Read The Steel Harvest for Free Online

couldn’t help but sympathize with her.
    She’s just like me. Back then…
    The dinner rush threatened to vanquish the bar as Carter stepped down into the foyer. Ramus’s apprentice manned the counter while several hired hands rushed to and fro, dishes filling their hands. Ramus sat lounging in a booth near the entrance of the bar, alone. He waved Carter over.
    Carter slid into the seat across from the innkeeper, a tired sigh escaping. As Carter rubbed his forehead, Ramus pushed a bottle into Carter’s hand. He stared down incredulously, scanning the label.
    This is one hell of an expensive import!
    “This one’s on the house. You look like hell.”
    Carter stared at Ramus, but he merely grinned.
    Screw it.
    Taking a large gulp of the whiskey, Carter felt his insides burn, then warm. Ramus smirked from across the table.
    “Better?” the innkeeper asked.
    “Yes, much.” Carter breathed. “I thought I was going to freeze out there.”
    “Probably, considering you gave all your clothing away.”
    Ramus still spoke with a smile, but the tone in the air felt thicker, more serious.
    Shifting the drink in his hand, Carter cleared his throat and continued. “She’s a survivor from the wreck we were working.”
    “From The Shell?”
    “Yeah, and there’s more; she’s a Royal.”
    “Damn! Does she have the mark?”
    “Unfortunately.”
    Ramus stretched in his seat, his smile wavering slightly. “Better keep that covered up. Don’t want some of our more…conservative neighbors dusting off their pitchforks.”
    “Yeah, tell me about it. I don’t know which is worse, the slavers or the straight up racists.”
    “I still don’t understand, though.” Ramus breathed, taking a swig from his own drink. “Why did you break ranks to run off with her?”
    “They were taking her to Benton, Ramus.”
    “Oh, the slave depot, huh?”
    “Yeah.”
    “So what’s the plan now?”
    Carter looked up from his drink, meeting Ramus’s pointed stare.
    It’s a fair question.
    “I need to lie low here for a day or two,” Carter said. “Then I’m going to get some gear and get her out of here. If she can make it to Montar, she can hitch a ride home with one of The Shell Reps there.”
    Ramus raised an eyebrow. “That’s quite adventurous of you. Won’t that take you pretty far off your route?”
    “I doubt I’ll go all the way to Montar with her,” Carter clarified. “But I can give her a good head start at least. I figure if I can get her out of New Port territory, she should at least be safe from the Covenant and their slaver buddies.”
    Ramus nodded, his face ashen. “So what will you do if the Covenant comes looking for you while you’re still here?”
    “Well, between restocking and refueling, I don’t think they’ll be able to make it back for a couple of days.”
    “But if they do make it back?”
    Carter grew silent.
    Can I really ask this of him again?
    “If that does happen, I’m afraid I’ll be relying on you once again.”
    Ramus rubbed the back of his head, glancing back toward the bar. Carter ground his teeth together.
    Success is fragile. Ramus isn’t a fool, he knows that. This is just as dangerous for him as it is for me.
    “All right, fine, you can count on me.”
    Carter’s shoulders quivered slightly as the built-up tension in his chest diffused. “I’ll gladly pay you double for your efforts.”
    “Oh? That’s some big talk coming from the guy who looks dirt broke.”
    “I’ve got some sheet metal waiting for me at the car rental just outside town. If you send someone to retrieve it, it’s all yours. That should more than cover a double payment.”
    Ramus let loose a low whistle. “I’ll send someone first thing in the morning.”
    Carter stood, shaking his friend’s hand vigorously.
    Ramus grinned slightly, eyeing Carter mischievously. “Need any help gathering supplies? I mean, you’ve never left the east coast, right?”
    “Yeah, traveling west was always your thing.