The Champion Read Free Page B

heat, the hardest steel is forged in the hottest fires, the firmament of supernova dreams is—”
    “ Shut up ,” Quentin snapped. “Everyone stop your damn babbling!”
    They all stared at him. He felt instantly ashamed at his outburst. They were here to help — he couldn’t treat them like that, no matter how stressed he felt. Quentin cupped a double-handful of hot water and rubbed it against his face.
    “I apologize,” he said. “I shouldn’t have yelled. Messal, where’s Bumberpuff? Did he contact the ship that will take us to the Cloud?”
    “He is on his way to it now, Elder Barnes.”
    Quentin’s jaw clenched. “He left ? We were supposed to go with him. Is he bringing the ship here?”
    A laugh echoed through the room: Michael Kimberlin. The big HeavyG lineman saw Quentin’s glare, and wiped the smile from his face.
    “Sorry,” Kimberlin said. “A handful of Prawatt playing in the GFL doesn’t mean the galaxy isn’t still terrified of that species. If a Prawatt ship suddenly shows up in orbit around Wilson 6, the League of Planets considers that an act of war. Bumberpuff’s ship can’t come to us — we will have to go to it.”
    “Mister Kimberlin is correct,” Messal said. “We have very little time, and I must expedite this discussion. If Gredok finds out that several of his best players are going to the most dangerous place in the galaxy, he will find a way to stop that. Your sister is not important to him, Elder Barnes. If you are going to go after her, you must leave before the Touchback departs on the return trip to Ionath City, and you must have an explanation as to why you can’t be reached.”
    Those were critical points. Gredok probably had the power to stop a ship from leaving Hittoni. Even if Quentin and the others did get off the planet, punch-space relay beacons delivered messages faster than passenger ships traveled: Gredok could get word ahead of whatever ship Quentin was on, possibly contact corrupt system police or make a deal with local crime lords to shut down the journey.
    “I hadn’t thought about Gredok’s reach,” Quentin said. “So what’s our cover story, Messal? Any ideas?”
    “Yes, Elder Barnes. I suggest a ruse where you and the others voyage to Prawatt space in support of Cormorant Bumberpuff, who will be hailed as a hero by his countrymen.”
    John raised a hand. “Wait, are the Prawatt men?”
    “Maybe they’re countrywomen,” Ju said. “Or maybe country thingees ? And what about a parade because we’re champs? Don’t we get a parade?”
    Messal’s eye swirled with strands of red-violet, a color of frustration; he was in a hurry to move things along.
    “Guys, let him talk,” Quentin said.
    “Thank you, Elder Barnes,” Messal said. “After what happened to the last parade, it is doubtful Gredok will ever again allow another such public celebration.”
    Quentin couldn’t agree more. So many innocent sentients had died, including Doc Patah’s predecessor. The others in the bath seemed to accept the wisdom of that decision; all save for Ju, who looked horribly disappointed.
    Messal continued.
    “Due to the addition of Prawatt players, Gredok’s public image has improved. If some of his employees further develop diplomatic sports-based relations with the Jihad, that would reflect well on him.”
    Quentin knew Gredok well enough to see the truth in that. The crime lord might be annoyed if his players left without permission, but such a trip would add to his new reputation as a diplomat, a sentient who made peace where entire governments had failed to do so.
    “Now we need two ships,” Quentin said. “One that takes us to Bumberpuff’s vessel, and a decoy that heads for Prawatt space. How do we get those?”
    Messal’s eye cleared. “There is a Human who owes you a favor, who owns a company that manufactures punch-enabled ships — that Human is in Hittoni this very moment.”
    Manny Sayed . Of course. As the co-owner of the Buddha City