Read Online Black Hole Sun by David Macinnis Gill - Free Book Online

Hell, even before it became obsolete, because their lives were short and painful. If the Manchester machines or a chance encounter with a Big Daddy didn’t kill them, rust lung disease would.
    â€œYou’ve got a point there,” I say. “Except you happened to pick a surfie who was armed.”
    â€œYou’re headed down a bad road, cowboy,” Mimi warns me.
    â€œIt’s not like we haven’t been there before.” I sit up. Take my boots off the table. “Tell us why you good miners have gone looking for Regulators.”
    The girl flashes a satisfied smile. “Like I said. To teach us how to fight the Dræu so we can defend ourselves next time.”
    Next time? “The Dræu attacked you before?”
    They all bow. If the Dræu really did do half of what rumor says, it’s no wonder the miners are looking for help. I catch Vienne’s eye. She shakes her head. We’re thinking the same thing—as fighters, the miners aren’t up to snuff.
    â€œThe mines aren’t worth anything,” I say. “Why would the Dræu be sniffing around?”
    â€œThey demanded,” she answers, “six children. You’ve heard of the Dræu. You know what they do with children.”
    Eat them, I say to myself, because it’s too heinous to say out loud. The exploits of the Dræu may be exaggerated, but there’s one thing that’s true: They are cannibals.
    Vienne catches my eye this time. As far as the Tenets are concerned, I have no choice but to accept. When a lesser people are in mortal danger, a Regulator is honor bound to help them. We must serve with one eye, one hand, one heart. If dalit don’t uphold the oath, what good are we?
    â€œWe’ll take the job,” I say, looking at Vienne, who smiles. “But you’re going to need more than a two-Regulator crew to fight the Dræu.”
    â€œFight?” the girl says. “We said nothing about fighting. Training is what—”
    â€œWill get you killed. Every last chùsheng one of you. No, what you need is a whole davos of well-trained Regulators to defend you.”
    â€œHow many Regulators in a davos?”
    â€œTen,” Vienne says.
    The first man blanches. “Ten?”
    â€œAt full strength,” I say. “We can make do with eight. Maybe fewer, if they’re good.”
    The girl picks up the coin from the table. Shoves it into my hands. “Hire all you want. If you can get them for a hundred coin.”
    â€œA davos of Regulators can’t work for so little,” I say.
    â€œThat’s all we’ve got,” the girl says.
    Of course it is. Trouble always finds me, and it’s always dirt-poor. I sigh. “It’s a contract.” Then we shake hands to seal the deal. “I’m Durango. That’s Vienne, my second.”
    â€œMy name is Áine Phelan,” she says, holding onto my hand a few seconds longer than she should. “He’s Spiner, and the other one’s Jurm.”
    â€œWhen will you be leaving for Fisher Four?” Spiner adds, “We need to catch the next TransPort.”
    â€œTomorrow morning,” I say. “At the earliest. I’ve some personal business, and it’ll take time for us to round up more Regulators.” Then I suggest they catch their TransPort as scheduled. Vienne and I will follow with the recruits. If we can get any recruits.
    â€œHow’d we know that you’ll do as promised?” Jurm asks. “A pretty boy like you’d be prone to fickleness.”
    â€œCare to repeat that?” Vienne snarls.
    Jurm does just that. “A pretty boy—”
    â€œJurm,” Spiner says. “No need to be so ornery.”
    â€œDon’t blame me,” Jurm grumbles. “She the one who asked.”
    Ãine offers her hand to me. “See you soon, chief. Spiner, Jurm, let’s go.”
    As the miners leave the room, taking a wide berth