The Song of Phaid the Gambler

by Mick Farren

  'Something like that.'

  'Shit.'

  'You're a charmer.'

  'That's right, and I don't want to get myself killed, maimed or arrested because some dumb society broad wanted to find herself some vicarious thrills. You stick close, do exactly what I tell you, and if you screw up, I'll dump you. You got that?'

  'Listen, I don't have to take . . .'

  'You got that?'

  'Okay, Okay, I got it. We ought to say goodbye to Roni-Vows.'

  '1 suppose so.'

  Roni-Vows wasn't hard to find. He was still playing out the role of the perfect host whose party has been cut off by a riot. After telling Phaid and Abrella-Lu that they were quite mad, he bid them a fond farewell, then, by way of an afterthought, he glanced at Phaid.

  'You don't have a weapon, do you?'

  Phaid patted his hip where his fuse tube normally hung.

  'You're right. I don't. I left it at Edelline-Lan's with my other clothes.'

  'Do you want to borrow one?'

  Phaid nodded.

  'Sure, if you've got something suitable.'

  'I think I can accommodate you.'

  An android was dispatched to fetch the weapon. It turned out to be a miniature, snub-nosed blaster finished in ornamental silver. Phaid weighed it in his hand.

  'It's real light, but it should do.'

  'It's better than that great phallic cannon you normally carry. Something like this is much more chic.'

  Phaid could hardly believe what he was hearing.

  'You're telling me there are even fashions in weapons?'

  'There are fashions in everything.'

  'So it seems.'

  Phaid and Abrella-Lu descended to street level. For a few moments they hung back in the shelter of the entrance to Roni-Vows' building while Phaid took stock of the situation. The police had either cleared the immediate area or else the riot had moved on to another part of the city. A lot of windows had been broken and a hologram display that had featured the President had been partially torn down. Ironically, the parts that had been ripped away revealed that the hologram had been put on top of a billboard of her dead husband, the previous President. The street was littered with rocks, cans and broken glass. The riot had obviously passed that way, but now every­thing was quiet. Only three people were visible. One was sitting on the sidewalk staring dazedly into space, a second was lying in the road, unpleasantly still, while the third walked in unsteady circles, shaking his head as though trying to understand what had happened. A thin trickle of blood ran down the left side of his face.

  Phaid motioned to Abrella-Lu.

  'It looks as though things got pretty rough.'

  'I think I'm a little frightened.'

  'You could still go back.'

  'Hell no, I want to see this.'

  'Okay then.'

  Phaid walked purposefully out into the street with Abrella-Lu following close behind. He approached the man who was still on his feet.

  'What happened?'

  The man looked at him uncomprehendingly.

  'They didn't have to do it.'

  'Who didn't?'

  'They ran right over us.'

  'The police?'

  'Right over us.'

  Phaid pointed to the gash that ran right along the man's hairline.

  'You ought to get someone to take a look at that.'

  Still the man didn't seem to hear him.

  'They didn't have to do it.'

  Abrella-Lu touched Phaid on the arm.

  'You won't get him to tell you anything. He's in shock.'

  'You're right. We might as well move on.'

  'Which direction?'

  Phaid thought for a moment.

  'Where do you live?'

  'On the Yard Prospect, exactly where a superior young woman should live, but I don't want to go there. It'd be too boring.'

  'I've got a hotel near the terminal tower. We should maybe head in that direction.'

  'That sounds tacky.'

  'So where do you want to go?'

  'Oh, I'll come to your hotel with you. I'm up for a tacky evening.'

  'I don't know that we're spending the evening together.'

  Abrella-Lu looked Phaid up and down as though she didn't quite believe he was real.

  'What's the matter with you? Don't you want me?'

  'I suppose most men do?'

  'Damn right they do.'

  Phaid sighed.

  'You can come to the hotel with me if you want to. Who am I to refuse.'

  Abrella-Lu's lip curled.

  'Who indeed.'

