Embassy War Read Online Free PDF

you could handle.” “I heard about a pair of platinum-yellow-shelled twins. The rumor is, they’re real wild things.” “I would not know,” replied the bartender, stiffening. He obviously did not approve of inter-species dating. “Those two hustle pool on the weekends. Mess with them, and they will eat you for not measuring up.”
    As if on cue, the platinum twins arrived, immediately claiming a pool table. I grabbed a stick and sauntered over for a game. “Dollar a ball?” I asked.
    “Don’t waste my time or your money,” replied one of the twins. “You human pestilence cannot play pool. You fidget too much to adequately steady your cue.”
    “I’ll try to muddle along. Pool was invented by us humans. There is no way you can beat me. How about a hundred dollars a ball?” “Rack ’em!” commanded the other twin. “Your balls will be mine!” “What?” “I will even let you go first, human pestilence.” State-of-the-art micro chips embedded in my bones greatly enhanced my hand-to-eye coordination and reflexes, among other things. However, spiders with their eight eyes and limbs, had a distinct advantage in eye-claw coordination. Spiders were natural pool players. They were also born compulsive gamblers.
    I lost money the first two games. My lovely twin adversary pranced about, celebrating her victories over the human pestilence, playing to the crowd. “Next!” she boasted, challenging all comers.
    “How about we up the stakes?” I suggested. “How about a thousand dollars a ball?” “I cannot cover that bet,” advised my opponent. “I doubt you can either. I thought all you wanted was a friendly game.” I flashed my cash. “If you lose, we’ll figure out a trade.” The lovely twins made eye contact only briefly, then nodded. “Rack ’em, human pestilence. This should be easy money!” The twins did a little cha-cha dance for the crowd.
    This time I played better. Humans not only invented pool, we also invented the hustle, and it was time to school these lovely aliens. The twins watched dejectedly as I ran the table and racked the balls for a new game.
    “My place or yours?” I asked, after several games.
    “You work at the Embassy?” asked one of the twins. I lost track of which one was which. “Do you know Corporals Willie Krueger and John Iwo Jima Wayne?”
    “Willie and John are my best friends!” I exclaimed as we left, hand in claw.
     
     
    * * * * *
     
     
     
    Corporal Tonelli saluted and waved our cab through the Embassy gate. Sergeant Green and a squad of legionnaires were waiting as we stopped at the Administration Building. Placed under arrest, the twins were dragged, kicking and screaming, downstairs to the dungeon.
    Interrogation began immediately. I separated the twins, hoping they would be more pliable without each other’s support.
     
     
    * * * * *
     
     
     
    “We have been abducted by humans!” broadcast the twin left alone in her cell. She activated a distress beacon embedded in the backside of her exoskeleton. The hidden transmitter had been secreted up an orifice probes could not find.
    Soon Arthropodan marine commandos smashed through the dungeon floor from tunnels already dug for just such a rescue purpose, freeing their comrade. “You are very lucky,” advised a spider marine team leader. “The human pestilence usually eat their prisoners, after torturing them over burning coals.”
    “What about my sister?” asked the yellow spider. “She is still upstairs. That Czerinski took her away.”
    “We cannot stay,” insisted the team leader. “The Legion may return any minute. Also, ghosts haunt the human pestilence underground. Humanity brought its spirits of the dead with them from Old Earth to guard this dungeon.”
    “Nonsense!” replied the twin. “I order you to rescue my sister!”
    “We have video documentation of a robed skeletal humanoid spirit carrying a scythe inhabiting the underground. It has even broken into our sewers. If not