Spacer Tales: The Alien Monks Read online

person dressed as a fish.’

  On any other world, that might have been unlikely. One of the things Neuwald was famous for, however, was its tradition of lover’s leap marriages. Getting married on Neuwald was a two-stage process. A first wedding was very informal and might well be done on impulse. Resort hotels even held singles events where people would meet and marry total strangers. If they were still together five months later and wanted to make a longer term commitment, that was the time for the big family wedding. If it didn’t work out, then they just separated and the marriage ended automatically. Neuwaldians might get ‘first step married’ many times before settling down with a long term partner, and lovers leap weddings were a major industry. Being married on a beach by someone dressed as a pink heart-shaped love-fish was a popular choice since it was considered both romantic and lucky. Given the bizarre nature of some of the novelty weddings on offer, in fact, the presence of five alien monks in business suits would hardly be noticeable.

  ‘I’m sure you’ll find that fascinating.’ Tam could see that the diplomat was getting ready to take them on their way, and smiled at all of them. ‘It has been a pleasure and a privilege to meet you.’

  They each shook hands with him, as before, gazing at him with their amber eyes as they thanked him for his hospitality.

  ‘Thank you, Tam.’ Milo Jones was the last to shake hands with him, his manner conveying appreciation for how well that encounter had gone. He glanced around at the spacers in the bar, too, with a little nod that acknowledged how calm and cool they had been, and friendly without being intrusive. It was obvious that the visit of the alien monks to Kluskey’s would be a tale much told in other spacer hangouts across the League and beyond. The Diplomatic Corps wouldn’t worry about that, though. They had a complete lockdown on media broadcast of such stories even when incidents like that were caught on camera. Word of mouth never went very far outside spacer circles because the majority of groundhogs just wouldn’t believe it.

  ‘See you again sometime,’ Tam said. He watched the diplomat escorting the file of visitors out of the bar, heading off on their odyssey through human space, and he smiled. He had a feeling that there were going to be quite a few more alien monk stories doing the rounds before that journey was over. He could only hope that they would have to change direction before they got to Cherque though, that the Fourth would no longer be needed to protect shipping and would be reassigned by then. The Marfikians had tested League defences at Cherque many times over the centuries and had always backed off from a determined show of strength. Hopefully it would be the same this time and the Gideans would have to chase after the Fourth to wherever they were sent next.

  With a sense of some slight regret that he would not be there to see that meeting, Tam consoled himself with the knowledge that, sooner or later, some spacer would come in knowing all the details and tell him all about it. Then he set an autobot to clearing away the remains of the burgers, and strolled over to chat with his regulars.

  It was just another day at Kluskey’s Bar.

  ______________________

  Skipper Alex von Strada and his corvette Minnow are sent on a makework mission after a disastrous PR mess up. Inspector Mako Ireson goes with them, still trying to work out which is the front end of the ship as they hurtle into deep space. The last thing anybody wants is for them to get caught up in a real mission. A lighthearted space adventure by the author of Spacer Tales.