Read America's Galactic Foreign Legion - Book 22: Blue Powder War for Free Online Page A

transportation costs. Even my crack-hoes are negotiating for more money, and they’re independent contractors.”
    “Can you make that cash?” I asked innocently.
    “You’ll have to take a check,” apologized Blue-Claw. “I have serious cash flow problems. It’s technical. Do not attempt to cash my check until after the weekend.”
    “You have a deal,” I replied magnanimously. “I expect Private Higuera to be released immediately.”
    “Whatever. Are we done? Is that all?”
    “I still want Aaron Kosminski, dead or alive. I prefer dead to save on court costs and red tape. The War on Blue Powder isn’t over until Kosminski is back in Legion custody.”
    “Kosminski means nothing to me, but returning him violates the Teamsters Collective Bargaining Agreement. Employees can’t just be thrown under the bus to the feds.”
    “Legion lawyers say Kosminski is management, exempt from CBA protection,” I explained. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure O’Neil signs off on that.”
    “So we’re done?”
    “I expect a hand-claw shake,” I added, not quite done. “I don’t deal with voices on the phone. As you pointed out before, goodwill goes a long way.”
    “And get shot like my last messenger? No way, José.”
    “I never shoot the messenger. That was the spider commander. You will shake my hand if you want a deal.”
    A manhole cover by my feet scraped loudly across asphalt. Blue-Claw emerged, soaked in sewer grime and slime. He shook himself like a shaggy dog before approaching with two henchmen-spiders. I shook his extended claw firmly. All I got back was a dead fish hand-claw shake with no genuine grip.
    “That’s not good enough,” I chastised. “Shaking hands-claws is a time-honored galactic tradition, and you will do it right so I know we really have a deal, and goodwill.”
    “Now you know what I look like,” replied Blue-Claw, clinching my hand as he peered into my helmet camera lens. “Know this, you will die horribly if you cross me on our agreement.”
    “Ditto, sewer-bug breath. Keep to your side of the border, or we will meet again under less favorable circumstances.”
     
    * * * * *
     
    Phil Coen of Channel Five World News Tonight caught up with me for an interview about the release of Private Higuera, our newest Hero of the Legion. I’d been ducking the press, but conceded grudgingly that they were an important American institution. General Daly ordered me to say a few words. Bastard.
    “Colonel Czerinski, some say the Legion gave too much away for the return of Private Higuera. What say you?”
    “The Legion leaves no man behind.”
    “Is it now Legion policy to negotiate with terrorists?” pressed Coen. “Doesn’t it set a bad precedent?”
    “Technically they’re drug dealers. It’s okay to negotiate with drug dealers and criminals.”
    “What is your personal stand on dealing with terrorists?”
    “Standing on the windpipe works great.”
    “Now that your failed incursion into the Web is over, and legionnaires are returning south, what is your strategy to continue the War on Blue Powder?”
    “That’s classified. Efforts are ongoing.”
    “You have no comprehensive plan, do you?”
    “It’s technical. A lot goes on you don’t know about.”
    “That’s a good thing for you, I’m sure,” needled Coen. “Are you any closer to catching drug kingpin Aaron Kosminski, who escaped Legion custody under your watch? That’s quite an embarrassment, and another blight on your already checkered career.”
    “Our Arthropodan allies are closing in on Kosminski as we speak. The Legion takes a long view approach to the war.”
    “Kosminski is Polish, right Colonel Czerinski? Kind of ironic.”
    “What are you implying?”
    “Just saying.”
    “Don’t go there, Coen.”
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 8
     
    The prisoner swap occurred at midnight. It was a full moon. A cold desert wind from the north chilled to the bone. A lone wolf howled in the distance. What? Sorry, wrong