Free Jinx on a Terran Inheritance by Brian Daley Page A

The other landing party members were silent; Mourning their losses, Alacrity decided.
    The breakabout insisted he wasn't much the worse for wear. "Which is probably more than you can say for the causality harp," he added. "All those explosions."
    "What got into you down there, Alacrity?" Alacrity's face went into neutral, and Floyt knew better than to pursue the matter. "All right, then. Tell me who you think those people were—the intruders." There was a slight vibration as the landing craft lifted off.
    "Redlock doesn't seem to be sure yet," Alacrity said. "Could be almost any government or independent file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/harry%20kruis...aley%20-%20Jinx%20on%20a%20Terran%20Inheritance.htm (40 of 320)19-2-2006 17:12:28
    [Fitzhugh 2]-JINX ON A TERRAN INHERITANCE
    group, one of the big cartels—almost anybody with real resources behind them. That stealth ship—that's a new one on me."
    "But how did they get here? The whole Halidome system's awfully well guarded."
    "There was so much traffic coming in for the funeral, maybe they were dropped off by one of the big, legitimate ships. Took guts, you have to give 'em that. They found out about the harp somehow and made up their minds they were going to steal it or study it, duplicate it, whatever."
    "But whoa, then they blew up the vault."
    "Samson in the temple? I dunno; people play for keeps when it comes to Precursor stuff. They took out the regular guard detail. Redlock said they might've pulled it off if they hadn't tripped that sensor."
    The landing craft entered a hypaxial lock and made fast to the flagship. As Alacrity and Floyt moved to the hatch, they were met by Seven Wars. He was on his feet, looking amazingly well, impressing them with the vigor of Severeemish recuperative powers. "I understand I have you lads to thank for slapping that patch on me," the minister boomed. He was wearing a more workmanlike dressing applied by Redlock's people.
    Alacrity jerked a thumb at Floyt to clarify the matter.
    "There wasn't all that much to it, actually," Floyt assured, feeling heroic for a moment.
    "A little less modesty, please, Citizen Earther," Seven Wars implored. "The rescue of a Severeemish envoy is worth a certain amount of fuss and ado." He clicked claws like black iron against his heavy red-gold Inheritor's belt, then indicated Floyt's. "We perhaps owe one another a little something anyway, but this makes the debt rather heavier on my side, eh?"
    He winked one dark little gleaming eye, then hobbled through the lock leaning on his son's shoulder, the surviving Corporeal trailing behind.
    "You can translate that?" Alacrity inquired.
    Floyt shook his head, but Redlock, who'd come up behind, promised, "I'll clarify it for you both later.
    First, you can clean up and rest, while my wife and I attend to some other things."
    "But—" Floyt foundered. His conditioning was stirring within him again.
    Dorraine approached, favoring them with one of her most disarming smiles. "Why bother with the Epiphany spaceport when you can ride to Palladium with us?"
    "But Dame Tiajo said—you—we—" Alacrity fumbled.
    "I told the Grandam that I would dump you two at my first port of call," Redlock explained. "This site file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/harry%20kruis...aley%20-%20Jinx%20on%20a%20Terran%20Inheritance.htm (41 of 320)19-2-2006 17:12:28
    [Fitzhugh 2]-JINX ON A TERRAN INHERITANCE
    isn't a port of call, and we're no longer stopping at the spaceport. Now, if you'd be gracious enough to permit my wife and myself to pass, Fitzhugh, perhaps I can get us underway."
    Floyt yanked Alacrity aside with his good arm, sparing his rib. Redlock exited into the flagship, an amused Dorraine on his arm. Several high-ranking Celestials entered to welcome their subordinates who'd been on the raid. The bandswomen-Celestials were very proper and proud.
    A ship's steward showed up in the wake of the brass and braid. "Pardon me, sirs, but are you the two who'll be needing