The Backworlds by M. Pax Page A

under the pulley system holding a bag
under the magnet. They turned off the power, chocolates dropped into their
sack. The dark figures snatched up the few bars that escaped onto the floor,
then their palms faced Craze, open and pale. They clenched their hands into
fists three times before running down to the second floor and into the deep
shadows. Craze sure hoped the chocolate takers were Talos and Lepsi. Their
signals said so, but their mimicking of the smugglers was spot-on enough to
stir up doubt.
    He chased after them, his coveralls
working hard, his lungs laboring in air not as enriched as Siegna’s. Eyelids
fluttering and thoughts slowing down, his body threatened to hibernate. To
avoid it, he had to slacken his pace, letting the distance between him and the
chocolate grow. It worked, his lungs filled more easily and he no longer felt
an overwhelming urge to sleep.
    Seven seconds later, the patrol
siren blasted through Mr. Slade’s Emporium. Much too early. They hadn’t made it
out of the building yet. Craze shouted at the aviars, gesturing wildly to cut
the blaring horn. They didn’t hear and didn’t see, racing toward the room with
the window leading to the balcony next door.
    Craze sprinted after them, a good
twenty feet behind. He leapt out of the window and onto the plank, shimmying
over to the restaurant terrace. About to jump over to the deli, he was stopped
in mid-air. Three pairs of hands pulled him back, then inside the abandoned
diner, handcuffing him to a pipe.
    Several badges flashed past Craze.
Blinking red and blue lights joined the sirens. The earlier alarm hadn’t come
from the toy Craze purchased at Must Have Gear for
the Edge . It had come from real patrollers. Swarms of them swathed in
lime green.
    The brightly colored uniforms ran
past him, intent on Mr. Slade’s Emporium, pouring through every door and
window, raiding the failed deal. Eptus howled.
Amplified patroller voices barked orders. Craze wondered about Gattar and the
mystery folks in black. Had they gotten away? He doubted the Jix would pay him
now and tugged at his binds. They and the pipe held solid. Shit.

 
     
    CHAPTER 16
     
     
     
    Five patrollers swaggered up to
Craze when the noise died down. They freed him from the pipe, herded him
downstairs and over to Mr. Slade’s, jabbing and shoving until Craze was
surrounded by Eptus . Some of them growled, low and
steadfast, giving Craze a headache. He didn’t see the aviars, the Jix, or the
people in black.
    All of the crates were upended.
Patrollers quickly counted and secured the frizzers, glaring at Craze and the Eptus as they did. The only worse crimes than possessing
frizzers on the Backworlds were using them, and betraying fellow Backworlders
to the Foreworlders.
    Craze was pissed the Jix had left
him to deal with the authorities alone, but relieved the aviars got away. Part
of him clung to a small hope they’d come after him and break him out of
patroller custody, but dammitall, if his own father had abandoned him, then a
couple of dudes who were little better than strangers probably would, too. He’d
have to get out of this mess using his wits, and watched his opportunity
approach.
    A group of squat patrollers
swaggered across Mr. Slade’s lobby and came to stand before Craze. None of them
rose higher than four foot six inches. They all had wide, powerful frames, and
long silky hair. All but one of the six were dressed in green. The oddball wore
brown, layers and layers of brown.
    The lead patroller sniffed at
Craze. “You Verkinn nutty. I don’t like when you come over here. You best stay
over on Siegna.”
    Great idea. “I’d be happy to
leave.” Craze doubted escape would be so easy.
    The patroller put his hands on his
hips, pursing his lips. “This is serious trouble, boy.”
    Nope, freedom wouldn’t come simply.
Craze resisted sighing, concentrating on the patroller’s words, seeking an
opening to poke wider that would land him at the docks and on the