Take The Star Road (The Maxwell Saga) Read Free

did, and he died because he made that choice. His death's on his own head. That wasn't murder; it was self-defense."
    "Well... yeah, I guess... but the cops will still arrest me if they find out, won't they?"
    Louie sniggered. "They won't. I told you I pay 'em squeeze. Their security cameras covering this part of Entertainment Alley don't work, and they don't patrol here except at times I know about, so I can hide anything I don't want 'em to see. They'll never even hear about this little shindig, much less come looking for those involved. The Dragon Tong will clean up the mess. Within half an hour there'll be no sign that anything ever happened here. You're not going to be arrested for anything. The only accuser you'll have will be your own conscience. You've just got to harden yourself to reality, that's all - and life doesn't get much more real than defending us both from strong-arm crooks and killers!"
    "When you put it like that... I guess you're right." Steve still felt a little sick to his stomach, but he also felt obscurely comforted.
    As Louie finished applying a bandage, another van pulled up, its gel-filled tires rumbling gently over the steel surface, electric motor whining softly. Six men climbed out, all short and stocky like their attackers, and - also like them, now that Steve had time to notice - all visibly of Far Eastern or Asian extraction. Five began loading the still-motionless attackers and their weapons into the cleaning van on the far side of the passageway. The sixth came over to Louie.
    "Our profound apologies that we were not aware of these men's presence until your call, Mr. Brackmann. We should have found out about them earlier, in time to prevent this." His voice was formal, even stilted, his words carefully enunciated. Steve thought to himself, Sounds like Galactic Standard English isn't his first language .
    "It's my fault, not yours," Louie reassured him. "These guys tried to strong-arm me into a protection racket earlier today. I should have called you right away, but I figured they were bluffing and told 'em to get lost. I didn't realize the Lotus Tong was serious."
    "They identified themselves as Lotus?"
    "Yeah. The boss - he ran for it along with his surviving man, up that alley there - he told me earlier that the Lotus Tong was expanding into the orbital trade from its base on the planet."
    "I see. We shall... discuss this... with the Lotus Tong this very day. They must be reminded not to entertain ambitions above their proper station, which is the gutter. One or more of these men will tell us where to go, and whom to seek." The speaker's voice was quiet, but something in the slow, silky smoothness of his tone made Steve shiver involuntarily, threatening to restart the tremors in his legs.
    The man noticed, and turned, looking at him. "This one helped you?"
    "Yeah. This is Steve Maxwell. He works for me part-time, cleaning up at weekends. I'd just let him out and was about to lock up when they jumped me. He put down three of them, and I stopped the other one."
    "For one who is unarmed to stand with you against six armed attackers shows either great foolishness, or great courage. Which is it, young man?" There was a glimmer of humor in the man's voice.
    Steve couldn't help grinning shakily as he replied, "Probably foolishness, Sir. That's the closest I've ever come to being killed. If I never get that close again, it'll suit me fine! Luckily, I'm nidan , second dan , in karate, and I've been in a few full-contact, no-holds-barred, multi-partner kumite and matches."
    "Ah! That explains your survival, and Mr. Brackmann's. You have earned the gratitude of the Dragon Tong for helping him. We value our association with him, and you did our job for us in protecting him. We shall be in touch shortly to reward your assistance."
    "That won't be necessary, Sir. I just did what was put in front of me to do."
    "Rewarding good and faithful service is always necessary. This reward will be all the