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

around Vienne, Áine hands me a slim metal case.
    â€œHere’s directions to Outpost Fisher Four,” she says. “And half the coin. You get paid the rest when the job’s done.”
    â€œWhat, exactly, does done mean?” I ask.
    â€œIt means either that the Dræu pledge to leave us be or that the Dræu are all dead.”
    I shake my head. “The likelihood of either of those things happening is minuscule.”
    â€œThen,” Áine says, her voice breathy, “minuscule is what you’ve got to look forward to for payment. Chief, pleasure doing business with you.”
    When they’ve gone and the door is shut, I ask Vienne, “What do you think?”
    â€œClumsy.”
    â€œShe’s been wounded.”
    â€œI meant her attempts to flirt with you.”
    My ears start to burn. “Oh. Yeah. Well. Except when I asked what do you think , I meant, what kind of davos do you think we can get together?”
    â€œNo Regulator worth a lick is going to work a hundred-coin job.”
    â€œWe are,” I say.
    â€œWe’re different.”
    By different, she means better. “Well,” I say. “If worsecomes to worse, I already have a couple of Regulators in mind.”
    She glares at me. “I said, good Regulators.”
    â€œOne’s a carking good demolitionist, and the other one’s…well, he must be good for something.”
    â€œNo, not them, chief. Please.”
    I flash a cheesy grin. “Come on, Vienne. It’ll be fun.”
    â€œYou and I,” she says, hands on hips, “have completely different definitions of fun .”

CHAPTER 10
    Jaisalmer District, New Eden
ANNOS MARTIS 238. 4. 7. 18:21
    â€œNo farging way. Not if they paid me a bishop’s wage,” Jenkins says when I make him the offer of a job. “They’re miners . I don’t want nothing to do with their kind.”
    As promised, we spent the bulk of the day hitting the pubs in search of good Regulators who’d work for piddle-squat. Like Vienne said, we found good Regulators, and we found a few dalit ready to work for their next meal. But we didn’t find what we were looking for, except a couple of tussles that Vienne ended fast.
    â€œWorse has come to worse,” I told Vienne after we found ourselves empty-handed and hungry from missing dinner. “We’ve run out of options.”
    An hour later we find Fuse and Jenkins deep in the bazaar. They’re milling around at a coppersmith’s booth, checking out a collection of used spittoons and nose rings. Not buying, just looking, since they spent their payday in the pub.
    After Jenkins’s refusal, Fuse grabs his forearm. “Buck upnow, Jenks. I never took you for a bigot. At least listen to what the chief has got to say. You never know. His offer might be attractive. Right, love?”
    â€œI’ve killed eleven people in tai bo combat,” Vienne tells him.
    â€œSo?”
    â€œSo if you call me love again, there’s a good chance I’ll make it an even dozen.”
    â€œRowr! Saucy.” Fuse makes a clawing motion. “Like I said, I enjoy a suzy with a chunk of spunk in the old trunk, if you know what I mean.”
    â€œThe only chunks you need worry about,” she says, and pulls her weapon, “are the ones I’m going to blow off if you don’t shut that yap.”
    â€œThen I’m shutting up. Not another word.” He winks like he’s got a tic. “See? Zipping so no sound—”
    â€œYou used that line already,” Vienne says.
    â€œI’m recycling for the betterment of Mars.”
    â€œEnough!” I bark, feeling a bit more put out than necessary. When I’ve got their attention, I lay out the terms of the contract.
    â€œA hundred each?” Jenkins roars. “That’s all you’re offering?”
    â€œNo,” I say.
    â€œGlad to hear it. What else you got?”
    â€œNo, you