  That seemed to temporarily end the conversation. They walked for two blocks in silence, Phaid watchful and Abrella-Lu seemingly indifferent to everything that was going on around her. There was still damage and debris, but no active signs of the riot, although Phaid could still see smoke drifting over buildings and hear distant sounds of disturbance.

  At the third corner, Phaid paused for a moment, wondering which way he should go. Abrella-Lu also halted.

  'You know something? That must have been about the least passionate proposition I've ever received.'

  Phaid stared at her blankly.

  'What was? What proposition?'

  'You inviting me to your hotel.'

  Phaid summoned up all his patience.

  'Listen, you're very attactive and I'm sure you're a great lay, but right now I'm not thinking passionate. I'm going across town with a riot going on and I'm using all my concentration to keep us out of trouble. Once we get to the hotel it may be different, but, right now, that's the way it is.'

  'Just like that?'

  'Just like that. Now, shall we get going?'

  Abrella-Lu scowled.

  'Sure, but I'm starting to go off this expedition.'

  'Then go back.'

  'You don't lose me that easily.'

  They made a right turn and went on walking. Phaid realised that they were getting closer to the source of the noise.

  'Remember what I told you. Do exactly what I do.'

  'Sure thing, glorious leader.'

  Phaid resisted an urge to slap the woman and kept on walking. There were more people on the streets now. Agitated groups hung around on corners, some scared, most angry. Bit by bit, Phaid began to build up the story. Almost everyone had a different set of details, but almost everyone agreed that a large presence of police had attempted to clear the streets immediately after the end of the wind games. There had seemingly been no restraints placed on the amount of force that they were permitted to use. They had waded into the crowds with clubs and grenades of riot control gas that caused uncontrollable spasms and hallucinations in anyone who inhaled it.

  There had been even more casualties in the panic that followed. Men, women and children had been trampled underfoot as mobs rushed for shelter. Sections of the crowd had resisted and at that point the blasters had come out and the killing started.

  Some people to whom Phaid had talked claimed that the police had moved in because there had been wide­spread purse-snatching or looting. Others were certain that it was a result of a capricious order from the Palace. There were also stories of how the underground was using the riots as an excuse for direct confrontation with the police. Reports of shootouts and sniping came from all over the city. There was even a tale of how a gang of Day Ones had attacked a police barracks. Quite a few people were firmly convinced that the long expected revolt had started.

  Phaid finally decided that he had heard enough. He took hold of Abrella-Lu's arm and steered her gently through the small knots of excitable people.

  'We should try and make it through to the hotel.'

  'I haven't seen a riot yet.'

  'You don't want to if you can help it.'

  'So what did we come out here for?'

  'To see what was going on, not to actually get involved.'

  'I want to see some action.'

  Phaid turned as a commotion started at the other end of the bl
ock.

  'I think we're about to get more action that you can handle.'

  There was yelling and screaming and then a blaster roared. The screaming rose to a hysterical pitch. People were fleeing down the street in a panic, running directly towards Phaid and Abrella-Lu. Phaid grabbed the woman and dragged her across the road at right angles to the way the crowd was running. They made the sidewalk and dashed for the shelter of an apartment building doorway. Youths were hurling rocks, and Phaid knew that any moment the police would charge. He glanced grimly at Abrella-Lu.

  'You got your action. It looks like all hell's going to break loose.'

  Abrella-Lu bit her lip. Phaid couldn't tell if she was scared or weirdly excited. There were people all around them. There was the confusion that is the hallmark of any riot. Nobody on the street seemed to know what was happening. There was nervousness and fear, but there was also the elation of too many people with too much adrenalin pumping. The panicky rush ran out of steam. The crowd started to ebb back, the shouting and rock throwing stepped up. Everyone's movements were jerky and frenetic. Someone said that the police had halted and were holding a line. Someone else claimed that they were preparing to charge. The milling around was coming close to hysterical. The crowd was dangerously jumpy. Phaid guessed that the police were almost certainly in the same condition, but then there were no room for guessing. There came the loud crashing of weapons on armour. Phaid knew the police had launched their charge. Each one of them was yelling with all the strength in his lungs. Their roar swamped the screams of the crowd. In their red plasteel armour they were like evil red insects, fearsomely encased in their exoskeletons. The comantennae on the side of their helmets, the smoked face masks and breathing filters further added to their non-humanity. The rock throwing kids scattered as the long flexible clubs lashed out. A gas grenade burst and a cloud of choking yellow mist billowed outwards. Phaid gagged as he got a whiff of it.

