In the Mouth of the Whale by McAuley Paul

Author:McAuley, Paul [McAuley, Paul]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780575100763
Publisher: Hachette Littlehampton
Published: 2012-01-18T16:00:00+00:00

11

As we followed Prem through the big, dimly lit chamber, she explained that she and her friends had taken control of this pirates’ lair for the moment, but couldn’t hold it for long. I had a hundred questions to ask, but the one at the forefront of my mind was how she had found out about the connection with the Billion Blossoms.

‘That’s easy,’ Prem said. ‘They found me. Or rather, they contacted Lathi.’

‘I don’t think I understand,’ I said.

‘I do,’ the Horse told Prem. ‘The Billion Blossoms offered to sell Lathi Singleton information about her son. But the price was too high, and so she sent you and your friends to steal it.’

‘It wasn’t that the price was too high,’ Prem said. She did not seem to mind or notice his impudence. ‘It was a matter of pride.’

I said, ‘Am I to understand that I was not hired to uncover useful information, but to act as a diversion for you and your cousins?’

‘They were up for a bit of fun. And it was fun, as far as they were concerned.’

‘There will be repercussions. You have hit the Billion Blossoms. They will hit back.’

‘My cousins are shipping out soon. They won’t come back here, those of them that survive. And the Billion Blossoms has no real leverage or power outside Glitter Gulch. That’s why they made a big mistake when they chose to tangle with my clan,’ Prem said.

‘I believe I understand how they must feel.’

’Oh, don’t feel sorry for yourself. I admit that I needed you to keep the Office of Public Safety busy—’

‘They were holding me prisoner.’

‘And you saved me the trouble of freeing you by getting free yourself. You’re more resourceful than I thought, Isak. And I’m glad. Because we have much to do together, you and I.’

I stopped walking, drew myself up, and said as solemnly as I could, ‘You must understand that I am no longer bound by contract and convention, Majistra. The basis of that arrangement has proven to be false. And your actions here have put the honour of my clan at hazard.’

Prem Singleton studied me. I felt utterly transparent to her gaze. It was one of those moments when possibilities open on a variety of futures. I knew that the direction my life would take depended on what she did next, and I could see that the Horse knew it too. He was watching us with a sly and knowing look, as if we were actors in a saga he had devised.

After a moment, Prem said, ‘Any arrangements your clan made were with my aunt, not me. If I were you, I’d take it up with her.’

‘As I said, that arrangement is over. But I would like to suggest a new one.’

Prem smiled. ‘With me?’

‘Why not?’

‘And if I don’t?’

‘The Billion Blossoms has the records of the data miner your cousin hired. Perhaps some freelance exorcist or data miner can unriddle them. Although I doubt it, for otherwise the Billion Blossoms would have done it already.

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