“Very good. Excellent,” said Patter as he happily reviewed the progress reports for the public hunts. Addressing his media liaison he said, “Trotter. Do you have anything to add to these reports?”

  Trotter looked at his tablet and reported, “Great response to the lotteries and the special offers. The secondary market is also quite strong with our agents offering high prices for tickets.”

  “Our agents?” asked Patter.

  “Hmmm, yes. We found that if we stimulate the market with offers, those getting the first tickets believe they have a great bargain and tend to hold the tickets tightly. Our media friends have ‘news’ reports about the phenomenon and so everyone is reinforcing the demand. Also the ‘We only came for a little hunt’ is back on top of the music charts.”

  “Excellent,” said Patter happily, “Are you ready for the first hunts?”

  “Yes,” replied Trotter, swiping to the next screen on his tablet, “We are selecting groups of four to six per party. Our screening has picked up a number of applicants with either too much military experience or our research has uncovered ‘interesting’ backgrounds. These hunters have been redirected to our older more sedate planets. We are reserving Dirt for new hunters.”

  Trotter continued, “Toff is ready at the Hunting Resort on Dirt’s moon. A number of family and friends of hunters are buying the ‘family and friends’ package where they enjoy the resort while supporting their friend or family hunter. They get to play while their hunting friend goes on safari.”

  “And the income is rolling in,” smiled Patter, tapping his screen, “We should recoup our costs in the first year with this excitement.”

  “We estimate we can operate about four hunts a day, separating their destinations as the shuttle orbits Dirt,” said Trotter, “If we can continue that pace, you may get a return even sooner than a year.”

  “Good,” said Patter, “No issues, I presume?”

  “Just a point of interest. Although we don’t need a Hunt Master now that the VIP hunts are complete, Harrick has requested he be on the HTI shuttle with a small security team, just to be on the safe side.”

  “Really? What could go wrong when hunting an NC planet? The inhabitants won’t pose an issue.” Potter replied, then sat back in his chair thinking. Sitting upright he said firmly, “Why not? We can use this as good publicity, ‘Keeping Hunters Safe’ and all that. Do it.”

  Trotter nodded and seeing Potter’s dismissive wave of his paw, turned and left the office.

  “Keeping hunters safe,” Patter muttered, trying to think back to his meeting with Harrick. “Nah,” he thought, “Nothing to worry about.” He turned back to grinning at the lovely increasing numbers on his screen.

  ****

  “Come, come, come!” boomed Toff at Nelson, “We must get everything ready for our guests!”

  Nelson had been made Head of Staff once the special detachment had all left with the VIP hunters. Although he wasn’t able to see much of what had happened during the VIP hunts, he had caught glimpses of happy VIPs and their attendants. But when they had passed, Nelson had a much closer look at the security detail. The Hunt Master’s assistants had all had mishaps on the planet and not all the security forces came back alive. There were many injuries and grim visages. It looked like the security forces had been through hell. He heard them muttering a phrase which was catching on out of hearing of the HTI officials, “It’s a Dirty business!”

  A new contingent of staff had arrived, drawn from all races of the Federation with the lure of good pay and fun experiences. The HTI Hunting Lodge was to be a pseudo luxurious resort, using the excuse of the hunts to get visitors, families and friends to enjoy a week or so while whoever they were with went “on a little hunt” as that annoying song kept repeating. Nelson’s job was to ensure everyone knew what to do and ensure everything was done. This meant he was the gap filler, the one who stepped in when any job fell short or was missed.

  Nelson didn’t like admitting it, as Toff was a tough task master, but he now knew how to do almost everything on the Hunting Lodge and the shuttle. He could fly the shuttle, step in as matter transmitter technician, answer hunters’ questions about all of the weapons and equipment and even make breakfast and prepare the guest’s rooms.

  As the hunts were to start in just one week, it was all a little crazy with everything being made ready, and the principals of the various contractors and businesses were all in attendance to ensure everything was up to their standards. This included the famous “Uncle Bob” from Uncle Bob’s Emporium.

