Skeen's Search Read Online Free Page A

starting for you the moment you walk out the door. While it’s on, you’ll not be permitted to leave Sundari. Skeen can’t help you that way, not if she wants to keep her welcome here and in the other Pits. He knows Sundari, every bubble of it. He has vermin who’ll make sure he knows where you are every minute. When he’s ready, he chooses the time, he chooses the place. You can’t hide and you can’t run. He favors his right side just a little, will swing right more often than left, but he knows that and compensates. I’ve seen him sucker at least two men with that weakness. He is very very good, despina. Strong. Fast. Don’t judge him by what you saw here. He might be a stupid clown most of the time, but he’s brilliant when he fights.”
    â€œThe thing to do, then, is shake him loose from his patterns. Make him come at me before he’s ready.”
    â€œDespina, believe me, that’s been tried. Over and over.”
    â€œMy name’s Timka. Call me Ti. Tell me his favorite weapons.”
    â€œHis hands. Anything. For women like you that he doesn’t want to damage before he’s ready, a tangler.”
    â€œGood.” Timka giggled. “Be somewhere you can see his face when he tries that on me. If he gets a chance to.” She touched the pot. “Cold. I’d like another pot, please. Um … could you make a call for me? Without getting yourself in trouble?”
    â€œOf course, despina. Xochimiyl’s pleasure. If you prefer it, I can have a com brought to the table.”
    â€œOh.” Timka shook her head. “I am not accustomed to this … this sort of life. How much is it going to cost me?”
    â€œNothing, despina. This is Xochimiyl’s lagniappe. If you wish, you can tip the person who brings the com, a one perc is sufficient, but a tip is not necessary.”
    â€œUm … how private are these coms?”
    Again Briony chewed on her lip, her face wrinkled as she weighed her priorities. She fixed her eyes intently on Timka, brushed her forefinger lightly across her mouth. “Xochimiyl provides nothing but the best, despina,” she said in her lovely liquid business voice.
    â€œI see. Skeen should still be at the Buzzard’s Roost and even if she isn’t, they’ll probably know where to find her.” She stopped talking as the boy approached with the com and connected it for them, she gave him a chip and watched him flow off with the driftway. “Would you work this thing for me? Where I come from, a needle’s complicated technology.”
    â€œSkeen?”
    â€œWhat is it, Ti?” The tiny face in the image looked impatient.
    Timka went hastily through the events of the past half hour, finished, “I thought you ought to know. In case of complications.”
    â€œYou’ve got it worked out?”
    â€œYes. I think so. Shouldn’t take long. Briony says it’s probably a tangler.”
    A chopped-off laugh, then the head turned to someone off screen, then Skeen was speaking again. “There’s no hurry, Ti. Wait where you are say five, six minutes more. I’m still tied up here a while, but I’d like Tibo there. As you said, in case of complications, showing a friend’s face, that sort of thing. Um, Buzzard says be careful, Vanker’s tricky. But he doesn’t know you, does he.” Another laugh. “Don’t make a fool of me, hmm? … and get yourself killed.”
    â€œI’ll try not.”
    Timka sipped at the tea, savoring the taste of it and the warmth that spread through her body; the gentle drift of the island was like a cradle, rocking her to sleep. Briony fidgeted; she maintained her professional smile, but it was beginning to look strained. “Weapons,” she said suddenly. “Ti, how are you armed?”
    Timka poured herself more tea. “I’m not,” she said, “I’m going with what I was