Fisherman's Hope (The Seafort Saga Book 4) by Feintuch David

Author:Feintuch, David [Feintuch, David]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
ISBN: 9781453295632
Publisher: Open Road Media
Published: 2013-01-08T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

IN THE MORNING CHANG tucked the laser pistol in his pocket, unbolted the door, and slipped outside. Half an hour later he returned, a satisfied look on his wrinkled face. “Okay okay, Maceboy. Outaheah, ’fore Rocks say Chang ain’ Neut.” He scuttled across the store, found our sack of foodstuffs. “Don go eas’ on Three Four, Unies too strong. Rocks take you up one block, you trayfo passby wid Broads.”

Eddie frowned. “Wrong way. We need ta—”

“You need ta listena ol’ Chang, little Mace. Go back way you came, to Four Two Square. Talk ta Subs, dey let ta walk crosstown unner.”

“You glitched fo’ sure, Changman. Broads’ll ask innifo, we ain’ got. An’ Subs—”

Chang thrust out the sack. “Cansa be good nuff fo’ Broads.” He hesitated, fished in, the sack, removed two cans of meat. “These be innifo Chang. Broads won’ know I took ’em, anyway.” He handed Eddie the remainder of his sack. “Jusasec.” He disappeared behind the curtain. It was several minutes before he reappeared, a box in his hand. “Uppie Cap’n carry it fo Subs. Dey wan’ more ’n cansa.”

“What’s this?” I asked. It was heavy.

“Batteries. Valdez permas. Subs allatime trayfo permas, nobody know why.” He shrugged. “Don’ badmouth no Sub, dey rumb fo’ dat. With innifo, maybe dey let you through.” He opened the door, said, “Outaheah, bothyas.”

Eddie looked down, shambled to the door.

My tone was formal. “Mr. Boss, this is an order.”

“Huh?” Eddie struggled to change identity. “Yes, sir?”

“Before you go, hug him.”

Chang bristled. “Frazzin’ Maceboy try touch Chang, I stick him wid—”

“Do it, Mr. Boss.” I folded my arms.

Chang backed away. “I’m a Neut, no one touch a—”

Sheepishly, Eddie enfolded the trader in his arms. After a moment, Chang was still.

I picked up my bundle of clothes, opened the door. “Fare thee well, sir. Lord God be with you.”

The old man pushed Eddie to the entrance. “Try that again, joeyboy, Chang cut you good! Outaheah! Work to do!” His eyes glistened.

Eddie grinned. “We be gone.” He shut the door behind us.

I blinked in the sun. The street was full of people. Some sat with trays of merchandise, others stood around, talking. Down the block, children played. “Lord God!”

“Kinda different.” Eddie pointed. “But trash, mosta what they got. Ol’ Changman has the only—”

“Lesgo, Maceboy.” Three men. One of them was Butchie.

“Okay.” Eddie seemed unafraid. “Nor’, to Four Two.”

“Righ’,” They bracketed us, escort or guards, I wasn’t sure which.

One of the men fell in alongside us as we walked. To my amazement he chatted sociably with Eddie. Unlike the previous night, streets were crowded with transpops, some with their families.

I said quietly, “Eddie, why didn’t we come in the daytime?”

“Tolya. Trannies see us in heli, who gonna help? Even Chang maybe wouldn’ let us in.”

From block to block we were passed uneasily through the tribal territories until at last we approached an open plaza.

“Where are we, Mr. Boss?”

“Four Two Square.”

I looked up. “Isn’t that a skytel? We could go in, get a heli—”

Eddie laughed. “In, fro’ street? You see door, a window even?”

“A tour bus, or—”

“Likely shoot us soon as talk.

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