The Backworlds by M. Pax

Author:M. Pax [Pax, M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Tags: science fiction
Publisher: M. Pax
Published: 2016-01-02T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Five patrollers swaggered up to Craze when the noise died down. They freed him from the pipe, herded him downstairs and over to Mr. Slade’s, jabbing and shoving until Craze was surrounded by Eptus. Some of them growled, low and steadfast, giving Craze a headache. He didn’t see the aviarmen, the Jix, or the people in black.

All of the crates were upended. Patrollers quickly counted and secured the frizzers, glaring at Craze and the Eptus as they did. The only worse crimes than possessing frizzers on the Backworlds were using them, and betraying fellow Backworlders to the Foreworlders.

Craze was pissed the Jix had left him to deal with the authorities alone, but relieved the aviarmen had gotten away. Part of him clung to a small hope they’d come after him and break him out of patroller custody, but dammitall, if his own father had abandoned him, then a couple of dudes who were little better than strangers probably would, too. He’d have to get out of this mess using his wits and watched his opportunity approach.

A group of squat patrollers swaggered across Mr. Slade’s lobby and came to stand before Craze. None of them rose higher than four foot six inches. They all had wide, powerful frames, and long silky hair. All but one of the six were dressed in green. The oddball wore brown, layers and layers of brown.

The lead patroller sniffed at Craze. “You Verkinns is nutty. I don’t like when you come over here. You best stay over on Siegna.”

Great idea. “I’d be happy to leave.” Craze doubted escape would be so easy.

The patroller put his hands on his hips, pursing his lips. “This is serious trouble, boy.”

Nope, freedom wouldn’t come simply. Craze resisted sighing, concentrating on the patroller’s words, seeking an opening to poke wider that would land him at the docks and on the aviarmen’s ship.

The lawman jabbered on. “This wasn’t some small scam taking a few chips off a citizen, this crime threatens all the Backworlds. The Assembled Authorities have been notified. Frizzers bad news.”

Shit. “I didn’t know it was frizzers.” Craze had to try some truth. “You better have found every one of those guns. I don’t ever want to run into one of them things out on the Edge. I wouldn’t touch the things. Honest. I was here for the chocolate.”

“There’s no chocolate here,” the patroller said.

“The bars. The foil bars.” Craze thrust his chin toward the small red and gold items strewn over the floor.

The lawman picked one up. “These?” His small, meaty hands unwrapped the bar, holding it out under Craze’s wide nose. “Mealworm cakes, son. That’s all these is.”

Craze smelled the brine, gawking at the red crumbly cake in the patroller’s hand. That couldn’t be right. That couldn’t be what was protected by the foils and gelatin casings. The seal... the seal embossed on the foils was used for chocolates. Yet he couldn’t argue with the reality in front of his face.

His breath suddenly left him. “No!”

The squat man in brown laughed.

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