Necessary Evils (Adventures in the Liaden Universe®?) Read Online Free PDF Page A

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    "That's right," Clarence said, calmly. "Nice to meet you, too. I've got some questions for you, and I'm going to give you a chance to answer them on your own. If you don't want to play nice, then Mr. Urel here will be happy to introduce you to our particular brand of happy juice. I'm told it's sometimes unpleasant, but not fatal."
    Zara Chance stared at him, but did not respond.
    "Listen close: I've got a list of ten pilots gone missing out of five gambling houses; four were seen with you on the nights they vanished." Clarence jerked his head toward Daav. "This pilot here has similar data linking you to the disappearance of pilots. You're made, is what I'm saying. Now, what I want from you is the name and location of your boss, your access codes, and the details of what happened to those pilots, as far as you know them."
    "Is that all?" she asked politely, and Daav saw her shudder, minutely. "Alas, I am not able to--"
    "Poison!" He snapped and jumped forward, reaching for the kit that wasn't on his belt. He grabbed her shoulder. "What is it?"
    She laughed again, breath suddenly short, and stared up at him in defiance.
    "Why it is fatal, Pilot. What . . . else . . . would you have of poison?" Her face was sheeted in sweat, and she was gasping in earnest now. "Soon, you will know your reliance on the Code for the culture . . . idiocy . . . it--"
    She gurgled, eyes rolling up in her head. Daav caught her, and eased her body to the floor.
    "Dammit!" Clarence swore behind him, and Daav reached out to close her eyes.
    "Indeed."
    *
    "I . . . see," his mother said slowly. "So, my son, you tell me that your errand is unfulfilled?"
    "It is the judgment of Mr. O'Berin and myself that we have but cut off one head of a hydra," he admitted.
    "Thus warning the others to be more circumspect," his mother said tartly, and Daav inclined his head.
    "Alas, that is also our conclusion." He sighed and reached for his cup. "Mr. O'Berin professes himself to be alert for new disappearances, though he believes--and I agree with him--that there will be a period of waiting, in the hopes that he will become busy with other of his business, and that Korval will turn its eye elsewhere."
    "I see." She tapped the disk he had given her lightly against her knee. "And the contact information for the so-excellent Mr. O'Berin is made available to me. I assume that mine has likewise been made available to him."
    "It seemed reasonable," Daav said, "especially as I am soon to return to the Scouts."
    "Just so. Well, we do not always succeed at the first outing." Chi yos'Phelium sighed and slipped the disk into her pocket before picking up her cup and sipping her tea. "Your impression of Mr. O'Berin seems largely positive."
    "I found him organized, level-headed, and committed to his duty," Daav agreed. "I could wish to find his like on my next team."
    "Hah. Recall to what he owes his allegiance, my son, and tread warily. I will own to a certain --respect--for Mistress Toonapple, and I flatter myself that she returned my regard. Had our situations been otherwise, it is perhaps not too far afield to say that we might have been friends. Alas, the old agreement between Korval and the Juntavas must forever stand between such relationships."
    "Of course," Daav said, and rose to make his bow. He dropped a kiss on her cheek as he passed her chair.
    "Good-night, mother."
    "Good-night, child."
    *
    Clarence came round his desk with his hand out and a smile on his face.
    "Come in, sit down. Got a couple things to clean up, here, then we can go to lunch, if you've got time."
    Daav returned the smile, and met the hand willingly, relishing the other's firm grip.
    "Not this time, I think," Daav said seriously, "as some matters are pressing."
    Clarence's smile dimmed thoughtfully.
    "This because you can't be seen with a Terran? Can't be seen with the--what did you call me? The Beggar King?"
    Daav laughed softly.
    "Forgive me, please; it was not meant as an insult. I'm told that I