A Brother's Debt by Karl Jones Read Free Book Online

down to the public gardens on the level below.
    He was surprised to discover the gardens were better maintained than many he had seen on planets, let alone stations with more respectable reputations. The gardens were so nice he wandered amongst them for over an hour before he noticed how much time had passed, his mind meandering as much as his feet.
    He had made up his mind as to what he was going to do by the time he finished his second coffee, he had just been putting off doing it for as long as possible he realised.
    With a sigh Step turned and made his way back through the gardens to sell himself into slavery, he could think of no other way to describe what he was about to do.
    His bleak mood was lightened a little as he got into the elevator to ascend back to the main concourse. One of the birds that enjoyed the freedom of the public gardens, he had no idea what species it was, flew into the elevator right behind him. The doors closed before it could exit and it panicked, flying frantically round and round until it tired and settled onto the only perch available, Step’s shoulder.
    Step kept still, to avoid disturbing the bird, as the elevator ascended and hurriedly ordered the doors to stay closed when he reached the concourse level. He didn’t want his fellow passenger to fly off into an unsafe area and get injured. He then directed the elevator to return to the gardens level, and once there he stepped out.
    He stood just outside the elevator, waiting for the bird on his shoulder to realise it was free and fly off; that took a short while.
    After he had watched the bird disappear amongst the trees Step re-ascended to the main concourse and located the nearest terminal. He then dug out the coms card Crezia Carboni had given him.
    He hadn’t expected the coms card to put him through to Ettore Carboni, so he wasn’t surprised when the call was finally answered and he saw Crezia’s face on the screen.
    “Mr Velkin,” Carboni’s daughter greeted Step neutrally. “I take it you have come to a decision.”
    “Yes.” Step nodded. “When can I see Mr Carboni?”
    “Right now, he’s at his casino, Temptations Galore. I’ll have someone waiting for you when you arrive.” With that Crezia cut the connection, having remained on the line for less than half a minute.

 
    Chapter Ten
     
     
     
    Step had just finished the Balito he’d been tempted into buying from a vendor when he reached his destination, fully aware of the irony of giving in to temptation while on his way to a place called Temptations Galore. The exterior of the casino was colourful, but no more so than that of the other casinos and clubs on the parade, with constantly changing displays announcing what was available inside.
    For a couple of minutes Step stood outside the casino, watching the displays. He was a little disappointed to see that the temptations advertised were no more exotic than that available on other stations and planets he had visited; they were just offered more openly than he was used to.
    He forgot about the displays when he realised he wasn’t going to see advertisements for any of the bizarre, exotic, or disturbing, pleasures he had heard were available in the frontier sector, and made his way inside. The lobby was a riot of sound and colour, with further advertisements of what was on offer in the casino, including prices, times and availability, and directions to where in the building each temptation could be enjoyed.
    Ignoring everything before him, most of which he’d seen outside, Step looked around for the person he was supposed to meet. Since he had no idea who would be meeting him or what they looked like, his visual search was largely a waste. Fortunately Crezia had either described him, or shown an image of him, to the person she sent to meet him.
    “Mr Velkin.”
    Step spun at the sound of his name and found himself face to face with one of Temptations Galore’s security officers. The officer differed from the two