He coughed almost continuously now.
“It’s what the natives think about them,” Candles said. “They’re bad omens to
everybody but Stranglers.”
“I have a feeling they’ll be really bad omens for anybody who starts complaining
about them. Wheezer, you on permanent assignment here?”
The old man hacked his way around an affirmative answer.
“Good. I don’t think you ought to be in the field at this time of year.”
“What good will it do to leave me back here to die alone?”
“You’re going to outlive me, you stubborn old fart.”
“I’m part of this thing now. You people all the time tell us about our history
and now we got a chance to find the beginning place . . . I’m going to be
there.”
I nodded, accepting that. That was his right.
That made me reflect on how different we were from other mercenary bands I have
seen. There was almost no bullying or brutality among the men. Historically you
would not have gotten in if you were the sort of shit who made himself feel good
by causing pain to those around you. And if you did chances were you would not
survive long.
The history and culture and brotherhood stuff is laid on early and often and if
you survive long enough to give it a chance you usually go for it.
Croaker, of course, was the ultimate disciple of the Company thing. And he was
able to sell everyone else. Except Mogaba. And Mogaba’s main problem with the
brotherhood was that Mogaba was not in charge.
Not really relevant, except to indicate that we are not a band of misfit brutes.
We are a sensitive bunch of misfits who try to care about our brothers. Most of
the time.
One-Eye appeared and invited himself into the conversation, ignoring Wheezer
even though the old lunger was from his own homeland. “Hey, Kid, I just saw the
Troll trundling along Glimmers Like Dewdrops Street. You sure you don’t know
where Goblin is? I got to get those two together.”
The Troll is what her own people call Mother Gota behind her back. She is even
nastier to them than to us outsiders. We have an excuse. We were not born Nyueng
Bao.
I told One-Eye, “They made real good time considering the way she walks.” My
mother-in-law walks like she is terminally bowlegged and has no joints in her
legs, rolling like a fat merchantman in heavy seas.
The little black man slipped a glance sidelong at Thai Dei, who was handy as
always when not specifically told to stay away. Thai Dei showed signs of actual
emotion. One-Eye was hoping he was not offended to the point where he was going
to go flailing around . . .
I whispered, “Even he calls her the Troll sometimes. But do be more
circumspect.” Louder, I asked, “What about Uncle Doj?”
“Didn’t see him.”
“Thai Dei. You’d better find your mother.” Uncle Doj would find us. When it
suited him.
Everybody watched Thai Dei go. When he was out of earshot I murmured, “I never
missed her for an instant.” I hoped Thai Dei would find some way to prolong my
joy.
One-Eye snickered.
I said, “You ask me, she’s the perfect woman for you, not Goblin.”
“Bite your tongue, Kid.”
“I mean it.”
“You got a sick sense of humor. And you got the Old Man aggravated.”
“Huh? How?”
“Way he told it, you’re a couple days overdue with your standard reports.”
“Oh oh.” That was not entirely true but it was close. “I’ll get on it right
away.”
“Still wearing your bracelet?”
“Uh . . . ” I got it. “Yeah.”
“Good. You’ll need it.”
Candles and Wheezer had no idea what we were talking about. But Candles did
offer a good bit of advice as I departed. “Mind the crows,” he told me.
The crows did seem to be interested in me lately. I did not like that, but it
did make sense from a viewpoint other than my own. I was very close to Croaker.
Soulcatcher would want to keep an eye on me, too.
The old saw applied. Forewarned was forearmed.
I needed to catch
“It’s what the natives think about them,” Candles said. “They’re bad omens to
everybody but Stranglers.”
“I have a feeling they’ll be really bad omens for anybody who starts complaining
about them. Wheezer, you on permanent assignment here?”
The old man hacked his way around an affirmative answer.
“Good. I don’t think you ought to be in the field at this time of year.”
“What good will it do to leave me back here to die alone?”
“You’re going to outlive me, you stubborn old fart.”
“I’m part of this thing now. You people all the time tell us about our history
and now we got a chance to find the beginning place . . . I’m going to be
there.”
I nodded, accepting that. That was his right.
That made me reflect on how different we were from other mercenary bands I have
seen. There was almost no bullying or brutality among the men. Historically you
would not have gotten in if you were the sort of shit who made himself feel good
by causing pain to those around you. And if you did chances were you would not
survive long.
The history and culture and brotherhood stuff is laid on early and often and if
you survive long enough to give it a chance you usually go for it.
Croaker, of course, was the ultimate disciple of the Company thing. And he was
able to sell everyone else. Except Mogaba. And Mogaba’s main problem with the
brotherhood was that Mogaba was not in charge.
Not really relevant, except to indicate that we are not a band of misfit brutes.
We are a sensitive bunch of misfits who try to care about our brothers. Most of
the time.
One-Eye appeared and invited himself into the conversation, ignoring Wheezer
even though the old lunger was from his own homeland. “Hey, Kid, I just saw the
Troll trundling along Glimmers Like Dewdrops Street. You sure you don’t know
where Goblin is? I got to get those two together.”
The Troll is what her own people call Mother Gota behind her back. She is even
nastier to them than to us outsiders. We have an excuse. We were not born Nyueng
Bao.
I told One-Eye, “They made real good time considering the way she walks.” My
mother-in-law walks like she is terminally bowlegged and has no joints in her
legs, rolling like a fat merchantman in heavy seas.
The little black man slipped a glance sidelong at Thai Dei, who was handy as
always when not specifically told to stay away. Thai Dei showed signs of actual
emotion. One-Eye was hoping he was not offended to the point where he was going
to go flailing around . . .
I whispered, “Even he calls her the Troll sometimes. But do be more
circumspect.” Louder, I asked, “What about Uncle Doj?”
“Didn’t see him.”
“Thai Dei. You’d better find your mother.” Uncle Doj would find us. When it
suited him.
Everybody watched Thai Dei go. When he was out of earshot I murmured, “I never
missed her for an instant.” I hoped Thai Dei would find some way to prolong my
joy.
One-Eye snickered.
I said, “You ask me, she’s the perfect woman for you, not Goblin.”
“Bite your tongue, Kid.”
“I mean it.”
“You got a sick sense of humor. And you got the Old Man aggravated.”
“Huh? How?”
“Way he told it, you’re a couple days overdue with your standard reports.”
“Oh oh.” That was not entirely true but it was close. “I’ll get on it right
away.”
“Still wearing your bracelet?”
“Uh . . . ” I got it. “Yeah.”
“Good. You’ll need it.”
Candles and Wheezer had no idea what we were talking about. But Candles did
offer a good bit of advice as I departed. “Mind the crows,” he told me.
The crows did seem to be interested in me lately. I did not like that, but it
did make sense from a viewpoint other than my own. I was very close to Croaker.
Soulcatcher would want to keep an eye on me, too.
The old saw applied. Forewarned was forearmed.
I needed to catch
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