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Read Online [Wildcards 10] - Double Solitaire by George R. R. Martin - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: George R. R. Martin
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curiously. "Why so protective of this body? You're just renting, so to speak."
"I feel a certain... obligation," said Tach slowly. "I must guard her future encompassed by this body ... And there is... our child." Tach stared down at her hands.
"I just hope she's being as careful with mine."
"Anything else?"
"What?" Tach lifted dazed eyes, pulling herself almost by main force back to a limbo world of regrets and fears and might-have-beens.
"The contract," Jube prompted gently. "Is there anything else you'd like to exclude?"
Tach wearily shook her head. Jube hit a key with an aggressive little finger. From the maw of another unidentifiable contraption, a silvery paper was expelled. It was cold and slick in Tachyon's fingers like mercury made solid and rolled as cellophane. The words (in English now) were etched into its surface, starkly red against the silver.
"Very interesting color choice," she said dryly. "Do I sign in blood too?"
"Nothing so exciting," grunted Jube. "And there's nothing significant about the color. This is mycar, virtually indestructible, but a bitch to read. The red shows up better."
"Certainly gets your attention," Tach agreed as she carefully perused the document.
It contained the usual whereofs and theretos , and parties of the first part and parties of the second part. It was a party that Tachyon would rather have missed. But stripped down, the legal flesh boiled away until only the bones remained, it basically said that Jhubben of Glabber, representative of the Network, would send a message summoning a fast ship to Earth. In consideration for this service Tachyon, aka Prince Tisianne of the House Ilkazam, agreed to pay Jube an unspecified amount, or perform some service to be determined at some later, unspecified date. It made Tachyon crazy even to contemplate signing it.
So of course she signed it. What other choice did she have?
"Are you going to send the message?" asked Tach.
"Yes."
"When?"
"Just as soon as you're out of my apartment," came the patient if rude reply.
"You don't trust me?"
"No," said Jube firmly as he got a hand under elbow and assisted her off the console. "Jube the Walrus and Dr. Tachyon trusted each other. Prince Tisianne and Jhubben of the Network --"
"Are implacable enemies."
Chapter Seven
"Jube will use you as our message drop."
"Oh, goody." Jay was canted back in his chair, feet on the desk, sucking on coffee. "So added to aiding and abetting a felon, we have consorting with aliens and smuggling aliens ... The damn INS is going to love me.
Tach ignored him. "It will be at least a week before the ship arrives, but I will check with you every day just to be on the safe side."
"And where will you be staying?"
"In New Jersey. That is all you need to know."
"And how are you going to get back there?"
The detective's bland face was even more bland than usual. Tach eyed him suspiciously. "What? What have you heard? What do you know?"
"City's been sealed."
This is not a big problem," was the acerbic reply. "I assume at some time you have been to New Jersey?"
"Yeah, but the only place I remember really well is a nightclub in Jersey City."
"It will do."
Jay formed the fingers of his right hand into the shape of a gun, pointed at Tach.
The owner of the nightclub was very annoyed. He thought Tach was a runaway who had been sleeping in his club. He also thought she was drunk; actually a front-heavy Tach was trying to overcome the effects of the teleport. Balance regained, she took a quick glance about the shadowed and silent club. It was pretty sleazy, but then this was New Jersey... and Jay.
"I'm callin' the cops!"
"Please do. I'm with the Department of Health and Public Safety. We're making an undercover sweep, and let me tell you, a night exploring your kitchen and bathrooms..." The owner blanched.
"We've had some help problems," the man whined.
Tach was heading for the front door. "Well, get them fixed!"
She found a pay phone a block from the
"I feel a certain... obligation," said Tach slowly. "I must guard her future encompassed by this body ... And there is... our child." Tach stared down at her hands.
"I just hope she's being as careful with mine."
"Anything else?"
"What?" Tach lifted dazed eyes, pulling herself almost by main force back to a limbo world of regrets and fears and might-have-beens.
"The contract," Jube prompted gently. "Is there anything else you'd like to exclude?"
Tach wearily shook her head. Jube hit a key with an aggressive little finger. From the maw of another unidentifiable contraption, a silvery paper was expelled. It was cold and slick in Tachyon's fingers like mercury made solid and rolled as cellophane. The words (in English now) were etched into its surface, starkly red against the silver.
"Very interesting color choice," she said dryly. "Do I sign in blood too?"
"Nothing so exciting," grunted Jube. "And there's nothing significant about the color. This is mycar, virtually indestructible, but a bitch to read. The red shows up better."
"Certainly gets your attention," Tach agreed as she carefully perused the document.
It contained the usual whereofs and theretos , and parties of the first part and parties of the second part. It was a party that Tachyon would rather have missed. But stripped down, the legal flesh boiled away until only the bones remained, it basically said that Jhubben of Glabber, representative of the Network, would send a message summoning a fast ship to Earth. In consideration for this service Tachyon, aka Prince Tisianne of the House Ilkazam, agreed to pay Jube an unspecified amount, or perform some service to be determined at some later, unspecified date. It made Tachyon crazy even to contemplate signing it.
So of course she signed it. What other choice did she have?
"Are you going to send the message?" asked Tach.
"Yes."
"When?"
"Just as soon as you're out of my apartment," came the patient if rude reply.
"You don't trust me?"
"No," said Jube firmly as he got a hand under elbow and assisted her off the console. "Jube the Walrus and Dr. Tachyon trusted each other. Prince Tisianne and Jhubben of the Network --"
"Are implacable enemies."
Chapter Seven
"Jube will use you as our message drop."
"Oh, goody." Jay was canted back in his chair, feet on the desk, sucking on coffee. "So added to aiding and abetting a felon, we have consorting with aliens and smuggling aliens ... The damn INS is going to love me.
Tach ignored him. "It will be at least a week before the ship arrives, but I will check with you every day just to be on the safe side."
"And where will you be staying?"
"In New Jersey. That is all you need to know."
"And how are you going to get back there?"
The detective's bland face was even more bland than usual. Tach eyed him suspiciously. "What? What have you heard? What do you know?"
"City's been sealed."
This is not a big problem," was the acerbic reply. "I assume at some time you have been to New Jersey?"
"Yeah, but the only place I remember really well is a nightclub in Jersey City."
"It will do."
Jay formed the fingers of his right hand into the shape of a gun, pointed at Tach.
The owner of the nightclub was very annoyed. He thought Tach was a runaway who had been sleeping in his club. He also thought she was drunk; actually a front-heavy Tach was trying to overcome the effects of the teleport. Balance regained, she took a quick glance about the shadowed and silent club. It was pretty sleazy, but then this was New Jersey... and Jay.
"I'm callin' the cops!"
"Please do. I'm with the Department of Health and Public Safety. We're making an undercover sweep, and let me tell you, a night exploring your kitchen and bathrooms..." The owner blanched.
"We've had some help problems," the man whined.
Tach was heading for the front door. "Well, get them fixed!"
She found a pay phone a block from the
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