Planet of Adventure Omnibus by Jack Vance

Author:Jack Vance
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2011-05-21T07:00:00+00:00

* * *

The morning passed; the sun climbing toward noon dissolved the haze which shrouded the horizons, and the towers of Ao Khaha stood distinct.

The ship was noted. On the water under the city appeared a barge, which surged across the water leaving a ribbon of white wake. Reith studied it through the scanscope. Wankhmen stood on the deck, perhaps a dozen, curiously alike; slender men with death-pale skins, saturnine or, in some instances, ascetic features. Reith considered resistance: perhaps a desperate attempt to seize the barge? He decided against such a trial, which almost certainly could not succeed.

The Wankhmen scrambled aboard the ship. Ignoring Reith, Traz and Anacho, they addressed the Lokhars. “All down to the barge. Do you carry weapons?”

“No,” grunted Zarfo.

“Quick then.” Now they noticed Anacho. “What is this? A Dirdirman?” And they gave chuckles of soft surprise. They inspected Reith. “And what sort is that one? A motley crew, to be sure! Now then, all down to the barge!”

The Lokhars went first, hulk-shouldered, knowing what lay ahead. Reith, Traz and Anacho followed.

“All! Stand on the deck, at the gunwales, in a neat line. Turn your backs.” And the Wankhman brought out their handguns.

The Lokhars started to obey. Reith had not expected such casual and perfunctory slaughter. Furious that he had not resisted from the first he cried out: “Should we let them kill us so easily? Let’s make a fight of it!”

The Wankhmen gave sharp orders: “Unless you wish worse, quick! To the gunwales!”

Near the barge the water roiled. A black shape floated lazily to the surface and produced four plangent chimes. The Wankhmen stiffened; their faces sagged into sneers of annoyance. They waved at their captives. “Back then, into the cockpit.”

The barge returned to the great black fortress, the Wankhmen muttering among themselves. It passed behind a breakwater, magnetically clamped itself to a pier. The prisoners were marshaled ashore and through a portal, into Ao Khaha.

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