Free Synaptic Manhunt by Mick Farren Page A

highly polished black steel, inlaid with an elaborate pattern of gold damascene. Lame Nancy cut a strange, impressive figure.
    The lift door rattled back, and Billy switched his attention away from Nancy. The fat man hurried out of the lift, straight for the street door. He was still sweating, and avoided everyone’s eyes. Nancy laughed.
    ‘Looks like your sweetie will be down with something for you soon, Billy dear.’
    Billy didn’t say anything. He knew he was being baited. Nancy’s grin broadened.
    ‘You ought to get that honey of yours to pull in a bit more of the goods. I know I would.’
    Billy scowled.
    ‘Keep out of my business, will you.’
    Nancy laughed again.
    ‘I intend to, sweet thing. There ain’t enough in it for me.’
    The lift rattled again. This time it was Darlene. Billy walked across the lobby to meet her. He wanted to head her off before she could join Nancy at the desk. He knew Nancy would try and get her drunk, and be dropping all kinds of broad hints about how much better a time Darlene would have with her rather than Billy. Billy didn’t need that. He grinned at Darlene.
    ‘Hi, how did it go?’
    Darlene scowled.
    ‘It went.’
    ‘Did you get anything?’
    Darlene fished between her breasts and came up with a small platinum pacifier.
    ‘Enough.’
    ‘Great.’
    ‘That pig behind the desk will still short change us.’
    ‘So ‘what can we do?’
    ‘What can you do? You’re supposed to take care of business. I just do the work.’
    Billy took hold of her arm.
    ‘Don’t get mad.’
    ‘I ain’t mad. I just don’t need it.’
    ‘Was it rough?’
    Darlene’s mouth curled into a sneer.
    ‘Oh no, not rough, just another trick.’
    ‘What happened?’
    ‘You really want to know?’
    ‘If it helps.’
    ‘If it helps? Well, if it helps, he got me to squat on the floor of the shower while he pissed on me, and then I had to suck him off. Okay? Does that help? All for one lousy trinket. You know, sometimes I think you like to hear what I do with the tricks. Maybe you get a kick out of it.’
    Darlene was working herself up into a frenzy. Billy wasn’t sure whether to placate or punch her. While he was making up his mind, she started again.
    ‘Maybe you’d like to have a go yourself. You fancy me squatting in front of you while you pissed over me?’
    Billy shook his head.
    ‘No, of course not.’
    He wondered if he would enjoy it. He’d never thought about it before. He smiled at Darlene. The tirade had gone on long enough.
    ‘Listen honey, we’ve got a bit of credit, why don’t we get a bottle and go upstairs?’
    Darlene didn’t seem about to give in.
    ‘You want to end up the same way we did today? I’m going out again to see what I can get.’
    Before Billy could say anything, she had pulled away from him and was marching across the lobby, swaying her hips. She looked straight ahead, avoiding the stares of Nancy and the desk clerk. As she was about to flounce out into the street she almost collided with two men coming into the hotel.
    ‘Why the fuck don’t you look where you’re going?’
    One of the men stepped back and bowed slightly.
    ‘I’m sorry.’
    Darlene was going to start complaining, when she took a second look at them. One was a tall thin man, wrapped in a black cape. His straight hair hung to his shoulders, and the hilt of an evil-looking sword protruded from the cape. The other one was shorter and, if anything, thinner. A mass of black unruly curls were stuffed under a wide-brimmed hat. He wore a black frock coat and high boots. He had the same hard air of determination as his companion. Darlene ducked hastily out of the door. Her tantrum was completely forgotten. She didn’t want to stick around and find out what the two strangers wanted.
    Billy felt much the same way, only, to him, they weren’t both strangers. He recognized the Minstrel Boy straight away. They’d been through a lot of trouble together, and most of the time Billy had wound up