Twenty-five

 

Zagrando piloted H’Jith’s space yacht away from Hellhole, moving slowly so as not to attract suspicion. H’Jith stood inside a clear prison made of bars of light, shuddering uncontrollably. Apparently, H’Jith didn’t mind toying with others, but hated to be toyed with itself.

Zagrando ignored H’Jith until he was certain no one had followed him. No one had sent distress messages, no one had tried to contact the ship. He set the coordinates for the resort he had found, then sat in the pilot’s chair.

“Here’s what I want,” Zagrando said. “When we get to our destination, I want you to buy me a ship. Then I will leave, and you are free to go home.”

“I can’t pilot anything,” H’Jith wailed.

Zagrando shrugged. “Hire someone.”

H’Jith was silent for a moment. Then it tilted its head. Its tail twitched just slightly. That lovely tell. Apparently it was involuntary.

“You will have to set me free when we arrive,” H’Jith said. “I must be able to see the ships to act as broker.”

Zagrando sighed. “I am really tired of the way you lie, H’Jith. Is that something all J’Slik do? Or is that simply the way J’Slik criminals behave?”

“I am not a criminal,” H’Jith said sullenly.

“That’s right, you’re not,” Zagrando said. “You’re a ship broker. And as such, you have other people buy ships for you, which you then resell. So I’m now one of your suppliers. You’re going to give me your account information so that I can buy my next ship.”

“No,” H’Jith said.

Zagrando reached across the console, tapped the miniprison controls and moved the bars just a little closer. H’Jith watched them move and tried, in vain, to make its body smaller.

“I’m sorry,” Zagrando said. “I didn’t hear you.”

“Please,” H’Jith said. “Just let me go.”

“I already told you that I would let you go after you’ve helped me,” Zagrando said, keeping his fingers poised over the prison controls. “I also know you have dozens of accounts. Someone like you would have to. So make sure I have one of your fattest accounts. I don’t need the others. When we arrive, I’ll go out, buy a new ship, and then set you free. You can find your pilot and your way home.”

“You won’t do that,” H’Jith said. “You’ll let me die in here.”

Zagrando made a face.

“I’m not that kind of man,” he said, although he really needed to portray that kind of man in his role as an arms broker. He was failing the ruthlessness test all over this part of the sector. “But if I were, you’d still be all right. Someone would find you. I’m sure there are ship brokers at every port, and I’m sure they all would love to take on a ship like this. They’ll break in eventually. They’ll take the ship, and then they’ll find you.”

“It could take weeks,” H’Jith said, voice trembling.

“Ah,” Zagrando said. “Really? Hmmm. That would be too bad. I would think, then, it would be better to work with me on this.”

“I’ve never met a human like you,” H’Jith said.

“Yeah,” Zagrando said, wiggling his fingers, but careful to keep them away from the controls. “Apparently, you’ve only met victims.”

H’Jith shifted just a little. It was clearly getting uncomfortable.

“I have not victimized anyone,” it said.

“I’m sure they all volunteered for your special brand of commerce,” Zagrando said.

“They did,” H’Jith said. “They were in such a hurry—”

“That they allowed themselves to be victimized,” Zagrando said in an even voice.

H’Jith blinked at him, clearly confused by Zagrando’s tone.

“I didn’t hurt them,” H’Jith said after a moment.

“Keep believing that,” Zagrando said. “The more you deny it, the more I’m thinking I’m going to just use this ship to continue on my way.”

“Everyone would know it was stolen,” H’Jith said.

“I’m sure it is.” Zagrando leaned forward and pretended to study the controls. Then he looked over at H’Jith with a fake look of surprise. “Oh, you mean, stolen from you, not from the original owner.”

“Please,” H’Jith said, “have some pity.”

“I have,” Zagrando said. “I told you. Give me your account. I’ll buy a ship, and you can forget you ever met me.”

H’Jith bowed its head. A violent shudder, almost a spasm, ran through it.

“I hate you,” H’Jith said softly.

“I don’t know why,” Zagrando said. “We’ve only just met.”

H’Jith stared at him. Zagrando stared back.

Then H’Jith shook its head. “All right,” it said. “One account if you promise you’ll never bother me again.”

“That’s going to be an easy promise to keep,” Zagrando said. “I promise. I won’t bother you.”

“All right, then,” H’Jith said. “I’m going to give you an account.”

“And, before you do,” Zagrando said, “realize one thing: If you screw me in any way, you’ll die, standing up in the middle of this stolen space yacht. Your family won’t know what happened to you for months, maybe years.”

The shuddering had grown so bad that H’Jith could barely stand. “One account,” it said, “and then we’re done.”

“I’m waiting,” Zagrando said.

“You’ll have to let me link to you,” H’Jith said.

“I’m sure the information is in your console here,” Zagrando said. “Ships like this back everything up. Just tell me how to access it.”

So H’Jith did.