by Mike Resnick
“He’s shown his true colors, so to speak,” answered Pretorius. “No sense taking a chance.”
“What will the Democracy pay for him?”
Pretorius frowned. “Nothing. My team are all members of the military, under the command of General Wilbur Cooper.”
“I have heard of him,” replied Graalzhan.
“A lot of people have.”
“And you, of course, are totally loyal to him?”
Pretorius nodded his head. “Totally.”
“That is a shame. I would love to add your incredible team to my current force, but I can’t picture you helping us kill Michkag with the foreknowledge that you will not make a credit for it.”
“Don’t be so fast to decide,” said Pretorius. “Whether we join you or work alone, we’re not going to get the reward either way.”
“Well, then, it’s all settled and your team will work alongside mine as allies.” There was a pause, and Graalzhan frowned. “Possibly.”
“Possibly?” said Pretorius.
“We each have a vital decision to make, do we not?”
Pretorius stared at her for a long moment. “I guess so.”
“What decision?” asked Snake, speaking up for the first time.
“My soldiers and I were invited here to join Michkag,” answered Graalzhan. “We are not only highly trained warriors, but we also have an added dimension that no other warrior race possesses.”
“Your odor, right,” said Snake, nodding her head.
“That makes us more valuable than the average battle-hardened mercenaries. I must weigh the rewards of joining Michkag with those of killing him.” She paused and flashed her equivalent of a smile. “There is no set fee for assassinating him, of course, but there are major rewards on some twenty-three worlds. I plan to find out what Michkag is offering, and compare it with the risk and rewards for killing him. And you . . .” She let the words hang.
“It’s not a choice between joining him and killing him,” replied Pretorius. “With us, it’s a choice between killing him, if I think we can get away with it, or, since the odds just inside the castle are a million-to-six against us, leaving and awaiting a more favorable opportunity.”
“I find that difficult to envision,” said Graalzhan.
“We’re not suicidal,” said Pretorius. “I lost two Dead Enders on our last mission, which was nowhere near as dangerous as this one.”
“Shall we think about it for a day, and then speak again?” suggested Graalzhan.
“Sounds good,” he said. “As long as you remain here. I made some very light markings on the corridor walls as Czizmar led us here.”
“I will not leave this room—well, this suite of rooms—until we have spoken again.” She finally stood up. “We each have two very viable alternatives to consider.”
“Actually, we have three,” said Pretorius, as Graalzhan walked him and Snake to the door through which they had entered.
“Three?” asked Graalzhan, frowning.
“Yes,” answered Pretorius. Suddenly he grinned. “I’m wondering if it’s worth the effort to kidnap this one instead of kill him.”
24
“Guess what?” said Snake, when she and Pretorius returned to the room. “We’re gonna put the snatch on this one, just like we did on the original.”
“The hell we are,” said Pretorius.
“But you said—”
“That was just to impress her with our skills,” answered Pretorius. “First, we have nothing to learn from this Michkag. And more to the point, they’d know in two seconds that we were stealing him. Remember, to this day none of them knew that we kidnapped the original, because we replaced him with a perfectly trained genetic duplicate.”
“Damn!” muttered Snake. “It would have been fun.”
“Think about it for a couple of minutes and you’ll see what it would have been was deadly.” He looked around. “Irish and Apollo aren’t back yet?”
“You see ’em anywhere?” responded Pandora.
“Shit!” said Pretorius. “I hope they haven’t run into trouble.”
He sat down by the computer. After a moment he looked at one of the screens. “Ah, here they come!” he announced.
“Is the Kabori with them?” asked Pandora.
“No, just the two of them,” answered Pretorius. “The Kabori’s dead.”
“What makes you think so?”
“Because Apollo knows enough not to leave a live one behind, one who can alert Michkag and his lieutenants to our presence.”
“He’d better know enough!” said Snake.
The door opened a few seconds later, and Irish and Apollo entered the room just before it snapped shut.
