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Deathstalker 01 - Deathstalker

Deathstalker 01 - Deathstalker

Titel: Deathstalker 01 - Deathstalker Kostenlos Bücher Online Lesen
Autoren: Simon R. Green
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been through a lot. Sometimes I feel guilty at dragging you all into my problems."
    "Don't. I'm having a great time. And you didn't drag me into anything. I chose to save your sorry ass on Virimonde. And you saved my life on Mistworld, so we're even."
    "I couldn't let you die."
    "Why not?"
    "You matter to me," said Owen slowly. "I've never met anyone like you, Hazel."
    Hazel looked at him and raised an eyebrow. "Don't start getting ideas, stud.
    This is strictly a marriage of convenience."
    "Relax. Deathstalkers only marry for status. You're entirely safe."
    Hazel decided to change the subject. "How many men do you think the Iron Bitch will send after us?"
    "At least one starcruiser, possibly two. We've made her people look bad so far, and she won't like that. We can expect full contingents of attack troops, maybe even Wampyr and battle espers. And whether she knows the Device is here or not, this has got to be a matter of pride for her now. If she doesn't stamp on us hard, and soon, her own people will start thinking she's losing control of things. And some of them might try a little quiet insurrection of their own to test the waters. No, Lionstone will send as many troops as it takes to bring us
    down."
    "Good," said Hazel, hefting a rifle and smiling at the weight of it. "Let them all come."
    "You worry me sometimes," said Owen.
    Jack Random and Ruby Journey had already outfitted themselves at the armory with a good selection of weapons and were currently in the kitchen trying to persuade the food machines to dispense anything other than protein cubes. They'd tried every combination of codes, including shouting at the machine and giving it a swift kick or two, but all they got for their troubles were more protein cubes.
    There were stories of marooned starfarers who'd eaten each other rather than live off those cubes, and Jack could understand why. But be was hungry, and at his age his body needed all the fuel it could get, so he made himself eat all of one cube and part of another. People had been awarded medals for less.
    Ruby had refused point-blank to touch the things, but brightened up considerably on discovering the machine could dispense a quite drinkable wine. She got through half a bottle while Jack was struggling with his cubes and got quite chatty, for her. Normally, getting conversation out of the bounty hunter was like pulling teeth. To be fair, she was an action person, and most of the time really didn't have anything to say. But Jack persevered on the grounds that anything that might take his mind off what he was eating had to be a good thing, and they talked on and off for a while, mostly swapping anecdotes on particular fights and battles and the best ways to kill people.
    "Why did you become a bounty hunter in the first place?" said Random eventually.
    "It's not an occupation that appeals to everybody."
    "I was good at it," said Ruby. "And the alternatives were worse. Can you see me
    sitting at a desk in sensible clothes shuffling files, or married to some dirt farmer with a dozen kids hanging from my apron strings?"
    "Not really, no."
    "Damn right They married me off at fourteen to the local collector of the water rates. It was either that or one of my cousins. He was big and heavy, with clammy hands. He thought it was fun to knock me about. He did other things, too.
    I waited till he was asleep one night, and then stabbed him in the throat with a carving knife. I watched him die. It took quite a long time. That was when I first realized I had a taste for excitement. I gathered up everything valuable that wasn't nailed down, torched the place and ran for the starport. I've been on my own ever since, and I like it that way. Less complicated."
    "Have you done much work for the Empire?"
    "Sure. They're the ones paying the bounties, mostly. But I'm not prejudiced.
    I'll work for anyone with money."
    "So what are you doing with us?"
    "I never could resist a challenge. Besides, I was promised all the loot I could handle. Not that I've seen any of it yet."
    "How did you get to be friends with Hazel?"
    "You're just full of questions, aren't you?" Ruby took a long drink from her bottle. "Ran across her in Mistport, when we were both down on her luck. She got me out of a close call and pretty much adopted me. I didn't get a say in the matter. I'd have dumped her years ago, but there are times when it's good to have someone you can trust to guard your back. Time for you to answer some questions. How did

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