Where the Ships Die Read Online Free PDF

second.
    The young man felt a hand touch his elbow. He turned. The boy had approached as quietly as a ghost. He was the same one who had carried his bags. "We meet again, sahib. It would seem the gods have plans for us."
    "Or that you have plans for us," Dorn countered cynically.
    "Not so," the boy answered easily, "for it is written that we are but instruments of the gods, acting parts for their amusement. Would you like a guide? I know the city like the palm of my hand."
    Dorn looked down into a grubby little face and considered the lad's offer. Would the urchin lead him honestly? Or into an alley where relatives could rob him? The boy seemed to read his mind. "You have nothing to fear, sahib, for I am an honest guide, honor bound to see you home."
    There was absolutely no reason to believe the boy even knew the meaning of "honor," or would feel bound by it if he did, but the words were expressed with such sincerity that Dorn nodded. "Good... you'd better be. What's your name?"
    "Rali, sahib. It means 'sainted one' in my mother's native dialect."
    "All right, Rali," Dorn said evenly, "I'm looking for a certain kind of establishment. A place where men and women go during the evening."
    "Ah," Rali said with a knowing wink, "I know the perfect place. All the boys and girls are virgins. They wear makeup, perfume, and fancy clothes. My sister plans to work there when she grows up."
    Dorn remembered the little girl with the footstool and shuddered. "No, that's not the kind of place I mean. I'm looking for a place where they play cards."
    "Of course!" Rali said brightly. "I will take you there. Be warned, however, the sahib is young, and they might turn him away."
    "That's my problem," Dorn said confidently. "You take me to the right sort of place and I'll take care of the rest."
    "As you command, sahib," Rali answered cheerfully. "Shall I summon a cab? The sahib can travel in style."
    Dorn considered his dwindling cash supply and the need to learn his way around. "No, I wish to walk."
    "It shall be as you say," Rali said obediently. "Follow me and watch your step. There are holes beneath the water and you must be careful."
    The journey began with a series of right- and left-hand turns. Dorn tried to memorize the route but couldn't keep track. A stratagem on Rali's part? Or the natural consequence of the route chosen? There was no way to know. They passed dozens upon dozens of closet-sized stores. Specialization was the order of the day. There were shops that offered baked goods, meats, clothing, jewelry, cutlery, spices, tools, and yes, even electronics, although the selection was limited, and guards hovered nearby.
    Vendors addressed the teenager in a variety of tongues, music filtered from partially shuttered apartments, voices haggled over prices, and a rich amalgam of odors found their way past Dorn's nose filters. The effect was rather pleasant, so much so that the youth decided to remove the plugs, and reveled in the smell of roasting meat, exotic incense, and fresh baked bread.
    Most of the slum dwellers had little or no refrigeration in their homes. Shopping was a daily routine. The rain had kept many of them indoors, but they were out in force now, shopping bags slung over their arms, heading for their favorite stalls.
    In spite of the fact that Dorn shared their brown skin and black hair, his clothes, carriage, and manner set him apart. Some of the natives hurried to get out of the young man's way, even jumping into the street to avoid him, while others made a point of nudging his shoulders, forcing him to the side of the sidewalk, or splashing rainwater on his legs. Since Dora had accompanied Mr. Halworthy into the slums on two different occasions, the harassment came as no surprise ... but the sense of vulnerability did. He had never felt so helpless, and it bothered him.
    Still, the teenager didn't want to give the locals any satisfaction, so he ignored their insults and adopted an air of serene superiority. It might