Last Legion - 04 Homefall by Chris Bunch

Author:Chris Bunch [Bunch, Chris]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Chris Bunch
Published: 2010-03-23T15:05:32+00:00

“However, I’m thinking of ways of encouraging his ambition.”

“That’s a very fast precis of this Protectorate,” Froude said. “I’ve got far more details for anyone interested.

“The question now is what do we do? It doesn’t seem that the Protectorate, for their own paranoiac reasons, will encourage or even allow us to make the next four jumps to Centrum.”

“I get the idea,” Njangu put in, “that we’re increasingly well thought of by Jagasti and crew. Which is good in one way, but makes it very hard for us to tiptoe out the back door without Jagasti getting a lethal-for us-case of the pouts.”

“What we need,” Garvin said thoughtfully, “is a way to put some shit in the game, without us getting brownish in the process.”

The people in the room looked at each other.

No one’s expression suggested she or he had the slightest idea.

Njangu’s lips were moving up Maev’s inner thigh when he sat bolt upright.

“I’ll be a sunnuvabitch!”

“You damned sure are if you don’t go back to what you’re doing,” Maev managed, with a sharp intake of breath.

But Yoshitaro paid no mind, was sitting up, and touching com buttons.

“This,” Garvin’s voice came, “had better be goddamned important, Njangu. There is a time and a place for everything, especially for using this number.” He appeared to be breathing hard.

“Boss,” Njangu said proudly, “I have a scheme.”

CHAPTER

19

“I propose,” Njangu said, “to make the situation worse.”

“For whom?” Froude asked, amused. Garvin yawned sleepily, said nothing. The three were gathered in Gar-vin’s cabin office, waiting for a stim.

“Certainly not for us,” Yoshitaro said. “At least, I hope not.

“Look at what we’ve got. Three brothers, barbarians, two of ‘em at least not getting along. They’re plotting on grabbing all the gold, but, like their father, don’t appear quite ready to make the big jump and go after Centrum. I’d guess if this Gegen, who’s floated over to Degasten with everyone he can subvert, wouldn’t mind at all if Big Brother Jagasti happens to trip and fall on his saber.”

“Your points are undebateable,” Froude said.

“Therefore, I propose to throw some shit in the game, as they used to say,” Njangu said.

“What species of doots?” Garvin broke off as a mess attendant came in with a tray, then, after he’d left, waited for an answer.

“Suspicion will lie on every hand. And foot,” Njangu said. “I’m going to convince these three yahoos they’re about to get assassinated.”

“Good,” Garvin said. “Who’s going to be the head of the plot?”

“Why, me, of course.”

“For all three?”

“Can I juggle, or what?” Njangu said, slurping caff. * * *

Jagasti’s idea of fine sport was equipping lifters with probes, and hanging a cloth of a given color from one of them. The others… ten to a side, two men to a lifter… tried to take the cloth away or protect the flag-carrier until he reached a goal.

As far as Njangu could tell, there weren’t any especial rules, except all lifters should withdraw to their end of the field while an ambulance rescued the survivors of a crash.

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