A Dark and Hungry God Arises by Stephen R. Donaldson Page B

cheat.
    'And now it's out of my hands. The Bill has the pod.
    He's got the "human offspring" you're so eager for. And there's nothing I can do about that. You've goddamn revoked my credit-jack, so I can't buy the brat back. You've left me helpless, and now you want to hold me accountable for it. You say you want me to honor my bargains.
    I say trying to do business with you is like eating shit. '
    'Captain Succorso-' Vestabule made a gesture that appeared to have no meaning. It may have been intended to placate Nick, or threaten him. Or it may have been merely a neural atavism.
    'Keep listening!' Nick interrupted, bringing up more anger to disguise what he was about to do. 'I'm not fucking done!
    'I traded with you honorably. I gave you my blood.
    Then you wanted to change the deal. You wanted that brat. You offered me gap drive components in exchange.
    So I gave you the brat. And you gave me faulty components. Damn near killed me in the gap. ' The louder and more angrily he spoke, the more his body relaxed. 'I can only think of three explanations.
    'Remember, ' he warned, 'this is being recorded. If you mess with me, Operations is going to hear it.
    'One' - he held up his index finger - 'you were planning to cheat me right from the beginning. You think I'm immune to your fucking mutagens, and you want me dead so I can't pass my immunity along.
    'Two' - he waggled his middle finger at the emissary
    — 'you decided to cheat me after Morn took over my ship. Punish me for letting one of my own people trick me. And make sure she didn't get away with it. '
    Ransum and Sib watched as if they were about to be sick. Vector's round face revealed nothing. But Liete's eyes were shining again, and Karster looked like he could almost understand what Nick was doing.
    'Three - are you still listening, Vestabule?' Nick's hand closed into a fist. This is the explanation I really like.
    You were using me to test those components for you.
    You've figured out a way to use tach to generate acceleration, and you wanted me to see if it worked.
    'Now it's your turn, ' he rasped like the blade of a knife.
    'Give me a reason why I shouldn't relay this recording to Operations whether you threaten me or not. '
    Vestabule showed no disconcertion. He may have been incapable of it. On one side of his face, his human eye blinked like an appeal. On the other, his Amnion teeth were bare and brutal.
    'Relay it, ' he replied simply. 'Your first explanation will cause your death. Your own kind will kill you to discover the nature of your immunity. Your second will appear only logical and reasonable to such men and women as inhabit Billingate. And your third will not be believed.
    If we possessed the technology you describe, we would have more reliable means of testing it. '
    'More reliable, ' Mikka put in unexpectedly, 'but not cheaper. Your manufacturing methods are too expensive.
    You might not be able to afford the dozens or even hundreds of probes or ships you could lose trying to calibrate the parameters. '
    Her support surprised Nick without pleasing him.
    He'd already given up on her: he didn't want her help now.
    In any case, Vestabule ignored her. He kept his dislocated gaze fixed on Nick. 'Captain Succorso, I repeat -
    relay your recording if you wish. Your threats have no meaning to us. I' — again he appeared to grope for a word
    - 'recognize them. They are bluffs. Empty of substance.
    I waste time listening to them.
    'Now you will listen to me. ' His Amnion arm made another indecipherable gesture. 'If you do not honor your agreements with us, you and your ship are forfeit.
    We will take you and your people and your ship, and leave you nothing.
    The Bill will not defend you. He will be given a plain, honorable account of our actions. And we have the means to prevent you from defending yourself. If we choose, we can paralyze you completely. '
    'How?' Nick demanded.
    'You must deliver to us the human offspring called Davies Hyland, ' Vestabule