwi was clearly in full haggle, twisting Benny's arm about some new deal.
"Is it true she'sstill in charge of stabilizing the rockpile? I thought that was your job, Pham."
Jau Xin grimaced. "Give it a rest, Trud."
Pham raised a hand, the image of an irritated old man trying to look important. "I told you before, I got promoted. Lisolet handles the field details, and I supervise the whole operation for Podmaster Nau." He looked in Qiwi's direction, tried to put just the right truculence into his gaze.Iwonder what she's up to now. The child was amazing.
From the corner of his eye, Pham saw Silipan shrug apologetically at Jau Xin. They all figured Pham was a fraud, but he was well liked. His tales might be tall, but they were very entertaining. The trouble with Trud Silipan was he didn't know when to stop goading. Now the fellow was probably trying to think of some way to make amends.
"Yes," said Silipan, "there aren't many of us who report directly to the Podmaster. And I'll tell you something about Qiwi Lin Lisolet." He looked around to see just who else was in the parlor. "You know I manage the zipheads for Reynolt—well, we provide support for Ritser Brughel's snoops. I talked to the boys over there. Our Miss Lisolet is on their hot list. She's involved in more scams than you can imagine." He gestured at the furniture. "Where do you think this plastic comes from? Now that she's got Pham's old job, she's down on the rockpile all the time. She's diverting production to people like Benny."
One of the others waggled a Diamonds and Ice drink bulb at Silipan. "You seem to be enjoying your share, Trud."
"You know that's not the point. Look. These are community resources that she and the likes of Benny Wen are messing with." There were solemn nods from around the table. "Whatever accidental good it does, it's still theft from the common weal." His eyes went hard. "In the Plague Time there weren't many greater sins."
"Yes, but the Podmasters know about it. It's not doing any great harm."
Silipan nodded. "True. They are tolerating it for now." His smile turned sly. "For maybe as long as she's sleeping with Podmaster Nau." That was another rumor that had been going around.
"Look, Pham. You're Qeng Ho. But basically you're a military man. That's an honorable profession, and it sets you high, no matter what your origin. You see, there are moral levels to society." Silipan was clearly lecturing from the received wisdom. "At the top are the Podmasters, statesmen I guess you'd call them. Below that are the military leaders, and underneath the leaders are the staff planners, the technicians, and the armsmen. Underneath that...are vermin of different categories: fallen members of the useful categories, persons with a chance of fitting back in the system. And below them are the factory workers and farmers. And at the very bottom—combining the worst aspects of all the scum—are the peddlers." Silipan smiled at Pham. Evidently he felt he was being flattering, that he had set Pham Trinli among the naturally noble. "Traders are the eaters of dead and dying, too cowardly to steal by force."
Even Trinli's cover persona should choke on this analysis. Pham blustered, "I'll have you know the Qeng Ho has been in its present form for thousands of years, Silipan. That's hardly the mark of failure."
Silipan smiled with cordial sympathy. "I know it's hard to accept this, Trinli. You're a good man, and it's right to be loyal. But I think you're coming to understand. The peddlers will always be with us, whether they're selling unlicensed food in an alley or lurking between the stars. The star-going ones call themselves a civilization, but they're just the rabble that hangs around the edges of true civilizations."
Pham grunted. "I don't think I've ever been flattered and insulted so much all at the same time."
