Freedom's Ransom Read online

  “Readers will savor [McCaffrey’s] works for generations to come.”

  —Starlog

  Praise for Anne McCaffrey’s Freedom series

  Freedom’s Landing

  “McCaffrey has created another set of winning protagonists and a carefully detailed, exotic background.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  “There are enough problems and mysteries involved in establishing a colony to keep things interesting and to promise intriguing developments to come.”

  —Locus

  “Not for nothing do her fans call the author ‘the Dragonlady’ … She crafts a sci-fi adventure that will please followers of the genre and of the author.”

  —Dayton Daily News

  “Exciting and totally convincing … There can be only more action in the sequels McCaffrey presumably plans.”

  —Booklist

  “The narrative hits an admirable groove.”

  —Kirkus Reviews

  Freedom’s Choice

  “A fun adventure … Delightfully audacious.”

  —Locus

  “This episode of the Freedom saga is as exciting and convincing as the first.”

  —Booklist

  “The setting is crisp and expertly detailed, and the plot spins out smoothly … Readers will be eager for the next installment in the series.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  Freedom’s Challenge

  “The action is fast-paced and riveting, and the characters—human and of other species—are well limned and exhibit great individuality. McCaffrey continues to amaze with her ability to create disparate, well-realized worlds and to portray believable humans, convincing aliens of varied sorts, and credible interactions between them all. A very satisfying tale.”

  —Booklist

  “Rip-roaring adventure no science fiction fan could possibly resist.”

  —RT Book Reviews

  Freedom’s Ransom

  “Touching and humorous.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  “McCaffrey is masterly at creating universes and characters so memorable that readers can slip comfortably back into [her] world … Full of humorous events as well as excitement, the fourth entry in McCaffrey’s Freedom series will be relished by fans.”

  —Booklist

  Praise for the bestselling novels of

  Anne McCaffrey’s Tower and Hive series

  The Rowan

  “A reason for rejoicing.”

  —The Washington Times

  “One of the best McCaffrey novels.”

  —Locus

  “The Rowan introduces readers to the Gwyn-Raven dynasty … complete with an interstellar love affair steamy enough to attract those not usually interested in science fiction.”

  —Calgary Herald

  “A well-told tale … McCaffrey’s popularity is immense and justified.”

  —Booklist

  Damia

  “Dynamic.”

  —St. Louis Post-Dispatch

  “Holds the reader spellbound [with an] artful weave of romance and humor that infuses her characters.”

  —Calgary Herald

  “McCaffrey interweaves an engrossing romance with a coming-of-age story as she examines the issue of responsibility in a society where survival depends on the abilities of a gifted few.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  Damia’s Children

  “Winning, carefully developed young characters, an attractive alien society, and an enemy drawn with more than a touch of mystery.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  “McCaffrey’s fans won’t be disappointed … Fascinating in its exploration of the brain’s potential and untapped powers.”

  —The Calgary Sun

  “McCaffrey skillfully combines elements of family, adventure, action, and the intriguing possibilities of psychic phenomena.”

  —The Toledo Blade

  Lyon’s Pride

  “McCaffrey’s protagonists remain as warm and appealing as ever.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  “McCaffrey continues to spin a good tale … All in all, a rich, compelling novel.”

  —Booklist

  The Tower and the Hive

  “Readers looking for intelligent, heroic adventure will find it here, and Rowan fans will be especially pleased at this felicitous closing of a popular SF series.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  “Brings to a satisfying culmination the tale of three generations of a uniquely gifted family.”

  —Library Journal

  Ace Books by Anne McCaffrey

  The Tower and Hive Series

  The Rowan

  Damia

  Damia’s Children

  Lyon’s Pride

  The Tower and the Hive

  The Freedom Series

  Freedom’s Landing

  Freedom’s Choice

  Freedom’s Challenge

  Freedom’s Ransom

  FREEDOM’S RANSOM

  ANNE MCCAFFREY

  THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP

  Published by the Penguin Group

  Penguin Group (USA) LLC

  375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014

  USA * Canada * UK * Ireland * Australia * New Zealand * India * South Africa * China

  penguin.com

  A Penguin Random House Company

  FREEDOM’S RANSOM

  An Ace Book / published by arrangement with the author

  Copyright © 2002 by Anne McCaffrey.

  Penguin supports copyright. Copyright fuels creativity, encourages diverse voices, promotes free speech, and creates a vibrant culture. Thank you for buying an authorized edition of this book and for complying with copyright laws by not reproducing, scanning, or distributing any part of it in any form without permission. You are supporting writers and allowing Penguin to continue to publish books for every reader.

  Ace Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group.

  ACE and the “A” design are trademarks of Penguin Group (USA) LLC.

  For information, address: The Berkley Publishing Group,

  a division of Penguin Group (USA) LLC,

  375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

  eBook ISBN: 978-0-698-14384-5

  PUBLISHING HISTORY

  Ace/Putnam hardcover edition / June 2002

  Ace mass-market edition / February 2003

  Cover art by Shane Rebedschied / Shannon Associates.

