Read Online The Last Book in the Universe by Rodman Philbrick - Free Book Online Page A

“But I do have one more piece of advice. Do not appoint an adviser until you’re certain of your men. If I’m not mistaken, Mongo was adviser to the previous latchboss. The very one he assassinated.”
    Gorm glances nervously behind him, then catches himself. I notice he’s already looking bigger and stronger. “Mongo made his proclamations from the East Tower,” he says, eyes suddenly flashing. “The Great Gorm will do the same. I must tell them there’s a new boss, new rules.”
    Ryter studies him thoughtfully and then nods. “The king is dead,” he says. “Long live the king.”

 
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    L ITTLE F ACE LOOKS scared. You can’t blame him. The teks who drive us away in their takvee aren’t exactly friendly. Plus a wild mob of Monkey Boys chase after the takvee, hooting and screeching and throwing stones at us. Every time a stone hits the armor plating, Little Face tries to make himself even smaller than he is. Also, he hasn’t said “chox” since we left the fort.
    â€œWe’ll be okay,” I say, “soon as we’re clear of this latch.”
    That’s what I tell him, but inside I’m not so sure. Replacing the latchboss was a good idea, but it’s not like he’s actually taken control. It’ll be a while before the Monkey Boys get used to the idea.
    â€œHow did you know about Mongo?” I ask Ryter.
    He shrugs. “An educated guess. From the evidence I assumed he was no longer in charge. I didn’t know until we actually saw him.”
    Which kind of amazes me, because he seemed so sure at the time. I’m also thinking how different he’s turned out, nothing like the pathetic old gummy who was willing to let me rob him rather than fight back. Except, of course, that I didn’t end up stealing the only thing he really cares about. So I guess he was bluffing me, too, and I fell for it, just like the tek boss.
    The takvee we’re riding in is dark and cool inside, with soft black upholstery programmed to mold itself around you. Everything is padded and reinforced and armored. What looks like windows are really vidscreen images of the outside, because even armored windows can be broken, with the right weapon. If you listen you can hear the faint hum of the cyber-brain that monitors the weapon systems, and stays wide-eyed for danger. They say a really good tactical urban vehicle can think for itself, almost, protecting the riders.
    I’m thinking it must be cool to be a latchboss, always cruising around in a new takvee, with all those teks ready to die for me, and then I flash on the thing on the bed-throne. Until I saw what happened to Mongo, I thought that getting canceled was the worst thing that could happen. Wrong. Being dead and not knowing it is much, much worse.
    Â 
    We pass into the shadows of the tall steel bones of buildings high against the sky, and for a while it’s as dark as night. There could be things in the shadows. Lurking, almost invisible things that want us dead, but I can’t be sure. For some reason that makes me think of Bean. Is that how the blood sickness makes her feel, like something is waiting in the shadows to take her away? Is she angry that it’s happening to her and not someone else? Is she afraid? What?
    I can’t stand to think about it or I’ll start screaming, so I concentrate on joking around with Little Face so he won’t be scared.
    â€œWhen we get where we’re going, there’ll be plenty of choxbars,” I tell him. “Choxbars stacked as high as those old buildings over there. Do you believe me? Huh?”
    I have to prod him, but Little Face finally bobs his head and almost smiles, and a few minutes later we’re back at the Pipe. The teks more or less dump us out of the takvee and take off before we can even thank them. They’re worried about the mob of wild Monkey Boys catching up, and so are we.
    â€œI was