A Covenant of Justice by David Gerrold

strength of Dragons when it comes to facing death. I believe that they will try to prolong their lives as long as possible.”
    The Dragon Lord turned to Commander ‘Ga Lunik. “Tell your Marauders to keep tracking, but to continue to maintain discretionary distance.”
    â€œBut, my Lord, they’ll see the Marauders on their displays.”
    â€œI expect them to. We need to show them that we didn’t believe them, that they have no ability to fool us. Remember this, Commander ‘Ga Lunik, youth and enthusiasm has no chance against age and treachery—especially when the youth and enthusiasm comes from short-lived humans and the age and treachery comes from an ancient Dragon.”
    â€œYes, m’Lord. Thank you for the blessing of your wisdom.”
    The Dragon Lord grinned in appreciation. He rather liked the sound of that acknowledgment, especially as it came from the mouth of a Phaestor Commander. If only he could train the rest of the cannibalistic breed to such politesse .
    Several hours later, his voice trembling with emotion, Commander ‘Ga Lunik requested the presence of the Dragon Lord on the bridge. The Dragon Lord lumbered heavily along the wide corridors of Lady Zillabar’s space-going palace, once again reminding himself how much he hated the Phaestoric self-indulgence and extravagance.
    When he reached the bridge, Commander ‘Ga Lunik led him to the large strategic display. He pointed at a blinking red dot coursing upward away from inner ring of Burihatin.
    â€œWhat does that dot represent?” the Dragon Lord asked suspiciously.
    â€œMy Lord, I regret to inform you that the scarlet indicator represents the position locater implanted in Lady Zillabar’s own personage.”
    The Dragon Lord scratched himself thoughtfully. “We can pick it up at this range?”
    Commander ‘Ga Lunik nodded. “If they have attached an amplifier—not a hard thing to do—the signal could travel for many light-days.”
    â€œHm,” said the Dragon Lord thoughtfully. “I wonder if you haven’t miscalculated, my young Captain. Perhaps they’ve killed the Lady after all. How unfortunate for you to have such a short inglorious career.”
    â€œMy Lord? The log will show that you advised me of this course of action. I followed your orders—”
    â€œI should like to see you present that as a defense at your trial. I have always understood it that the Phaestoric aristocracy only gives orders, never takes them.” He lumbered out, grinning.
    Commander ‘Ga Lunik stared after the departing Dragon. He mouthed a silent curse. Then he turned back to his waiting First Officer and ordered, “Tell the Marauders to intercept the object.”

Escape
    Sawyer and Lee stood over the medical cabinet containing Zillabar’s still-unconscious form, studying Three-Dollar’s handiwork and grinning. The Lady would not only have a small scar under her right arm, but in the mirror it would appear as a TimeBinder’s symbol: a circle with a sine wave across its center.
    â€œI know that I display a foolish regression to infantile emotionalism to admit this,” Three-Dollar said, “but I regret only that I could not have left the scar in the middle of her forehead. It would have represented an enjoyable demonstration of karmic justice. Ah, well,” he sighed.
    Among the many memories and experiences contained within the TimeBinder’s headband, the skills of several brilliant surgeons remained vivid. William Three-Dollar had artfully removed the Lady’s implanted locater chip, connected it to an amplifier, wrapped it up with forty kilos of Vampire food—things no sane human would eat—and jettisoned the package before their last course change.
    By now, the boat had gone more than two-thirds of the way around Burihatin’s circumference, in a zigzag course that still led inevitably toward the fourteenth