Read Online Atm by Walter Knight - Free Book Online

tell the governor how you lost that robot arm.”
    “ Yes, sir.”
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 12
     
    Realizing Corporal Tonelli to be a bad influence on new recruits, I assigned Private Atm to be my driver and bodyguard. Better to keep an eye on Atm, I reasoned too. At the grand opening of the Roof of the World Casino Resort, the spider commander grudgingly gave me a courtesy tour prior to the doors opening. It was my first chance to inspect the premises. I still got my cut, but the spiders had not allowed me access, or let me make management decisions. I was to be a silent partner. Appealing to Chief Stone-Claw was no help. The cagey chief ignored our contract when convenient, and nixed my suite at the top of the casino. Wild Ones speak with forked tongue when it comes to keeping promises.
    The Roof of the World Casino Resort was custom -built for spider gamblers. Permanent urinals were constructed between slot machines so gamblers would not have to take breaks to relieve themselves. Apparently spiders are not as modest as humans about such matters. The splash factor got real annoying, and there were no restrooms for bowel movements. Maybe the spiders bagged their turds. Who knows? With no toilets, the dump was worse than Star Trek. I ordered Major Lopez and his CIA buddies to investigate the matter.
    Another interesting feature was the alcohol tubes running directly from the slot machines to each gambler. The machines even made ice. I decided the spiders were on to something, and I started the process of getting a patent.
    Spider and human crowds gathered outside, impatiently counting down to zero hour. It was the law that no clocks or watches were allowed in any casino, so the crowd was getting restless, continuously checking their communication devices. The spider commander posed for the media, holding large golden scissors. Finally the spider commander cut the yellow police tape, signaling the gamblers to rush the front doors. We were nearly trampled as spiders scrambled over each other to get to the slots. Some fights broke out with humans unaccustomed to such swarms.
    A shot rang out directly behind me. I turned to see Private Atm standing over a dead black-clad Nazi-looking Intelligentsia officer. What the Hell? The spider had fallen into a urinal, and was swirling round and round. May he rest in piss , I thought. The gamblers ignored the spectacle, rushing to their slots and table games.
    “ Explain yourself!” I demanded, confronting Private Atm. Water was already spilling from the clogged toilet onto the new carpet. “What happened?”
    “ Someone get a plunger!” interrupted Chief Stone-Claw. “What a mess! What are we going to do? It’s next to impossible to get a union plumber on such short notice. This a closed shop. Do something!”
    “ This spider was an assassin,” advised Atm, coolly examining a short stick-like device retrieved from the floor. “He attempted to poison-probe attack you from behind.”
    “ Good save,” I replied, snatching the nerve agent stick and waving it in the spider commander’s face. “Well? I assume this is your doing.”
    “ Shit happens,” shrugged the spider commander innocently. “Maybe you still owe the Mafia on your gambling debts.”
    “ That device is standard-issue Intelligentsia assassination kit equipment,” advised Atm. “The Empire is responsible. It’s unconscionable. Colonel Czerinski’s death would have set Legion recruitment quotas back months!”
    “ Suddenly your lowly driver is an expert on Intelligentsia equipment?” scoffed the spider commander. “I don’t think so. You can buy probe-sticks at any Walmart for pest control against the many invasive vermin of Old Earth. They’re especially useful against moles.”
    “ I can have you whacked at any time,” I warned. “I should shoot you now!”
    “ You threaten me on TV?” needled the spider commander, pandering to the crowd as cameras zoomed in. “Tsk, tsk, Czerinski. More bad press