“This one will do,” I said, as offhandedly as I could.
They were both very impressed, let me tell you. I was impressed myself. It had been a good blow, better than I had realized.
“Do you do that often?” Bibs asked in a hushed voice.
“If I have to,” I said with a calm I did not feel. “Now take me to your hogh.”
We found one just a few streets away, the identity of the business made known by a skeleton in an iron cage above the door.
“Some sign,” I said. “You would think they would hang out a painting of a money bag or a wooden Arghans.”
“This is more practical. That is the last thief they caught trying to steal from them.”
“Oh, thanks.”
“It’s just a tradition, don’t let it disturb you.”
Easy enough for her to say—she wasn’t going to rob this place. Disturbed, I followed her past two ugly weightlifters who leaned on their spears and scowled at us.
“Hogh” Bibs said, sniffing with disdain at the guards. They muttered something not too nice, but still knocked on the iron-bound door until it creaked open. Inside were more guardians from the same mould. Except these had swords. The door slammed shut and was locked behind us as we passed through a dark room into the courtyard beyond. There were spikes—as well as more guards—on the surrounding wall. Not a wall, really, but the roof of the buildings that surrounded the courtyard. The hogh himself sat on a large chest, shielded from the sun by a canopy, guarded by two more men—this time armed with pikes. The chest had a flat top and was covered with pillows.
“I suppose he sleeps on it at night,” I said, a feeble joke to build the morale.
“Of course,” Bibs said and the morale slumped even lower.
The moneylender was all smarmy gestures and oily voice. Bibs jingled our money at him and he smarmed even more. At the clap of his hands assistants cleared the pillows away and opened the lid of the chest. I looked in and the guards looked at me. It was neatly divided into sections and each section was filled with leather bags. More orders and handclapping produced a bag that was placed on top of the now reclosed chest. He sat back onto the lid with a happy sigh and cradled the bag in his lap, opened it and let a trickle of shining coins run through his fingers. The haggling began and I feigned boredom and looked around at the courtyard.
This was not going to be easy, not easy at all. The entrance door would certainly be sealed and guarded. If I came over the wall there were those spikes—and more guards as well. Then what? Sneak down into the courtyard and tip the old boy off into the dust, grab the bag. And get speared, stabbed, clubbed and so forth. Not an attractive proposition at all. We were going to have to get a new plan to raise funds. I could see no way to get into this place; brute strength was far more efficient than technology in this setup. And say I got in, say I lifted the loot—there was the little matter of getting out with it. Though that might not be too difficult …
I felt the glimmerings of an idea and held onto them and stirred them about. Keeping my expression as calm and stony as possible, with just a hint of a snarl, I looked at the guards, who snarled back. Negotiations were progressing well with plenty of wails of grief and snorts of disdain from both sides. I was only barely aware of this as I rough-fashioned my plan, ran it around and polished it a bit, then took it through slowly, step by step, to see if it would work. Given a little bit of luck it would. Was it the only plan? I sighed inwardly. Yes, all things considered, it was the only plan. I swung my club impatiently and called out to Bibs.
“Come on lady, don’t take all day.” She turned about and scowled.
“What did you say?”
“You heard me. You came to the bodyguard hiring hall and promised good pay for a short day. But the pay ain’t that good and the day is too long.”
If the hogh didn’t understand Esperanto the plan would stop there. But I could see his ears perk up, listening and understanding everything we said. Bash on—no turning back now. Bibs didn’t know what I was doing, but she was smart enough to play along, taking umbrage at my insults.
“Listen you muscle-bound moron—I can hire better than you for half the price. I don’t need the static from a malbonulo whose eyebrows meet in the middle!”
“That does it!” I shouted. “I don’t take that from no one!”
I swung my club at her in a wicked blow that just brushed her hair. It didn’t touch her—so I let the butt end follow through with a light tap on the forehead that dropped her to the ground. With Bibs safely out of the picture I would now see if I could get away with what is usually referred to as a smash-and-grab.
