A City Dreaming Read Online Free Page B

phone back in his pocket. “Girls, man. What can you do?”
    But the rest of the assemblage seemed not to suppose M’s romantic difficulties the foremost issue at the moment.
    â€œIf your friend’s so terrible,” the captain asked, “then how did we snatch her so easy?”
    â€œI dunno. Maybe she was in a K-hole. Probably she didn’t think there was anyone stupid enough to make trouble with her. You know, actually,” M said, again standing, “now that I think about it, she might decide to do all of you indiscriminately, with fire or acid or some sort of giant worm monster, and all things considered I’d rather not be around for that. When she gets death on her mind . . .” M sucked his teeth. “Not pretty. But you guys will be fine. Sure, I once saw her make a Great Old One weep, but you have, like, antiquated firearms and whatnot.”
    â€œA Great Old One?”
    â€œAll those tentacled eyes bawling—let’s just say there are some things humanity was never meant to see.”
    â€œThis whole thing was an accident!” the captain protested. “We meant no offense!”
    â€œThat’s really how you’re going to play it? You accidentally snatched her up and shoved her into a dungeon?” M shrugged. “Good luck. I ought to warn you, Boy’s not really the forgiving sort.”
    â€œThere must be something we can do!”
    â€œSuicide? Though she might decide to track you down in hell, so I can’t guarantee it would do any good. Look, guys, this has been great and everything, but the longer I’m here, the more likely it is something gets done to me like what’s inevitably going to get done to you, and I’d really rather not have that.” He waved at the crowd, and they parted obediently, like the watersbefore Moses or preschoolers before a gym teacher. “I’m sure I can find my own way out. You’ll probably be busy praying, or weeping quietly in corners.”
    â€œWait!” the captain said.
    M stopped short. “Yeah?”
    â€œCouldn’t you talk to her?”
    â€œMe?” M asked incredulously. “What could I do about it?”
    â€œExplain the situation! No harm, no foul!”
    â€œI don’t know, guys. It’s late, I’m tired. I’m already deeper into this whole thing than I had intended. Also, I took those cracks about my anal virginity a bit on the chin. I can’t say I’m really in a favor-doing mood. But . . . maybe if you sweetened the pot?”
    Captain Grimdark looked at Lash, who seemed to be his second-in-command. Lash looked at the rest of the mob. The mob looked generally elsewhere. Heavy is the head that wears the pirate hat.
    Negotiations took some time because M didn’t want to be paid in bales of silk or doubloons, the first being heavy and the second being difficult to exchange on the modern market. They settled on a small bag of loose diamonds, which to M’s untrained eyes looked like about a year’s rent. At the last moment, M, feeling that old instinct for trouble, demanded Grimdark’s tricorne and watched angel-eyed as he took it, slowly and ignominiously, off his head.
    â€œI’ll do what I can, but if I were you, I’d make for the hills, or the nautical equivalent. When Boy gets hungover, she gets a little bit jittery.” M finished rolling a cigarette, then leaned over and lit it from one of the burning brands set into the captain’s beard. “Your dye job is starting to run,” he added as a parting shot.
    M followed the direction he had been given, down a long stone hallway indifferently lit by guttering torches, till he came to two men standing in front of a wooden door.
    â€œTibault,” M said. “Callahan. Good seeing the both of you.”
    â€œWho the hell are you?” the taller one asked.
    â€œI’m the new captain,” M said. “Can’t