Dragonback 03 Dragon and Slave Read Free Page A

the slaves, there should be at least a couple of human-designed
computers around to keep track of the paperwork.
    Jack could only hope that those same computers also kept track of
the Chookoock family's brisk trade in Brummgan soldiers-for-hire. "So
which one do we want?" he asked Uncle Virge. "Crampatch or Gazen?"
    There was a sound that might have been a sigh of resignation.
"Gazen," the computer said. "Crampatch might not be smart enough to
follow the logic we're going to present him."
    "Fine," Jack said. "You ready to go into your Buffalo shuffle?"
    "Maybe we should let you get a little closer first," Uncle Virge
hedged. "We don't want to give him too much time to think."
    "We don't want him in a last-minute panic, either," Jack pointed
out. "Do it now."
    Over the evening breeze he heard another sigh. "Whatever you say,"
the computerized voice said. "Here goes."
    There was a series of soft clicks as he keyed the number. Jack
continued walking, wondering if the Brum-a-dum phone system would be as
badly run as the spaceport equipment had been.
    Apparently, the Brummgas had imported their phone experts, too.
There was one final click—"Yeah; talk to me," a human voice answered.
    Jack caught his breath, his mind flashing back to his encounter
nearly two months ago aboard the Advocatus Diaboli . The man who
had ordered him to steal a metal cylinder from the starliner Star
of Wonder had had a snake-like voice very much like this one. Could
it be the same man?
    On his right shoulder, Draycos hissed softly. "It is not him," he
murmured.
    Carefully, Jack let out his breath. No, it wasn't Snake Voice. But
even the dragon had noticed enough similarities to wonder about it.
    Or maybe it was just the personality of the man behind the voice
that was coming through. A man, like Snake Voice, who cared about
nothing and no one except himself.
    "My name is Virgil, Mr. Gazen," Uncle Virge said. "I called to
offer you a deal on a very special slave."
    There was a brief pause. "How did you get this number?" Gazen
demanded.
    "Oh, I'm something of an expert at digging out confidential
information," Uncle Virge said smoothly. "As is my partner. My former partner, I should say."
    "What you should say is good-bye," Gazen said, his dark
voice going even darker. "You've got three seconds to explain why I
shouldn't track this call and have some Chookoock family enforcers show
you why playing phone tricks on me is a really bad idea."
    "By all means, go ahead and send them," Uncle Virge said. "Just
make sure they're bringing money. As I said, I'm offering you a deal on
a very special slave: an expert thief and safecracker."
    Gazen snorted. "Sorry. I only deal in land and household slaves."
    " And mercenaries," Uncle Virge reminded him. "Brummgan
soldiers for hire."
    There was another short pause. "So, which merc group are you
connected with?" Gazen asked.
    "None of them," Uncle Virge said. "But it occurred to me that a
man who deals in hired guns might also be able to find a home for a boy
of Jack McCoy's skills."
    "A boy?"
    "Only fourteen, but already one of the best in the business,"
Uncle Virge boasted. "I trained him myself."
    "And you are the best, I suppose?" Gazen said
sarcastically.
    "Of course."
    For a moment the line was silent. Jack kept walking, staring out
into the crisscross of muted streetlights marking his way. Gazen was
hovering over the bait, eyeing it and wondering if it was worth a
taste. If he decided it was, they were in.
    If he decided it wasn't, Jack was going to be toast. Jelly side
down.
    "And I'm supposed to take your word for all this," Gazen said at
last.
    "Not at all," Uncle Virge assured him. "I've arranged a
demonstration."
    "Really. What sort?"
    "Your chief gatekeeper has a house across from the Chookoock
estate," Uncle Virge explained. "I've sent Jack to burgle it."
    "And what exactly did he steal?"
    "Nothing, yet," Uncle Virge said. "I assumed you'd want to watch
him in action before we discussed price."
    "If he's as