My club swung again and knocked down one of the poles that held up the canopy. I stepped forward as it fell and chopped the hogh on the side of the neck as the cloth engulfed us.
Fast now, Jim. You have seconds—or less. I groped the bag of coins out of his lap and stuffed them inside my shirt. It wouldn’t fit until I spilled some out. Seconds. Gone.
There was plenty of shouting now and struggling with the cloth. I pulled myself free—and walked away, calling back over my shoulder.
“I quit, lady. Get another bodyguard. Only poofters work for women anyway.”
Two paces, three, four. The armed men looking from me to the heaving canopy as the guards there pulled it free. One of them emerged, dragging the unconscious hogh, shouting and screaming with anger. I did not need a translation. All of the other guards howled in rage and ran toward me.
I turned tail and ran in the opposite direction. Away from the only exit.
But toward the flight of wooden stairs that ran up to the roof.
The single guard there stabbed at me with his spear. I parried it with the club and kicked him hard where it would make the best impression. Jumped his falling body and bounded up the stairs two at a time and almost impaled myself on the sword of the man standing at the top. All I could do was dive under it, roll, crash into his legs and bring him down.
Catching him on the head with the butt of the club as I scrambled to my feet, coins jingling down about me.
Three other guards on the roof were screeching and lumbering toward me. I ran to the edge, looked at the drop, cursed aloud. The cobbled street was too far below. If I jumped I would break a leg. Turned and threw my club at the first of the attackers. It caught him nicely and the second man ran into him.
I saw no more because I was over the roof, holding onto the edge with both hands and letting myself down. Looking up at the third guard who was bringing his sword down on my hands.
I let go. Dropped. Hit and rolled. My ankle hurt but I did not even think about it. Spears and clubs cracked to the ground around me as I hobbled away, around the first corner and into a market street. Hobbling slower and slower as the howls behind me faded in the distance.
Around another corner where I stopped for breath, panting and wheezing. Then staggered on deeper into the city until I was sure I had lost my pursuers.
I dropped into a chair of the first bar and actually enjoyed drinking a mug of the terrible beer.
CHAPTER 4
The bag of coins sat uncomfortably on my stomach, straining the fabric of my prison jacket. I looked at the drab cloth with the big red arrows on it and realized that I was being kind of stupid. By now my description would have gone out and all the hogh minions would be looking for me. I would not be that hard to find. As I hammered on the table with a coin I felt the sweat beginning to form on my forehead.
At the sight of the Nevenkebla currency the waiter’s eyes lit up and he seized it with shaking fingers and carried it away reverently. I received a great handful of Arghans in exchange, surely I was being cheated, still I scuttled away happily. Scuttled into the first shop I found that had garments displayed around the entrance. Esperanto was spoken badly here, but good enough to enable me to buy some baggy trousers and a cloak, along with a wicker basket to conceal the money bag. Feeling safe, at least for the moment, I shambled deeper into the city. Through
the busy streets to a market where I purchased a widebrimmed leather hat with a colorful plume. Bit by bit I bought other clothes, until I was garbed anew, the basket with my prison clothes discarded, the money now safe in an elegant shoulder bag. By this time it was getting dark and I was completely lost.
And worried about Bibs. I had done all that I could to assure her safety, to distance her from myself and my crime. Had it been enough? I felt a quick surge of guilt and the need to contact her. Easier said than done. First I must find the League building, my only point of reference, and work back from there.
It was dusk by the time I located it—and I was getting very, very tired. Yet there was no choice, I must go on. Following the route the horse conveyance had taken with Bibs and her captors, finding the corner where we had emerged from it. From there it was easy enough to get to the restaurant where we had eaten, to drop into a chair with a sigh of relief. I could only hope now that she remembered the place and would think of coming here. I took off my hat and a hot band of pain circled my throat.
