The Book of Deacon: Book 02 - The Great Convergence Read Online Free PDF Page A

upon your last few decisions, I thought the new
policy was to try our very best to get ourselves killed and lose
everything we have worked for. My mistake. Now that good judgment
is the choice of the day again, perhaps things will get done.
Questions please," he said. His words had been riddled with
sarcasm, but still carried the necessary sting. Lain weathered them
as though they were anything but rare.
    "Who are you really? What exactly do you do?"
she asked.
    "I am this fellow's business associate," he
answered.
    "But he is an assassin. What could you
possibly do for him?" she asked.
    "Oh, not much. I make all of his weapons. I
build, manage, and maintain networks of contacts and informants. I
locate and contact prospective clients, manage cover businesses,
handle finances, keep records, collect and negotiate payments.
Basically everything but get my hands dirty," he said. "And in
exchange I get half of his fee."
    Myranda frowned.
    "So you are as much a murder as he is," she
said.
    "Heavens, no! If there is blood to be had it
is entirely upon his hands. I merely point him in the most
profitable directions," he said.
    "And arm him," she said.
    "Bah. We've had this discussion. A weapon is
merely a tool, and I merely make it. He is the one who decides what
to do with it," he said.
    "But-" Myranda began.
    "But, but, but. I have had decades to hone my
rationalizations. They are quite solid. I suggest you ask another
question rather than lecturing me," he said, not a drop of anger in
the voice. There was a sense of his having done all of this before.
There was that sense to everything he did and said, as though this
absurd life he lived was mundane.
    "Well, what is this place?" she asked.
    "A store room. One of many. A repository for
surplus funds, a library for old records. I keep most of my better
weapons here. Of course, in times of need, this place also serves
as a safe house, and ever since that fellow there decided to hand
you over to the Undermine, the times have most certainly been of
need. Clients tend not to react well when the person they hired to
capture someone decides to release the target. When the client has
an army at their disposal, it generally turns out poorly," he
said.
    "What is the damage?" Lain asked.
    "The tavern and the inn have been seized. I
still have access to a pair of the armories, but the rest have been
closed as well. Our little enterprise has all but disappeared from
the map," he said, almost grinning. "It will have to be rebuilt
from the ground up."
    "What are you talking about?" Myranda
asked.
    "We have a handful of legitimate businesses
that we use for meeting places and to attract clients. Trigorah and
her Elites have been taking them down one by one ever since her pet
target vanished. She can be a real pain sometimes," he said.
    Lain stood and headed for the door.
    "Where are you off to?" Desmeres asked.
    Lain continued silently.
    "Well, enjoy. I had more to say, but it can
wait," Desmeres said, obviously knowing Lain too well to expect a
response.
    "Get back here! I'm not through with you! I
followed you here for a reason! You have a job to do and so do I!"
Myranda cried.
    Lain slipped out the door, shutting it behind
him. Myranda rushed after him, but by the time she reached the door
to the entry room open again, the heavy trapdoor was clicking back
into place.
    "Oh, never mind him. He will be back. There
is no place else in this world that will have him right now. He is
probably just out to hunt. Between you and me, he hates prepared
food. At any rate, you must have more questions, and if you don't
I've got a few," he said, leading her back inside.
    Myranda was helpless to follow Lain even if
she had wanted to. She remembered the blades and knew neither how
to deactivate them nor what triggered them. She entered the dining
room and sat in Lain's chair.
    "Any more questions?" Desmeres asked.
    The young woman wondered for a moment why she
had ever thought she could convince Lain of