[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
filed about some resident of the planet of Trinite, by name of Sutro, on a charge of conspiracy to violate
Fed-eration statutes up to and including murder and further alleges that this Sutro also conspired to
conceal his part in said crimes and further is likely to commit even more heinous crimes if not brought to
the bar immediately?"
"What's wrong with that?"
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
"It reeketh when the person filing said complaint happens to be a warrant hunter named Joshua Wolfe,"
Achebe complained. "Now what are you going to do? Go out and serve your own warrant?"
"Of course."
"Samedi with a new derby," Achebe swore. "Are you also going to post a reward?"
"Nope. Thought that might be a little much."
"Joshua, Joshua. Why?"
Wolfe's smile vanished. "Because I might run into some trouble with whatever passes for law on Trinite.
I'd like to have some cover."
"You know this Sutro doesn't have any record with the Federation? At least nothing I could find."
"I know. That's another reason for the complaint."
"Trinite's quite a planet."
"Never been there."
"Let's say it's got alot of gold. I'm glad it's not in my sector. The people there seem to think they can do
pretty much what they want and buy off any complaints afterward."
"Are they right?"
"Damned close," Achebe admitted. "Which brings up my last question. If the shit hits the fan, what do
you think I'll be able to do to help?"
"Send flowers, maybe."
Achebe sighed in relief. "Okay. I'll approve and E-post it. I assume you don't want any real circulation
but just want it there for the record.
"I was afraid you'd slipped a notch and thought the law in the Outlaw Worlds maybe was going to
actually be able to do something."
"I know better than that, Jagua."
"You have time for a drink? Might be your last, you know."
"With a cheery invite like that, how could I refuse?"
"So you're alive."
"Alive? I do not know if that is the proper concept. All systems are locked into green. All circuitry is
per-forming better than before I was refitted, and my sen-sors advise that all parts of me are as good as
or better than when I was first launched. Thank you."
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Joshua was astonished.
"Thank you?"
"My programmer said you would be startled," the ship went on. "She said a bit of a personality was
needed. I have no computation on the value of her be-lief."
Joshua chuckled. "All right. It's nice to have you back, if your circuits can now interpret that. I could
have used your services a couple of times in the last month. Is everything go?"
"Affirmative. Destination tape running. Tower clear-ance granted. At your command."
"Let's do it."
TheGrayle shuddered, came off the shipyard ways, hovered down a solid-painted line to a lift point,
then rose still higher, canted to near vertical, and screamed up off Carlton VI.
The unobtrusive man wearing dark, sober clothing put his binocs back in their case and started
unhurriedly toward the com booth at the back of the observation deck.
CHAPTER NINE
The first Al'ar struck the boy from behind, sending him sprawling. Joshua, as taught, tucked and rolled,
coming up as the second Al'ar youth flashed a hand across the boy's stomach, a seeming touch that made
Joshua scream in agony and stumble back.
The third was maneuvering to get behind him, and Joshua spun kicked, his boot crashing into the Al'ar's
thigh. The alien fell but made no sound, although his hood flared wide in pain and both hands grasped his
leg.
The first came in once more, thin white arm darting out like a pointer, touching Joshua's wrist and
sending pain burning up his arm.
Joshua had the alley wall at his back, and he waited, trying to keep tears from welling and blinding him.
The Al'ar attacked again, and Joshua ducked his head to the side and sent a hammer strike into the
Al'ar's chest. The alien squealed and fell, and one of his friends dragged him back. The other two
hesitated, then
grabbed the third by the shoulders and were gone into the evening mist.
Joshua fought pain, fought collapse.
Another Al'ar moved out of the darkness.
"You fought well,"he said."For a groundworm."
That was one of the Al'ar terms for terrestrials.
"To the mud with you,"Joshua managed."If you wish to share what your friends found, you have but to
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ask."
"I desire no self-proving this evening,"the Al'ar said. Joshua only half understood his words. His family
had been stationed on Sauros for only three E-months, and he was still being tutored.
"Then remove your worthless self from my way."Joshua limped forward.
"Iwill help you,"the Al'ar said, seemingly undis-turbed by the insults. He stepped forward, and Joshua
managed a guard stance.
"You need not fear me. I have spoken my intent"
Joshua hesitated, then, for an unknown reason, let the Al'ar lift his arm around his neck. All the Al'ar
ap-peared emaciated but were able to lift far more than most terrestrials another mystery unanswered.
"I live "
'1 know your burrow,"the Al'ar said."You are the hatchling of the One Who Speaks for All
Ground-lings."Astonishingly, the Al'ar continued in strangely accented Terran: "Your word is
'Ambassador'?"
Joshua stopped in his tracks."You speak my lan-guage! No one has ever done that."
"There are a few of us who are& weird? No, ab-
errant It is not thought good to& reduce yourself and speak like a Lesser One."
"Thank you for very little. I will not embarrass you any more,"Joshua said."I must learn your words
better, anyway."
The Al'ar made no response, and they limped on.
"I was interested seeing the way you fought,''the Al'ar said."I have never seen a ground worm do that"
"It has the name of " Joshua was forced back into Terran. " tae kwan do." Then he returned to Al'ar.
"It is a discipline you must work at My father is a mas-ter, and when I learned all he had, he found one
who was his master to teach me more."
"Perhaps you should learn our ways of fighting. They are very deadly. Those hatchlings were but toying
with you. If they had learned their skills well or intended real harm, you would not be on this plane. So I
would say our ways are better than yourtaekwan do."
"Who would teach me?"
"Perhaps,"the Al'ar said,"I might If I wished."
Joshua stared at the alien but decided not to question him.
"Why,"Joshua asked,"did they attack me?"
"Because they were curious."
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
"Three of them against one? And hitting me from behind?"
The Al'ar turned his snakelike head toward the boy."But of course,"he said, and Joshua thought he
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]