Free Rissa and Tregare by F. M. Busby

Tregare had brought, and in large, bold handwriting he signed them. He kept one copy and returned the other two.
    "In-oh, about twelve days-the ship should be here with the stuff. Has to refuel at the port first, as you did. But the wait's not al waste. I see you've got some plates skinned off the nose already-that's good. I've brought blueprints for al the auxiliary work-bulkhead changes, turret mountings and gunners' positions, conduit and power cables-so you can turn your people loose on some of the preliminary changes ahead of time."
    "I likes that. Now-does I get you or someones to oversee, and for if I has questions?" Tregare frowned. "I can't be here myself much, until later -too much else to do. But we have duplicate prints at Base One, and can confer over the viewscreen. If you run into real trouble, which I don't expect, Deverel and Kenekke can look in and help."
    "Shoulds be enough. So-blueprints, you says?"
    "In here." Tregare held out the briefcase; Vanois took it and began to pul out the thick sheaf of drawings. "No-keep the case, too. It's handier."
    "I thanks you." Abruptly he put out his hand, again first to Tregare and then to Rissa. "Now it's work I needs to do." He turned away. Rissa said, "Captain Vanois! I-I'd like to ask you about the Shrakken, the aliens at Charleyhorse." The man's brows lowered until she could hardly see his eyes. He nodded toward Tregare. When he spoke, his voice was lower and quiet. "All I know, I told him- when we were drinking. I'm not drunk now and don't have time for it-and to talk of those creatures, I need to be." He turned and walked up Carcharodon's ramp.
    rissa looked after him; Tregare took her arm. "Ready to go? Unless you want to look around here some, we might as wel."
    "I am ready." They entered the aircar, Rissa leading. "Bran? May I take the controls?"
    "Sure, if you want. Certain you can find your way back?"
    "I believe so-if not, you can instruct me. Is there time to swing down and see a litle of the plains, the edge of them?" He looked at his watch. "Well-I'm expecting a cal back at One. We'd be cutting it a litle fine, and there'd barely be time to reach the plains and return. If you want, though-''
    "No. As you said earlier, I can take the car myself, a longer time, when you do not need it." She took them up, looked for landmarks, and turned upslope at an angle. To see farther ahead she went high; after a time, she recognized the plateau and steered toward it.
    "What did you think of Vanois?"
    "He surprised me. At the end, when he was shaken, he dropped the strange speech patterns he had used previously. Why-?"
    "Vanois grew up on a colony planet-pretty rustic, I gather. When UET took him into space training he was rid-iculed and punished for talking like a backwoodser. So since he Escaped he's made a point of using his childhood argot-and people can like it or not."
    "A strange form of pride-and not without its costs."
    "What do you mean?"
    "It makes his dealings more difficult-if the affectation irritates others as much as it irritated me." Tregare nodded. "I hadn't thought of it before because I've known him so long it doesn't bother me any more-but maybe that's why a smart man like Raoul is on such a tight money string. I mean, annoying people for no good tactical reason."
    "Will he be a handicap to your operation?"
    "No. He knows better than to play games in a tight spot.''
    "Good." They came over the plateau, still high above it because Rissa wanted to see around it in full panorama. Then she dropped the car, fast and swooping from side to side, halting the headlong fall close to the ground. She landed gently; they got out and walked into the cabin.
    Rissa was thirsty; she poured cold fruit juice for herself, and at Tregare's nod, for him also. Standing across the table from her he said, "That was a real blue streak landing you made there."
    "Was it not satisfactory? I like to try my skills occasion-ally."
    "No, it was fine. I thought you might cut it too