The Hammer by K. J. Parker

Author:K. J. Parker
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, pdf
Tags: General, Fiction, Fantasy, Islands, Epic, FIC009000
ISBN: 9780316038560
Publisher: Hachette Digital, Inc.
Published: 2011-01-05T00:49:27.096010+00:00

Marzo didn’t like the sound of that. “These people…”

“My cousins,” Luso said. “Distant cousins, but we are related, yes. Also, for the purposes of the rules of conduct, they’re our guests, therefore de facto members of the household, which unfortunately makes it my problem. Well,” he added, with a faint grin, “it doesn’t have to be a problem. That’s where your help would be greatly appreciated.”

“What can I do?” Marzo asked.

Luso edged forward a little. “I think this is an interesting moment in the history of this colony,” he said. “All sorts of bad things are happening, which makes it dangerous, but on the other hand, we’ve got two key assets: you, and me. Don’t know about you but I think we’re getting along pretty well. I think we can sort this out. Do you?”

Marzo hesitated, then nodded.

“Splendid,” Luso replied. “All right, here’s the deal. We forget about what we agreed yesterday—scrap it completely. Instead, we set off my man Scarpedino’s offence against the three dead men. Wipe the slate clean, start again. I believe I can square it with my cousins, if you can handle your people. I’m sure you can.”

Marzo felt a wave of panic sweep over him. He did his best to put it aside. “I think so,” he said.

“That’s grand,” Luso said. “That’s what I call a sensible approach. Actually, it works out quite well. It gives my cousins an opportunity to be magnanimous, which stands them in good stead with us. We’ll have to find a way to make it all right with the rest of their crew, but you can leave that to us. Really, there’s no desperately pressing need for them to know the exact truth of the matter, if you see what I’m driving at. Main thing is to put it all behind us as quickly as we can. Agreed?”

Marzo waited for a moment or so before saying yes. It occurred to him that Luso somehow knew that the deal they’d just reached was the deal he’d come here to suggest. Certainly, it did feel rather like their minds worked in a remarkably similar way. Or maybe that was what Luso wanted him to think. Not that it mattered particularly, yet.

“I think,” Luso said, standing up, “this calls for a drink. No, not the family stuff,” he added, to someone in the background that Marzo couldn’t see. “The bought stuff.”

Marzo recognised it as soon as he tasted it. He had half a case of it left, stored carefully behind a stack of empty crates in the back cellar. Which reminded him…

“Ah yes,” Luso said, when he’d mentioned it. “Good point. Is the wounded man fit to travel?”

“I think so.”

“Splendid. Best thing would be if you sent them up here, and we’ll take care of them. Get them out of your way, before there’s any more trouble.”

Marzo hadn’t thought of that, and shivered. He ought to have thought of it. Entirely possible that the three survivors might want some degree of revenge or justice.

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