Hard Luck Hank Screw the Galaxy(58)
Garm smiled.
“Hank, you are far scarier than you can possibly imagine. I think you get scarier by the minute. I’m scared of you.”
I laughed at the idea.
“Weren’t you just shooting me a few days ago?”
“Yeah, and it didn’t do anything. These people will be plenty frightened. You can kill two if you have to, but not more.”
Garm opened my door to leave.
“How’s the contraband coming?” I asked.
“Terrible. We might have to seriously clean house around here to get compliance. You shooting Ddewn was probably the best thing that happened to make this go easier, because I just tell people he chose not to cooperate and ‘girk.’”
She drew a line across her throat.
CHAPTER 20
When Garm left, the first thing I did was tele Jyen. I left her a message saying I’d like to hang out with them later and do something fun. I used my most pleasing voice and hoped I didn’t sound as insincere as I felt.
As I walked to the train to run a few errands in the meantime, I heard an odd hissing noise. It grew more pronounced and I saw Rendrae off to the side trying to get my attention by nonchalantly waving his arms around. There weren’t a lot of shadows on Belvaille because of the overhead lights, but somehow he had found one to hide in.
“Rendrae, what are you doing here?” I asked.
“Shh. I see you’re still working for Mistress Garm,” he said acidly.
“Okay, you were right about a lot of things. She is Military Intelligence, the station does conduct surveillance, and the Navy is about to land on our throats.”
“That’s old news,” Rendrae snapped. “Though I’m glad to see you finally came to reason.”
“But Rendrae, we’re all on the same side. No one wants the military here. And with you printing all these scandalous truths, you’re going to lead them right to us.”
“All of Belvaille mysteriously passes out for hours and you’re worried about police inspections?”
“I didn’t pass out,” I said coolly.
“I know. You and about twenty other people. Mostly those who were insulated or beneath ground. But I’m sure you have a perfectly logical explanation for it.”
“I do.”
“And you can’t tell me again, of course.” His eyes rolled dramatically.
“No.”
“I don’t know whether to laugh or cry for you, Hank. The extent of what is going on around here is vast.”
“There’s plenty to worry about, I know.”
“Like Garm trying to kill me?” he asked.
“She’s not trying to kill you. She’s trying to get you to be quiet. You’re drawing bull’s eyes on all our heads. You’re not even writing in code anymore.”
“What’s the point when you’re surrounded by the Confederation’s greatest code breakers?”
“I think that’s being a little excessive,” I said.
“Really? How’s this for excessive: two dreadnoughts are converging on Belvaille as we speak.”
“I thought it was just one.”
Rendrae looked sad I wasn’t shocked at his revelation.
“You heard that? But no, it’s two. What do they need two of the empire’s largest ships out here for?”
“But hey, that’s good,” I said, thinking.
“What? No, it’s not.”
“No, listen. I was worried they were going to use the dreadnought to blow up the station. But they don’t need two for that. So they must have another reason.”
Rendrae seemed to think about this.
“Maybe we’re going to attack someone. The Dredel Led,” he said to himself.
My face immediately contorted into disbelief.
“The Colmarian Confederation start a war? You kidding? We’re the fat kid of the galaxy, who could we possibly beat?”
“I don’t know, ask Garm. But it’s clear we have to stand up to the military before they completely take us over. It’s us against them. No one has ever bothered Belvaille before now.”
“Except the Dredel Led,” I corrected.
“But they’re gone.”
“Rendrae, just lay low. Print some…sports stories or something. I don’t know. Just don’t keep pushing. At least for a while. Otherwise Garm really is going to take a hit out on you. And standing in the corner isn’t going to save you.”
Rendrae mulled this over.
“Tell you what, if you can get Garm to promise to stay off my back, I’ll do like you say. But I need your word.”
“No problem, you have it. But don’t be surprised when the battlecruisers show up, you get a personal invitation to meet them. You’re making it hard on yourself, too.”