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〃Fine。 Then get this list〃 … Heris handed it to her … 〃loaded as soon as you can。 I'll pack my kit； and what else we need。〃
〃The weapons。〃 Cecelia scowled。
〃Yes。 The weapons。〃 The weapons were going to be a problem； any way she went at it。 Personal weapons were mon enough； but Cecelia； as a dedicated fox hunter； had brought none with her； and Heris's own small handgun would not be enough。
That morning the green hunt gathered at Stone Lodge； so the house staff at the Main House seemed less rushed。 The housekeeper's eyebrows went up slightly when Heris mentioned weapons； but the brief explanation that Lady Cecelia wanted to find her nephew brought them back down； as if Lady Cecelia could be expected to take after her relatives with firepower。
〃Senedor and Clio have a shop here during the season；〃 the housekeeper said； mentioning a firm of weapons dealers as famous in their way as the great fashion houses。 〃I imagine they would have anything Lady Cecelia might want。〃
〃Thank you；〃 Heris said； once she'd heard the name； she remembered seeing the S&C logo outside one of the little stone buildings that made up the mercial row： saddlers； bootmakers； tailors and bloodstock agents。
Senedor & Clio's local representative weled her with a wink and a smile。
〃Lady Cecelia； eh？ What's she doing now； deciding to turn elphoose hunter？
You're her captain。。。。 You look like regular military。〃
〃I was。〃 Heris did not elaborate。 She had thought of a good story on the way over。 〃Look … I'm buying two lots … they'll need separate accounting。 Lady Cecelia's yacht is woefully undergunned； the crew's arms are pitiful。〃 In fact； the crew had no weapons at all。 〃I finally convinced her that in some of the places she wants to travel； she needs to arm the crew with something more advanced than muzzle…loaders from the family museum。〃
The man chuckled。 〃A lot of these aristocrats are like that … they don't expect to need real protection。〃
〃And most of them probably don't；〃 Heris conceded。 〃The ones who make a safe round from hunting here to deep…sea fishing on Fandro and back to court for the season。。。 but you know Lady Cecelia isn't like that。〃 The man nodded。
〃So。。。 I'm going to do my job and see that she isn't hijacked somewhere。〃
〃Umm。 We don't carry many of that sort of thing down here；〃 he said。 〃But let's see。。。 here。〃 The holo catalog showed something that looked like the landing troops' rifles and submachine guns。 Exactly what Heris had been hoping for。 〃These are made by Zechard； who as you know supply the fleet marines。
Ours； of course； go through additional testing from the factory。 We have a gross of each model up at Home Station； and we could deliver anything up to that quantity direct to Lady Cecelia's yacht。 The Sweet Delight； isn't it？〃
Heris wondered if Lepescu knew that somewhere on Home Station were a gross each of military quality rifles and the stubby…barrelled weapons which had been called OOZ for time out of mind。 Heris remembered that one instructor at the Academy had said they were supposed to be O07's； but through a puter glitch they'd been renamed。 The landing force's gory jest was that they were called OOZ because that's what they made of anyone foolish enough to get in the way。 And how many were on the other Stations？ She did not ask； but smiled ruefully at the salesman instead。 〃That would cause problems；〃 she said。 〃At least now。 You've probably heard that we've a standing watch aboard … ？〃
〃Yes … that's why I thought …〃
She shook her head at him。 〃The Stationmaster was none too pleased about that； Lady Cecelia is sure he will not like having that crew armed with modern weapons。 Of course they're harmless … it's only a handful； and most of them don't yet know how to use these … 〃 She tapped the holo catalog and the image shivered。 〃But she said to gather the weapons here and transport them under her personal seal and responsibility when we leave。 She is concerned as well that such weapons look too。。。〃 Heris's lips pursed and she gave the salesman a look of plicity。 〃Too real。 You know … it would ruin her decorating scheme or something。 I wondered if you had a small number of those which could be customized to look more like hunting weapons。〃
The man's eyes brightened。 〃Ah。。。 yes。 Here。〃 The catalog image flicked to something with a stock of burnished wood instead of extruded carbon…fiber/alloy and a civilian…style sighting system and puter socket。
〃It's the same； exactly； but with add…on about two hundred grams heavier。 It does cost more。。。。〃
〃Perfect；〃 said Heris firmly。 〃Twenty of the rifles； and five subs。。。。〃 The OOZ had been prettified with wood and inlay； but less successfully。 They would pass； however； for the weapon many explorers carried on pioneer worlds。
〃I don't have that many set up；〃 the man said。 At her frown； he added quickly； 〃But it doesn't take long。 The hunt's away today； and my techs are both free。
A few hours only。。。。〃
They didn't have a few hours。 〃How many do you have ready？〃 Heris asked。 〃I wanted to show milady what they would look like。〃
〃If brasilwood and corriwood are acceptable； I've got a couple of beauties already made up。〃 He vanished behind a mesh grill and returned with two of the rifles and a single submachine gun。 The rifle stocks had the curly green and blue grain of brasilwood； probably from a plantation on this very planet； the OOZ's wood decoration was in the pale yellow and gray grain of Devian corriwood。 Heris ran tier fingers over both； the rifles felt silky and the sub a bit tacky； giving a grip that would always hold no matter what。 She picked up each weapon to check its balance。
〃You'll want to fire them；〃 the man said with certainty。 〃Our range is back here …〃
〃Just a moment；〃 Heris said。 〃This is not all； remember？ On Lady Cecelia's personal account； not the yacht account； I will need to select personal weapons for her。〃 She paged through the catalog； and allowed the salesman to lead her towards the items she already knew she wanted。 Light hunting rifles with day…and…night optics； IR range finding； and puter links for special purposes； a narrow…beam optical weapon that could also be used to operate ship controls； personal protective gear。。。。 The salesman seemed to consider it natural that she ordered for herself as well； but she dared not put vests and helmets for the young people on the list。
Then it was done； and he led her through another mesh grill to the indoor firing range without waiting for her opinion。 She forced herself to follow with no sign of hurry。 Surely Cecelia wouldn't get the flitter loaded in the time limit she'd given her。 And despite her need to hurry； her training held … you could not trust a weapon you had not personally tested。
When all the weapons had checked out； as she had been sure they would； she came back to the main showroom and glanced around。 〃I'll contact you when Lady Cecelia approves the choice of wood for the stocks； and I'm hoping to convince her to buy appropriate armor for the crew as well。 We'll be using these in the next few days； I'll need ammunition。。。。〃
〃Here；〃 he said； stacking boxes of clips。 〃And I presume a weaponscart？〃
Heris nodded； glad that sh