Interzone 251 by edited by Andy Cox Page A

38… These numbers are a bit disappointing.”
    Leor coughed. “Sir, we’ve had issues with rockcrappers. They’re cutting into our area, damaging our mineworks, messing with our equipment when we’re not there, and getting into our strikes.”
    “Supervisor Borrn, is this true?”
    “There has been some independent miner activity, yes,” Borrn said. He sounded uncomfortable. “But they’re mostly out in the free zone, and they’re little more than a nuisance, not a serious threat.”
    “Either these independents are impacting your productivity, or your man here is a liar. Please choose one, Supervisor.”
    “I…” There was a brief silence, and it took everything she had not to look up at Borrn. “They’re impacting our productivity, sir.”
    “Then my ship will clean them out,” the Rep said. “Let’s move on.”
    Lying would have cost Leor a hand, but Borrn’s statement was a death sentence for the rockcrappers – half-starved, raggedy people barely surviving out on the edge. She didn’t envy Borrn the choice, but didn’t like the one he’d made; Leor
was
a liar, and worse.
    “Your cut of the run is 800 credits, Team Blue,” the Rep said. “Subtracting out your board and keep, you have 180, which is 60 each. Try not to spend it all in one place. Also, I expect to see better numbers next time, when the independents are no longer such a convenient excuse.”
    “Sir, I ob—” Leor began, but someone, whether it was one of his team or Borrn himself, must have shut him up.
    “Thank you, sir, and bless you.” Gin, one of Leor’s men, spoke instead.
    “Now, Team Green,” the Rep said. She could feel his bright eyes on them like a cutting torch. “You’ve done well, as always, especially considering your handicap,” he said. “This latest strike on Rock 44 was the second-largest of the year, and the fragmentation of the core was flawless. Your cut is 3,500 credits, which leaves you with 2,880. That leaves 1,152 for each of you men, and 576 for the woman’s share. For some reason the previous Representative was dividing your stake equally, but I’ll be having my accountants review that and readjust to the proper numbers.”
    “Sir…? But, she’s—”
    “We’ll discuss this later, Mer,” Borrn interrupted. “In private.”
    “Yes, Supervisor. Thank you, sir. And bless you.”
    “Work hard, be scrupulous with your savings, avoid the sins of alcohol and the temptations of women, and someday you may all be free men in the eyes of the One,” the Rep said. “Bless you, and dismissed.”
    Fari waited until someone – Mer? – tapped her gently on the shoulder. She bowed her head down, touching her forehead to the floor, then got up and followed the others out, not daring to raise her face.
    Outside the conference room, she drew in a long, deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to let out the anger with it. “Fari, we—” Mer started to say, when someone shouted from further down the hall.
    “Whoa, Fari! Finally getting your proper share! You wanna make back some of that money you lost, you just come see me, okay? But no biting or screaming this time, or it’s going to be another freebie!”
    Mer grabbed at and caught Fari’s arm and pulled her back. “He’s not worth it,” he hissed. “The Rep will be out any moment!”
    “The Hell it’s not,” she spat, but Mer was right.
    “Just keep walking,” he said. “It’s just words, right? He can’t hurt you with words.”
    “Hey, Fari!” Leor shouted again, as Gin put a hand against his chest and tried to push him back. “Too bad you lost the kid, eh? That woulda been some credit off both our time. Wanna try again?”
    It was Huj that hit him, his enormous meaty fist taking Leor right in the side of the jaw and sending the man sprawling.
    “You had that coming, Leor,” Gin said. “Leave the woman alone.”
    “Or what, Gin?” Leor spat, a bloody mix against the corrugated floor. “And you!” He pointed at Huj.