Freelance On The Galactic Tunnel Network, E. Foner [the unexpected everything txt] 📗

extraordinary value for the price. Then it was their turn again, and Rachel requested to see the library, which supposedly hosted the largest collection of printed books in human languages anywhere in the galaxy. It must have been a popular spot on the tour because a young woman was waiting at the entrance and handing out pamphlets.

“Hi, I’m Julie,” the greeter said. “Welcome to the library. We’re running a special for people here on the colony ship tour. You can take a single book to keep free of charge, provided we have at least ten more copies in stock. And before you ask, books from the For Humans collection are excluded from this offer.”

“How will we know if you have ten copies?” Sally asked.

“If you have a high-end implant, you can scan the code on the spine and the library stock will appear on your heads-up display,” Julie replied. “We actually have hundreds of copies of the most popular books, but Dewey,” she gestured at an odd-looking robot stationed behind the circulation desk, “will double-check when you leave. The books are all chipped, so if you, uh, put one in your purse and forget that it’s there, the alarm will sound when you try to exit.”

“Thank you,” Sally said, accepting a brochure and leading the others into the library. “I actually have a book in mind, so can we agree to meet back at the circulation desk in fifteen minutes?”

Georgia and Rachel agreed, and after consulting the map in the brochure, the three women headed off in different directions. When they met up again, each had found a book to take home, and they compared their selections.

“Ten Days in a Mad-House,” Rachel read off the title of the book Georgia had chosen when the freelancer handed it to the robot librarian for approval. “Doesn’t sound very romantic.”

“Somebody told me that it’s a must for investigative journalists,” she said. “I don’t like reading from a tab on the exercise bike and Larry suggested I try paper.”

“And what did you get?” Sally asked Rachel, peering at her old friend’s selection. “Prince of the Highlands? He seems a bit underdressed for Scottish royalty, but it’s nice to see that your taste hasn’t changed.”

“Don’t show me yours, let me guess,” Rachel said, dramatically placing a hand over her eyes. “Her Alien something-or-another, and the cover will have a picture of a blue-skinned male with six-pack abs and a woman kneeling at his feet.”

“I’ll have you know that she’s standing next to him with their baby,” Sally retorted.

Dewey confirmed that the women’s selections were all overstocked, and as they exited the library Julie handed them a flier, this one promoting discounted medical services for tour participants. “The doctor is in,” the girl called after them, just as a door on the corridor opened and a woman in her mid-thirties emerged.

“Ellen?” Georgia addressed her.

“I see from the ID that you’re with the paper but I can’t place you,” the other reporter replied.

“Georgia Hunt, I used to be the food reporter on Union Station. We sat at the same table at the last awards dinner.”

Ellen grimaced. “I don’t really remember much of what happened that night. Did you get reassigned?”

“I’ve gone freelance,” Georgia told her proudly. “Hey, can I buy you a meal and pick your brain? You were one of my inspirations to become an investigative journalist.”

“Even after the awards ceremony? I’m afraid I was pretty blotto.”

“You were brilliant, though. Rachel?” she called to the older woman, who had continued on a few steps and was laughing with Sally. “Do you mind if I drop out of the tour for a while and meet up with you later?”

“I’ll ask Flower to ping you before I head back if you haven’t caught up with us yet,” Rachel said.

“It was nice to meet you,” Sally added. “Be kind if you write an article about Colony One.”

After consulting with Flower, the pair of reporters headed for the food court next to the bazaar and ended up at a lunch counter run by a towering four-armed Dollnick. It was only late morning and neither woman was particularly hungry, so they ended up ordering coffees and dessert.

“Did you come to Flower for the tour?” Georgia asked her companion.

“No. I was on board for part of her first circuit to write a series of articles. Flower and I are old friends.”

“That was just before I was hired by the paper. It must have been exciting.”

“It was different,” Ellen admitted. “Are you here working on a story?”

“I just tagged along to meet Sally Nugget. My goal was to write a hard-hitting piece about financial fraud, but it turns out that Colony One is her philanthropy. She’s very nice, and I’m making enough writing about food to cover the bills, so I’ve decided to start investigating all of the ship foreclosures going on instead. I never knew anything about the whole trader ecosystem before I started traveling with Larry and—”

“The Larry who’s standing for the council?” Ellen interrupted.

“Yes. One of the women I was with is his mother.”

“Then she must be Phil’s wife. Are you writing about the election?”

“I messaged the freelance editor, Roland, but he replied that they already had somebody on it.”

“Me,” Ellen said. “I’m just finishing up a piece about the Advantage system that so many of the young traders are using and I’ll be shifting to election coverage as soon as I return to Aarden.” She examined the younger woman more closely. “It’s your first time to Rendezvous?”

“Yes. This whole trip has been my first time away from Union Station since I left Earth.”

“Rendezvous can get pretty crazy, with tens of thousands of traders showing up, and multiple events going on at the same time. I could use some help covering the election if you’re willing to