Free Stars & Stripes Triumphant by Harry Harrison

starting very auspiciously. But the same is, unhappily, not true of the rest of the world."
    He took a newspaper from his jacket pocket and opened it on the table. "The pilot sold me this overpriced copy of The Times. This item will be of interest to us all."
    AMERICAN TRADE POLICY DENOUNCED IN COMMONS
    Threat to British Cotton Trade Taken Under Advisement
    "What is it about?" Sherman asked, looking at the lengthy article.
    "I read it with great attention while we were coming upriver. It seems that Prime Minister Palmerston has accused your countrymen of dumping American cotton on the European market at ruinous prices, thereby undercutting the British cotton trade."
    "There is nothing new in this," Fox said. "The British have been going to the Empire countries for cotton ever since the War Between the States began. Mostly Egypt and India. But their cotton is inferior to the American variety and more expensive to produce. Therefore, Yankee traders have been selling cotton to the French and German mills. The British do not like this. We have been here before."
    "I hope you are right. But in his speech Palmerston threatens the American trade if it continues in this fashion."
    "Any specific threats?" Sherman asked.
    "Not really. But he is a man to be watched."
    "He is indeed," Fox said, seating himself with the newspaper and giving it his close attention.
    Korzhenevski crossed the room and took a sheet of crested notepaper from the sideboard. He wrote a quick note and closed it with a wax seal.
    "Simenov has been here with me before, so he can find his way to the college. He'll deliver this note to Johnstone and wait for an answer. I'm inviting him for dinner tonight. If he accepts, we might very well be out of here tomorrow. We'll decide what to do as soon as Johnstone leaves. I'm also taking the precaution of sending a sailor with Simenov. He will be carrying a bottle of champagne. Harbinger of joys to come! Might I suggest, Commander, that you continue your engineering pursuits in your cabin? Thank you."
    Fox seemed more concerned with the newspaper than with his champagne, reading not only the article that had attracted the Count's attention but all the other news as well. A distant look entered into Sherman's eyes, one that Korzhenevski noticed.
    "Is something disturbing you, General?"
    "Something is, you are right. Is it really necessary for a ship to be guided by a pilot to proceed up the Thames?"
    "Not only necessary but essential. The sands here are in constant motion, and it takes a pilot skilled in local knowledge to find the correct channel."
    "Does every ship need a pilot?"
    "Not necessarily. On a clear day a small group of ships could follow the first one with the pilot in line astern." The Count drank some champagne and easily followed Sherman's thoughts. "You are right, this is a very serious concern. I suggest that you leave that matter to me for the time being. I am sure that something can be done."

    There was a knock on Wilson's cabin door; Sherman, standing behind Wilson and Fox, looked up from the drawings when he heard the Count's voice.
    "One moment," said Sherman. He went over and unlocked the door.
    "Most industrious," Korzhenevski said, looking at the growing sheaf of drawings. "I am pleased that our little voyage has begun so well. Now—I would appreciate it if you would turn over all of the plans, as well as the drawing instruments."
    "You have a reason?" Sherman asked, frowning.
    "A very good one, my dear general. We are now in the heartland of a country which, while not an enemy country, would still object to the presence of foreign observers inside their military establishments. I am sure that Mr. Fox here will agree that the authorities would not take kindly to the presence of what they would surely see as spies in their midst. Commander Johnstone will be coming aboard soon, and our little ship must be Russian to the core. There are English as well as Russian books in my cabin—but that is to be