  'We're in real trouble now.'

  Chapter 14

  Abrella-Lu didn't seem to have quite grasped the danger of the situation.

  'They won't hurt me. I'm a courtier.'

  'Like hell they won't. They ain't going to ask for identification before they break your head. They ain't going to listen to you telling them that you're a high-class courtier and only here for fun.'

  'Oh my Lords!' Abrella-Lu went white. Reality had finally penetrated the facade.

  'Yeah.'

  It was a mess. The crowd had stampeded. They had all fled with the exception of a few unfortunates who had been grabbed by the cops and were now being beaten and dragged down the street. Most of the police had carried on, apparently enjoying the pursuit, but a few had paused, making the tense, nervous movements of men whose blood was up and who wanted to hurt someone or something.

  Phaid put an arm around Abrella-Lu and tried to make both of them as inconspicuous as possible as they crouched in the doorway.

  The cops didn't seem to have noticed them or, at least if they had, they weren't doing anything about it. Phaid was just wondering if maybe it was safe to move, when a young woman in a long, drab green duster coat sprang out from another doorway on the opposite side of the street. She pulled a fuse tube from under the coat and let out a yell.

  'Day One!'

  The fuse tube flashed and a cop staggered back with a smoking hole in his chest armour. Other cops spun around bringing up their weapons. The girl got off one more shot before a half-dozen blasters roared and her mutilated body was spun across the sidewalk and slammed into the wall. Even Abrella-Lu was shocked.

  'Horrible!'

  'We're in the shit now.'

  One cop was already pointing in their direction while another was actually lumbering towards them with a blaster in one hand and a tingler in the other. Phaid sneaked Roni-Vows' tiny blaster out of his pocket and pressed it against the doorlock behind him. He touched the release button and there was a small explosion. The door swung open and he quickly pushed Abrella-Lu through it, then he spun around and fired at the cop.

  It was a lucky shot and the cop went down, a second one was raising his blaster. Without thinking, Phaid burned him as well and then ducked through the doorway. As the door swung back, it was reduced into a smoking ruin. The other police on the street weren't wasting time in seeking to avenge their colleagues.

  Phaid dragged Abrella-Lu across the lobby of the apartment building. She was near to hysteria.

  'You killed a cop!'

  'Two.'

  'And they were trying to kill us.'

  'Shut the fuck up and run.'

  Any moment the cops would be bursting into the lobby. Phaid spotted an elevator behind a decorative set of pillars.

  'That way!'

  They reached the elevator and Phaid hit the call stud. The doors didn't open. Simultaneously three cops crashed into the building. To Phaid's surprise, a bulky android rolled into the lobby from the opposite direction. Its sensors made a full circle as it halted between Phaid and the cops.

  'I-am-a-security-android-and-this-is-a-formal-warning. I-have-no-blocks-against-harming-human-beings. If-you-do-not-all-remain-exactly-where-you-are-and-identify-yourselves-and-state-your-business-I-shall-be-forced-to-take-action.'

  One of the cops ignored the android's warning and pointed his blaster at Phaid. A pale blue stun blast flashed out from the android and he dropped like a stone. The second cop let go a blast at the android and it erupted a shower of sparks. At the very same moment, the elevator doors opened. Pushing Abrella-Lu in front of him, Phaid dived inside. The doors closed behind them and the car started up. Phaid leaned against the wall, gasping for breath.

  'That was too damn close for comfort.'

  'What do we do now?'

