Read A Thousand Words For Stranger (10th Anniversary Edition) for Free Online Page B

mouth to nose and framing eyes that even his few friends found uncomfortable to meet. When happy, his voice was a low, heavily accented growl. Now it rumbled like so much thunder. “Seems to me they do pretty much what they like.”
    “As long as they keep it to themselves, that’s fine,” Bowman said with sudden weariness. “God knows, there’s enough to do without disturbing the peaceful ones. I just need to know if the Clan are beginning to push at the Pact.”
    “Then what?”
    “You know as well as I do. We push back. We damp the pendulum. Then we leave them alone.” A decision was needed, urgently, and Bowman was no longer in a mood to hesitate. “We’ll begin with what we know so far,” she said.
    Terk shook his head. “Which is a lot of nothing.”
    P’tr wit ’Whix fluttered disagreement. Unfortunately, the effect was lost while most of his iridescent feathers were covered by his uniform. He raised a slim four-fingered hand in emphasis instead. “Right after the explosion, I saw Sarc’s companion go west on West Central Street, grid coordinates 140-5D,” the being said firmly. “She wore clothing similar to the Clansman—a detail confirmed by our less-than-healthy prisoner. Thus we have time, place, and description. You are always too quick to say it cannot be, Partner Terk.”
    Terk muttered something under his breath that sounded like: “Featherhead.”
    Bowman stood, paced a few steps, then turned to look at them. “Things are happening among the Clan,” she said, heavily. “Dangerous things. The key is Barac’s mysterious companion.”
    “He’s gone to find her,” Terk rumbled, unaffected by his partner’s optimism. “Probably teleported right to her.” For a moment, he looked wistful.
    Bowman shook her head, eyes bright. “I know them, Terk. I know how they think. Barac had put aside his brother’s murder because of this woman. Why is she so important? Someone arranged an almost foolproof attack. Who was the target—Sarc, or was it her? While we’ve no proof they can all teleport, certainly Barac has that ability. So why didn’t he use this ability when attacked? Was it because of the woman?
    “No,” Bowman continued, “I think our Clansman, for whatever reason, is worried that he won’t be able to find her easily. That’s going to be to our advantage.”
    “What do you want us to do, Commander?” ’Whix asked.
    “Want?” Bowman’s smile grew predatory. “I want you to find her first.”

Chapter 2
    VOICES brought me back to myself, anxious voices arguing in heated whispers so close I could smell ammonia on the breath of one. “—gonna get caught. This was a stupid idea.”
    “You worry too much.”
    “And you’re a greedy fool. I told you to make sure you doped ’em all before shipment. So what do you do with this one? What do you think will happen when Smegard finds out?”
    “He won’t find out. Dregs die in sleep passage all the time. Come on, we don’t have much time.” I kept limp as rough careless hands picked me up, not daring to open my eyes. The voices were familiar—the recruiters from the alleyway. I somehow doubted they’d believe me if I protested I had no skills to sell. Or care.
    They dropped me onto some flat surface and I bit back a cry. Something heavy and dusty was thrown over me. I remained limp, opening one eye a tiny crack only to be met by total darkness. The surface under me began to move slowly, with a rhythmic mutter of machinery. I felt around cautiously, stretching out the fingers of one hand in slow motion. Where were the Auordians now?
    And where was the spacer, Morgan? Had he watched me being collected like so much trash from the street, while he stood by, protected by his weapons and wealth? I tried to work up some anger, but fear didn’t leave much room for it. At least being afraid seemed to diminish the power of those commanding whispers in my head: Find your ship, leave Auord, stay safe. They faded to a frustrated