Alien Manifesto by T.W. Embry Read Free Book Online

of it azsss life experience,” he hissed. “I do, however, have
sssome thingsss that will make your life easssier in the near
future.”
    With a flourish, he presented me with
a pair of furry boots and an electronic bracelet. “Thessse bootsss
will cancel all sssound azsss you walk on any sssurface. Thisss
bracelet will masssk all ssscentsss and make you invisssible
without a detectable power sssignature. Ussse them well young Human
Tom. Now I sssuggessst you get sssome sssleep. You are going to
need it.”
    As the young human left the
room, Snarth smiled to himself. Those two
may as well be mated. They just do not know it yet. She will train
him and watch out for him. He will fight to the death to defend
her, Snarth thought. This gambit might just work after all.
    The team, minus Snarth, arrived the
next day at the spaceport on the planet where the Followers of Eli
headquarters was located, in a public transport. This out of the
way planet was a haven for those who wished to go unnoticed in
their business dealings.
    The canine master was traveling as a
prizefighter for the entertainment of the many bars that held
organized fights on this planet. The Irishman was a rare spice
dealer plying his wares at the market outside the temple’s main
entrance. He was also the canine fight master’s trainer. Finally,
the stealth master and I were warriors for hire. Snarth traveled
separately to avoid any possible spies, posing as a rich
tourist.
    I had wondered how we were going to
get our weapons on the transport. I need not have worried. Personal
protection was the law of the land. In addition, the penalty for
murder was instant death by the nearest galactic security mech. Who
was both judge and jury. There would be no trial. The rules of
personal combat were well established and strictly adhered to. This
resulted in a very polite and well-armed society who minded their
own business, pointedly.
    The Irishman was able to set up his
rare spice shop in full view of the temple’s main entrance. The
canine master already had a fight that very first night. The only
truly tricky part was getting an audience with the head of security
of the temple. However, the feline master had managed. It would
seem her reputation preceded her.
    The head of security hardly glanced in
my direction, circling the seated feline master, pacing nervously.
It or should I say he, reminded me of an Earth ferret, only much
bigger, over five feet tall. As the ferret questioned the feline
master, she remained calm and composed, her tail curled around her
legs, never twitching. The ferret was a dirty, smelly, deviant
looking animal. I knew it would wander too close to the feline
master. It was just a matter of how close she would let it
get.
    With a spit, the feline master slashed
at the throat of the ferret, pulling her claws at the last instant,
sparing the unsuspecting ferret’s life, in a show of force. The
ferret backed off, squealing an apology. I found myself on my feet,
blaster drawn in reflex. The feline master waved me
down.
    As the ferret watched, his beady eye
staring intently, I holstered my weapon with the flourish I learned
from Snarth. Then I relaxed, leaning against the wall, not taking
my seat. Apparently, this was all part of the game of deceit we
were playing. Finally, the ferret stopped pacing and the feline
master rose to leave, silent as a puff of smoke. An agreement had
been reached.
    That night after a sparse meal of some
Snarth-supplied rations in our quarters, the feline master and I
went to the bar where the canine had his first fight. We were both
spectators and back up. I was amazed at the variety of life forms
at the fight. It was a roiling mass of smells and cultures the like
of which I had never imagined could be.
    However, the Irishman and I were the
only Earthlings I saw. There were several other humanoid looking
species, both male and female, however no more Earthlings. In my
wildest dreams or nightmares, I would have never