Read Retief at Large for Free Online

grant?"
     
                "Oh,
no indeed, Mr. Leatherwell," Magnan replied quickly. "The claim
hasn't yet been processed."
     
                "Then
there's no difficulty," Leatherwell boomed. He glanced at his finger
watch. "If you don't mind, I'll wait and take the grant along with me. I
assume it will only take a minute or two to sign it and affix seals and so
on?"
     
                "The
other claim was filed a full week ago—" Retief started.
     
                "Bah!"
Leatherwell waved a hand impatiently. "These details can be
arranged." He fixed an eye on Magnan. "I'm sure all of us here
understand that it's in the public interest that minerals properties go to
responsible firms, with adequate capital for proper development."
     
                "Why,
ah," Magnan said.
     
                "The
Sam's Last Chance Number Nine Mining Company is a duly chartered firm. Their
claim is valid."
     
                "I
know that hole-in-corner concern," Leatherwell snapped. "Mere
irresponsible opportunists. General Minerals has spent millions—millions, I
say—of the stockholders' funds in minerals explorations. Are they to be balked
in realizing a fair return on their investment because these ... these ...
adventurers have stumbled on a deposit? Not that the property is of any real
value, of course," he added. "Quite an ordinary bit of rock. But
General Minerals would find it convenient to consolidate its holdings."
     
                "There
are plenty of other rocks floating around in the Belt. Why not—"
     
                "One
moment, Retief," Magnan cut in. He looked across the desk at his junior
with a severe expression. "As Consul-General, I'm quite capable of
determining the relative merits of claims. As Mr. Leatherwell has pointed out,
it's in the public interest to consider the question in depth."
     
                Leatherwell
cleared his throat. "I might state at this time that General Minerals is
prepared to be generous in dealing with these interlopers. I believe we would
be prepared to go so far as to offer them free title to certain GM holdings in exchange
for their release of any alleged rights to the property in question—merely to
simplify matters, of course."
     
                "That
seems more than fair to me," Magnan glowed.
     
                "The
Sam's people have a clear priority," Retief said. "I logged the claim
in last Friday."
     
                "They
have far from a clear title." Leatherwell snapped. "And I can assure
you GM will contest their claim, if need be, to the Supreme Court!"
     
                "Just
what holdings did you have in mind offering them, Mr. Leatherwell?" Magnan
asked nervously.
     
                Leatherwell
reached into his briefcase and drew out a paper.
     
                "2645-P,"
he read. "A quite massive body. Crustal material, I imagine. It should
satisfy these squatters' desire to own real estate in the Belt."
     
                "I'll
make a note of that," Magnan said, reaching for a pad.
     
                "That's
a Bona Fide offer, Mr. Leatherwell?" Retief asked. "Certainly!"
     
                "I'll
record it as such," Magnan said, scribbling.
     
                "And
who knows?" Leatherwell said. "It may turn out to contain some
surprisingly rich finds."
     
                "And
if they won't accept it?" Retief asked.
     
                "Then
I daresay General Minerals will find a remedy in the courts, sir!"
     
                "Oh,
I hardly think that will be necessary," Magnan said.
     
                "Then
there's another routine matter," Leatherwell said. He passed a second
document across to Magnan. "GM is requesting an injunction to restrain
these same parties from aggravated trespass. I'd appreciate it if you'd push it
through at once. There's a