For More Than Glory by William C. Dietz

Author:William C. Dietz [Dietz, William C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780441010912
Publisher: Ace Hardcover
Published: 2003-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

LANOR

It was just before dawn, that time of day when most citizens were still asleep, the criminal element had returned to their various lairs, and only street sweepers plied their trades. It wasn't raining, but it had been, and the air was relatively clean.

The top of the wall separating Mys from Polwa served as the roof to Factor Wah Heh's rather opulent office--and the South Gate lay directly below his well-shod feet. That made it possible for the customs official to walk to the north side of his office, open the shutters, and look down on the foreign city of Mys, or reverse direction, open those shutters, and peer into the Imperial city of Polwa.

Not that he normally spent much time looking in either direction since it was more pleasant to sit at his desk, nap on his daybed, or nip out for a bite to eat.

The fact that he had time for such niceties was largely due to the extra hours granted him by the magic calculator which the human named Vanderveen had so kindly given him.

Now, with that individual pacing his office like a caged animal, the LaNorian had little choice but to grant the favor she asked or risk having his secret revealed.

The off-worlder had called upon to "expedite" six wagonloads of steel track. The alien was perfectly willing to pay the considerable fees involved, along with the "handling charge" routinely tacked on by Wah Heh and his subordinates, and that should have made the customs official happy. It didn't.

Steel track implied railroads, the Tro Wa hated railroads, and their spies were everywhere. The Factor thought his staff was free of informers but there was no way to be sure. Would the Claw view his involvement with the shipment as support for the foreigners? Yes, he feared that they would, and didn't want to die while holding his own entrails in his hands.

That's why Wah Heh was happy when Vanderveen said, "Here they come," and rushed to the north window in order to take a look.

It was dark outside, but the streetlights still burned, and the wagons were momentarily visible as the rolled through the cones of warm yellow light. They were large vehicles, reinforced in order to handle the steel tracks, and covered with well-secured leather tarps. Each wagon required a team of two razbuls, and Wah Heh could hear the animals complain as the LaNorian drivers urged the reptiles forward with, long supple whips.

The customs inspectors, all of whom had been forewarned, not to mention bribed, hurried to open the gigantic gate as the first wagon drew near.

Vanderveen could feel the vibration through the soles of her boots as the door hit its stops and the convoy passed under the arch. The diplomat waited for the first wagons to disappear, turned, and crossed to the other side. The first vehicle, the one that contained Santana and half his troops had entered Polwa by then, and was headed toward the point where it would turn right onto the east-west thoroughfare that led out through the Imperial city's West Gate.

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