Free March: A Tale of Salmon and Swedes (The Glothic Tales Book 4) by Derek Haines

imports, over the next ten years.’
    ‘No chance then.’
    ‘No, not until Earth has the potential to create an awful lot more wealth for Gloth.’
    ‘Well, that’s my challenge, and I will not fail in finding a way to succeed.’
    ‘You are very determined, March, but I have to say that it may well prove to be impossible. You should probably take a pragmatic view of the situation and perhaps set yourself more realistic and modest goals. If, in your time here, you could achieve even a ten to fifteen percent increase in trade, that would be a worthy achievement, and I am sure the Grand Council would be very pleased.’
    ‘Perhaps so, but not my father. He sent me here with a very specific purpose in mind, and I plan to return to Gloth, only when it will be possible for me to look him in the eye and inform him that I have succeeded in every respect.’
    Tryskolia sipped her tea, letting a moment of silence pass, and then picked up the tray and offered March a biscuit, which he accepted. She watched him as he slowly munched on it, with his eyes fixed in a stare towards a point somewhere above her head, on the ceiling. When he had swallowed the last morsel, be started humming a tune, which Tryskolia recognised immediately.
    Knowing me, knowing you (ah-haa)
    There is nothing we can do
    Knowing me, knowing you (ah-haa)
    We just have to face it, this time we're through…
    She waited until his humming abated. ‘I really think I should take you to the theatre to see Mamma Mia.’
    Without moving his gaze, he replied, ‘I believe that they were married, but have since divorced. Agnetha would make for a fine bride for the heir to the Supreme Potentate, even if not of Glothic blood.’
    ‘Oh my goodness March, please never mention a thought such as that to anyone. Not only is it impossible that she would agree, even if by some miracle you had the opportunity to meet her and you asked her, but she obviously carries the Erdean gene, which must never be allowed to step foot on our planet and pollute Gloth ever again. Anyway, I really do think you have a far better chance of having ten new entry ports installed than meeting her, so the problem will never eventuate.’
    March return his eyes to Tryskolia, and it seemed to her that he had exited his daydream. ‘Another biscuit?’
    ‘Thank you, they’re very good.’ He took a bite, and thoughtfully chewed for a moment. ‘Have you discussed the possibility of entry ports with the members of the Camera Stellata? I mean, the ones who know about Gloth.’
    ‘Um, er, yes, only once, but very briefly,’ she replied, as she was flummoxed for a moment by his sudden change of subject, yet again. She was however, starting to gather that this was normal practice for March, so she made a quick mental note to be more prepared in future.
    ‘I think we should discuss it with them again. Can you arrange that?’
    ‘We can discuss the subject when we meet the vice-president, if you wish.’
    ‘No, I think we’ll only discuss meeting the president, with the vice-president.’
    ‘Very well,’ she said, and let the subject drop by immediately adding, ‘um, I’ve booked dinner for this evening at a very fine hotel. It has salmon, caviar and oysters on the menu, which I thought would make for an ideal start to your research on exportable Earth products.’
    ‘Oh thank you, that sounds like a wonderful idea. Perhaps I should slow down on the biscuits then, and save my appetite for dinner.’
    ‘Yes, good idea.’
    Long Blond Hair, A Goatee, And About This Tall
    Tryskolia rose early after the late night, where their dinner at the Waldorf had turned into a punctilious research project for March. So impressed was he with his first taste of six natural oysters for his appetiser, he then insisted on knowing in what other ways they could be served. When the waiter told him they could be prepared Kilpatrick, with bacon and Worcestershire sauce, or Rockefeller with hot sauce and spinach, or Mornay