Port Chavvy
In which Bar Jan chel’Gaibin gets what he traded for.
What little eloquence I normally have deserts me, and I have just one thing to say: Yes!
I like Jethri’s response when chel’Gaibin doubts that he is covered by the Code.
“All I ask is an honest advantage” has a polished sound to it, but if it’s a quote from somewhere else I’m not familiar with it.
“All I ask is an honest advantage” is, I believe, a saying of Luken bel’Tarda. I can’t remember where or when.
Perhaps that’s it. Luken does speak of having an honest advantage when he’s advising Pat Rin in “Heirloom”, although he doesn’t use the full phrase there.
Got it: Shan recalls him using the full phrase in Plan B: “All I ask is an honest advantage. When I have that, the other party is nearly always positive that my position is weak.”
I love the comment made to Jethri afterwards, by the proctor who is taking his statement about the “accident”: boy, but you’ve got a silver tongue. A wrong answer for everything, and all of it possible! Remember back in Balance of Trade when Trader ven’Deelin would tease him about not having/being a silver-tongue?
Jethri bows to Terrans, (Brabham) expecting them to understand the nuance? Silly.
“Jethri bowed, hitting the precise edge of honor to the wise, a touch of honor to the aged, and a full helping of acceptance of honor given.
The elder laughed again, and was echoed by the Scout. Brabham offered, “That’d be a tall orbit to fall from, I guess. I’ll take it.”
I laughed out loud at this:
“Stink hammers and starbars, seven paces and closing! We shall have a smash to remember!” The crowd roared with approval, replacing guns and knives to their safe places, and eyes turning to Dulcimer’s rental rack of tools. Wynhael’s crew, from the least to Rinork, stood motionless.
Just as satisfying the third time around!