Slave Empire - The Crystal Ship Read Online Free PDF Page B

fingerprints, and could only be released by pressing
his index fingers to the tiny sensor pads. The automatic light
filters in the one-way lenses over his eyes adjusted to the gloom,
improving his vision, and he affixed the throat guard that hid his
neck. The insistent chiming of the space line screen tried to hurry
him, but he took his time, ensuring everything was in its proper
place. Pulling on his gloves, he gave the ship permission to answer
the call.
    The greying
commander of one of his cruisers appeared, an Erdorian with a
classically mournful expression. Commander Pra’tar was one of his
older and more experienced officers. She curved her down-turned
mouth into a semblance of an unnatural smile. To Erdorians, smiles
were not a normal expression, and they used them in the most
inappropriate situations.
    “ Sir, I have confronted Norvar, and she has dropped out of the
Net, although she is still linked. She has refused to surrender, of
course, and her captain is demanding communications with
you.”
    “ Of course,” Tarke replied. “Has the battleship arrived
yet?”
    “ She is a few minutes away.”
    “ Who is it?”
    “ Starlight.”
    Tarke nodded.
“Good, Commander Erdan is a competent man.”
    “ Sir.”
    “ Link me with Norvar, only the captain.”
    Pra’tar’s sad
visage faded, and a Draycon’s grey, scaly face filled the screen.
The alien’s crest was raised and his throat sacks swollen with
rage.
    “ Shrike, what is the meaning of your ships’
actions?”
    Tarke leant
back and folded his hands. “You have something I want: a human
girl. She is a rare commodity, and extremely valuable. I have a
buyer who’ll pay handsomely for her, and an assurance that he plans
a slow and painful death for her. He likes wiping out species.”
    The Draycon’s
expression became smug. “So, you want the girl.”
    “ I’ll pay well for her. The reason she’s so valuable is she’s
the last of her kind, as I’m sure you know.”
    The Draycon
glanced to the side, his expression calculating. “How much?”
    “ Shall we say two hundred thousand regals as an opening
offer?”
    “ Five hundred, cash.”
    “ Well now, that’s a lot. I’ll have to consult my client. I can
offer three hundred, cash, now.”
    The Draycon’s
grey skin flushed purple with greed as his crest rippled and his
throat sacks deflated. Tarke watched him wrestle with it, knowing
that the only thing stronger than religious fervour amongst
Draycons was greed. Four several seconds, the captain remained
undecided, then growled, “I’ll think about it.”
    Tarke shook
his head. “My offer expires in about ten minutes. I have to have an
answer by then.”
    “ Why the rush?”
    “ I don’t want to have to negotiate with your priesthood, and
you’re close to Amranon. They might send ships to see why you’ve
stopped.”
    The Draycon
looked cunning. “They’ll believe what I tell them.”
    “ Unless they find the girl, in which case your lies will anger
them.”
    “ True.” The Draycon’s lips twisted, and his eyes darted
sideways again. “One of your battleships has arrived. Do you intend
to steal her?”
    “ If necessary. You see, I’ve already agreed to sell her to my
client. If I don’t get her, it would be embarrassing. I dislike
being embarrassed; it tends to put me in a bad temper. I’m on my
way with another eight ships, so I recommend that you close the
deal.”
    “ You would pit yourself against the might of the Drayconar
Empire for one ugly human girl?”
    “ No. For a very lucrative deal. It’s what I do, and, at the
last count, I believe the might of the Drayconar Empire outweighed
mine by a mere twelve ships.”
    The Draycon’s
crest rose. “I don’t believe you would enter into a war with us for
the sake of a deal.”
    “ Maybe not. But I’ll certainly do a lot of damage to your
ship, and your priests won’t be any more eager than you are to
engage me in war. Remember, you have more to lose; more