Galactic Diplomat Read Online Free PDF Page B

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—” Magnan
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,” Retief said. “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 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, 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 matter of a load of illegally obtained
ore involved, as well.”
    “Certainly, Mr. Leatherwell. I’ll see to it myself—”
    “The papers are all drawn up; our legal department will vouch
for their correctness. Just sign here . . .” Leatherwell spread
out the paper, handed Magnan a pen.
    “Wouldn’t it be a good idea to read that over first?” Retief
said.
    Leatherwell frowned impatiently.
    “You’ll have adequate time to familiarize yourself with the
details later, Retief,”