Rainbird Read Online Free Page B

wanted to rip all the posters off, not just for her own sake, but for Petrus’ as well. She didn’t want it rubbed into his face that his daughter had killed someone. She didn’t want him to feel guilty that it had taken him fifteen years to find her after her eiree mother abandoned her. That he had been unable to protect her when she needed it most.
    Rainbird skirted a group of pipe-smokers, bumped against a couple whose guilty start made it clear that something illicit was involved, slunk and squeezed through narrow gaps to Kasir’s secondhand stall.
    Even up here in the realm of the decadent, with the indulgence of every vice laid out like a feast, people still needed boots and pants and good stout coats that hid wings. Kasir’s stall was set far away from the usual haunts of pleasure-seekers and tourists, but his regulars knew where to find him.
    Now he turned towards Rainbird, a bulky man with more girth than height, hairy and stout, with the powerful lungs developed by generations of high-altitude dwelling. His droopy mustache lifted in a smile. “Well, well, little Rainbird. What is it to be today? I have some pretty skirts that just came in from the estate sale of an opera singer.”
    Rainbird shook her head. “I need cheris gum.”
    “Cheris gum?” Kasir shot her a shrewd look. She didn’t elaborate further. “A specialty item, and the eiree aren’t much into trading it, either.”
    “Please, Kasir, see if you can find me some,” begged Rainbird. “I can pay with sunmoss.”
    “Eiree don’t care for sunmoss,” said Kasir, but he was already scribbling on a paper chit. Once he’d sealed it, he bellowed out, “Hey, boy!” His assistant, small and younger than even Rainbird pretended to be, came out from the backroom. “Take this around to Talar.” The boy took the chit and ran off on his errand.
    Rainbird waited till he’d left. Then, low-voiced, she said, “I also need more sima for Petrus, Kasir.”
    “Again?” Kasir’s mouth and mustache drooped. He shook his head. “Why couldn’t you ask for blueweed or sweetdust?” he grumbled. “There’s a dozen dealers out there who’d be happy to supply you.”
    “Because I don’t fancy Petrus turning into a blank-eyed drooling druggie,” snapped Rainbird. “He needs to be healed.” The Company had plenty of sima in the Hub, but going to Company doctors would only reveal the extent of Petrus’ lungsickness. He’d be retired off the sunway for sure, and there was no way Rainbird was going to live downside ever again. Neither of them wanted to be separated.
    Kasir heaved a sigh. “The only way he can be is if he gets off the sunway. You send him down, Rainbird.”
    Glew, I have been so selfish.
“I will. In the meantime…?”
    “I may have some. An advance on that sunmoss you mentioned.”
    Rainbird nodded vigorously.
    Kasir ducked into the back, where he lived and stashed all those sad discarded garments he peddled. Rainbird had been back there a time or two. At least he would always keep warm, pressed in among all those clothes!
    Kasir thrust a twist of paper out to her. “That’s the last of it, and I won’t be able to get anymore.” Rainbird raised her eyebrows in question. Kasir grimaced. “Morality League’s brought the binneys up with them. Always eager to enforce the laws, they are. They’ll be looking at my books and supplies soon. I have to stay clean for a while. I’ll wire Petrus if I get any leads on that cheris gum.”
    “I understand.” Rainbird tucked the sima into her belt-pouch, pecked Kasir on the cheek, and left.
     
    Rainbird felt very exposed as she hurried back towards the elevators. A vacuum, like the marketplace collectively held its breath, alerted her. A space opened up, as people gave a wide berth to the group of binneys that strode down the middle. Rainbird bit her lip on her outraged gasp, turned to examine a pair of shoes. The downsider policemen wore pressed black uniforms with tin buttons