Read Naked for Free Online Page A

ladies, I wish to know what you would pay for cuttings of Nuathaion trees, Labiellic branches and Sorkat bushes?”
    The assembled folk froze. “You are joking. Those species are extinct.”
    “I am not joking and I can prove it. I can provide a dozen clippings from each plant today, if you are interested. Are you interested?”
    The gathering took seconds to come to an agreement. “Yes. We want those samples, name your price.”
    She reached up and pulled the twigs from her hair and sorted them into the proper species. “These are cuttings. Small bits just to offer in good faith. Please bring an atmospheric simulator here to confirm their veracity.”
    A page was sent off while the gathering stared at the plants with a sort of worship.
    There was a good reason for their astonishment. These plants were thought to have been extinct, but they were growing and flourishing in the same ship that had been flying for over an eon.
    In saving their oxygen farm, they had provided themselves with the highest value commodity that existed in space-faring species. Plants that scrubbed the air and used almost no water were the Holy Grail for long-distance ships.
    After a few minutes, the page brought three domes filled with roiling chemicals in on a cart. The test was simple—she took one cutting from each plant and slipped it into the domes.
    Now they waited. Tea was served, and her contingent sat sipping tea while the trade panel stared at the domes where the cloudy atmosphere was thinning rapidly and the plants were growing in the thin layer of soil.
    It was fun to watch; they perked up, stood up and their new roots pulled themselves upright to open their leaves wide for more processing. They were small workshops of chemical processing and wonderful to behold.
    A woman’s eyes filled with tears. “Name your price. We will pay it.”
    “We wish to set up an exchange agreement. We will set up a nursery for export and tell you when the plants are ready, even delivering them here, in exchange for a contract to do business with the N’ga-Sebach.”
    They couldn’t get to the treaty fast enough.
    Cierra nodded to Ahket, and he made the call to have a gardener bring the cuttings to the room.
    “The samples are coming right now, and I believe that a few extra bolts of cloth and bundles of wire will suffice. Oh, and some medical equipment. Whatever you feel is appropriate for the plants.” She smiled. “The ones for the test are yours free and clear.”
    When the crewman brought in the wrapped bundles, the trade panel took them reverently and a few had tears in their eyes.
    “You will be fully loaded with as much as we can find for you, and on your way in four hours. We look forward to the new communications between our species.”
    She nodded, and Captain Ahket took their handshakes and their hugs of thanks.
    The N’ga-Sebach were bemused when they returned to the ship. Apparently, they didn’t get hugged after trade agreements that often.
    Cierra was still giggling when she met with General Sapya. She explained the deal, informed him of the quantities she had gotten them to surrender, and he was staring at her in shock. “You got all that?”
    Ahket poured tea for them both. “Just wait, she has more.”
    “I created a trade agreement for you. If you wish additional materials, return here and they will trade whatever you want for those plants.”
    He settled back. “How did you know about this?”
    “The trade documents I read on Xerat were often for plants to scrub their atmosphere. When I looked out over the oxygen farm, I saw three plants glow. Those three plants are consuming regenerators. When they run out of chemicals to scrub, they fade and die, but Uuksan went completely industrial and destroyed their atmosphere. They literally can’t breathe their own air and have been casting about for plants that can take the toxins and survive. Those three plants are what they need. Your gardeners agree that a separate nursery