For Love of Mother-Not Read Online Free PDF Page A

ye, Flinx, not now!”
    “It’s very important, Mother.”
    She let out a sigh of exasperation and looked apologetically at the outworlder. “Excuse me a moment, good sir. Children, ye know.”
    The man smiled absently, thoroughly engrossed in a necklace that shone with odd pieces of metal and worn wood.
    “What is it, Flinx?” she demanded, upset with him. “This better be important. You know how I don’t like to be disturbed when I’m in the middle of—”
    He interrupted her by pointing to the far end of the shop. “See that man over there?”
    She looked up, past him. The man in question was bald and sported a well-trimmed beard and earrings. Instead of the light slickertic favored by the inhabitants of Moth, he wore a heavy offworld overcoat of black material. His features were slighter than his height warranted, and his mouth was almost delicate. Other than the earrings he showed no jewelry. His boots further marked him as an offworld visitor—they were relatively clean.
    “I see him. What about him?”
    “He’s been stealing jewelry from the end case.”
    Mother Mastiff frowned. “Are you sure, boy?” Her tone was anxious. “He’s an offworlder, and by the looks of him, a reasonably substantial one at that. If we accuse him falsely—”
    “I’m positive, Mother.”
    “You saw him steal?”
    “No, I didn’t exactly
see
him.”
    “Then what the devil”—she wondered in a low, accusatory voice—”are ye talking about?”
    “Go look at the case,” he urged her.
    She hesitated, then shrugged mentally. “No harm in that, I expect.” Now whatever had gotten into the boy? She strolled toward the case, affecting an air of unconcern. As she drew near, the outworlder turned and walked away, apparently unperturbedby her approach. He hardly acted like a nervous thief about to be caught in the act.
    Then she was bending over the case. Sure enough, the lock had been professionally picked. At least four rings, among the most valuable items in her modest stock, were missing. She hesitated only briefly before glancing down at Flinx.
    “You’re positive it was him, ye say?”
    He nodded energetically.
    Mother Mastiff put two fingers to her lips and let out a piercing whistle. Almost instantly, a half-dozen neighboring shopkeepers appeared. Still the bald man showed no hint of panic, simply stared curiously, along with the others in the store at the abrupt arrivals. The rain continued to pelt the street. Mother Mastiff raised a hand, pointed directly at the bald man, and said, “Restrain that thief!”
    The man’s eyes widened in surprise, but he made no move toward retreat. Immediately, several angry shopkeepers had him firmly by the arms. At least two of them were armed.
    The bald man stood it for a moment or two, then angrily shook off his captors. His accent, when he spoke, marked him as a visitor from one of the softer worlds, like New Riviera or Centaurus B. “Now just a moment! What is going on here? I warn you, the next person who puts hands on me will suffer for it!”
    “Don’t threaten us, citizen,” said Aljean, the accomplished clothier whose big shop dominated the far corner. “We’ll settle this matter quick, and without the attention of police. We don’t much like police on this street.”
    “I sympathize with you there,” the man said, straightening his overcoat where he had been roughly handled. “I’m not especially fond of them myself.” After a pause, he added in shock, “Surely that woman does not mean to imply that
I—
”
    “That’s what she’s implyin’, for sure,” said one of the men flanking him. “If you’ve nothin’ to fear, then you’ve no reason not to gift us a moment of your time.”
    “Certainly not. I don’t see why—” The outworlder studiedtheir expressions a moment, then shrugged. “Oh, well, if it will settle this foolishness.”
    “It’ll settle it,” another man said from behind a pistol.
    “Very well. And I’ll thank you to keep