Read Mapped Space 1: The Antaran Codex for Free Online

from here in your fine ship.”
    “Really? And what do you know of
my fine ship, considering you thought I was dead?”
    Zadim laughed, unconcerned that
his little white lie had been unmasked. “It is only good business to know what
my competition is doing, or which traders are looking for cargo. You wouldn’t
be looking for cargo by any chance? I could use a ship as fast as yours.” His
eyes narrowed shrewdly. “Would you consider selling her?”
    “You’ll be the first to know,
Ameen.” I promised, lowering my voice, “Is there somewhere we can talk?”
    Zadim’s eyes suddenly glowed as
he sensed opportunity. “Certainly my friend, this way.” He led me deep into his
emporium, stopping at a dark red drape which he pulled aside, revealing a room decorated
as a Bedouin tent. A hookah stood smoking in one corner, an urn boiled in another
and silk cushions lined the floor. Zadim poured us each a strong coffee, then
we took up positions within reach of the hookah. He sucked on a pipe, then
exhaled a toxic cloud that hung in the air like a cloud of gray poison.
    I took one polite puff, then
didn’t touch it again.
    “Now tell me, my dear Sirius, how
may I help you?”
    “I’m looking for a man, a Republic
broker by the name of Mukul Sarat. Ever heard of him?”
    He scowled dismissively. “If you
are looking for cargo, I have some particularly interesting opportunities for a
man like you.”
    “Not this time. I’m looking for Sarat.
Do you know him?”
    Zadim shrugged. “I know of him. A
little rat among weasels. There is no profit in dealing with his kind. Why do
you want him?”
    According to Lena, the Indian
Republic broker had arrived in Hades City almost a month ago. Two EIS agents
had tried to make contact with him. Both were now dead.
    “It’s a personal matter.”
    Zadim studied me thoughtfully. “Ah!
He has knowledge you seek. There is always opportunity in knowing the unknown.
What is this information?”
    “Nothing I can share.”
    Zadim looked crestfallen. “You do
not trust me, Sirius? Me, your oldest and dearest friend?”
    “You sold me a cargo of Iridian
Spice that was rotten before I even took delivery–”
    “Let us not trifle on the past,
old friend!” He said quickly, then poured himself another coffee. “This Sarat,
he pretends to be a man of taste, but he is a nasty little thief. He is not
like us. He thinks he is above all of us . . . and he is a killer.”
    “You know that for a fact?”
    “I know his kind.” Zadim sobered.
“You and I, we are brothers. We trade, sometimes we win, sometimes we lose, but
we always have love and respect, even if we have an . . . occasional
misunderstanding.” He gave me a meaningful look which I took for an apology.
    “Help me find Sarat and all is
forgiven. The Iridian Spice deal, the time you stiffed me on payment for the Eden
Jewel, even the Askari swindle.”
    Zadim looked profoundly wounded.
“My dear Sirius, swindle is such a harsh word!” He appeared about to shed a tear,
then gave me a sideways look. “You say, all is forgiven?”
    “Help me find Sarat, and it’ll be
like you never cheated me, not even once.”
    “And you will run cargoes for me
again?”
    “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
    Zadim took a deep breath. “It
will be like old times! I will send my little ferrets out among the weasels to
find your Republic ratman, and you will not have to pay me even a single credit
because we are family – again!”
    “Distant relatives,” I said,
offering him a toast with my coffee cup.
    Zadim smiled with delight. “Blood
is blood!” Maybe it was genuine, maybe it was part of his act, even threaded I
couldn’t tell. He leaned forward, “You remember the Oniedyn belly dancers? Hmm?
What a night!”
    My head hurt just thinking of
that feast. “I remember. You disgracefully over-tipped the tall one, with the
big . . .” I gestured meaningfully.
    He laughed. “Ha! I more than
tipped her, my friend. She became my