  Nelson liked to be in the trade hall admiring all the fancy weapons and equipment. He had seen the quality weapons and equipment the VIP hunters used and with Toff’s oversight was instructed in the use of all of it, as well as how to discern quality product from the pretenders.

  Nelson jumped when Toff stepped up behind him.

  “Nelson, lad!” boomed Toff, spreading his arms wide as if revealing the impressive display of merchandise, “Pretty stuff isn’t it?”

  Toff then explained how the procurement system worked, “The VIPs were able to get the best quality gear from the most discerning suppliers. You saw it. Very expensive, No?”

  Nelson nodded.

  “So! We now have the peoples wanting to go on their ‘Little Hunt’,” continued Toff, nudging his elbow into Nelson when he sang “little hunt” very off key and grinning, “But they have not so much credits, eh? So HTI helps them!”

  “Helps them? By getting good quality gear at better prices, buying in quantity?” Nelson asked.

  Toff stared at Nelson like he had cracked his head when he was still in his egg, and lightly cuffed him behind his ears, “Stupid boy! No! HTI has a bidding war amongst all those that want to be sole provider to the hunters. Once the peoples arrive at the resort, there is no other providers. The peoples can’t bring their own because of ‘security concerns’” Toff winked and spoke with virtual quote marks around the term “security concerns”.

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  “Hah!” Toff boomed “So the peoples have to buy their equipment here!”

  Nelson looked at the gear on display and asked, “But it looks pretty impressive to me.”

  Toff sighed loudly, ruffling the fronds on Nelson’s head with a loud exhaling of breath.

  “Boy, look at this,” Toff said, slyly looking around to make sure none of the trader staff were around, “See this laser pistol?”

  Nelson picked up the pistol, and it glittered in the night lights, reflecting beautifully. If this was a holo advertisement, he could almost hear the instrumental music in the background. The music was shattered when Toff pressed Nelson’s face closer to the pistol. “Look closer,” he said.

  Once he looked past his reflection in the shiny metal, Nelson realised that it was not metal. Frowning, he looked closer and saw tiny blemishes in the shine and subtle imperfections in the joins. He looked up at Toff who grinned at him, beckoning him to look closer.

  Nelson turned the pistol over in his hands, and walked closer to the nearest light for a better inspection.

  “This is a copy of the pistols the VIPs used,” he said.

  “Yes!” beamed Toff, then put his hand over his mouth and bent over a bit, speaking a little quieter, “Yes. It is mass produced from much cheaper materials. The prices don’t reflect that, but Uncle Bob and the others have to cover their costs of the trading licence and the staff so very far away from the very civilised Federation.”

  Nelson just stood there. “And the rest?” he said, pointing around the trading hall.

  Toff nodded solemnly. Toff reached his hand around Nelson, gently took the laser pistol out of his unresisting hands and carefully placed it back on the bench, taking a little time to wipe away any prints and evidence it had been moved. He then guided Nelson out of the hall.

  “If you need weapons or equipment, we will use my private stash, No?”

  Nelson nodded and turned off the trading hall lights as he closed the doors.

  *****

  Heron and Byron were eager to do their part when X Bear explained the plan. They were to go on a hunt as normal hunters. X Bear had created fake identification so they would not be known as the discoverers of Dirt as that would give the game away. They were cleverly given the nom de plumes of Hyron and Beron, very common names from their culture. Lucky for them their people only used about twenty or so first names, it was the totally unpronounceable last names that distinguished them.

  Travel times to Dirt varied, but as everyone used the GET and then Intersected to the same point before the local pulse drive, it all worked out to about the same. Byron’s mood varied from excited to worried and back again, often times in a very short space of time.

  X Bear had provided them with some extra spending money with the wise words, “Be careful. You will only be able to buy the weapons and gear from the official Trading Partners at the HTI Hunting Lodge. The quality is not the best, but it is serviceable. They have to comply with Federation quality standards and they do - at a minimum. Just get whatever you think you can comfortably handle. The secret to surviving your hunt is to be careful, but not too careful. Brave but not foolhardy. Move quickly, but slowly when you have to.”

  Heron nodded, but Byron was not understanding at all, “What? Fast but slow, careful and not. I don’t understand.”

