Requiem for a Ruler of Worlds by Brian Daley Read Free Book Online

obliged to leave Terra. An Earthservice department, Alacrity—our largest—keeps track of the planet's every resource, including those off world. Some of those offworld resources can be claimed by Terrans, for the benefit of all, but Earthers no longer have the knack for travel among the stars. They often come to grief, even within the solar system."
    Alacrity acknowledged that with a nod. The risks were high, even for veteran breakabouts.
    "We are initiating a new project, Project Shepherd," Ash continued, "to recruit qualified guide-escorts. I can commute your sentence. One mission for Project Shepherd, a round-trip, and you're quits with us."
    "Only one?" Alacrity blurted before he could stop himself.
    Ash gave his thin smile again. "In this case, I make the determination as to how many missions are to be required of you. The minimum, of course, is one. If you qualify, that is."
    Alacrity switched from shocked relief to indignation.
    " Qualify? To nursemaid an Earther ?—no offense. Look, I realize that you don't know much about me, but I've been—"
    "Indeed?" Ash broke in. " 'Fitzhugh, Alacrity'—let's just skip the aliases, shall we?"
    That was fine with Alacrity. Ash resumed. "'Birthplace unknown. Variously claimed or reported to be any of numerous planets and nonplanetary settlements. Most often specified as starship Cavorter in transit between Njarl's World and Hallelujah. No records available. Parents thought to be deceased.
    '"Member, not in particularly good standing, of the All-Worlds Merchant Spacefarers Guild, Spican Aerospace Workers Alliance, Pan-Stellar Pilots Union, and many lesser, kindred organizations. History of frequent arrests, on a variety of planets, satellites, and other locations, including space vessels in transit.'"
    Ash paused, studying the lanky, pale offworlder; the large, almost glowing yellow eyes and the flowing gray mane with its strands of silver. For all his differences from mainbreed Terrans, he was quite youthful-looking to have such a spotty past.
    "Alacrity, what would you do if you were dining with Srillans and your host suggested that it was getting late?"
    The breakabout vaulted off the bed in a swirl of sheet and began an animated, prancing shuffle around the center of the room. Ash watched interestedly.
    Alacrity postured in grandiloquent style. He sang through his nose in imitation of the ebullient Srillan form. "Ning-ning-a-ning !"he cock-crowed. He danced around the executioner, addressing the song to him as though Ash were the hypothetical Srillan host.
    "Let us all now praise Lord Ash, ning-a-ning !For his generous hospitality"—he struck a pose, a waggish aside to his invisible audience—"(don't let the door strike you in the rump!) ning-a-ning !"
    He resumed his declamatory posture. "For this marvelous repast"—and again the aside—"(were all the toxic waste dumps closed?) ning-ning !For his thoughtfulness (it's so seldom you see utensils chained to the table!) ning-a-ning-a-ning !"
    He stopped. Ash wasn't amused; Alacrity remembered, too late, how much Terrans hated the Srillans for what they'd done to Earth.
    The executioner asked, "What would you do if you encountered, er … " He consulted his memory again. "An Adjuster on the planet Wendigo?"
    Alacrity's expression went blank. His eyes unfocused. "Encounter? How? There's no one there, citizen; no one !If I remember that and behave accordingly, she may be indifferent to me and pass by."
    "And the Parade of Initiates on C'que's Nest?"
    "Steer a wide course around it. By parsecs, preferably. The hatchlings are always hungry, and their elders aren't inclined to deny them anything that day of the year. Well? Satisfied?"
    "Quite. You're well qualified."
    Alacrity sat on the bed, nodding smugly. "Damn right. You couldn't find a better … "
    He looked up again, facing Ash. He said slowly, "You couldn't find a better escort on Earth if you tried all day. That's what this is all about, isn't it?"
    "I believe that to