Starfishers Volume 1: Shadowline by Glen Cook Read Free Book Online Page A

commander need only take the Norbon station to seize control of the planet. Having eliminated the decision-makers and gotten their ships inside the defensive umbrella, they could deal with the other holdings piecemeal. They could conquer an entire world with an inferior force.
    The whole thing smacked of raider daring. Nurtured by treachery, of course.
    Some laughing human commander, smarter than most animals, was about to make himself a fortune.
    Over the years since their discovery of the Sangaree, and the fact that they were considered animals, the humans had created scores of laws designed to encourage one another to respond savagely. Billions in bounties and prize moneys would go to the conquerors of a world. Even the meanest shipboard rating would be able to retire and live on his interest. A developed world was a prize with a value almost beyond calculation.
    The fighting would be grim. Human hatred would be reinforced by greed.
    Deeth’s father was as quick as his son. Defeat and destruction, he saw, were inevitable. He told his wife, “Take the boy and dress him in slave garb. Rhafu, go with her. See that he’s turned loose in the training area. They don’t know each other. He’ll pass.”
    Deeth’s mother and the old breeding master understood. The Head was grasping at his only chance to save his line.
    “Deeth,” his father said, kneeling, “you understand what’s happening, don’t you?”
    Deeth nodded. He did not trust himself to speak. Once he had examined and thought out the possibilities he had become afraid. He did not want to shame himself.
    “You know what to do? Hide with the animals. It shouldn’t be hard. You’re a smart boy. They won’t be expecting you. Stay out of trouble. When you get the chance, go back to Homeworld. Reclaim the Family and undertake a vendetta against those who betrayed us. For your mother and me. And all our people who will die here. Understand? You’ll do that?”
    Again Deeth dared only nod. His gaze flicked around the hall. Who were the guilty? Which few would see the sun rise?
    “All right.” His father enfolded him in a hug that hurt. He had never done that before. The Norbon was not a demonstrative man. “Before you go.”
    The Norbon took a small knife from his pocket. He opened a blade and scraped the skin on Deeth’s left wrist till a mist of blood droplets oozed up. Then he used a pen to ink a long series of numbers. “That’s where you’ll find your Wholar, Deeth. That’s Osiris. The only place those numbers exist is in my head and on your wrist. Take care. You’ll need that wealth to make your return.”
    Deeth forced a weak smile. His father was brilliant, disguising the most valuable secret of the day as a field hand’s serial.
    The Norbon hugged him again. “You’d better go. And hurry. They’ll come down fast once they’re into their run.”
    A raggedy string of roars sounded out front. Deeth smiled. Someone had activated the station defenses. Missiles were launching.
    Answering explosions killed his pleasure. He hurried after his mother and Rhafu. White glare poured through the windows. The atmosphere above the station protested its torment. Guests kept shrieking.
    The preparatory barrages had begun. The station’s defenders were trying to fend them off.
    The slave pens were utter chaos. Deeth heard the fighting and screaming long before he and Rhafu arrived on the observation balcony.
    Household troops were helping the slave handlers, and still the animals were not under control. Corpses littered the breeding dome. Most were field hands, but a sickening number wore Norbon blue. The troops and handlers were handicapped. They had to avoid damaging valuable property.
    “I don’t see any wild ones, Rhafu.”
    “That is curious. Why provide weapons without support?”
    “Tell them not to worry about saving the stock. They won’t matter if the human ships break through.”
    “Of course.” After an introspective moment, Rhafu said,