Polar City Blues by Katharine Kerr

Author:Katharine Kerr [Kerr, Katharine]
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Science fiction, Fiction, Fantasy
ISBN: 9780586207895
Published: 2010-03-07T00:00:00+00:00

'Like I say, you want the Army in here, asking where you get your cash and demanding a cut? What are you paying your goon squad for, anyway?'

'You got a point, but I think I'll put out an open contract on this dude, get a lot of eyes looking for him all at once. It'll be faster - '

At her belt Lacey's comp link beeps. With an apologetic nod in Richie's direction she slips it off and punches in.

'Programmer?' Buddy sounds so humanly alarmed that she wonders if he's on the verge of serious malfunction. 'We have had an unfortunate occurrence.'

'You what? For chrissake, man, lay it on me! I mean, continue to transmit message.'

'Some hours ago. Mulligan and Nunks took your skimmer and went to the Rat Yard. Now Maria informs me that they are in grave difficulty.'

'What!?! How does she know? Try starting at the beginning, Buddy, and fill in more detail.'

'Maria is a latent psychic. She has received a strong feeling of danger and despair from Nunks and an exceptionally strong premonition of danger concerning Mulligan. Now, as for the skimmer, I am uncertain of its condition, but -'

'Screw the skimmer! No, don't take that literal. I mean, the skimmer's condition is of no importance. Why did Mulligan and Nunks go to the Rat Yard?'

'To rescue a sentient they call Mrs Bug. Captain Bailey informs me that she seemed in some danger. It was the captain, by the way, who insisted I call you.' Buddy's voice develops a pronounced sulk. 'He threatened to magnetize my cubes if I didn't.'

'Good for him. Why did you let'em go out there alone? Do they have a gun?'

'They have no weapons that I know of, programmer. I had no way of stopping them. Using his psionics, Nunks can unjam any lock that I can electronically secure.'

'Well, that's true. But jeezchrist, Buddy! Why didn't you tell me this before?'

Over a faint hissing of static she can hear Sam's voice in the background.

'I have made an error, programmer,' Buddy says. 'I have malfunctioned. I grovel at your feet in an agony of abasement. I wrap my circuits in frayed insulation, I spit upon my own data cubes, I — '

'Enough! Tell Sam I'm on my way. We're going to check your subsidiary drives when this is all over.'

Lacey powers out to find Richie watching her in as much anxiety as he can allow himself to show.

'How are you going to get out to the Yard if this Mulligan guy copped your skimmer?’

‘Oh jeezus, I no savvy! Rent a car, I guess.’

‘Take too long. Lend you one of mine.’

‘Thanks. Hey, man, you're a prince.’

‘Nada but the best for you.'

There is something in the light-hearted way he says it that hints at pain underneath. No matter how urgent the situation, she refuses to waste the first honest moment they've had since her retirement.

'Hey, Richie? I'm sorry I left you behind, but the Fleet was the only chance I had. At first, I was just an enlisted man.

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