“Traitor,” Bibs’s voice hissed in my ear as I gurgled and groped but could reach nothing. Was this the end …?
It almost was. I was sinking into unconsciousness before the pain eased and the length of wire fell into my lap. I rubbed my sore, bleeding neck as Bibs pulled out a chair and sat down at the table. She weighed my shoulder bag, then looked inside. She had a black eye and some bruises around her mouth.
“I could have killed you,” she said. “I was that angry, that was what I was going to do. But when I saw you had brought the money I realized you had planned the whole thing this way and had come here to meet me. But since they had worked me over I felt I owed you some of the same. I’ll order some wine.”
“Planned …” I croaked, then coughed. “Knocked you out—so they would think you weren’t in on the robbery.”
“It worked—or I wouldn’t be here. They bashed me about a bit, then they all ran out after you. I went right behind them in the confusion. Just wandered around and stayed out of sight until dark. Hating you. I had no money, nothing. Other than this black eye. You’re lucky I didn’t throttle you all the way.”
“Thanks,” I said, then glugged down half a mug of wine when the waiter set it in front of me. “It was the only thing I could do. While you were talking to the old boy I looked at the defenses. There was no way in past them. But since we were already inside I saw that there was a good chance of getting out. So I took the money.”
“Tremendous. You might have told me.”
“There was no way to. Knocking you out was the only thing I could think of that would not get you involved. I’m sorry—but it worked.”
Bibs actually smiled as she ran her fingers through the coins. “You are right, Jim my boy. It was worth a few bruises to get this much loot. Now let’s get moving. You’ve changed clothes and I must do the same thing.”
“Then to the best ostel in town.”
“For a hot bath and a real meal. You’re on!”
The ostel was a sprawling building hidden behind high walls. Suites of rooms led off the central courtyard and we had the best, if the bowing and dry handwashing of the help meant anything. The wine was chilled and the finest I had ever tasted. I prowled around the carpeted rooms and nibbled the toasted tidbits that came with the wine, while Bibs burbled and splashed in the adjoining pool. She eventually emerged wrapped in a towel, glowing with health and growling with hunger. There was no nonsense about dining rooms or restaurants in this establishment. Servants brought the food on brass trays and we gorged ourselves. When they had cleaned up the leavings I threw the bolt in the outer door and filled Bib’s crystal mug with more wine.
“This is the life,” she said.
“It surely is.” I sprawled on the cushions across from her. “A good night’s sleep and I will be feeling human again.”
She lay back on the couch and looked at me through half-closed eyes. Well, really one half-closed and one all the way closed where she had been bopped. She shook her head and smiled.
“You are something else again, Jimmy. Just a kid, really, yet you are sure a winner. You survived Spiovente, which is not easy. Took out those two cops—then you took on all the hogh’s thugs—and got away with it.”
“Just luck,” I said. Enjoying the praise but not that “kid” remark.
“I doubt it. And you saved my neck. Got me out of the hands of the law and stole enough clinkers to get me off this planet. I would like to say thanks.”
“You don’t have to, not really. You are going to help me find Garth so that makes us even.” I stood and yawned. “I want to ask you about him—but it can wait until morning. I need some sleep.”
She smiled again. “But, Jim, I told you I would like to thank you. In my own way.”
Was it chance that as she lay back the towel slipped a little? No it was not chance. Nor was it by accident that she was devastatingly naked underneath. Despite the black eye Bibs was a terribly, terribly attractive girl.
What does one do on an occasion like this?
What one does not do is talk about it to others. I’m sorry. This is a private matter between two consenting adults. Very consenting. You will excuse me if I draw the curtain over this day and insert a space in this text to denote the passing of a good many hours.
Never had the sun shone so warmly and brightly. The afternoon sun. I smiled back at it just as warmly, bereft of any guilt, filled full with happiness. Nibbling a bit of fruit and sipping some wine. Turning languidly from the window as Bibs reentered the room.
