Destinys Way by Walter Jon Williams

Author:Walter Jon Williams [Williams, Walter Jon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-04-05T23:00:00+00:00

behalf."

"We have a problem, though, and perhaps you can help."

"How may I assist you?"

"We have the supplies, but no way to distribute them. What we thought we'd do is present you with twenty-five metric tons of supplies.

You can distribute them to your constituents as you think best."

Boras's eyes grew wide. "That's certainly . . . very generous," he managed.

"Twenty-five tons?" He was almost visibly calculating how much twenty-five tons of relief supplies was worth in the current market, with the planet's few surface areas swarming with refugees from dozens of worlds, all desperate for the most basic necessities. Boras no longer had a homeworld to return to, and without a homeworld to vote him in he was obviously never going to be returned to the Senate: he had to think about his future.

"Twenty-five tons," Lando repeated. "Though there is a catch."

Boras's wide eyes narrowed to slits. "And what might the catch be?"

"We hope to be able to sell our YVH droids to the military," Lando said. "If you can use your best efforts to vote an amendment onto the upcoming military appropriations bill, you'll find us extremely appreciative."

Boras sipped his drink carefully. "You'd best tell me about these droids."

"I have a full array of literature," Lando said, "and of course a demonstration holo ..."

After Boras left with an armful of datapads to distribute to his peers, Talon Karrde stepped from the next room. "It's all recorded," he said.

"Boras's bribe weighs twenty-five tons." Lando smiled. "It's going to be hard for him to claim it doesn't exist."

Unlike the distinguished Senator from Bilbringi, who, on being offered the relief supplies, simply demanded their equivalent in cash.

That holo was particularly entertaining.

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