Scoundrel Worlds by Chris Bunch

Author:Chris Bunch [Bunch, Chris]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, Science Fiction, General
ISBN: 9781841494548
Google: gyuvHAAACAAJ
Publisher: Orbit
Published: 2006-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

FORTY

« ^ »

I have a mention of Sufyerd,” Jasmine King announced, looking up from her computer.

She was searching the fiche of the letters between Hyla Adrianopole and Premier Ladier that Goodnight had stolen from Shiprite’s safe. The others hovered over their own screens in the mansion’s operating center.

“A mention?” Goodnight said. “That’s all?”

“A mention,” King said. “I’ve searched half a dozen times, using every variant I can find of Sufyerd’s name.”

“And what do we have?” von Baldur asked.

“I quote,” King said. “ ‘On a minor note, darling, I was curious about this traitor Sufyerd’s guilt, since there are a few fools questioning the military court’s verdict. I was assured by the good L’Pellerin as to his absolute, unquestionable guilt, so that’s something, at least, I don’t have to worry about, compared to this abysmal mineral lease scandal, about…’ end quote, and that’s all there is.”

“Shit!” Goodnight said. “For this I risked my life… or anyway my good reputation, and ruined a perfectly good, brand-new formal?”

“It appears so,” King said.

“Well, what about the dirty parts?” Goodnight said. “Since this twink went and shot somebody to keep from getting her good name despoiled, at least there should be some hot and heavy.”

“Here’s something,” Jasmine said. “Patching it over to you.” She touched sensors.

Goodnight read his screen.

“That’s hot and heavy? I did better than that when I was fifteen!”

“Including with the snake?” Riss asked.

“Snake? What snake?” Goodnight sputtered. “I didn’t see anything about any snake.”

Then he realized M’chel was laughing.

“Goddamnit, Riss,” he started.

“I also,” Jasmine went on, “found something very interesting, since I was wondering whether this Hyla Adrianopole is a bubble-brain, or if there’s maybe another game being run.”

“Why,” Grok asked, “do you think possibly Adrianopole is of less than adequate intelligence?”

“Well, we actually know she’s close to that,” Jasmine said. “Shooting down Editor Fall wasn’t that bright, especially since she didn’t then have her hands on the letters, or even proof that Fall hadn’t made copies.

“Jasmine,” von Baldur said patiently, “you’re veering. You said you had something interesting.”

“I do, and doing a search suggests there’s many things in that category. Unfortunately, they don’t pertain to our assignment to free Sufyerd.

“But they are very interesting. I’ll give you one quote, which is pretty well borne out by other references. I quote, ‘after two hours with the ambassador from T., I feel vastly relieved that they intend no harm to the Belfort Worlds, and that all this sword-waving is but an excuse for the T. navy to completely rearm,’ end quote.

“Here’s one even more interesting, and I quote, ‘After very private talks, it seems that a viable alternative to the present conflict between T. and ourselves would be to suggest a conference, and… this was the ambassador’s suggestion… that a pacifistic solution to the B.

problem would be some sort of power-sharing,’ end quote.”

There was stunned silence.

“Son of a bitch,” Goodnight said. “I didn’t waste my time.”

“T like in Torguth,” Riss said. “Yow!”

“I do not understand,” Grok said.

“It is simple,” von Baldur said. “Ladier

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