The Backworlds by M. Pax Read Free Book Online

twitches and his lips as words formed. “Negotiator. A couple
more good stops ‘n I’ll get promoted to captain.”
    Another transportation opportunity.
Whether she bought his naive act or not, he could still seduce her, distract
her. Gattar need only touch him once. He wondered if he could maintain feigned
lust indefinitely to travel on her ship in search of fortunes. No, that would
take more booze than he’d swiped from Bast or had the chips to purchase. He’d
be better off with the aviarmen. With Gattar, it would be wisest to find out
what he could and to get what he could before the next sunrise.
    Craze moved his hand closer to
hers, tapping the tabletop in invitation. “Wow. You must be very skilled ‘n
know a lot about the Backworlds.” Flattery never hurt. “This is my first time
off Siegna. Not sure I like it.” Sincerity wouldn’t be misplaced here either.
“What kind of vessel will you captain?”
    Her focus fell to his hands and
stayed there. “We Jix have our own ships. Transports mostly,” Gattar said.
“Certain sectors of the Edge fall under our jurisdiction.”
    “So, you part of the Backworld
united government, the Assembled Authorities? That’s impressive.” Her choice of
taverns was not.
    “So to speak.” Her mouth twitched
and her legs stretched, brushing against his. Her delicate ankle rested against
his thick one. “It’s pretty wild out on the Edge.”
    “I think that’s where I’m goin ’. To seek riches.” He extended his fingers to linger
in the space between them, a proposition.
    Gattar scooted closer. “Yeah? What
kind of fortunes?”
    Their point of mutual interest was
broached and so started the real contest between them. Gattar didn’t seem like
the sharing type. Craze wasn’t so much in the mood either.
    “Business. Money,” he said. “I want
to own a tavern. A nice one. A destination.”
    She toyed with her zipper again; up
and down, up and down, peek-a-boo with her bulging cleavage. “That’s quite a
dream. You ain’t going back to Siegna then?”
    Craze followed the motions of her
zipper. The Jix was definitely open to seduction. Now he needed to find out
whether she was capable of any sympathy. “Can’t. The elders want to branch out.
They chased me off.”
    The smile faded from her eyes and
she quit playing with her zipper. “You their emissary? Your kind has aims on
the Backworlds?”
    The words snapped out like an
attack of sting beasts in the swamp. So, no. Empathy wasn’t in the Jix’s
vernacular. Back to the art of conquest it was then. Whatever it took to hook
into her avenues of commerce in the Backworlds, he would do.
    Craze flexed his fingers, reaching
toward hers, falling short in a beckoning dance. “Yup.”
    Gattar lurched forward in her seat,
grabbing his wrist, squeezing and twisting until Craze winced. “Give up them
thoughts, Crazy boy. The Jix be out here ‘n we don’t like sharing. You tell
your hick friends that. OK?”
    No, she definitely wasn’t the
sharing type. The threat worked in his favor, though. She’d finally touched
him. Craze had her now, turning his hand and raking his fingertips gently
against the inside of her forearm. “I’ll tell them. Tell them my good friend
Gattar is out here already negotiatin ’. Negotiatin ’ for what?”
    Her grip lessened and she pressed
her flesh against his hand. “Opportunities.” The Jix caressed his soft skin,
delving her fingers into the plumper regions of his arm. “ Ooo .
Very lovely. Enhancement or yours?”
    He flashed his dimples, tendering
more of his charms. “Bequeathed to the Verkinn by the Fo’wo’s.”
    “The Foreworlders came up with some
imaginative improvements from time to time.” She ran her hand up his arm,
gripping around his bicep. “You strong, too. Huh?”
    “No one on Siegna messes with the
Verkinn.” He flexed the muscle for her delight.
    The Jix giggled, petting his flesh.
“Very nice. The kind of nice that makes a gal a nice partner. You