The Light-years Beneath My Feet Read Online Free PDF Page B

by difficult decisions at his brokerage in Chicago. Trading, doing business, were skills in which he had full confidence.
    “Other captives,” she murmured, her voice like steel filings caught in a car’s transmission. “Other uniques. Have these, you’s friends, entertaining skills like you?”
    Walker proceeded to enumerate the many and varied virtues of his companions. Fortunately there was no need for embellishment, unless one counted his bending of the truth when describing Sque’s personality as “independent.”
    For a long moment he was afraid she wouldn’t agree to his terms. He spent the time studying the lithe, limber alien shape while simultaneously wondering what the hell he was doing. The voice, he told himself. Concentrate on that wince-inducing gravel crusher of a voice and ignore everything else.
    I have been away from Earth for far, far too long,
he reflected to himself uneasily.
    “I give you what you want,” she finally responded. “Wanting only one, I deign to accept four.” She held up both slender hands. “Count one unique for each finger.” For some reason this observation caused her to emit a series of short, sharp, and decidedly unfeminine coughs that he later learned were Niyyuuan indicators of amusement.
    The offer was more than he could have hoped for, Walker felt. Now all he had to do was convince his companions to go along with the deal. He was certain of only one thing: with friends or without, he was going with Viyv-pym. He was not going to pass on this, the best chance that had come along since his arrival on Seremathenn to get him a little nearer home.
    But if his friends opted out, it was going to be a long and lonely journey indeed.
    “Bargain is striked.” One hand reached for him, approaching like an eel swimming underwater. He didn’t flinch. He did not
want
to flinch.
    The alien hand touched his neck, the two long flexible digits sliding around to the back. Slick, leathery, cool skin brushed the short hair near the top of his spine. He shivered slightly.
Voice,
he reasoned frantically.
Remember that awful voice
. The fingers pressed against him ever so slightly.
Good God,
he thought wildly,
surely she’s not going to         .         .         .         ?
    The serpentine fingers withdrew. He didn’t know whether to feel relieved or disappointed.
    “I know you’s living details. Transport will be provided you and you’s companions. After one ten-day passing, time depart for Niyu. Is doable you?”
    He nodded. “Is doable. I will be ready.”
    The spectacular frill on the back of her head and neck flared, catching the light and splintering it into shards of liquid gold. “Look forward you being on Niyu. I know you will enjoy.” A hand and arm gestured at the room packed with the elegant assembled. “In Kojn-umm, not so many always talking. Will be smaller audience for you art, but more appreciative.”
    With that she turned and strode, or rather flowed, away through the crowd. For some time Walker was able to follow her progress, the slender pointed ears and frilled bronze head rising and falling above the majority of other aliens. Then she was gone. Only then did the full import of his decision hit home. Not only would he be leaving behind the civilized culture of Seremathenn, he would be abandoning, perhaps permanently, the protection and charity that had been afforded him by the compassionate Sessrimathe.
    Real profit only comes from taking real risks, he reminded himself. He began to make his own way through the crowd, absently acknowledging the compliments that came his way. More important business now pressed heavily on his mind.
    He had some serious convincing to do.

    It was Braouk’s turn to choose the ornamentation for the center of their common room. The Tuuqalian had set the room the task of producing a series of small geysers to remind him of a favorite undeveloped region on his homeworld. The result, as