“Well?” said Pretorius.
“Well, here we are,” said Apollo.
“You killed the Kabori, of course?”
“Of course.”
“It’s a shame,” added Irish. “He wasn’t a bad sort. Been drafted, just like most foot-soldiers on each side.”
“Snake and I ran into more aliens while you were gone,” said Pretorius.
“Xhankor’s friends and relations?” asked Apollo.
Pretorius nodded. “Yeah,” he confirmed. “Met their commanding officer.”
“And?”
“Made an informal peace treaty,” said Pretorius. “They have no interest in harming us, we have no interest in harming them.”
“Well, that’s solved!” said Apollo with a smile.
“Partially.”
“Oh?”
“They don’t plan to harm us. They may want to hinder us.” He paused. “On the other hand, they may want to join forces with us.”
Apollo frowned. “Did this meeting last more than thirty seconds?”
Pretorius nodded his head. “They’re here to join him or kill him. If they join him, we’re the enemy.”
“There’s a million or more Kaboris and only five of us,” said Apollo. “Easy call.”
“Six of us,” muttered Proto.
“Okay, six,” said Apollo with an amused smile. “Clearly that makes all the difference.”
“They’re measuring the odds against the reward,” said Pretorius. “Michkag’s wanted all over the galaxy, and the price on his head varies with the economy of the planet or group of planets that’s offering it. I explained to them that this isn’t the original Michkag they’re after, that we kidnapped him with a team of six. So now they’re weighing their options and doping out the odds and comparing them to the payoff.”
“You told her that?” said Apollo, frowning. “Why?”
“It’s a longshot, but it was worth telling her that if we can get her on our side. Besides, the knowledge is of absolutely no use to her otherwise. What’s her life expectancy if she tells Michkag that she’s going to reveal it? Two seconds? Three?”
“If she’s got any brains,” added Irish, “she’ll realize that there’s no upside. Why would Michkag pay to shut her up? He’d be better off going in front of his people and saying, ‘Yeah, it’s true, I’m a clone of Michkag, better in every way because I know everything the original knew plus everything I learned while living among Men in the Democracy.’”
“He was a blank slate when he was born,” said Proto.
“So what?” replied Irish. “Who, in his audience of Kaboris, is going to stand up and correct him? Hell, he’s probably the only Kabori, including the original, who knows it.”
“Lady’s got a point,” agreed Apollo.
“Well, I meet Graalzhan—their leader—again tomorrow, and then we’ll know if we’ve got an ally, an observer, or another enemy.” He turned to Irish. “You had the Kabori for over a day. Learn anything from him?”
She shook her head. “Just that he—and most of them—practically worship Michkag. They don’t know why he moved here from Orion, but the mere fact that he did it makes it a great idea.” She paused. “I tried to make sure where the prison block is, in case we could set some free and create a dis
traction, but he either didn’t know or wouldn’t tell.”
“How could he not know?” asked Snake.
“Easily enough,” answered Pretorius. “There’s a million Kaboris here, and they’ve been here less than a year, fighting wars of conquest all along. Do you think every one of the million knows where everything is? Well,” he added, “everything besides the armory anyway?”
“Okay, okay,” said Snake in annoyed tones. “You’ve got a point.”
“You’re the brains of the operation,” said Apollo to Pretorius. “What do we do if this Graalzhan says yes, and what do we do if she says no?”
“Either way we have to play it by ear,” said Pretorius. “She hasn’t had an audience with Michkag yet, so that’s probably first on her agenda.”
“That’s really stupid!” said Apollo. “They sicken and kill people just by their proximity. Why let ’em stay in the castle for weeks or even days? If you’re half as smart as the original, you make a deal or refuse to make one, and get them the hell out of here before your troops start dropping over.”
“I find that encouraging,” answered Pretorius. “Clearly this Michkag isn’t as bright about some things as the original.”
