Embassy War Read Free Page B

restored immediately! By Imperial Decree, the human pestilence ‘World Trotters’ basketball team forfeits this game for unsporting and uncivilized-like conduct! The offending Skyhook is under arrest for assaulting the royal personage of His Majesty, and will be tried and executed at dawn! Go home. The show is over!”
    Corporal Tonelli, until now quietly watching and counting his profits, grabbed the microphone from the Intelligentsia officer and yelled, “Oh no you don’t! You can’t fix this game!”
    “The Emperor’s Decree is law!” replied the Intelligentsia officer. “Our all-stars win. Your human pestilence World Trotters lose. I win my bet! Pay up. Do not try to worm out of it. I will collect my due!”
    “Not likely,” responded Corporal Tonelli. “All bets were registered and bonded through Bonanno Bookies and Associates of New Memphis. This matter will go to binding arbitration before any payouts are authorized.”
    “You cheat!” accused the Intelligentsia officer, poking his claw at Corporal Tonelli. “Guido, you will not get away with welshing on our wager! You will be arrested if you do not pay up!”
    “Read the fine print on the back of your receipt,” advised Guido. “Disputes are handled by binding arbitration. It’s the law. I think it’s even in the Constitution, somewhere in the Bill of Rights.”
    “You will join Skyhook in front of a firing squad!” “You want a war? Mess with me, and I’ll have the Mafia on you!” “There is no such thing as the Mafia,” scoffed the Intelligentsia officer. “I have heard you say that a million times!” “I lied. The Mafia is everywhere, and they will invoke the Vendetta if anything happens to me!” The Intelligentsia officer paused, looking about, half expecting to be rushed by a mob of human pestilence sub-category Italiano. Not seeing any swarthy human pestilence about, he brightened. “You bluff. Your Mafia is a paper tiger, just like your Foreign Legion and your Uncle Sam!”
    “You don’t know what are talking about,” warned Guido. “You better watch your back.”
     
     
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    Chapter 3
     
     
     
    General Lopez called me on my communications pad. “What is this?” he fumed. “I’m watching the game on TV, and suddenly there’s another riot? That’s two riots this week! What are you going to do about Skyhook? The man is a national hero, an icon for little kids! We can’t allow Skyhook to be treated like that. Are they really going to execute Skyhook at dawn?”
    I ignored General Lopez at first, pushing my way through the crowd. I could see Skyhook being carried off by spider marines, but could not get to him. The crowd was upset. Scattered fights broke out among gamblers. The Emperor quickly left. I looked about, helpless to do anything. I spied Guido and the Intelligentsia officer arguing.
    “I’m working on it,” I finally answered Lopez, still upset.
    “Do you realize how much money I lose if the Globetrotters forfeit?” asked General Lopez. “I bet on a sure thing against those dumb bendaho spiders, and this happens! Do something!”
    I disconnected as I approached Guido and the Intelligentsia officer. “I want Skyhook released immediately,” I demanded. “His illegal arrest will not be tolerated!”
    “I assure you there is nothing illegal about the arrest of your human pestilence assassin thug, Skyhook,” replied the Intelligentsia officer. “Do not worry about legalities. A magistrate will review the matter before Skyhook is executed at dawn.”
    “I want to be present at his hearing!”
    “And so you shall,” promised the Intelligentsia officer smugly. “We believe in due process in the Empire. No one on Arthropoda has ever been lynched, unlike your sorry legal system.”
    “What’s that supposed to mean?” I replied, poking the Intelligentsia officer. “I’m bringing a Legion attorney, too. You will be in big trouble if anything