Mammals and Amends: or Bad Politician, No, No!

by Alma Boykin

> Rada mock-begged.

  The big True-dragon obliged and the mood in the bar improved at light speed. <> Rada sent the bouncer. She told Zabet privately, <>

  <> her business partner snapped, jerking all the vegetables off the skewer in her forefoot, chewing furiously, and swallowing the mass in one large gulp. <>

  Rada made an Azdhag negation as well as shaking her head. She replied aloud in Trader, “Damn if I know. If he were in my House I’d, well, he’d never be in my House, because Ni Drako has standards.”

  The dull orange waiter brought Zabet a second beer. <>

  Rada flipped her tail as Zabet’s eyes narrowed with mischief. Rada shook her finger at her partner before answering, “No, Ni Drako uses birth and appointment for major positions, as Trobak does.”

  <> and he pointed over his shoulder at the holo-screen with his central forefoot talon, <>

  Rada did her best to look grave. “Quite understandable,” she replied. That satisfied the waiter, who stalked off to take care of another table.

  Zabet finished her skewered produce and half the second beer. <>

  “True, that.” Personally, Rada rather liked the prospect of being able to blind, dismember, or execute terminally stupid bureaucrats. Yet another philosophical difference between her and Zabet, she sighed, and finished her juice and the last of the crunchy fried things.

  She flagged the waiter and handed him her credit ring. << If you’re done, Lady Zabet, let’s depart before the Terran delegation tries to leave. I suspect traffic near the spaceport will be a challenge.>> Rada did her best impression of the current head of House Moytu.

  <> Zabet agreed. Rada left a nice tip and the pair caught a fast personnel transport back to the spaceport. As she’d guessed, a clutch of angry True-dragons spilled out of the next transport to arrive and took up positions alongside the large group already waiting outside the gate. <> Zabet pointed around the corner.

  “Agreed. I don’t think even diplomatic immunity is enough to prevent the pox being wished on those fools.”