Free Halfling Moon by Steve Miller, Sharon Lee

able to formulate on the
bouncing ride.
    "I am Boss Conrad, also known as Pat Rin
yos' Phelium. I come as both to purchase access through your land
to the abandoned pit, for my kin. Your own lands and fields will be
untouched."
    They'd stood in a tableau for some moments,
both aware of the unnatural moon hanging above, neither admitting
it was there until finally the cat had stretched to Yulie's hand,
seeking a head rub. Gwince remained around the car, talking
complaints into a recorder, saying things like "quarter panel
scrape passenger side, gonna need filling. Door gonna need …."
    The man had glanced at Gwince, and pointed
toward the house, saying, "And I'm Yulie Shaper. I guess we better
talk. Come on in."
    There were on the table ten cantra pieces,
all of which had been examined minutely, and two tested with a
knife, and there were two cups, one of which held coffee of a very
potent scent, and the other, which held a fragrant tea.
    "Melina Sherton never told me you was
crazy."
    The laugh came unbidden, a natural and not a
social laugh, and Pat Rin nodded the point.
    "Nor did she say that you were. It appears
that the times make us crazy, Yulie Shaper."
    Yulie's skittishness lessened, which put the
cat at ease. The cat retracted feet until it rested like a furry
log on the counter, eyes on Yulie.
    "That's real money," said the farmer,
touching the coins again. "Out there, that's Worlds End, and that's
real. How's anybody going to live there? Nothing there but old
bedrock and streams that don't go nowhere. Let's look at the
reality of the situation. How can ten cantra be a balance for all
that empty?"
    "
That empty
, as you put it, that is precisely what is needed
since Clan Korval has contrived, with the assistance of relatives
and friends, to bring the house itself, much as the company brought
here prefabbed units, growing chambers, stasis storage bins --
"
    Yulie sat straight, bringing the cat to sit
straight as well.
    Pat Rin raised his hands away from the table
and looked the farmer directly in the eyes, speaking
soft-voiced.
    "Yes, we do have those records -- we know --
but it is of no matter. Please understand that I am far too
involved with other matters . . ."
    The calm voice seemed to help, and Pat Rin
spread his hands, ring bright. He tapped the ring thoughtfully.
    "Mr. Shaper, had I personal designs on being
a farmer I'd have thought no better place exists on Surebleak. You
have the lands that were prepared with excellent soil by the
company to sell stock, the equipment meant to hold food for ten
thousand workers, and likely active grow sheds and prep rooms… and
I come to you and request you sell access because building other
access routes would be difficult, and unpopular. Personally, I have
no designs on being a farmer, and farming has never been a family
business. You might inquire of Boss Sherton, who is assured I have
no interest in holding farms given the many I might have owned by
now all in the hands of those who know what to do with them."
    The man settled, nodding. The cat settled,
too.
    Pat Rin sipped at the surprisingly good tea,
no doubt due to those stasis bins he'd mentioned. Yulie Shaper
sipped at his fragrant coffee.
    "Your world will change somewhat, when the house is ….
installed. For some measure of traffic, there will be traffic, but
it will be passing traffic. The clan is not large, and historically
we spend much time in travel. But the location of
that
empt
y
is perfect for us, and I think for you. "
    "Suppose I want to sleep on it?"
    Pat Rin declined to put on his card-player's
face; and kept Boss Conrad as tightly controlled as he might.
    "That would be unfortunate from my
viewpoint, as my kin are in transit, along with the house. The
clan's ships are arriving even now…"
    "Saw that," Yulie nodded. "Big ship
orbiting. Did you use that to figure out the spot?"
    Pat Rin sighed lightly.
    "We used that to bring the clan and
possessions. We used it to leave our home world and come