“You mean it?” she asked. “You won’t go offplanet with me? You don’t want to?”
“Of course I want to. But not until I have found Garth.”
“He’ll find you first and kill you.”
“Perhaps he might be the one who gets killed.”
She cocked her head most prettily to one side, then nodded. “From anyone but you I would think that bragging. But you might just do it.” She sighed. “But I won’t be here to see it. I rate survival ahead of vengeance. He put me into jail—you got me out. Case closed. Though I admit to a big bundle of curiosity. If you do get out of this, will you let me know what happened? A message care of the Venian Crewmembers’ Union will get to me eventually.” She passed over a slip of paper. “I’ve written down everything that I remembered, just like you asked.”
“General,” I read. “Either Zennor or Zennar.” “I never saw it spelled out. Just overheard one of the officers talking to him when they didn’t know I could hear them.”
“What is Mortstertoro?”
“A big military base, perhaps their biggest. That’s where we landed to take on cargo. They wouldn’t let us out of the spacer, but what we could see was very impressive. A big limousine, all flags and stars, would come for Garth and take him away. There was a lot of saluting—and they always saluted him first. He is something big, high-up, and whatever he is involved with has to do with that base. I’m sorry, I know it’s not much.”
“It’s a lot, all I need now.” I folded the paper and put it away. “What next.”
“We should have identification documents by tonight. They are expensive but real. Issued by one of the smaller duchies that needs the foreign exchange. So I can ship out on any spacer I want to. As long as the League agents don’t recognize me. But I’ve managed to bribe my way onto a trade delegation that made their flight arrangements months ago. One of them has been well paid to get ill.”
“When do you leave?”
“Midnight,” she said in a very quiet voice.
“No! So soon …”
“I felt the same way—which is why I am leaving. I am not the kind of person that gets tied down in a relationship, Jimmy.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Good. Then I am getting away before you find out.”
This sort of conversation was all very new and confusing. I am reluctantly forced to admit that up until the previous evening my contac
t with the opposite sex had been, shall we say, more distant. Now I was at an unaccustomed loss for words, indecisive and more than a little bewildered. When I blurted this out Bibs had nodded in apparent complete understanding. I realized now that there was an awful lot I did not know about women, a mountain of knowledge I might never acquire.
“My plans aren’t that fixed …” I started to say, but she silenced me with a warm finger to my lips.
“Yes they are. And you’re not going to change them on my account. You seemed very certain this morning about what you felt you had to do.”
“And I am still certain,” I said firmly, with more firmness and certainty than I felt. “The bribe to get me over to Nevenkebla was taken?”
“Doubled before accepted. If you are going to go missing then old Grbonja will never be permitted to go ashore there again. But he has been ready to retire for years. The bribe is just the financial cushion he needs.”
“What does he do?”
“Exports fruit and vegetables. You’ll go along as one of his laborers. He won’t be punished if you get away from the market—but they will take away his landing pass. He won’t mind.”
“When do I get to see him?”
“We go to his warehouse tonight, after dark.”
“Then …”
“I leave you there. Are you hungry?”
“We just ate.”
“That is not what I mean,” she answered in a very husky voice.
The dark streets were lit only by occasional torches at the corners, the air heavy with menace. We walked in silence; perhaps everything that might be said had already been said. I had bought a sharp dagger which hung at my waist, and another club that I slammed against a wall occasionally to be sure any watchers knew it was there. All too soon we reached our destination, for Bibs knocked on a small gate let into a high wall. There were some whispered words and the gate creaked open. I could smell the sweetness of fruit all about us as we threaded through the dark mounds, to the lamplit corner where an elderly man slumped in a chair. He was all gray beard and gray hair to his waist, where the hair spread out over a monstrous paunch held up by spindly legs. One eye was covered by a cloth wound round his head, but the other looked at me closely as I came up.
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