  'We try and get out somewhere and vanish.'

  'If I could get to a comset, maybe I could talk to someone.'

  'I think the time for contacts and influence is well past. We've just got to count on a dark night, dumb cops and so much trouble elsewhere that they won't have time to chase us very far.'

  Abrella-Lu had alarming powers of recovery.

  'This is sort of exciting.'

  Phaid smiled thinly.

  'Enjoy it while you can. We ain't out of the woods yet.'

  After what seemed like an age, the elevator came to a halt. The doors opened and Phaid stepped cautiously out. Everything was quiet and he set about looking for an exit to the roof. He discovered the door in back of the liftshaft. To his surprise, he found that it wasn't even locked.

  At the top of the forty-storey building, a biting wind whipped across the dark flat roof. Phaid once again took hold of Abrella-Lu's arm.

  'Keep moving, the police can't be far behind us.'

  'Will you quit dragging me around?'

  'You want to get caught?'

  'No, but how do you expect me to run in these damn shoes?'

  Phaid looked down at the shoes. The heels were a good four inches high and as sharp as daggers. They might have been very sexy and ultra chic, but totally useless for taking it on the lam across the rooftops of the city.

  'Why the hell did you want to wear those things?'

  Abrella-Lu looked at him angrily.

  'I didn't know I was going to be doing this when I started out, did I? I tell you what I'll do, if you just wait a minute, I'll take them off.'

  'Dump them!'

  She kicked off her shoes and carried on in her bare feet. They reached the edge of the building. There was a gap of about a metre and a half between it and the next one. Phaid looked down into the yawning chasm and felt a little sick.

  'We're going to have to jump.'

  Abrella-Lu stared at him in horror.

  'Jump? You're crazy! That's a forty floor drop!'

  'We don't have any choice.'

  'I'm not jumping across there and that's that.'

  'It's better than being burned down. Just tell yourself that it's psychological. If it was a two-metre drop you wouldn't think twice about it.'


  'You go first,'

  Phaid took a deep breath and jumped. His relief was immense when he felt his feet hit the next roof. He turned and beckoned to Abrella-Lu.

  'Come on!'

  'I can't!'

  'Just shut your eyes and jump. If you don't, I'll leave you to the cops.'

  This time she did as she was told. Phaid put a hand out to steady her as she landed beside him. They started to run. The next four buildings all butted on to each other and no more jumping was necessary. As they were running, Phaid could hear the sounds of fresh violence down on the street. It was like music to his ears. He hoped the rioters were holding up the police sufficiently that they wouldn't have either the time or the manpower to sur­round the whole block.

  They reached the last building and Phaid halted. He was surprised that the police still hadn't emerged on to the roof. He hoped that maybe they were searching the original building in which he and Abrella-Lu had sought refuge. There still wasn't time to waste, though. Phaid looked quickly around.

  'We've got to find ourselves a way down.'

  There was a narrow maintenance ladder bolted to the parapet at the rear of the building. Phaid hurried across to it and looked to see where it led. It dropped to the balcony of the top floor apartment.

  Once again Phaid had to swallow his fear of heights. He swung his leg off the parapet, beckoned to Abrella-Lu to follow and started climbing down. Once they were both on the balcony, Phaid took the little blaster from out of his pocket. Thick black drapes concealed anything that might be behind the glass balcony doors.

  'Let's hope there's nobody home.'

  'If there is, they're liable to get pretty upset when we come busting in.'

  'That's highly probable, but we don't have too many other options. I'm sure as hell not climbing down that ladder all the way to the street.'

  Without any more words, Phaid pointed the blaster at the lock and squeezed the button. There was a flash and a roar and the lock didn't exist any longer. Phaid slid open the door, pushed aside the drapes and stepped into the room.

  It was so dim inside that Phaid was unable to make out any details. The only light came from a fancifully obscene hologram. There were a number of lumpy shapes on the floor. At first Phaid took them to be inanimate objects. Then one of them stirred and a voice came out of it.