“As a clone, he’s got every bit as much potential brainpower,” said Pandora. “But clearly he’s never been up against a situation like this, with a potential ally whose mere presence presents a mortal danger. Hell, I’ll bet the original Michkag wouldn’t have been any brighter about it.”
“Probably not,” admitted Pretorius.
“So do we just sit around until you go off to meet Graalzhan tomorrow?” asked Apollo.
“Most of us do,” said Pretorius. He turned to Snake. “But not you.”
“Oh?”
“You’re the best sneak thief on the team. You’ve got about twenty hours to steal us some facemasks. The Kabori who are stationed on the fourth level have to be equipped with them. Get us five, plus whatever will fit Proto, and give us enough time to customize them for Men.”
“Right now?”
“Now, after dinner, whenever. Just have ’em back a few hours before we need ’em so we can work on them.”
“I hope that doesn’t precipitate a search of the entire castle for them,” said Irish.
“It won’t,” replied Pretorius. “Snake’s not going to swipe any of them from within a couple of hundred feet of the next. Besides, it’s not like stealing weapons. If it’s reported at all, and I half-suspect that it won’t be, they’ll figure a Kabori or two got a whiff of one of these Jebarnogustis and wanted to play it extra safe while they’re stationed on the same level.”
“I might as well get started,” said Snake, walking to the door. “There are no windows, at least not in the corridors of any of the rooms I’ve been in, so there’s not that much difference between day and night here.”
“I’ll bet that right about now you wish you’d have become a ballerina after all,” said Apollo with a smile.
“I never wanted to be a ballerina,” answered Snake. “I always wanted to be a big-game hunter on untamed alien worlds.” Suddenly she smiled. “Then I found out how much more fun it was to rob the residents.”
She walked out into the corridor, and the room was sealed again a couple of seconds later.
“Where the hell did you find her?” asked Apollo.
“In the course of duty,” said Pretorius with a smile.
“She joined the service willingly?” said Apollo, frowning. “I find that difficult to believe.”
Pretorius shook his head. “She’s not a member at all. View her as a freelancer.” He smiled wryly. “Hell, they’re all freelancers except for me.”
“She’s a remarkable lady,” said Apollo.
“She also the best contortionist you ever saw,” added Pandora. “You wouldn’t believe the things she can fit into.”
“I’m surprised you pay her enough to keep her,” said Apollo.
“We don’t. Whenever we need her, I pay her bail and she sticks with us until the task is over. And because she likes a challenge, it’s not long before they arrest her again because they’ll come to a crime scene where only she could have pulled it off.” Pretorius paused and smiled. “I’ve bailed her out seven times in nine years—and I don’t believe she was ever caught in the act. Cops come in, take one look, conclude that only Sally Kowalski—that’s her real name—could have pulled it off, and arrest her.” Another grin. “They’ve never guessed wrong yet.”
“Fascinating!” said Apollo with a chuckle. “So she’s even got a professional name.”
“Except for me, they all do,” replied Pretorius.
“Iris Fitzhugh at your service,” said Irish.
“And I’m Toni Levi,” added Pandora.
“But they’ll only answer to Snake, Irish, and Pandora,” said Pretorius.
“How about Proto?” asked Apollo.
“He’ll have to tell you. None of us can pronounce it.”
Apollo turned to the alien. “Well?”
“Gzychurlyx,” was his answer.
Apollo chuckled. “Count me among the ones who can’t pronounce it.”
“Shall we have some lunch or dinner while we’re waiting?” suggested Irish.
“Might as well,” agreed Apollo. “She won’t be back for a couple of hours.”
“Don’t bet on it,” said Pandora.
They went to the alcove that was doubling as a small kitchen, opened unnourishing packets of alien vegetables and fruits, and sat down to eat.
“I really resented the ship’s food,” said Apollo, “until we started feeding ourselves on this dirtball.”
