Read Stackpole, Michael A - Dark Conspiracy 02 for Free Online

him.
    He pulled out the folder and extended it to Natch.
    Natch broke the seal, then reversed the folder and opened it in Hal’s lap. Hal’s eyes flicked back and forth as he scanned the document, then he laid back and closed his eyes for a second. He drew in a deep breath, hesitated for a second, forced himself to take in yet a little bit more air, then slowly exhaled. “Jytte, read it.” His left index finger pointed forward. “Tell them.”
    Jytte took the folder from him and scanned it very quickly. “Coyote has left Phoenix for a while. He wants us to stay low-profile. If something of importance comes up, we are to contact him through Mr. MacNeal here, in Tokyo.” Her eyes flashed at him. “Why you, MacNeal?”
    Why me, indeed?
    Before Sin could answer, Hal shifted stiffly in bed.
    ”Because we need to be here to work on preventing a gang war, Natch.”
    “Besides, I lived in Japan for a while and I know my way around.”
    “Don’t be so cocky, MacNeal.” Bat cracked his knuckles. “There’s another reason you’re going.”
    Sin’s eyes narrowed. “Yes?”
    “You’re not connected with Coyote.”
    “And?”
    Bat grinned like a cannibal in a morgue. “And that means you’re expendable.”

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    Wandering through the Nevada badlands at night, she felt the presence of the snake well before she saw it or heard the warning buzz of its rattles. She turned and saw it in the moonshadow of a large rock. A coiled mass of muscle, with black circles running down its tan spine, only its head and the quickly vibrating scales at the end of its tail stood out.
    The snake’s buzzing increased as she reached her hand out to it. The creature’s threat-panic emanated out from it as if riding the sound waves. She recognized the terror rising from it and knew instantly that this creature would strike to protect itself. Squatting down on her haunches, she pulled her hand back and stuffed both of them into the pockets of the leather flight jacket she had stolen from the base.
    Drawing in a deep breath of cool night air, she banished her fatigue and concentrated. Envisioning the snake’s fear as ripples circling out from a central point, she fashioned her thoughts as a spear and drove them back through the reptile’s primitive display.
    Do not fear me, little brother. You would not find your venom very effective on me. She smiled as the buzz dropped in tempo. Iamyourally. Iamasmallsun to warm you and shade to cool you. If you will guide me, I shall protect you.
    Though she composed her thoughts in words, she sent them as emotions of safety and satisfaction. The Mohave rattlesnake ceased its threat display altogether, then slowly and languidly uncoiled. Gliding forward effort-lessly, the four-foot-long snake slid from the rock and approached her. It stopped two feet away and half coiled to strike but did not begin rattling again.
    She slowly withdrew her left hand from the jacket and extended it. I am Rajani. I will not harm you.
    The creature flickered its tongue over her hand, then withdrew a bit.
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    Yes, I taste different. Not your prey at all. We will be allies.She opened her jacket and unbuttoned the fatigue shirt at the waist. The snake slid forward and entered the darkness between her flesh and the rough cotton fabric of the shirt, it went all the way around her waist better than two times, its scaled hide feeling slick and warm against the flesh of her belly.
    Rajani stood slowly, waiting for the slap of rattles against her flank to warn her if she was in danger of a strike. She felt confident that the snake’s venom would not hurt her because of her alien constitution, but she was not absolutely certain of that fact. Since she knew she could process food from Earth, and her parents had told her that humans and her people could produce hybrids, she realized that