  X Bear considered his advice and smiled, “Yes, I can understand that. Do you watch any adventure dramas?”

  Byron cheered up at that question, “Oh yes. Lots! Mr Magnificent episode one to seventeen. But fifteen wasn’t as good. Then Commander King, all of them, and …”

  X Bear waved his hand at Byron who paused what would have been quite a long recital of his favourite pastime, “Well, they are all made up don’t you know? Typically it’s more dangerous, getting shot or lost hurts more and there are lots of boring bits in between really scary danger. Just be careful, okay?”

  Heron nodded and Byron nodded, but less surely, dropping his shoulders.

  “Anyway, I will try to do what I can to help you,” X bear promised. Byron smiled and sat up straighter, “But I can’t be with you. I will be in the background when I can, and if delayed I will make sure to help when I can.” Byron drooped again, but not as low.

  X Bear looked up and said, “Ah, here we are. You’ll be landing soon. Don’t look for me, but I’ll be around. Can you see the HTI hunting lodge in the viewing port?”

  Heron and Byron peered out the window and Heron turned to ask another question. But X Bear had disappeared.

  “How does he do that?” asked Byron, scratching his head fronds.

  ****

  “Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!” boomed the large creature at the exit from the landing bay, “I am Toff your Hunting Lodge Master. You will enjoy your stay here at our lovely resort. Everything is covered by your fee, other than the extras listed on your ticket! If you have issue, just ask my assistant, the Head of Staff!”

  Toff turned but Nelson wasn’t there. “Where was the boy?” thought Toff, “He has been right here for every other arrival!”

  Toff turned back to the new arrivals, “So, come this way. Our friendly staff will assist you. Follow the coloured lines that match your ticket and you will find your rooms. The tickets also serve as your security key. Your meal will be at the seventh hour where we will all gather, yes?”

  Heron and Byron stepped past the beaming Toff as they followed the purple line matching the colour on their tickets. Soon they were settled in, ready for the group dinner later and then a week of holiday resort activities. To keep up the ruse, they used their ‘token of appreciation’ to purchase the deluxe package which involves a week of resort vacation before their hunt.

  Even though they didn’t agree with hunting in principle, they were still affected by the excitement generated from generations of positive depictions of hunting they had absorbed their whole life.

  ***

  Nelson stood in shock as he stood slightly behind and beside Toff ready to welcome the latest party to arrive. Many parties had already arrived and this was becoming routine. Putting on his professional grin, he stood tall and examined all the passengers.

  Then his face froze as he saw two very familiar blue creatures he knew very well. Heron and Byron! They weren’t on the list of arrivals. He stepped back and looked at the list. Hyron and Beron! They were using fake names. He had never suspected with such different names. Clever.

  Holding up his tablet to cover most of his face, he noticed Heron and Byron paying attention to the booming welcome of Toff. Looking quickly up at the back of Toff, he backed slowly away and then turned and slipped out the entrance to hide in one of the side storerooms.

  “What were they doing here?” Nelson muttered to himself, “They must know something.”

  Nelson watched the new arrivals all walk past his alcove as he peeked through a narrow slit of the mostly closed door. Thankfully Heron and Byron were chatting and concentrating on the purple line to get to their rooms. Once they had passed and turned a corner, Nelson stepped out, almost getting pushed over by a moving Toff, following up the rear of the departing arrivals.

  “Nelson!” boomed Toff, “You are here?”

  “Shhhh,” whispered Nelson, looking around to make sure none of the arrivals turned around.

  “What?” boomed Toff only slightly less loud, “I am always quiet.”

  Toff looked at Nelson with a kind but stern look, questioning Nelson.

  “Sir, I had to step out. Funny gut, sir. Didn’t want our arrivals to get the wrong idea.” Nelson lied.

  “Hmmm,” said Toff, “Next time you let me know, you hear?”

  Toff patted Nelson on the head and said, “Now off with you. Be Head of Staff. Do good work!”

  As Toff walked off down the corridor, Nelson followed slowly behind and then quickly turned the opposite way to the cabins.

  “Think! Think!” he said to himself, “What do I do?”