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

don’t understand: one hundred split among the whole davos.”
    â€œYou’re out of your mind.” Jenkins spits into a spittoon. When the merchant cries out in complaint, Jenkins raises his open palms. “What? I’m not allowed to test-drive them?”
    I stick to the subject. “I’ll take you’re out of your mind to mean you’re declining the job.”
    â€œThey’re cannibals. That means they eat people. Find yourself another sucker, chief. Leroy Jenkins ain’t going to be cannisnack.”
    â€œCannisnack?” I ask, confused. “What’s that?”
    â€œYou know. Cannibal. Snack. Cannisnack.”
    â€œR iii ght.” Strike Jenkins from the list. I turn to Fuse. “How about it? You’re a demolitionist. The miners used to stockpile explosives for the mining operations. I bet they still have some of it. They might share.”
    Fuse licks his lips. Pulls me aside for a quiet word. “You and me, we’re men of the world. Right, chief?”
    â€œOf the world, yes. Of the same world, probably not.”
    He shrugs my comment off. “The Vienne of yours, is she attached?”
    â€œYou mean, like, to a male?”
    He winks. “That’d be the one.”
    â€œNo, she’s not. Vienne is only interested in her duty, her davos, and her chief.”
    â€œBut she could be, no? If the right jack come along at the right time.”
    Not on your life, I think, and almost tell him that before Iget an interesting idea. A very interesting, useful idea.
    â€œThat’s sneaky, cowboy,” Mimi says.
    â€œI’ve not said anything,” I tell her.
    â€œBut you thought it.”
    I put a big brotherly arm around Fuse’s shoulders. He’s a good twenty centimeters shorter than me, with narrow shoulders. A year older, too. Not that it matters. Regulators don’t care about age. “If the right jack did appear, I suppose she would be—”
    His ears perk up. “Open to the idea?”
    â€œLess likely to shoot him than normal.”
    â€œThat’s not very reassuring.”
    â€œWell—”
    â€œBut I’m a risk taker.” He punches me playfully in the gut. “I’m willing to give it a go. When do we leave?”
    â€œTomorrow morning. If we can round up a few more Regulators. I’d like to have at least six, so that leaves us needing three.”
    â€œHow so? I count you two, me, and Jenkins. That leaves you needing two.”
    â€œJenkins declined the offer.”
    Fuse clicks his tongue. “Let me handle Jenkins, and you two go about your business. Meet us at the TransPort tomorrow at dawn. East End Station, no?”
    â€œRight.”
    â€œSee you then.” He winks at Vienne. “Bright and early, love. Don’t bother with the face paint. You’re dead sexy justthe way you are.” He skips out of the tent as Vienne draws her weapon.
    â€œThere’s no killing him now, “I say, grabbing her arm. “The Tenets expressly forbid shooting a member of your own davos, especially in the back.”
    â€œChief!” She jams the armalite into its holster. “Tell me you didn’t!”
    â€œHad to.”
    â€œBut that fossiker’s just going to blow himself up!”
    â€œLet’s just hope,” I say, grinning, “that he takes a few Dræu along with him.”

CHAPTER 11
    Norilsk Gulag, Norilsk District
ANNOS MARTIS 238. 4. 8. 06:51
    My father is a fallen angel. I tell myself that as Vienne and I climb the icy steps that lead from the TransPort station up to the surface. I tell myself that every time I make the trip to Norilsk, a gulag that swallows up prisoners like a black hole swallows light. It helps me choke down the anger in my belly.
    â€œIs this the right place?” Vienne asks, strands of hair whipping across her face as we reach the surface.
    Diesel exhaust fills the air with a burnt haze. Transport