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Deathstalker 04 - Deathstalker Honor

Deathstalker 04 - Deathstalker Honor

Titel: Deathstalker 04 - Deathstalker Honor Kostenlos Bücher Online Lesen
Autoren: Simon R. Green
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unnecessary.” “Very logical,” said Valentine. “Why haven’t you presented this very sensible proposition to Parliament?”
    “Because the short-sighted bastards virtually wet themselves if you just mention Shub!” snapped Vomak. “They can’t see past their current obsessions to the greater need. The new order is only concerned with remaking the Empire in their own image, and revenging the old hurts and prejudices. We won’t shrink from doing what needs to be done.”
    “Indeed,” said Valentine. “And you’re asking Shub’s help to remove the rebels from power and replace them with your good selves, merely to help you better carry out these necessary actions?”
    “They are wilfully blind to the dangers,” said Donna Silvestri. “They must therefore be pushed aside for the greater good of all. Blue Block has always taken the long view.”
    “And what of the local connection?” said Valentine, turning to Tallon and Jacks.
    “Why are we meeting here, on Loki?”
    “You people need a planetary base,” Tallon said brusquely. “A place to gather. Plan and build in secret.
    Somewhere far enough off the beaten track that you won’t be noticed. We’re offering. We’re the closest human planet to the Forbidden Sector, and Shub. That should make contact easier. And hopefully it’ll persuade Shub to put aside any plans about moving in and taking us over. The old Empire stationed starcruisers near here to protect us, but since Parliament took over, that’s been stopped. They say they haven’t enough ships. So we’ve been abandoned. An alliance with Shub is our only reasonable option.”
    “Right,” said Jacks. “We have family here, jobs, land. We can’t just up and move somewhere safer. We paid for our land and holdings with blood and pain and the death of loved ones. Besides, running isn’t in our nature. We stand our ground and fight for what’s ours. Loki taught us that.” “And sometimes you have to get your hands dirty,” said Tallon. “That’s why we’re willing to deal with you, Wolfe. We know your reputation. I’d as soon shoot you as look at you. But you’re probably the only one crazy enough to act as a go-between for us and Shub, so we’ll work with you.” “How very uncalled for,” murmured Valentine. “Anyone would think I was some kind of monster.”
    “You are,” said Kit SummerIsle.
    “You should know,” said Valentine generously.
    “I know lots of things,” said the SummerIsle, moving forward out of his corner for the first time.
    Everyone around the table stirred just a little uneasily. Kid Death stopped at the head of the table, his right hand resting on his belt near his sword. “I know, for example, that one of us here is a traitor.”
    Valentine raised a painted eyebrow. “I thought we all were.”
    “A traitor to this group and its intentions,” said the SummerIsle.
    The four at the table looked at each other. None of them were obviously armed.
    “What makes you so sure?” said Tallon.
    “I work with Blue Block,” said Kid Death. “They have access to all the best information. They know, for example, that Tarquil Vomak here has extensive gambling debts he couldn’t possibly pay off on an MP’s salary. So he sold his services to Golgotha security as a double agent. Isn’t that right, Vomak?” “I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about!” said Vomak. “I don’t owe anyone a penny! It must be someone else in my family.” He rose to his feet, glaring at Donna Silvestri. “Tell your pet killer to back off! I’ll prove my credentials to Blue Block just as soon as we get back to Golgotha! Tell him he’s wrong!”
    “Blue Block intelligence is never wrong,” said Donna Silvestri quite calmly. “We were only waiting for Valentine to arrive, so he could see how we deal with those who betray us.”
    She nodded to Kid Death, and he drew his sword and cut off Vomak’s head, all in one blindingly swift movement. The two Loki men cried out as blood sprayed across them. The headless body stood upright for a horribly long moment, its hands clutching at nothing, blood fountaining from the stump of the neck, and then it fell to the ground and lay there twitching. Vomak’s wide-eyed head rolled slowly along the table, the mouth working silently, until it finally came to a halt before Donna Silvestri. She picked the head up by the hair and placed it on the ground by her chair, then smiled at Tallon and Jacks. “I always like to

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