Empyrion II: The Siege of Dome Read Online Free PDF Page B

bhuj, and slammed the blade into the table. “Giloon being a leader greater as you. I control my people.”
    Tvrdy rose. “See that you do—your life and the lives of all your people depend on your cooperation.”
    “There being no noisy guts between us, Tanais.” Giloon climbed to his feet and led Tvrdy out of the kraam and back across the square. Tvrdy saw the ghostly shapes of Dhogs watching from behind piles of rubble. As he moved away, the nonbeings came out of hiding to watch him leave, so that when he turned to give some last words to Giloon he saw a whole throng, gray as the shadows they inhabited, gathered at the far end of the plaza, watching silently.
    “My men will begin arriving tomorrow. They will come one by one, or in twos. Receive them and make them welcome. We will soon have rumor messengers so that we can talk, but it is best if we do not see each other again until the plans are set. Do you understand?”
    Giloon nodded, eyes squinted up at the Director. Tvrdy guessed some sign of official recognition of the Dhog leader before his people would go a long way toward smoothing future relations between them; so he took off his cloak and placed it on Giloon's shoulders. “There,” he said, “now my men will know that I recognize you as a Director.”
    The Dhog's face squirmed into a great grin. He raised the bhuj and touched Tvrdy on either side of the throat with it, then turned abruptly and, hitching the cloak around himself, swaggered off across the ruined plaza to join his people.
    Tvrdy watched him go, then turned and fled the Old Section as fast as decorum allowed.

FIVE
    Treet gulped air and watched the Saecaraz come toward him. There were four of them. The two others had presumably gone for help. They slowed as they came nearer, and Treet sized them up: two were taller, heavier-looking, their bodies bulky beneath their black-and-silver yoses; the other two were slighter of build and not as tall, but looked more fit. Clearly, he would have trouble taking on all four, but it looked like he would have no choice.
    So, figuring his best advantage lay in initiating the fight, he lowered his head and charged into them, bellowing as he ran. He plunged his shoulder into the first Saecaraz and sent him sprawling into the deflectors, spun off the block, and caught the second man as he attempted to dodge away. Treet gave him an elbow shot in the small of the back and shoved with all his might. There was a crash and a groan behind him as Treet dove for the onrushing feet of the third, who gave a yelp of surprise as his legs were cut from under him. The man landed on his face and skidded into his crumpled partner.
    Treet came up running. The fourth Saecaraz stopped in midstride when he saw Treet gathering himself for another charge. For an instant the two stood looking at one another; then Treet yelled and lunged forward. The Saecaraz backpedaled and spun, tangled his legs and went down. Treet dashed for him, placed one foot square on his breastbone, and ran right over him and back into the main pathway, reaching the door seconds later.
    He paused only long enough to pull the door shut and seal it, then ran for the first of a succession of doors leading to the guard station and the lower levels of Hage Nilokerus beyond. Once beyond the second set of doors, with those doors sealed behind him, he paused to listen and heard someone coming toward him from the opposite way.
    The two Saecaraz who had gone for help were returning with the Nilokerus from the guard station. He could hear their feet pounding down the corridor—one, maybe two doors beyond. There was only one thing to do. Turning to the door he'd just sealed, he tapped the entry code into the lock and opened it again, then dashed the fifty meters to the next door, went through it, and pressed himself flat against the opposite wall and waited.
    A moment later the Saecaraz appeared, followed by three Nilokerus with weapons drawn. They slipped through the