[Wildcards 10] - Double Solitaire Read Free Page A

had always managed to battle back from the weary surrender. This time she didn't care to try. Illyana's emotions wove a frantic counterpoint about Tachyon's wear bitter thoughts. It was like holding a small dying creature.
    We'll die together, baby, Tach thought as she rummaged through the medicine cabinet.
    Bradley was an old-fashioned boy. The mother-of-pearl grip on the straight razor glittered in the lights. With clumsy fingers Tach pulled out the blade. She cut the pad of her thumb badly, but it didn't seem to hurt. Methodically she spun the spigots, filling the tub with hot water. Settled onto the toilet to watch it fill.
    Will you understand, baby? asked Tachyon as she studied first the razor, and then the tub. I hope so, because I have to do this. I'm so tired. I cannot go on.
    It was filled. She stripped out of the T-shirt and walked down the steps into the water. The heat of the water stung her toes. Slowly she lowered herself into the water. Lifted an arm from the water, drew the blade down the length of her wrist. There was cold and pressure, and then pain. The blood was running down her wrist, warm and a little sticky. Switch hands and repeat the process. She had two good hands again. She could do surgery.
    Cutting out the life, she thought dreamily as she rested her head against the edge of the tub.
    Warm, so warm. The blood flowed from her wrists, mingled with the water, and was carried away in ever-widening eddies. Sunsets over oceans. Flower petals dancing away in the chop of a mountain stream. Lethargy tugged at her. Soon even the light faded.
     

Chapter Two
     
    "I'm having second thoughts about your plan."
    Durg looked up and met the boy's flat black stare. He hadn't lived longer than two hundred years without learning how to read through bravura, and he could see the panic huddled in the back of Blaise's eyes. He was also a Morakh; trained not only for combat, but for diplomacy and counsel. He arranged his features into an expression of warm attention.
    "May I know why, lord?"
    Blaise cast a nervous glance about the control room of the ship. Durg was seated on an extruded bench against one of the curving, pearlescent walls. The boy took Durg's arm and tugged the Takisian into the center of the circular room.
    In a low whisper (as if it would do any good if the Ishab'kaukab decided to listen) Blaise said, "Sooner or later he's gonna wake up." A head jerk toward Kelly, who sprawled unconscious in the big canopied bed. "And when he does, Baby's going to know that's not Tachyon and head straight back to Earth."
    "Your point?"
    "Why don't we handle it now? Turn around, head back --"
    "And go where?"
    "Tahiti, Tibet... Why does it have to be Takis?"
    "Anyplace you can run on Earth, your grandfather can run too. And what of Bloat? A creature that can warp and bend reality will not be discouraged by a few thousand miles." That blow struck home. Durg saw it in the slight widening of the eyes. Blaise shuddered and allowed his fear to emerge a bit farther from the shadows. "The joker adores your grandfather. He will not rest until he sees you punished." Durg paused a suitable few seconds, then added softly, "And I thought you wished to be a prince?"
    Blaise leapt on that. "Yeah, it sounded great when I was running the jumpers and ruling my piece of the Rox, but I've had a lot of time to think in the past day, and I've remembered a few little points that Granddaddy told me which you've carefully omitted."
    "Such as?"
    "I'm an abomination on Takis. Unplanned breeding is like the greatest sin. As soon as I set foot on the planet, I'm going to be killed."
    Durg cautiously placed an arm around Blaise's shoulders. The young man tolerated the contact. So, he wants to be a little young today, coddled a little. Durg guided him back to a bench and pushed him down.
    "You are discounting three things. One which you cannot know. Two which you have forgotten. Beneath all of our flowery oaths and honor and blood ties there is a