  Cover design by Leslie Worrell.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Table of Contents

  Dedication

  Preface

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  DEDICATION

  This book is respectfully dedicated to the people I’ve met on my chat line: herewith listed in their on-line nicknames. I apologize in advance if I have forgotten anyone, and this list is current even to newbies as of June 19, 2001.

  Many of you gave me your time, encouragement, and often explicit help throughout this book. I am pleased to have met all of you listed below. Ciao.

  Alettah

  Ambrosius

  An

  Anareth

  Angele

  Anneli

  A’ron

 
Aviendha

  Barbie

  BD

  Beck/Coelura

  Belarion

  Betsy

  Birgit

  Bonnbon

  Bowser

  Brina

  Cami

  Cheryl

  Chris

  Cindy

  Clueless

  Corsaith

  C’ris

  Dark Steps

  Debbiedamoodymom

  Dianna

  Draig

  Elfinfriend

  Elrhan

  Emma

  Freev

  Gail

  Gill

  Gizmo nine

  Grainne

  Grey Bear

  Gynna

  Habit 2

  Happy Butterfly

  Heideth

  Hishin

  Ivo

  Jax

  Jeffrywith1e

  Jenna, Trivia Lady

  John

  Jojo

  Jor

  Jorine

  Khricket

  Kismet

  K’Nan

  Koolness

  Kris raven

  Kyky

  Lady Cygnet

  Laurel

  Leia

  Little Bit

  Loiosh

  L’rry

  Mallory

  Marie

  MasterHarper 57

  Mavron

  Melissa

  Michael

  Miranda

  Moomin

  Mousertx

  Mpatane

  Natalie

  NCC2235

  Nemkitty

  Nemlee

  Nirgal

  Peanuts

  Princess Jennifer

  Quixotic

  Ranen

  Rapunzel

  Raz

  Rimmer

  Rogue Wolf

  Rosli

  Rube

  Simon

  Sparkies

  S’ran/Sokar

  SW

  Tail Kink2Enniem

  Tankiawee

  Thalarob

  Thunderchild

  Tsarina

  Wendy

  Wolf Shadow

  York Harper

  “We dropped, we stay!”

  Slogan of the Botany Colonists

  Preface

  When the Catteni, mercenaries for an alien race called the Eosi, invaded Earth, they used their standard tactic of domination by landing in fifty cities across the planet and removing entire urban populations. These they distributed throughout the Catteni worlds and sold as slaves along with other conquered species.

  A group rounded up from the prisons on the planet Barevi, a hub of the Catteni empire, was dumped on an M-type planet of unknown quality, given rations and tools, and left to deal with the conditions of the planet. Chuck Mitford, former marine sergeant, took charge of the mixed group, which included sullen, pugnacious Turs, spiderlike Deski, hairy Rugarians, vague Ilginish, and gaunt Morphins, with Humans in the majority. Astonishingly enough, there was one Catteni, Emassi Zainal, who had been shanghaied onto the prison ship. Though there were those who wanted to kill him immediately, Kris Bjornsen, latterly of Denver, suggested that he might have valuable information about the planet on which they were stranded. Zainal’s knowledge of the planet’s predators, scant as it was, saved their lives.

  Installed in a rocky site, with cliffs and caves to give them protection, Mitford quickly organized a camp, using the specific abilities of each species and assigning tasks to everyone in this unusual community. However, the planet was soon discovered to be inhabited by machines, the Mechs, which automatically tended extensive croplands and the six-legged bovine animals. The colonists quickly learned how to dismantle the machines and design the sort of equipment they needed.

  In a confrontation with yet another slave ship, dropping off more prisoners, the colonists got hold of aerial maps of the planet. Among the features of the maps was what appeared to be a big artificial installation, presumably constructed by the original owners of the planet. A member of the discovery team launched a homing device more for curiosity than intent. Both the Eosi overlords looking for Zainal and the genuine owners of the planet noted the release of the device. An Eosi search crew sent to bring Zainal back to face his familial duty to be an Eosian host failed. The owners of the planet, whom the colonists named the “Farmers,” came and were revealed as peaceful life forms with no connection to the Eosi. The Farmers made it clear that the colonists were welcome to stay, and even acted to protect them from the Eosi.

  As they explored the new world together, Kris learned that Zainal had a three-phase plan-one that he hoped would end the domination of his people by the Eosi and, incidentally, would include the liberation of Earth. Zainal explained to Mitford and to other naval, airforce, and army personnel how he meant to proceed-initially by capturing the next Catteni ship to drop slaves on Botany.

  The successful execution of Zainal’s plan netted the colonists not one but two usable spaceships. Even with the capability of leaving Botany, Zainal was often heard to say, “I dropped, I stay,” a defiant attitude, and a phrase that became a rallying cry for the Botany colonists.

