A Dark and Hungry God Arises by Stephen R. Donaldson Page A

ensigns to sell?'
    Curiosity, shit. 'Sure they do. Her name is Morn Hyland - she came to me off Angus fucking Thermopile's ship after Com-Mine Security arrested him. They probably think she's still working for them - they don't know about the zone implant - but that doesn't mean they haven't already taken precautions. Some of what she knows is out of date by now. Pieces of her information have been changed. She's still priceless. '
    Then why, ' inquired the Bill, 'haven't you simply sold her to the Amnion and solved all your problems that way?'
    'Because' - Nick glared straight into the Bill's bright gaze - 'I don't want to solve that many of their problems.
    I'm like you. I do business with them for what I can get out of it, not because I'm trying to help them. '
    Remember that. I'm warning you. I'm like you. If you mess with me, I'll burn your heart out.
    The twisting of the Bill's mouth became a grimace.
    He looked down at his readouts, tapped a key or two absent-mindedly. Etched by light, he ran his fingertips along the edges of his boards.
    When he lifted his head again, he was smiling like a corpse with an orgasm.
    'Captain Nick, I don't trust you. You're playing some kind of game with me - perhaps the same game you're playing with the Amnion. Why else did you divert your ejection pod here, instead of letting Tranquil Hegemony have it?'
    Before he could stop himself, Nick protested, 'Morn did that. '
    When he realized his mistake, he swore at himself viciously. How had she done him so much damage? How had she reached so far inside him with the knife of her treachery?
    'And you expect me to believe, ' the Bill retorted as if he were pouncing, 'she did it without your connivance?
    No, Captain Nick. You planned that with her. Or else the picture you paint of her is decidedly - shall we say, decidedly optimistic? In either case, I can be sure of only one thing. If I trade for her, what I get will not be what you say it is.
    'Haven't you heard the rumors about you, Captain Nick? Don't you know people think you're a pirate who supplements his income by doing odd jobs for UMCPDA? Perhaps this entire exercise is an elaborate charade designed to plant your pet ensign on my installation.
    'I'm afraid my answer is no. ' He sounded as happy as a kid who'd won a game of marbles. 'If you can't pay me, Captain Nick, we really have nothing further to discuss. '
    Nick sagged as if he were beaten.
    But not because the Bill had refused him.
    Oh, the loss he felt was real. So intensely that it made his groin ache, he wanted to force Morn into prostitution on Thanatos Minor. As revenge that would have pleased him more than giving her to Amnion. It would have fit the way she'd hurt him.
    Nevertheless his show of dismay was a ploy. He allowed himself to appear defeated in an effort to conceal the true nature of his desperation.
    'All right, ' he said like a groan, 'all right. I'm helpless here, you know that. If I weren't, I would see you crawl before I did any more business with you. But I'm stuck.
    You won't honor my credit. Without repairs, I can't run.
    And you won't give me that brat you rescued. If I don't turn him over to the Amnion, they'll do worse than kill me. ' He recited all this in a deliberate display of prostration. The Bill liked to see people prostrated; liked it so much that he might believe it. 'You haven't left me any choice.
    'I've got one last thing to trade. '
    'Ah. ' The Bill gave a sigh of expectant gratification.
    His eyes watched Nick keenly.
    'I've got-'
    Abruptly a light flashed on one of the Bill's boards, distracting him. He touched a key, glanced at a readout; his long, delicate fingers tapped in instructions.
    Listen to me! Nick wanted to shout. You're right - I sometimes do jobs for Data Acquisition. That's why I've got an immunity drug for Amnion mutagens. Hashi Lebwohl gave it to me. To test for him. That's why I went to Enablement. To test it. And it works. Otherwise I wouldn't be here now.
    I'll give you