A Malazan Book of the Fallen Collection 3

this
weapon, there was no need for a shaft. The cradle was the
launcher.
    The old man was rummaging in a chest at the back of the
shop.
    'So tell me,' Fiddler said, 'how many more of these have
you made?'
    'That's it. The only one.'
    'Right. So where are the others?'
    'In a crate above your head.'
    Fiddler glanced up to see a long box balanced across two
blackened beams. 'How many in there?'
    'Four.'
    'Identical to this one?'
    'More or less.'
    'Any more?'
    'Lots. For when you lose these ones.'
    'I want those four above me, Tak, and I'll pay for
them—'
    'Take 'em, I don't want your coin. Take 'em and go blow
up people you don't like.' The old man straightened and
made his way back to the table.
    In his hands was something that made Fiddler's eyes
widen. 'Gods below, Tak ...'
    'Found it a year ago. Thought to myself, oh yes, there's
always the chance. Cost me four copper crescents.'
    Tak reached out to set the fiddle in the sergeant's hands.
    'You were robbed,' Fiddler said. 'This is the ugliest piece
of junk I've ever seen.'
    'What's the difference? You never play the damned
things anyway!'
    'Good point. I'll take it.'
    'Two thousand gold.'
    'Got twelve diamonds with me.'
    'Worth?'
    'Maybe four thousand.'
    'All right, six then for the fiddle. You want to buy the
bow as well?'
    'Why not?'
    'That's another two thousand. See the horsehair? It's
white. I knew this horse. Used to pull carts of rubbish from
Hood's own temple in Old Upper. Then one day the hauler
had his heart burst and he stumbled down under the
animal's hoofs. It panicked and bolted, right through
the webbed window wall this side of the fourth
bridge—'
    'Wait! That huge lead window? Fourth Bridge?'
    'Fronting the recruiting kit store, aye—'
    'That's it! That old temple—'
    'And you won't believe who was standing there with a
half-dozen knock-kneed recruits when that insane horse
exploded into the room—'
    'Braven Tooth!'
    Tak nodded. 'And he turned right round, took one look,
then hammered his fist right between the beast's eyes. It
dropped dead right there. Only, the animal lands half on
one lad's leg, snapping it clean, and he starts screaming.
Then, ignoring all that, Master Sergeant he just turns
round again and says to the wide-eyed supply clerk – I
swear, I heard all this from one of those recruits – he said:
"These pathetic meer-rats are heading back up to Ashok to
rejoin their regiment. You make sure they got waterskins
that don't leak." And he looks down at that screaming
broke-leg recruit, and he says, "Your name's now Limp.
Aye, not very imaginative, but it's like this. If you can't
hear Hood laughing, well, I can." And so, that's where this
horsehair come from.'
    'Two thousand gold for the bow?'
    'With a story like that, aye, and it's a bargain.'
    'Done. Now, let's get that crate down – I don't want the
box. I'll just sling 'em all on my back.'
    'They ain't strung, and neither is this one.'
    'So we'll string 'em. You got extra cables?'
    'Three for each. You want those mock-ups, too?'
    'Absolutely, and I've got sharpers and burners in this
pack, so let's load 'em up and check the weight and all that.
But let's be quick.'
    'Fiddler, it's not nice out there any more, you know?
Especially tonight. Smells like the old Mouse.'
    'I know, and that's why I don't want to head back out
without this cusser nestled in.'
    'Just be glad you're not Wickan.'
    'First Wickan-hater I come across gets this egg up his
dark dining hall. Tell me, Braven Tooth still live in the
same house down in Lower? Near Obo's Tower?'
    'That he does.'
     
    Hellian dragged Banaschar down the winding alley – at
least, it seemed to be winding, the way they kept careening
off grimy walls. And she talked. 'Sure, you thought you got
away clean. Not a chance. No, this is Sergeant Hellian
you're dealing with here. Think I wouldn't chase you across
half the damned world? Damned fool—'
    'You idiot. Half the damned world? I went straight back
down to the docks and sailed back to Malaz City.'
    'And you thought that'd fool me? Forget it. Sure, the
trail was cold, but not cold enough. And now I got you, a
suspect wanted for questioning.'
    The alley opened out onto a wider street. Off to their left
was a bridge. Scowling, Hellian yanked her prisoner
towards it.
    'I told you the first time, Sergeant!' Banaschar snapped.
'I had nothing to do with that slaughter – the same thing
had happened in every damned temple of D'rek, at
precisely the same time. You don't understand – I