House of Shards

House of Shards Read Free Page A

Book: House of Shards Read Free
Author: Walter Jon Williams
Ads: Link
in that direction. I’ve never seen Earth.”
    “Nor have I.”
    “Perhaps It’s about time we did. But I’ll need some thought before I decide.”
    “Very well, sir.”
    The orchestra was packing up and heading for the main lounge. Dolfuss had finally arrived at the customs desk. “I feel so lucky,” Dolfuss declared. “I won my ticket in a lottery. Otherwise I'd never have a chance to visit a place like this.” He glanced around the room. “I’m impressed already!” he said.
    The uniformed Tanquer closed her nictitating membranes, as if to deny what she was seeing. “Yes, sir,” she said. “I understand just how lucky you feel.”
    “And I was able to schedule my ships so as to work in a business trip. Stop at Ranc on the way home. That's why I’m carrying my sample case.”
    The Tanquer’s bushy tail twitched. “The exit is that way, sir. Your room is programmed to receive you.”
    “Thanks. I’m going to have fun here, I know it!”
    Dolfuss laughed as he picked up his suitcases and walked for the exit. He was the only person carrying his own luggage. As he moved into the corridor, he saw Maijstral asking directions of a robot.
    “Mr. Maijstral,” he said.
    “Mr. Dolfuss. I hope your journey was pleasant.”
    “It was. Very. I even made some sales.”
    “How fortunate.”
    “See you later.”
    Dolfuss bustled away. His head swivelled left and right. He was enjoying the scenery.
    The robot was a latest-model Cygnus, a dark, polished ovoid that hovered a precise sixteen inches from the floor and did all its work with grappler beams. Its dark carapace bore an ideogram meaning “Advanced Object.”
    “As I was saying, sir,” it said. “Take the second left, through the arcade, then your first right.”
    “Thank you,” Maijstral said. “I don’t know how I could have got lost so easily.” A frown crossed his face. “I believe your carapace has something on it. Let me see.”
    As he leaned over the robot, he made a brushing gesture over the carapace with his hand. A programming spike was inserted into the robot's input connector. Maijstral brushed again. The spike was removed and palmed.
    “There,” he said. “Much better.”
    “Thank you, sir.”
    Stepping lightly, Maijstral began to stroll in the opposite direction from that which the robot had indicated.
    *
    The orchestra had moved from the entry concourse to the main lounge, appropriately called the White Room. The music was muffled by dazzling white couches, chairs, and carpeting, but the music was also echoed pleasantly by a sixteen-foot length of natural impact diamond that hung overhead. The stone had been discovered during the excavation; it wasn’t gem quality, but it resonated well, and added a lustre to the room.
    Overhead was a window, its view fixed at the sight of one star devouring another. The shutters were resolutely closed, awaiting the grand unveiling.
    “Pearl Woman.”
    “My lord.”
    Kotani and the Pearl stood on the white soft carpet, sniffed, and gave each other three fingers—Diadem members were de facto intimates.
    “Have you met Advert?”
    “I don’t believe so.” (Sniff. Three fingers. Sniff.) “Charmed.”
    “Pleased to meet you, my lord.”
    Kotani cast a glance over his shoulder. “I just made my escape from Miss Asperson.”
    The Pearl curled her lip. “I understood she was to be here.”
    “She is currently fashionable. Fashions pass, thankfully.”
    “One may hope her vogue will be of short duration.”
    “Have you seen Zoot?”
    Pearl Woman shook her head. “Perhaps he's waiting to make a grand entrance.”
    “Perhaps,” archly, “he's hiding from Asperson.”
    The orchestra came to the end of its piece. Those in the lounge tapped their feet in approval. The carpet absorbed the sound entirely.
    Above, the diamond still rang.
    “Shall we sit down, my lord?”
    “Certainly.” They found a settee and settled in. “Her grace Roberta is here,” Kotani offered. “The Duchess of

Similar Books

The Good Student

Stacey Espino

Fallen Angel

Melissa Jones

Detection Unlimited

Georgette Heyer

In This Rain

S. J. Rozan

Meeting Mr. Wright

Cassie Cross