Machine World (Undying Mercenaries Book 4) Read Online Free PDF Page B

sir,” I said, clearing my throat. “There was a misunderstanding.”
    Drusus shook his head. “Thanks for finding my Specialist,” he said to the hogs. “Why don’t you gentlemen go get yourselves fixed up?”
    They looked at the Equestrian, who nodded. Then they disappeared, grumbling.
    The Equestrian watched me for several seconds as he steepled his fingers. He didn’t look like he had a sense of humor.
    “I’m Equestrian Nagata,” he said with a slight Japanese accent. “You may have heard of me.”
    I hadn’t, but I smiled and nodded. “It’s an honor to meet you, sir.”
    Nagata grunted. “You are a violent man, McGill, from a legion of famously violent soldiers. Would you agree with that assessment?”
    “Uh…” I said uncertainly. I glanced at Drusus for a hint, but he was wearing a poker face. I went with my gut. “Yes sir, I would have to agree. We wouldn’t be much good otherwise. We’re fighting men, after all. That’s why people hire us.”
    Nagata nodded. “Well said. All right then. I’m going to give you and your renegades a chance to show us what you can do. But first, I need some truthful answers out of you.”
    “Okay, sir.”
    “Did you kill Chief Inspector Xlur?”
    Again, I glanced at Drusus. He looked a little paler to me now, but that might have been my imagination. He gave me no help.
    “Yes sir,” I said. “I did.”
    Nagata nodded slowly. “Could you explain your reasoning for taking this drastic action—a move that might well result in the extinction of our species? I assume it wasn’t because he didn’t show you respect when he asked you to escort him to the roof?”
    “No sir, that wasn’t it at all. Galactics never show any human any respect.”
    “Hmmm…yes. I don’t suppose they do. Could you elaborate?”
    “Well sir, it went like this…”
    I quickly explained the events that had transpired on the roof of Hegemony headquarters. I didn’t edit or embellish—except for the part about using the Galactic key. Instead, I told him I’d been trained in technical matters and explained how a recent revive could be deleted by a man with quick fingers on a tapper. That was mostly the truth.
    What helped was Turov’s visit the night before. She’d anticipated this moment and had given me a script. About ninety-five percent of it was the truth. Really, I didn’t think there was much point in trying to lie about it. Hegemony brass was full of weak, cowardly men. But they weren’t stupid.
    While I spoke, I glanced now and then at Drusus. He looked like a man who was listening to his own eulogy.
    “So sir,” I finished up, “we didn’t have much choice. Xlur had just ordered us all permed, and in addition, he was talking about erasing Earth. I took action because I had to.”
    “Such drastic action—taken without planning or forethought? Done alone?”
    He’d touched upon something I hadn’t made a big deal out of: Imperator Turov’s part in the matter.
    “Not entirely, sir,” I said, as if I’d left a detail out accidentally. “Turov helped me.”
    “Ah, I see! Did she not, in fact, order you to do this?” Nagata demanded, leaning forward and looking hungry all of a sudden.
    Like a bolt of lightning, the situation was suddenly plain to me. They were after Turov, not a lowly specialist. Sure, they could perm me with a wave of the hand over their tappers if they wanted to. But a bigger head might be called for. A person who I’d be willing to wager wasn’t all that popular among her peers. Maybe, for all I knew, Turov was already bucking for Nagata’s job. I knew Turov would never be satisfied until she reached the rank of Consul itself. After that, who knew what might be next?
    “She did ask me to take action,” I said carefully. “But I have to admit that I could have taken that in many different ways. Another man might have self-executed right then and there. After all, that’s what Graves and Leeson had just done. Instead, I moved down