  While the Eosi surveillance satellites were on the other side of the Botany world, the two ships now available to the colony were able to successfully infiltrate Barevi and acquire much-needed fuel and supplies. Kris, who had already learned enough Catteni to deal with merchants, and other Catteni speakers disguised themselves to accompany Zainal on this mission. While there, they rescued a number of Humans whose minds had been wiped by the Eosi. While on Barevi, Zainal also made contact with dissident Emassi, Catteni leaders also pledged to end Eosian domination.

  With Zainal’s first efforts so successful and Botany safe, the colonists were more than ready to follow his leadership. To continue his efforts to free not only his own people but also Earth’s, a special mission was sent to Earth, where an active underground movement was already eroding Catteni occupation.

  In Freedom’s Challenge, Zainal risks his life in a bid to destroy the Eosi with the help of the dissident Catteni hierarchy and wins freedom for Botany and other enforced colony worlds inhabited by Humans. But that was the first phase of his plan. Kris knows Zainal well enough to understand that he still intends to make contact with the Farmers and discover their home world. But that wish is yet again interrupted when the colonists discover that most of the technical materials they need have been looted from Earth and are now stored on Barevi. As the Barevian merchants insist on being paid to surrender the loot, Zainal and Kris must again face the necessity of leaving Botany and finding a way to ransom the materials they desperately need to help both Earth and Botany.

  Chapter One

  Kamiton’s messenger came in a Baby-type fast scout, and Jerry Short, the duty officer in the hangar, immediately informed Zainal of its imminent arrival and request to land.

  Zainal, in turn, called Kris, Peter Easley, and Dorothy Dwardie, as members of the Botany Management Board, to join him. He had good relations with Kamiton and wanted to keep everything “above-board,” Kris’s often used idiom for openness. He recognized the call sign of the scout as one that Kamiton frequently used so he was somewhat prepared for bad news but did not warn the others, preferring that they take whatever news came with this messenger without any predisposition. It might not be bad news. But why else would Kamiton be sending a messenger, which suggested something he did not wish broadcast on the Botany comm lines?

  Kamiton had chosen a nephew of Zainal’s, firstborn son of Zainal’s favorite sister, which confirmed Zainal’s premonition that the news was bad. As Kris often did, she compared the new arrival to her beloved Zainal. She did not expect any familial resemblance, although she noticed as the young man— probably in his mid-twenties approached that he was slightly shorter than Zainal but still tall for a Catteni. He had the heavy build of the true Catteni, born and adapted to Catten’s heavier gravity. His grayish
skin and yellow eyes were expectable. Zainal’s Botany tan had altered his skin tone to a more vibrant shade of taupe and made Paxel seem drabber by comparison. But it was in the features that the main difference was plainly visible. She had always liked Zainal’s nose, which was not as fleshy as most Catteni. Certainly, Zainal’s mouth was better shaped, not as thick as Paxel’s and far more flexible, often giving her hints as to his mood. It was severe enough right now, though; she noted the little flattening of his lips, indicating that he found this situation disagreeable and wanted to get it over with as soon as possible. She suspected then that he was anticipating a problem.

  So, in his capacity as one of the governors of Botany, Zainal greeted his nephew Paxel affably and offered him coffee—a great new favorite of Catteni. Paxel grinned, showing three gold caps, a sight that caused Kris to have to hide an astonished grin. Zainal covered her astonishment by introducing Paxel, name and rank, first to Dwardie.

  “This is a sister’s firstborn, Emassi Paxel. I make you known to Eminent Dwardie, and my mate, Excellent Lady Emassi Kris, and Peter Easley.” He reached for the message, which Paxel somewhat reluctantly handed over.

  It bore Kamiton’s name, plus the characters that confirmed that other Catteni officials were aware that a message had been sent to him. That did not bode well. He waved Paxel to a chair at the table in the hangar office. Then he broke the seal and could not suppress a grunt of dismay. When he had digested its import, he tossed the letter across the table to Kris, who could read some Catteni, though probably not all the diplomatic terms and courtesies. The gist of the message stood out as if written in red: “Barevi merchants will not surrender any Terran goods retrieved by the Eosi or Catteni captains.” Paxel’s eyes had mirrored astonishment when Zainal gave the message first to Kris, rather than to Peter. Very few Catteni women were ever consulted on matters of significance.

  “You mean, they need a bribe to give us back anything?” she demanded, outraged. “And sent your sister’s firstborn with the news so you wouldn’t kill him out of hand?”

  Zainal managed not to grin at her quick understanding of the ploy. She flicked the message across the smooth table toward Peter.

  “What?” Dorothy Dwardie was equally incensed. She read the note over Peter’s shoulder.

  “They’re very acquisitive, the merchants of Barevi,” Kris said, having dealt with them during her enslavement on the trade planet and more recently during her clandestine visit disguised as a Catteni officer.