A Covenant of Justice by David Gerrold Read Free Book Online Page A

Tuan; and the two troublesome trackers, Sawyer and Finn Markham. Finn sagged unconscious in a wheelchair; the attendants rolled him to the center of the room, then retired discreetly to the side of the room. Zillabar noted with amusement how Sawyer stayed close by his brother’s side.
    The others had also arrayed themselves protectively around Finn. She recognized the body language. The rebels had allied themselves with the trackers. Not that it mattered much. It would not affect the ultimate result of these affairs. But, still, she found their gallows-courage amusing. In the face of certain death, these pitiful creatures still behaved as if their actions might make a difference.
    Zillabar moved languidly, unmindful of their hate-filled eyes. She crossed slowly over to Finn and touched his forearm, tracing a blue vein with delicate fingers. “Finn Markham, you have a delicious quality,” she acknowledged. “Rough, crude, direct—but not without flavor. Sometimes the hard tastes have their own attraction.” She smiled politely at the others. “I do not offer compliments like this casually. If nothing else, you make take some condolence in the fact that you have provided me not only with many pleasant hours of amusement, but also several very satisfying meals as well.”
    Turning back to Finn, she touched his arm again. “I believe that we have finally come to the end. You cannot possibly know how much sorrow that gives me. I have very much enjoyed our time together, and I truly regret that we will not share any more meals after this one, but you don’t appear to have much strength left, and I really don’t care to watch you linger. Besides, the flavor changes badly when you get down to the sediment.
    â€œBut please, Finn—” she whispered, pretending to compassion. “Don’t concern yourself after my welfare. I’ll make do, somehow. I’ll content myself with other diversions. Who do you think I should sample next? Your brother perhaps? Or should I save him for last? That possibility does provide a certain tangy symmetry. Yes, the last to go shall see all the others die before him. I wonder what TimeBinder tastes like; I know what Lee tastes like. No matter. Your brother will die alone, and I promise you, I will do everything I can to make it an exquisite death.”
    She motioned to her attendants and they hurried over to tap the vein in Finn’s arm. The dark blood flowed steadily into the goblet.
    â€œA toast,” said the Lady, raising the cup to her lips. Again, she smiled at them, mocking their fierce determination with her liquid laugh. They couldn’t take their eyes off her. Their expressions burned with intensity. “A toast—to those who serve the Regency. You should all feel honored. Just as the flavor of Finn Markham has brought pleasure to this sophisticated palate, so in turn will each of you provide that same service in turn. I give you my sincerest thanks for your selfless sacrifices.”
    She drank deeply from the bowl, cradling it with both hands as she tilted the dark fluid across her lips, over her delicate forked tongue, and down her pulsing throat. The blood burned with a flavor she had never tasted before—peculiar, but tantalizing. It lingered in her mouth and left her with a haunting purple feeling. She licked her lips and wondered if she might allow herself another cup; this close to the bottom of the bottle, the flavor would almost certainly have overtones of death. She preferred her meals vigorous, not weak. And besides, a second cup, might seem like shameless indulgence. Regretfully, she decided against it and handed the goblet to a faceless insect attendant.
    She gestured for a settee and sank down onto it as it glided over to her. As the warmth of Finn’s blood spread throughout her body, she cast a languorous, almost affectionate gaze across her guests. “You really don’t appreciate the honor