Last Stand of the DNA Cowboys by Mick Farren Page A

tips.
    As Diamenti and his men marched down the corridor, Reave and the Minstrel Boy all but started like small boys caught red-handed at some guilty endeavour. Diamenti's roar could have chilled blood.
    'So what do we have here? Been indulging in a little slaying, have we?'
    The Minstrel Boy looked Diamenti in the eye and decided that maybe casual was not such a good idea. Even though he was telling the truth, there was something about Diamenti's gaze that made him feel as if he were lying.
    'I know it looks bad, but I was only defending myself. He came out of the dark at me.'
    'You know the stiff?'
    The Minstrel Boy shook his head. 'No.'
    Reave went a little further. 'We know what he is.'
    'And what might that be?'
    ' He was an urthugee
    Diamenti's bushy eyebrows shot up. He turned to Heet. 'Is this true?'
    Heet quickly examined the body. 'It sure looks like it.'
    Diamenti faced his men. 'I don't want word of this running all over the Great Hall, you understand? Keep your mouths shut.'
    The keepers nodded. Diamenti quickly ushered Reave and the Minstrel Boy down the corridor. 'Let's go and talk about this in private.'
    The Minstrel Boy and Reave returned to the private dining room, followed by Diamenti and Heet. Billy and Renatta looked startled as the big man and his lieutenant came through the door.
    'What's going on out there?'
    The Minstrel Boy flopped into a chair. 'Someone tried to kill me. I need a drink.' He glanced up at Diamenti. 'Can I ring for a bottle of brandy? I was going for one when that guy jumped me.'
    Diamenti gestured to Heet. 'Go get him a bottle. We don't need a steward coming up here right now.'
    Renatta actually seemed concerned. 'Who tried to kill you?'
    The Minstrel Boy looked at Diamenti again. Their host gave an imperceptible shake of his head. The Minstrel Boy avoided Renatta's eyes. 'It seems like it might have been a hired assassin.'
    'What?'
    Diamenti ignored Billy and Renatta's questions and addressed himself to the Minstrel Boy. 'So who wants you dead?'
    'Nobody. I don't have a beef with anyone anymore. I've been out of circulation since God knows when.'
    Renatta stared into her martini. She looked worried. 'I can vouch for that.'
    'Where were you?'
    'In the Caverns of the Presence.'
    Diamenti smiled. 'Living the lotus life?'
    'I needed the rest.'
    'So why did you leave?'
    'I didn't like the way things were going. People were getting jaded and weird, and the Hunters were out. I figured that some kind of cull was about to start.'
    Diamenti turned his attention to Billy and Reave. 'Maybe someone wants to stop this little reunion.'
    Reave's eyes narrowed. 'What reunion might that be?'
    Diamenti grinned. 'Come on. The whole of the Great Hall is talking about it. The DNA Cowboys are back together.'
    'We never called ourselves that.'
    'We aren't back together.'
    'It's pure coincidence.'
    'Are you telling me that, right at a point when the whole Damaged World seems to be on the edge of another round of violence, you three suddenly turn up in the same place at the same time, quite by accident?' It was the Minstrel Boy's argument almost word for word.
    'You can believe it or not. It's what happened.'
    Diamenti shrugged. 'It doesn't really matter if I believe it or not. Everybody else believes it, and I figure that you're going to have to go along with it.'
    He had a point there. General perception was a powerful force. Billy, who had been staring morosely into his drink, suddenly looked up at Diamenti. There was an odd light in his eye. 'Yeah, but do you believe it?'
    Diamenti looked at Billy curiously. 'Is it important?'
    'You really think that another cycle of violence is coming?'
    'Haven't you felt it for yourself?'
    Billy's hands made an awkward gesture. 'I've been on a bit of a vacation myself.'
    'Then the answer is yes, Billy Oblivion. Yes, there is another round of violence coming. The moods of civilizations change, even in a fragmented civilization like ours. It's the inevitable turnaround,