The Backworlds Read Online Free PDF Page B

jabbed Lepsi in the ribs with
his pointy elbow. The gesture came off like a spasm. “You only speculating from
stories we’ve heard. We don’t really know, Lepsi. We don’t really know, Craze.”
    Craze nodded, trying to take in the
name of each port at the edges of the Backworld system. His finger brushed over
a definitive and authoritative line at the leftmost boundary.
    “Dividing line between the
Backworlds ‘n the Foreworlds,” Talos said. “You don’t want to go there, mate.
Certain death.”
    “Certain?” Craze asked.
    “The Fo’wo’s claim we have no right
to live. Kill us on sight.”
    “A truce has been called,” Craze
said.
    “They don’t care.”
    “ Hmmph .”
Craze didn’t give much credence to all the noise about the Foreworlders. They
were just bogey stories to keep the division between the territories, so Craze
believed. He knew the history.
    In the voids between the worlds,
the Foreworlds and Backworlds warred. Before all was lost for good, the
Foreworlds declared a truce and named themselves the victors. The plans for
their new fleet had leaked out, revealing the Backworlders had no chance. So
the Backworlds accepted the treaty and the fact they had lost, scattering on
the remaining Backworlds the Foreworlders hadn’t seized. Making do. Adapting.
Regrouping.
    Craze traced the line, curious
about where all Backworlders originated from, but he wasn’t brave enough to
face down the rumors. He’d leave that to somebody else.
    Talos held out a hand. “Well, we
off, mate. Carry on.” He tugged at the lapel with the pin to emphasize the
catch phrase.
    Craze didn’t want them to go,
didn’t want to be cut loose to flounder for the second time today. “What’s that
mean? The pin?”
    The aviarmen stopped and faced
Craze as if to shoo him away, but ended up staying put. Shifting their weight,
wetting their lips, the hurry they’d been in dissipated.
    “My mom gave it to me before she
died. Complications from the war.” Talos’s lower lip quivered.
    Talos didn’t seem much older than
Craze. Maybe aviar women were fertile well into life.
“She was a veteran?” Craze asked.
    Talos plucked the prized button off
of his lapel, stroking its edges, caressing the words. “No, she lived on a borderworld as a child. The Fo’wo’s let loose some plague.
Made her weak the rest of her life. Not in mind though.”
    “Of course not.” Complimenting the
mother was obviously a way for Craze to charm his way into the aviarman’s
esteem. It was a lesson from his father Craze had often used. It stated that in
order to get what’s wanted, tell folks what they want to hear. Most of Bast’s teachings wouldn’t hurt Craze’s prospects, but he
wouldn’t give the man any credit. It was Craze’s ability to create the skills
from the lectures that would serve him, and his many experiences in doing so.
    Craze wanted the aviarmen to see
him as a friend, to see evidence of it before they separated. Otherwise, he had
no one and nothing. He couldn’t stand the thought.
    He wasn’t above a little lying to
manipulate the aviarmen’s feelings and sway their
sentiments. “I’m sorry to hear that.” An untruth, because he had a hard time
relating to affection for a parent at the moment.
    “She was a great trader. As great
as the members of the central guild until the recurring sickness forced her to
give it up. I was still too young to be of use to her ‘n the business. She gave
me this ‘n made me promise I’d get the trade route back, or a better one, when
I was old enough.” He held up the button. “Carry on.”
    “She sounds like quite a lady. What
world were—”
    “I’ve got to go see that ship,
mate. For her. For the promise.” Talos jammed the pin into his coat pocket,
clutching it as if the fate of the universe depended on it. “When I get my
trade route, I’ll name the business for her.” He turned to go, inching away.
    Craze followed. “Nice. Won’t be
long once you get that