Forsaken Skies by D. Nolan Clark Read Free Book Online Page B

and laughed a bit, just to break the ice. It didn’t work. If anything they looked more confused than ever. He bent over the menu, careful not to let his eyes roll. It hadn’t been much of a witticism but at least he was trying. “The fish here is very good. Is that all right? And whiskey for the table, since there’s business to be done.”
    â€œI’m afraid I don’t take spirits,” the old woman said.
    Maggs waved a hand in apology. “Of course, how thoughtless of me. A prohibition of your faith, I imagine.”
    â€œNo,” the old woman replied. “I have a genetic predisposition to alcoholism. Lieutenant—our business is rather pressing, and we came a very long way to speak with you.”
    â€œSorry about that. In my position I have to move about quite a bit. It was just good luck I was at Geryon this week.” He leaned forward a bit, to try to add a whiff of conspiracy. “I’m responsible for more worlds than just Niraya, you see.”
    â€œOf course. But given your busy schedule, then—can’t the meal wait?”
    â€œOur ways must seem strange to you,” Maggs said. “But it’s tradition among us to never discuss money on an empty stomach. Besides. After so many days of those dreadful meals they serve on starliners these days, surely you could both use a little fresh food.” He glanced across the table at the girl aspirant and gave her a wink.
    Her eyes went wide.
    Still got it, Maggsy,
he told himself. Funny how his internal monologue always sounded like his father’s voice these days.
    â€œWe’ll be down to brass tacks soon enough.” He reached for the menu. “That’s an old idiom that means—”
    â€œI know it. I wasn’t born on Niraya,” the old woman told him.
    He smiled at her. It was always important at times like this to smile. You could never let them see what you really thought. “I understand your anxiety. And I can assure you, Elder, you’ve come to exactly the right place.”
    It hurt his cheeks, but he never let the smile fade.

    Valk took Lanoe through the spin lock to Vairside. “I know a little place in here,” he said. “Nothing fancy. But they know to serve my whiskey with a straw.”
    Lanoe seemed confused for a moment but then he nodded. “You never take that helmet down,” he said. “I can guess why. But you really care that much what other people think?”
    As Valk headed through the broad arch he laughed. “It’s not for my benefit. Come on, let’s catch that train.” They boarded in the rear compartment, which was reserved for Navy personnel only. The Hexus was technically a civilian station, built by Centrocor to serve its development concerns. A few years back, though, Centrocor declared war on another poly called DaoLink. Earth had sent the Navy in to fight on Centrocor’s side and now the Hexus was as much a military base as anything else. Half the Navy came through at one time or another—either on shore leave, or on their way to their next deployment. Valk got a couple of stares as he boarded for the hexagonal logo painted on his shoulder plate, but nobody said anything, especially when they saw he was with Lanoe. Valk could tell when the other passengers had pinged Lanoe’s cryptab because of how hastily they glanced away.
    The train tracks corkscrewed around inside the Vairside cylinder, making dozens of stops, but they didn’t have to go far. Valk watched Lanoe’s face as the old man stared through the windows, taking in the various attractions of station life. He didn’t exactly scowl at the pleasure-seekers who passed by below but he didn’t look much interested in the gambling hells or the sex drone yards, either. Valk thought maybe Lanoe was not a man who gave anything away for free.
    The two of them stepped off at a station on an elevated platform. It overlooked a wide