Hard Luck Hank: Screw the Galaxy by Steven Campbell Read Free Book Online Page A

shoulder.
    He stared at the hole and the scorch marks,
impressed.
    “Is that a Trestler?”
    “I think it’s a copy. But looks like the same
design. I figure it’s worth 200. I’ll sell it to you for fifty.”
    “Fifty? You sure?” he asked. I handed it to him
and he checked it out. I could see I had a sale. I pulled my tele out with a
smile. He took some time but finally passed the credits to me.
    “Enjoy it,” I said, leaving.
    “Thanks. Hey, what do you think of things? Is
there really a turf war coming?”
    I shrugged and then absently caressed my sore
shoulder.
    Ioshiyn nodded darkly as if I had somehow
spoken volumes.

CHAPTER
7

    I had to go to the bathroom so I walked to a
nearby restaurant to make use of the facilities. On my way I noticed two smoke
trails high above the city. Had something broken in the station’s latticework?
It wouldn’t be the first time. I just hoped I got a chance to relieve myself
before being sucked into space.
    At the restaurant I read the latest edition of The
News . Rendrae was stoking the fires with headlines like “What Will You Need
for the Coming Business Disputes.”
    I went outside and looked up, but the smoke
trails were gone.
    Back in Deadsouth I attempted to patch together
the rest of my drug load. I gave up trying to get the other half all in one go
and just grabbed what I could from individuals.
    The prices were higher taking it piecemeal and
I had to deal with a plethora of trembling, bug-eyed dealers, but at least I
was making progress.
    I was literally carrying around a knapsack
filled with about fifty pounds of narcotics when I got a tele from Garm.
    “Hank, I need you to get here now!” she yelled.
    “I’m working,” I said. The drug dealer I was
currently negotiating with took a peek at my tele screen and about
spontaneously combusted when he realized I was speaking to the Adjunct
Overwatch in his apartment.
    “This is absolutely serious, Hank. Hurry.” She
cut off and I was left to ponder. Though generally a calm cookie, she could get
overly excited. I figured the gang war had started someplace and I was going to
have to get involved.
    It was almost a straight shot north on the
train to the administration buildings of City Hall. After a quick transfer I
was walking into Garm’s unglamorous military headquarters.
    City Hall was constructed back in Belvaille’s
early days when the space station had a dignified purpose. The building had
twisting spires and golden frescoes of valiant space pioneers. It was the only
non-rectangular building in the whole city and really stood out.
    I got buzzed past the various checkpoints and
noticed all the soldiers were standing alert and looked worried. Must be a big
fight somewhere. Probably full-scale conflict. I sighed.
    Carrying my drugs, I was finally waved into
Garm’s office.
    “What took you so long?” she asked me angrily
as she closed the door.
    Garm had tried to make her office unattractive
in case any officials visited, but there were still a few designer chairs and
luxury items here and there. She just couldn’t help herself.
    “What’s going on?” I asked, already knowing the
answer.
    “Watch this. It’s from a few hours ago.”
    Garm was nervous. Sweating. Something had her
stirred up and that got my attention. She played a video.
    “Is that station check-in?” I asked.
    “Yeah.” Garm chewed her fingernails absently. I
put my bag down and focused on the video. People and cargo needed to check into
Belvaille like anyplace else. Though we generally didn’t mind what they brought
as long as it wasn’t too bizarre.
    “Watch this guy coming up,” Garm said.
    A man on the video approached the check. He was
scanned. The scan showed—
    “Is,” I began lamely, “that a robot?”
    The guard at the checkpoint was confused too.
    “Um,” he said. Then he got blasted to pieces.
The robot had revealed some kind of heavy cannon held by or attached to its
arm. An explosion of flame and smoke