Retief: Saline Solution

By Keith Laumer

Blast you, Retief! Your violent ways are the disgrace of Earth’s diplomatic corps—but your salty jokes are worse! Before becoming a science fiction writer Laumer was an officer in the United States Air Force and a diplomat in the Foreign Service, adding a note of realism to many of his stories. One of science fiction’s true luminaries

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wilder Publications, Inc.
• Release date: Jun 5, 2020
• ISBN: 9781515444374

Keith Laumer

John Keith Laumer (June 9, 1925 – January 23, 1993) was an American science fiction author. Prior to becoming a full-time writer, he was an officer in the United States Air Force and a diplomat in the United States Foreign Service. His older brother March Laumer was also a writer, known for his adult reinterpretations of the Land of Oz (also mentioned in Laumer's The Other Side of Time). Frank Laumer, their youngest brother, is a historian and writer.

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Retief: Saline Solution

by Keith Laumer

©2020 Positronic Publishing

Retief: Saline Solution is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, locales or institutions is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission except for brief quotations for review purposes only.

ISBN 13: 978-1-5154-4437-4

Table of Contents

Saline Solution

Saline Solution

Blast you, Retief! Your violent ways are the disgrace of Earth’s diplomatic corps—but your salty jokes are worse!

I

Consul-General Magnan gingerly fingered the heavily rubber-banded sheaf of dog-eared documents. I haven’t rushed into precipitate action on this claim, Retief, he said. The Consulate has grave responsibilities here in the Belt. One must weigh all aspects of the situation, consider the ramifications. What consequences would arise from a grant of minerals rights on the planetoid to this claimant?

The claim looked all right to me, Retief said. Seventeen copies with attachments. Why not process it? You’ve had it on your desk for a week.

Magnan’s eyebrows went up. You’ve a personal interest in this claim, Retief?

Every day you wait is costing them money. That hulk they use for an ore-carrier is in a parking orbit piling up demurrage.

I see you’ve become emotionally involved in the affairs of a group of obscure miners. You haven’t yet learned the true diplomat’s happy faculty of non-identification with specifics—or should I say identification with non-specifics?

They’re not a wealthy outfit, you know. In fact, I understand this claim is their sole asset—unless you want to count the ore-carrier.

"The Consulate is not