Phyllis Gotlieb by A Judgment of Dragons (epub)

Author:A Judgment of Dragons (epub)
Format: epub
Published: 2023-10-03T00:00:00+00:00

Propose discussion-bargain of valuables for salvage you name time-place.

Skimmer returning cat where drop?

Grever to Quantz:

Agreed.

Will call you sixteen hours confirm details.

Any place.

Prandra woke as she was being dumped on the ground. The skimmer rose with a whine and disappeared. She half-expected to find herself in a desert place where she would choke in the noxious air until her swollen windpipe suffocated her. But a shadow came between her and the paling sky and a hand slipped a mask strap around her head. She breathed. A foot nudged her flank, not gently, and she pulled herself to fours and followed the dark figure to the Station. She recognized the mind of Harry the demo man, who had not appreciated being wakened either.

Outer and inner lock-doors opened, hissed, closed, and she was within walls again. Quantz? Grever? The latter was slightly less intelligent, devious, sadistic. Otherwise not much to choose.

Harry took his place with the gun. She settled in the accustomed corner and rested her head on Khreng’s shoulder. His eyes were closed but he was not asleep. “You are all right?”

“I am dirty, tired, sore, frightened, dizzy—”

“Good night.” His tail curled round her waist and she slept.

She woke, choking in a noose, clawing the wall where the strange crosses hung.

“Wake up,” Khreng said. “You are having dreams.”

“I am choking!”

“I think you are overtired.” He dropped pills on her mouth, dunked her head in the water dish with a splayed paw. She drank. “Get to sleep and stay asleep.”

When she woke her limbs jerked and trembled for minutes before she could stand. Jens, on guard now, nudged the food bowl under her nose.

“What time is it?”

“Past noon. Grever’s out there parleying.”

“Where?”

“I dunno. They picked some place and called it neutral.”

“Who are they?”

“Grever with Ed and Jack. Quantz and two of his boys.”

“Who takes over in case of an ambush?”

“Hah, you think of everything. Each party has a skimmer circling. No ambushes.”

“I am sorry to be rough with you.”

“You haven’t had it so smooth yourself.” He gave off no feeling of resentment. Khreng paced quietly. Megan’s voice echoed hoarsely in the cellar and the dull beat of the waters pushed at the walls. The light was dim as always through the dirty panes and occasionally the shadow of a plaak flicked across them. Jens kept squatting by her as she ate. “You certainly pulled it off last night.”

“Very expensively.” She coughed on a crumb. Bad enough when it was fresh, the food had dried from exposure and picked up dirt from the floor. She did not understand this man. She had the odd feeling that he would have liked to touch her head, not as Quantz had done, but as the first alien visitor on Ungruwarkh had touched Khreng so long ago, in a gesture of greeting. She wondered how Jens came to be with Grever, and why he stayed; it was a question that might have been asked of many.

“You have a funny mark on your neck,” he said suddenly. He reached his hand out and paused.

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