William C. Bailey by The Solution

Author:The Solution
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

THE big redhead promptly told Bayuk about the message from his father. The Terrestrial grinned fatly. "Okay," he said. "If you plunge, so do I. Just one thing.''

"What's that?"

"I'm handing my roll to Hoek, keeping just enough to live on and get back home if this thing goes bust. He'll have to handle the detail. He's done it before. But while we wait for your money to come from Centaurus, I want you to hang on to that Dutchman like a leech. Move in with him. You know we can't trust him. You told me his history yourself."

Pinky agreed with a brief nod. He was too surprised at the accuracy of Bart's prediction to trust his never too reliable voice.

Moving in with Hoek was no fun. They were too busy preparing their equipment for Pinky to mind the Dutchman's filth.

Hoek had arranged for a freighter to haul them the few hundred thousand miles across space to the arid twin. "It took nearly everything we have," he protested. "They wanted a hundred fifty thousand guilders for the two trips. In advance."

Pinky could scarcely believe the price. "Where do they get that stuff?" he demanded, "Let's radio Three for a ship. We don't have to use a local gyp-outfit."

"No good, Meinheer," Hoek said, yanking his stringy tie farther from his grimy neck. "Nothing flies here without Bart's okay. The price is high so he can get a cut. It would make no difference who hauled us." Pinky was sufficiently disturbed about what Hoek had told him to have the unkempt Dutchman for the first time since Bayuk had surrendered his bankroll. He collared Bart in his usual spot at the bar. A few players were at the tables. The click of chips sounded soft accompaniment to the chanting of the crap dealer.

"See here, Mr. Bartalucia," Pinky burst out the moment he saw him.

"Slow down," Bart snapped, his sallow face darkening. "Back up and start again."

Pinky gulped. "I'm sorry," he said in a low voice. He took a deep breath. The floor rocked, ratting glassware behind the bar.

About that advance. Mr. Bartalucia," Pinky said at last. "Maybe I don't want to take it down after all."

"Things going queer?" Bart suggested.

"Yes, Mr. Bartalucia. Very queer. They tell me you've cut yourself in for a big slice of our transportation cost. Is that true?" Bart's swarthy features paled. His thin brown lips faded as he compressed them against his even teeth. "Pinky," he breathed. "The things you say, I've shot men for less."

"I'm still sorry," Pinky said earnestly. "I'm not very good about these things. It's just that I've got to be sure."

The gambler regarded him through narrowed eyes. "Sonny, the things people say I do! Don't believe them."

His somehow equivocal reply left Pinky quiet and thoughtful. "I'd be satisfied with that," he said at last. "If you told me how you knew I would move in with Hock."

"You haven't figured that out yet?" Bart demanded, obviously surprised.

"No."

"Then go borne, kid. You're too light for this work.

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