Master of Misfit by Andrew J. Offutt

Author:Andrew J. Offutt [Offutt, Andrew J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Adult
ISBN: 9780867211283
Publisher: Playboy Paperbacks
Published: 1982-08-15T07:00:00+00:00

“Shall I meet with Captain Sambriam?” Tweets asked when Ganesa killed the Red Room’s audio and visual.

Their whispers had concealed most of what had been said from the mistress of Be Lively, but she had heard enough. Would the woman bolt? Ganesa would if she were in Coppertop’s position. But then, Ganesa would not have to face Ganesa of Resh! Coppertop did. That might be all that was needed to keep the beauty in line.

Still . . . Ganesa looked at the Jarp. “You and Sudi find out where Captain Sambriam’s ship is docked. Wait there in case our little bird decides to fly her cage.”

Tweets released a sharp, high-pitched whistle from between tightly stretched orange lips. With a wide grin, it turned and left his captain’s quarters.

Was it possible, Ganesa wondered, for a Jarp to be sadistic? Tweets seemed as delighted by the prospect of a fight as it was when presented with a new sweet-cake to slice.

Coppertop entered the Yakez Room of the Star-Flung Lounge. Every cell in her body felt aquiver. Her stomach churned uneasily as though it might upheave its contents at any moment.

No matter. I’ve got to try!

Her gaze slowly moved over the room’s tables, searching the faces of the lounge’s patrons. Sambriam had not waited. A desperate sob choked her throat while relief suffused her body. He had abandoned her.

Now she did not have to test the strength of Ganesa’s threat.

“Coppertop.” A woman’s voice came from behind her.

With a gasp, she pivoted. Yoluta smiled and reached out to touch her hand. “Dorj . . . Captain Sambriam told me to wait for you. He and Songan are waiting in the Ocean Room.”

Coppertop stood there, uncertain what to say. Ten minutes ago when she’d left Be Lively, it all had seemed so clear. Now? Could she face another isolation room, or worse, if she were caught? Lizina, suddenly very much alive within her head, screamed for her to follow Yoluta, to risk all on the whispered promise of a man she didn’t know.

“You are coming with us, aren’t you?” Yoluta asked.

“Yes . . . yes!” she replied, though every fiber of her body rejected the idea.

Yoluta urged her into the Yakez Room. “Star-Spider is cleared for embarking as soon as we’re onboard.”

Before she could reply, Sambriam and Songan were beside them and they were outside the Star-Flung, weaving through the shop-lined corridors of Hometown. Yuw waited for them at Barbro’s hub and the elevator that would take them to the station’s tenth level.

“Songbird is below, just in case,” the the man from Outreach said when they crowded into the lift.

A minute later, a green light above the door announced the tenth level of the Barbro Transfer Station. The elevator halted. The door opened. The four crewmates and one trembling copper-headed woman stepped out to be greeted by the waiting Jarp. Songbird flipped five as a signal it had not seen any hint of Ganesa or any of her crew.

With Captain Sambriam’s arm securely about her

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.