respect
more?” He waited.
The man gave an exaggerated sigh. “No, Mr.
Findlay. What do you respect more?”
“Money.”
Cadaver nodded. “Mr. O’Banon understands that
sort of respect. He intends to give you quite a bit of
money. Quite a bit.”
“How much?”
“As I’m sure you can understand, I cannot reveal
figures, because we do not know what sort of
assignments Mr. O’Banon wil have for you. Let me
put it this way.” He pointed at the girls, who were lazily
listening to the exchange. “You could buy and sel
these … floozies … two dozen times over.”
The pretty faces were marred with frowns as the
girls, sleepy as they were, realized they had just been
insulted. Tychus patted Daisy’s head and chuckled.
“Wel , that sounds right fine, but I’l need to discuss
it with my business partner before making any kind of
commitment. I’m sure Mr. O’Banon wil understand
that. Now, you got about three seconds to get out.”
The man looked confused. “I wil relay your
response, but why three seconds?”
“’Cause I need to pee about a liter’s worth, Son.”
Tychus made as if to move the sheet.
“Oh … of course. Please excuse me.” Cadaver, his
lips turned down in disgust and his pale cheeks
coloring in embarrassment, turned and hastened for
the door, Tychus’s booming laughter fol owing him
down the hal .
* * *
Raynor was in a foul mood when he stomped up
the stairs to Wicked Wayne’s. He needed a drink, a
woman, and entertainment, not necessarily in that
order. The daytime bartender, Keifer Riley, glanced
up and saw Jim’s expression. A wise man, Keifer
didn’t even try to engage Raynor in conversation, just
slid him a beer across the bar. Jim expressed his
appreciation with a grunt and chugged half the beer
immediately.
The place was oddly darker during the day than at
night. Once the sun went down, spotlights on the
dancers and the il umination of the several video
games provided quite a bit of light. During the day the
windows were shuttered, and the only light came
through the thin slits in the blinds and from the smal
lamps at the gambling tables. Over in a corner,
though, he saw movement, and a smal glowing
orange-red dot, and he knew before his friend spoke
that Tychus had taken up residence there.
“Grab me one while you’re up,” Tychus said. Jim
did so and plunked the amber bottle down in front of
Findlay. Three dead soldiers were lined up beside the
remains of a meal that would have fed any two other
men. Tychus pushed the plate and the empty bottles
aside when Jim sat down.
He blew out a long stream of smoke, then eyed
Raynor. “Where you been?”
Jim scowled. “Personal business.”
Tychus nodded and chewed on the stogie for a
moment before continuing. “I had some business
come my way this morning.”
Jim had a dim memory of Tychus leading—could it
real y have been four?—women upstairs sometime
last night. “Personal business?”
“Wel , one might say it was, considering the man
came into my room while I was surrounded by
lovelies,” Tychus said, feigning thoughtfulness.
“Holy shit, real y?”
“Yep.” Tychus took another drag, and the ember
glowed like an orange eye. “Man’s got bal s, that’s for
sure.”
Jim was forced to agree. “So, what did he want?”
Tychus’s eyes crinkled in a grin. “Us, Jimmy boy.
Apparently our fame is beginning to spread. Not that
that surprises me none. You knew somebody’d be
hol ering like a little girl after we liberated those
creds.”
Jim grinned, remembering the rabbity Woodley.
“Have a lead on a job for us?”
“Not … exactly. Fel ow didn’t give his name, but he
told me who he works for. Says his boss is mighty
interested
in
forming
a
mutual y
beneficial
relationship. Promised it’d pay wel . Very wel .”
Jim’s eyes narrowed. “Tychus, after the day I’ve
had, I’m real y not interested in hearing about
more?” He waited.
The man gave an exaggerated sigh. “No, Mr.
Findlay. What do you respect more?”
“Money.”
Cadaver nodded. “Mr. O’Banon understands that
sort of respect. He intends to give you quite a bit of
money. Quite a bit.”
“How much?”
“As I’m sure you can understand, I cannot reveal
figures, because we do not know what sort of
assignments Mr. O’Banon wil have for you. Let me
put it this way.” He pointed at the girls, who were lazily
listening to the exchange. “You could buy and sel
these … floozies … two dozen times over.”
The pretty faces were marred with frowns as the
girls, sleepy as they were, realized they had just been
insulted. Tychus patted Daisy’s head and chuckled.
“Wel , that sounds right fine, but I’l need to discuss
it with my business partner before making any kind of
commitment. I’m sure Mr. O’Banon wil understand
that. Now, you got about three seconds to get out.”
The man looked confused. “I wil relay your
response, but why three seconds?”
“’Cause I need to pee about a liter’s worth, Son.”
Tychus made as if to move the sheet.
“Oh … of course. Please excuse me.” Cadaver, his
lips turned down in disgust and his pale cheeks
coloring in embarrassment, turned and hastened for
the door, Tychus’s booming laughter fol owing him
down the hal .
* * *
Raynor was in a foul mood when he stomped up
the stairs to Wicked Wayne’s. He needed a drink, a
woman, and entertainment, not necessarily in that
order. The daytime bartender, Keifer Riley, glanced
up and saw Jim’s expression. A wise man, Keifer
didn’t even try to engage Raynor in conversation, just
slid him a beer across the bar. Jim expressed his
appreciation with a grunt and chugged half the beer
immediately.
The place was oddly darker during the day than at
night. Once the sun went down, spotlights on the
dancers and the il umination of the several video
games provided quite a bit of light. During the day the
windows were shuttered, and the only light came
through the thin slits in the blinds and from the smal
lamps at the gambling tables. Over in a corner,
though, he saw movement, and a smal glowing
orange-red dot, and he knew before his friend spoke
that Tychus had taken up residence there.
“Grab me one while you’re up,” Tychus said. Jim
did so and plunked the amber bottle down in front of
Findlay. Three dead soldiers were lined up beside the
remains of a meal that would have fed any two other
men. Tychus pushed the plate and the empty bottles
aside when Jim sat down.
He blew out a long stream of smoke, then eyed
Raynor. “Where you been?”
Jim scowled. “Personal business.”
Tychus nodded and chewed on the stogie for a
moment before continuing. “I had some business
come my way this morning.”
Jim had a dim memory of Tychus leading—could it
real y have been four?—women upstairs sometime
last night. “Personal business?”
“Wel , one might say it was, considering the man
came into my room while I was surrounded by
lovelies,” Tychus said, feigning thoughtfulness.
“Holy shit, real y?”
“Yep.” Tychus took another drag, and the ember
glowed like an orange eye. “Man’s got bal s, that’s for
sure.”
Jim was forced to agree. “So, what did he want?”
Tychus’s eyes crinkled in a grin. “Us, Jimmy boy.
Apparently our fame is beginning to spread. Not that
that surprises me none. You knew somebody’d be
hol ering like a little girl after we liberated those
creds.”
Jim grinned, remembering the rabbity Woodley.
“Have a lead on a job for us?”
“Not … exactly. Fel ow didn’t give his name, but he
told me who he works for. Says his boss is mighty
interested
in
forming
a
mutual y
beneficial
relationship. Promised it’d pay wel . Very wel .”
Jim’s eyes narrowed. “Tychus, after the day I’ve
had, I’m real y not interested in hearing about
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