Read Online Drifter's Run by William C. Dietz - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: William C. Dietz
Tags: Science-Fiction
Ads: Link
similar clothes. Their favorite combination consisted of synthetic trousers, some sort of long-sleeved shirt, and a leather jerkin.
Lando noticed that most of the settlers wore side arms. Not the silly ones that look like jewelry, but real weapons, shiny with use and carefully maintained. Did they use them on each other or the local wildlife? Either way they made a tough-looking crowd and Lando decided to watch his step.
At first Lando had refused to come, pleading poverty and pretending little interest. The truth was that he was secretly afraid of the bounty hunters who might be waiting for him on Dista's surface.
But five boring days spent searching the asteroid belt for a ghost ship had left Lando yearning for some bright lights. Or even some dim ones. That, plus Melissa, had finally changed his mind.
The campaign started soon after Cap announced Dista as their next port of call. Almost immediately Melissa began to tell Lando stories about how pretty Dista was, how friendly the settlers were, and what a good time he'd have dirtside.
Melissa put lots of energy into her arguments, looked very sincere, and didn't fool Lando for a moment. It wasn't him she wanted, it was any adult.
Melissa was afraid that once on the surface her father would get falling down drunk, pass out, and need help. More help than she could give. And seeing her fear Lando agreed to come.
A row of shacks had sprung into existence to either side of the road, and up ahead more substantial buildings could be seen, their solid log walls ready to repel anything short of a force ten hurricane.
Lando smiled when he saw the sign that identified the muddy path as Port Town's "Main Street," but the smile faded when he saw the boardwalks and the people who lined them.
They were predators looking for prey. As different from the townspeople who moved around them as night is from day. There were con artists looking for marks, pimps looking for Johns, gamblers looking for suckers, and, yes, bounty hunters looking for him. Well, not him specifically, but anyone with a price on his head.
They sat on rickety chairs, lounged against walls, and engaged each other in desultory conversation. But Lando noticed their eyes were everywhere, checking, comparing, and evaluating potential prey.
Lando turned away and started a one-sided conversation with Cap. Cap's mind was elsewhere, so he answered with a series of semi-articulate grunts and seemed annoyed.
Melissa was everywhere, running circles around them and asking all sorts of questions.
Meanwhile Lando could sense memprinted images of his face flashing into the surrounding minds, could feel blasters lining up on his back, could hear a voice shouting, "Hey you! Pik Lando! Stop or die!"
But the shout never came, and a few minutes later they had entered another part of town, a section where the feel was entirely different. Here huge warehouses lined both sides of the street, the mud was even deeper, and heavy equipment growled about.
"Here it is," Cap said, coming to a sudden stop next to some wooden stairs.
A somewhat faded sign announced, "Lois Joleen, Shipping Agent."
Cap shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "Here's hoping she's got some work for us. You two have a good time."
"We'll see you at the port?" Melissa said hopefully.
Lando saw the look in her eyes and knew what she was thinking. If her father met them at the spaceport, there was less chance that he'd show up drunk.
"Naw," Cap answered carelessly. "Town would be more convenient. That way we can walk back together. Let's meet across from the Port City Mercantile at 1600 hours. Don't be late."
Melissa smiled, apparently reassured. "We won't. Come on, Pik! I'll race you to the vidplex!"
The two men exchanged a smile, and Cap watched for a moment as Lando followed Melissa toward the center of town. The pilot seemed like a nice sort, Mel certainly took to him, and that was good.
Cap felt a stab of guilt. He should spend more time with her.
Lando noticed that most of the settlers wore side arms. Not the silly ones that look like jewelry, but real weapons, shiny with use and carefully maintained. Did they use them on each other or the local wildlife? Either way they made a tough-looking crowd and Lando decided to watch his step.
At first Lando had refused to come, pleading poverty and pretending little interest. The truth was that he was secretly afraid of the bounty hunters who might be waiting for him on Dista's surface.
But five boring days spent searching the asteroid belt for a ghost ship had left Lando yearning for some bright lights. Or even some dim ones. That, plus Melissa, had finally changed his mind.
The campaign started soon after Cap announced Dista as their next port of call. Almost immediately Melissa began to tell Lando stories about how pretty Dista was, how friendly the settlers were, and what a good time he'd have dirtside.
Melissa put lots of energy into her arguments, looked very sincere, and didn't fool Lando for a moment. It wasn't him she wanted, it was any adult.
Melissa was afraid that once on the surface her father would get falling down drunk, pass out, and need help. More help than she could give. And seeing her fear Lando agreed to come.
A row of shacks had sprung into existence to either side of the road, and up ahead more substantial buildings could be seen, their solid log walls ready to repel anything short of a force ten hurricane.
Lando smiled when he saw the sign that identified the muddy path as Port Town's "Main Street," but the smile faded when he saw the boardwalks and the people who lined them.
They were predators looking for prey. As different from the townspeople who moved around them as night is from day. There were con artists looking for marks, pimps looking for Johns, gamblers looking for suckers, and, yes, bounty hunters looking for him. Well, not him specifically, but anyone with a price on his head.
They sat on rickety chairs, lounged against walls, and engaged each other in desultory conversation. But Lando noticed their eyes were everywhere, checking, comparing, and evaluating potential prey.
Lando turned away and started a one-sided conversation with Cap. Cap's mind was elsewhere, so he answered with a series of semi-articulate grunts and seemed annoyed.
Melissa was everywhere, running circles around them and asking all sorts of questions.
Meanwhile Lando could sense memprinted images of his face flashing into the surrounding minds, could feel blasters lining up on his back, could hear a voice shouting, "Hey you! Pik Lando! Stop or die!"
But the shout never came, and a few minutes later they had entered another part of town, a section where the feel was entirely different. Here huge warehouses lined both sides of the street, the mud was even deeper, and heavy equipment growled about.
"Here it is," Cap said, coming to a sudden stop next to some wooden stairs.
A somewhat faded sign announced, "Lois Joleen, Shipping Agent."
Cap shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "Here's hoping she's got some work for us. You two have a good time."
"We'll see you at the port?" Melissa said hopefully.
Lando saw the look in her eyes and knew what she was thinking. If her father met them at the spaceport, there was less chance that he'd show up drunk.
"Naw," Cap answered carelessly. "Town would be more convenient. That way we can walk back together. Let's meet across from the Port City Mercantile at 1600 hours. Don't be late."
Melissa smiled, apparently reassured. "We won't. Come on, Pik! I'll race you to the vidplex!"
The two men exchanged a smile, and Cap watched for a moment as Lando followed Melissa toward the center of town. The pilot seemed like a nice sort, Mel certainly took to him, and that was good.
Cap felt a stab of guilt. He should spend more time with her.
Similar Books
