"You know how long it takes courts to do anything. Before your order is
tossed out, Moulton will have been grounded for a week."
Van Euing lit his pipe. "In legal parlance, it is something irregular,
which, being translated, means it's a slick trick."
"All it's going to cost _you_ is being half an hour late to lunch."
Van Euing puffed a moment on his pipe and said: "Because of your
audacity, Swenson, and furthermore, because you'll be fired tomorrow,
I'll prepare the restraining order."
Swenson put out his hand and his blunt fingers closed around Van
Euing's delicate ones.
When Van Euing had gone, Swenson returned to coding the astrogram. He
checked the form twice and sent it.
Then he turned over his desk to an apprentice dispatcher, left orders
to be called if anything broke down, and went out to lunch.
* * * * *
It was 2:30 P.M. when news of the restraining order arrived in
the quiet, streamlined offices of the Moulton Trust. Two minutes later,
the offices were still streamlined, but not quiet.
The three major stockholders of the great organization, N. Rovance, F.
K. Esrov, and Cecil Neinfort-Whritings, formed a tiny huddle at one end
of the long conference table. Esrov was waving a copy of the order.
"Gentlemen, we can consider this nothing but an outrage!"
"Blackmail, really!" It was Neinfort-Whritings's lisping voice.
"Whatever it is, this sort of nonsense must be stopped at the
beginning. It might set a precedent."
"May I suggest," Rovance broke in, "that, as the matter of precedent is
sure to arise, we take no action without first consulting Lesquallan
Ltd."
"An excellent idea," Esrov nodded. He switched on the intercom to his
first secretary. "Connect me with Lesquallan Ltd. I want to speak with
Novell Lesquallan. Inform him that it is urgent."
"He just entered our office." The voice that came from the intercom
carried the slightest trace of surprise. "He said he desired to discuss
something about canned goods and snuff. I shall send him in at once."
Rovance turned to Neinfort-Whritings. "I fear that old Cerobie is
becoming senile. Apparently he has lost his mind."
"But really, did he ever have one?"
Nobody laughed. Esrov slammed the restraining order on the conference
table and stood up. "Gentlemen, what shall we do concerning--"
"Yes, gentlemen, that is just what I want to know."
Three heads pivoted. Novell Lesquallan, sole owner of Lesquallan Ltd.,
stood in the doorway. He was a broad, ruddy-faced man with a voice
trained to basso interruptions.
"I understand, Mr. Lesquallan," Esrov said, "that you have a matter to
discuss with us."
"Yes! Sit down, F.K. We have some talking to do--about that bankrupt,
dishonest Acme Interplanetary Express."
"Quite a coincidence," Neinfort-Whritings murmured.
"You got trouble with that outfit, too? That settles it. They've
cluttered up the orderly progress of free enterprise long enough. Out
they go."
Novell Lesquallan swiftly read the document and bellowed an
unintelligible remark.
"Something, quite," Neinfort-Whritings agreed.
* * * * *
Lesquallan got his voice under control. "What action do you intend to
take?"
"We hadn't decided," Rovance answered. "We received the order only a
few minutes ago."
"Before we form our plans," Esrov said, "we would like some
information about your problems with Acme. We understand it involves
canned goods and snuff."
"Yes, those damned.... At the last minute, they turned down a small
load of canned goods for Luna that we'd been decent enough to give
them at reduced rates. They can't get away with that kind of thing
long. But that's just the beginning. They got hold of the contract and
permit to haul a consignment of medicinal snuff to Mars. We had already
arranged for that cargo. You know that snuff situation. Through certain
contacts, we have been able--perfectly legally--to have permits issued.
That customs man must have taken a double--"
"We understand," Rovance broke in. "We have had occasion to make
similar arrangements. The rates--and other inducements--are extremely
satisfactory."
"Well, gentlemen," Lesquallan demanded, "what are we going to do about
this unprecedented situation?"
"I suggest," Neinfort-Whritings said, "that we have our legal staffs
meet in joint session. We should impress on them that the quashing of
this restraining order is urgent. Perhaps we should consider debts owed
us by the judiciary we helped elect."
"An excellent idea," Lesquallan declared. "I will take care of that
part of it myself, personally."
"As to the snuff matter," Esrov said, "I think we should emphasize to
our mutual contact that he should be more discriminating in issuing
permits."
"That's all right for now," Lesquallan snapped. "But he's done with,
too. I'll see to it that he's replaced."
"As to the canned goods situation," Rovance said, "it seems to me that
we should have a subsidiary company to handle our excess cargoes--at
reduced rates, of course. It shouldn't cost too much to pick up one of
the less financially secure companies--such as Acme."