They ate in silence, as usual—no one was enjoying the meal enough to lengthen it by conversing—and just as they were returning to the main room Snake entered, loaded down with breathing masks, and handed one out to each member of the party. When she came to Proto, she knelt down and placed a very oddly shaped mask on the floor.
“I don’t know if this’ll fit,” she said, “but if not, I’m sure we can jury-rig something.”
“Not a problem,” said Proto. “It doesn’t affect me quite as much as it affects Men.”
Snake walked over to Pretorius. “I saw half a dozen Stinkers coming up the airlift from a lower level,” she said. “I think Graalzhan was leading them.”
“So she’s had her preliminary talk with Michkag,” said Pretorius. “We’ll give her a couple of hours to think about it, then pay her a visit.”
“All of us?” said Pandora. “What if she’s already joined Michkag?”
“If she’s told Michkag about us,” added Irish, “we could be her first assignment.”
“Then I guess all of us won’t go,” said Pretorius. “Just the two she’s seen—Snake and me.”
“You don’t think anything’s going to happen—at the meeting, I mean?” said Pandora.
“At my meeting with her?” repeated Pretorius. “Yeah, I think we’re either going to make a deal or depart as friends. I really don’t think they’ll come after us.”
“Why the hell not?” asked Apollo.
“Because,” said Pretorius with a smile, “they don’t know anything about us except what I’ve told them. They know that six of us kidnapped the original. They know that six of us are in the most heavily guarded building in the galaxy and not a single Kabori knows it.”
“Not a single living one,” Snake corrected him.
“They seem an honorable race,” he continued. “Well, for a race of mercenaries—and when you’re a mercenary, keeping your word is every bit as important as your ability to fight.” He exhaled deeply. “Yeah, I think we’ll be okay during the meeting, and if she’s joined Michkag, then I think she’ll give us a chance to leave the planet in one piece.”
“That’s a lot of faith to place in one smelly alien,” said Apollo.
“If I guess wrong, you get to lead the next mission,” said Pretorius with a hint of a smile.
“The Ghost Brigade, right,�
� said Apollo with an amused chuckle.
25
They relaxed for a few hours and finished another meal, and then Pretorius got to his feet.
“Time to find out where we stand,” he said. “Snake, you come with me.”
“I’ll come too,” said Apollo.
Pretorius shook his head. “Graalzhan knows her. She’s never seen you. I want her to be at her ease—well, as much at ease as possible given the circumstances.” He turned to Snake. “You ready?”
“Let’s go,” she said, commanding the door to open.
They walked into the corridor, then headed off in the direction of Graalzhan’s room. They were about halfway there when doors opened on each side of them and armed Jebarnogustis came out into the corridor.
A voice from within the room on the left said, “They’re okay. I know them.” And a moment later Czizmar stepped out into the corridor.
“You’re coming to talk to Graalzhan, right?” he said.
“Right,” replied Pretorius.
“Good! She’s been waiting for you. Follow me.”
He headed off toward Graalzhan’s room, and Pretorius and Snake fell into step behind him, followed by the two other Jebarnogustis, who had holstered their weapons.
They walked in silence until they reached their destination. The door opened, Czizmar led them in and nodded to the two guards, who saluted and began making their way back to their quarters.
“I’ll let her know you’re here,” said Czizmar, heading off to an interior room and almost bumping into Graalzhan.
“I already know it,” said Graalzhan. “I am pleased to see you again, Pretorius, you and the little one.”
“The name’s Snake,” she replied.
“I meant no offense, Snake,” said Graalzhan. “Come into my room and sit, both of you.”
She turned and led them, and a moment later the three of them were seated at a table.
“You too, Czizmar,” said Graalzhan, and Czizmar joined them.
“Well?” said Pretorius. “Have you considered my proposition?”
“It is a very enticing one,” replied Graalzhan. “I have done a little research on you, Nathan Pretorius. You have a record to be proud of.” She turned to Snake. “You I could find no record of.”