The Black Raider by John Triptych

Author:John Triptych [Triptych, John]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: starship troopers, Star Trek, isaac hooke
Publisher: J Triptych Publishing
Published: 2020-03-06T16:00:00+00:00

35 The Getaway

BY VIRTUE OF NECESSITY he had become a light sleeper, his mind instantly switching itself back on at the slightest provocation. A few weeks after his talk with Khuuft, Dante’s eyes instantly flicked open when his ears began to pick up some shouting from one of the nearby tunnels.

He had already managed to sit up and reach for his knife beneath the blanket of leathery rags he wore, when a shambling figure began to close in from the shadows. Dante relaxed somewhat when he finally recognized who it was.

Aachari had been serving under him as an assistant for almost a decade, and he counted this small, diminutive man as his only trusted friend. His subordinate spoke in hushed, yet nervous tones. “I have some important news—Khuuft has finally died.”

Dante instantly sensed an acute danger was near. He quickly put on his boots and grabbed the small satchel lying nearby and slung it over his shoulder. “We need to go, now.”

The sounds of a large group of men could already be heard coming from the adjoining tunnel. Running for the shaft that led towards the life support chamber, Dante tried to reach for the metal key inside his satchel in order to unlock the barred gate, but his groping fingers couldn’t find it.

“Looking for this?” a voice behind him said.

Dante turned. Aachari, who stood beside him, whimpered in fright.

Less than ten meters away, a grinning Ginny stood beside a large group of men with spears, holding up a stolen set of keys in front of her. “Took it from you last night when you weren’t looking.”

Urgas emerged from the front rank of grinning guards. “You think I wasn’t ready for what you were planning to do, eunuch?”

Dante spat on the ground. “Let me guess, you just killed Khuuft?”

“Well, the old pussycat had been delirious for a few days now. When I realized he couldn’t even see me anymore I decided to be merciful.”

“That goes against our laws. You were supposed to challenge him first.”

“Didn’t you hear what I said? Khuuft had become confused. Challenging him wouldn’t have made any difference. He didn’t even fight back when I stabbed him more than a dozen times.”

“You still broke the laws. According to our custom you’d become a eunuch too, just like me.”

Urgas’s face hardened as he pulled out a long knife from his hip sheath. “You insult me in front of my guards, and you think I’m going to let you get away with it? Let’s get this over with—you’re going into the pot along with Khuuft tonight, just in time for a feast to proclaim me as the new leader of the Discards.”

Aachari placed both hands over his mouth to stifle a moan, while Ginny began laughing, along with most of the guards in the crowd.

Dante held up his knife defiantly as he retreated towards the south side of the room, along with Aachari.

Urgas noticed the two men’s suspicious movements as they edged closer towards a nearby wall. Gesturing to the four guards standing beside him, he motioned them forward.

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