On this ship there’s no way you can win an argument.”
After a swift look at the man’s face, Wildheit did as he was told. He was familiar with the expressions of professional survivors. A second man came to the hatch and led the way into the ship, the armed man following. The second man also betrayed the same killer instincts.
Although he was familiar with most types of spacecraft built in the galaxy, Wildheit found the vessel as different internally as he found it strange externally. While all the craftsmanship was identifiably human work, the actual design was the product of a school with no obvious roots or connections with those known to Wildheit. Familiar though the functions of many of the instruments seemed, the mechanisms and technology were strange. Only occasional items appeared to be of contemporary manufacture. Among these was a Chaos detector and a computing assembly similar to the units Wildheit had seen at ChaosCenter.
They were led into a cabin paneled with genuine wood. At a desk sat a third man in brown coveralls, with a fourth and fifth standing to each side of him. The seated man eyed them with the same interested amusement as had his companion.
“A space-marshal, eh? Pieces begin to fit. I take it that Saraya’s behind this somewhere?”
“You know Saraya?” asked Wildheit.
“You might say we’ve been acquainted for quite a long time.” The speaker shot an amused glance at his companions. “Saraya never learns.”
“Who are you?”
“Names? I am Kasdeya. The one with the gun on your spine is Jequn, and your guide through the ship was Asbeel. On my right stands Gadreel, with whom I advise you not to pick a quarrel; and on my left meet Penemue, who you would be unwise to challenge intellectually. We five are what I think you would calladventurers, perhaps even renegades. Don’t underestimate our desperation or our willingness to kill.”
“I’m already acquainted with the look in the eyes of the damned.”
“Good! We’ve achieved a point of understanding. But now you have the advantage of us, Marshal. Who are you, and what were you doing in a lifecraft on the edge of the galaxy?”
“I’m Space-Marshal Jym Wildheit, presently on Federation business.”
“What business?”
“You don’t expect me to answer that?”
“Without duress, probably not.” Kasdeya’s amused eyes circled his companions. “Not that we shy from refined violence if the need arises. But if I’ve the smell of this aright, we’ve more to gain by cooperation than by coercion. I’m going to throw out a few questions to see if we’ve a common interest. Those you don’t answer we may extract from you the hard way later—depending on our need and our humor.”
“That’s a Federation capital offense.”
“Don’t make me laugh! We don’t care a damn for your stupid laws. The whole Federation’s a structure of no consequence. It’s a mere flea in the hairs of the rabid dog whose tail we’re twisting. Our enemies would make your enemies seem like bosom friends by comparison. Let me make one point very clear to you, Marshal. In the game you’ve somehow entered, you’re so far out of your class you might as well never have been born.”
As he spoke, a great, soundless explosion in space picked up the ship and shook it with a series of bone-jerking shocks. For a moment the lights darkened to the dull level of an emergency supply, and then were reestablished. Kasdeya was already on his feet.
“Speaking of enemies, the rabid dog runs at our heels. We’re going to have to kick one of the bitch’s fangs out. This conversation will be continued later.”
Kasdeya and three of the men leaped for the door. Jequn motioned with his gun that Wildheit and Roamershould pass through into a smaller cabin beyond, the door of which he then locked from the outside.
Three more vast, soundless explosions racked the ship, shaking it so extremely that Wildheit feared the hull would fracture. Fortunately, no
After a swift look at the man’s face, Wildheit did as he was told. He was familiar with the expressions of professional survivors. A second man came to the hatch and led the way into the ship, the armed man following. The second man also betrayed the same killer instincts.
Although he was familiar with most types of spacecraft built in the galaxy, Wildheit found the vessel as different internally as he found it strange externally. While all the craftsmanship was identifiably human work, the actual design was the product of a school with no obvious roots or connections with those known to Wildheit. Familiar though the functions of many of the instruments seemed, the mechanisms and technology were strange. Only occasional items appeared to be of contemporary manufacture. Among these was a Chaos detector and a computing assembly similar to the units Wildheit had seen at ChaosCenter.
They were led into a cabin paneled with genuine wood. At a desk sat a third man in brown coveralls, with a fourth and fifth standing to each side of him. The seated man eyed them with the same interested amusement as had his companion.
“A space-marshal, eh? Pieces begin to fit. I take it that Saraya’s behind this somewhere?”
“You know Saraya?” asked Wildheit.
“You might say we’ve been acquainted for quite a long time.” The speaker shot an amused glance at his companions. “Saraya never learns.”
“Who are you?”
“Names? I am Kasdeya. The one with the gun on your spine is Jequn, and your guide through the ship was Asbeel. On my right stands Gadreel, with whom I advise you not to pick a quarrel; and on my left meet Penemue, who you would be unwise to challenge intellectually. We five are what I think you would calladventurers, perhaps even renegades. Don’t underestimate our desperation or our willingness to kill.”
“I’m already acquainted with the look in the eyes of the damned.”
“Good! We’ve achieved a point of understanding. But now you have the advantage of us, Marshal. Who are you, and what were you doing in a lifecraft on the edge of the galaxy?”
“I’m Space-Marshal Jym Wildheit, presently on Federation business.”
“What business?”
“You don’t expect me to answer that?”
“Without duress, probably not.” Kasdeya’s amused eyes circled his companions. “Not that we shy from refined violence if the need arises. But if I’ve the smell of this aright, we’ve more to gain by cooperation than by coercion. I’m going to throw out a few questions to see if we’ve a common interest. Those you don’t answer we may extract from you the hard way later—depending on our need and our humor.”
“That’s a Federation capital offense.”
“Don’t make me laugh! We don’t care a damn for your stupid laws. The whole Federation’s a structure of no consequence. It’s a mere flea in the hairs of the rabid dog whose tail we’re twisting. Our enemies would make your enemies seem like bosom friends by comparison. Let me make one point very clear to you, Marshal. In the game you’ve somehow entered, you’re so far out of your class you might as well never have been born.”
As he spoke, a great, soundless explosion in space picked up the ship and shook it with a series of bone-jerking shocks. For a moment the lights darkened to the dull level of an emergency supply, and then were reestablished. Kasdeya was already on his feet.
“Speaking of enemies, the rabid dog runs at our heels. We’re going to have to kick one of the bitch’s fangs out. This conversation will be continued later.”
Kasdeya and three of the men leaped for the door. Jequn motioned with his gun that Wildheit and Roamershould pass through into a smaller cabin beyond, the door of which he then locked from the outside.
Three more vast, soundless explosions racked the ship, shaking it so extremely that Wildheit feared the hull would fracture. Fortunately, no
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