A Larger Universe by James L Gillaspy

they neared the finish of their circle, Tommy saw
something that seemed familiar.  Against the wall beside the door were at least
fifty pallets of clear plastic bags, each the size of a half-gallon jug, filled
with a white substance.  Where had he seen bags like that before?  It hit him. 
He had seen something like this on TV.
    "You say you got most of this stuff from the Southern
continent.  Do you mean South America?"
    "That's what I was told."
    "Do you have any idea what this is; how dangerous it
is?"
    Valin gave him a blank expression.  "What the lords
trade for is none of our business."
    "Well, maybe it should be.  If I'm right, this is
cocaine.  Maybe tons of cocaine."
    Valin tilted his head to the side and frowned.  "Why
should that concern me?"
    "This is a dangerous, addictive drug.  It's illegal in
the United States, but criminals make millions of dollars selling it,
anyway."
    "Again I ask, why should I be concerned?  The lords
often trade in substances banned on the world of their origin.  I'm told such
substances are often of great value, elsewhere."
    Tommy shook his head.  "I suppose the good side is this
is one large load that won't be sold in Georgia.  But you'd better hope none of
it gets out in the ship among your people or the farmers."
    "What's done to those who use this or supply this on
Earth?"
    "They spend time in jail."
    "Here, the lords would kill them.  Not for using the
drug, but for stealing from their trade goods.  No drug would be worth
that."
    Tommy bent over and peered at the bottom of the nearest
pallet.  The plastic wrap and one of the bags inside had small ragged tears and
the powder had trickled on the floor.
    "Maybe, but if not, you have an addicted mouse in this
compartment," He stood up and faced Valin.  "And if it's a mouse, my
cat won't be used to catch it.  I don't want him anywhere close to this
stuff."
    "That's none of my business, nor should it be any of
your business.” Valin said.  “Are you well enough now to work?"
    Tommy jerked his head a little.  The pain was gone.  He
still felt a little lightheaded and tired, but the book said the medicine might
have that effect.  "Yes, finally.  Let's get started."  Getting
involved again with computers, after so many months of manual labor, and even
under these circumstances, was the most wonderful thing that could possibly
happen to him.  Well, except for going home.

Valin
     
    Valin had to struggle to keep up with Tommy on his way back
to the workroom.  This strange boy was more astonishing each hour.  His first
impression of Tommy had been of a muscular lump, nothing at all like the
slender and graceful humans living below the Commons.  He still looked like a
lump, but he confronted problems as Valin never could have.
    When the computers proved to be outdated, Tommy had
immediately begun to think of solutions.  Valin would have acquiesced to his
fate.  When Tommy was sick, his response had been to seek a solution to his
problem in a book.  Valin would have gone to a ship's doctor and accepted whatever
treatment he was given.  He was sure the doctor wouldn't have taken the time to
explore the new medicines from Earth just for him.
    Those on this ship were trained in their professions and not
encouraged to look elsewhere or think for themselves.
    Maybe he and his family would survive this.  Maybe Tommy
would succeed at the tasks Lord Ull had given him.  Whatever happened, he was
sure the way Tommy performed those tasks would be unique. 
     
     

Chapter Six:  And your Reward
Will Be…
     
    The reality of Tommy's new job was not as Valin described. 
On their return to the workroom, they found Valin's staff diligently copying
from the books they had been given into spiral notebooks.
    "What are they doing?" Tommy asked.
    "They're translating, as best they can without your
help.  We have been doing so ever since we left Earth.  We have to be seen
making progress.  The books we've finished are in the