Free Mainline by Deborah Christian Page B

that kind of merchandise. There's a thing called a time patch, can do the type of damage you're looking for."
    "Who do I see?"
    "Lairdome 7, the cryopack place. Ask about the hex-pack special. That'll get you in to the right person."
    Yavobo thanked the local and left, with plenty of time to seek out Lairdome 7 before his shuttle left dock. Unfortunately, the dome was dark and the cryocase shop staffed only by mechos. "Lish is expected back by month-end," was all they could tell him.
    A hunter is patient. Two weeks, and then he would return.

XXV
    Karuu had heard enough. First, Reva and her need for time patches. Then some other local inquiries—the few he had heard about, which always meant there was more interest among customers than actually reached his ears—and now another serious buyer, slipping through his fingers.
    The distribution deal with the new Holdout was intended to give him an in to her operations. Well, he had that now, and had heard the rumors of something big coming down, as soon as Lish was back in town. Maybe he should cash in and get rid of this competitor, like Adahn suggested. If he couldn't compete, why keep her around?
    Why, indeed?
    He punched up a number that lit his com unit with a holovid of native fishermen engaged in bloody sacrificial ritual. The vid faded and revealed the bronzed face of Daribi, the chief of his derevin called the Islanders. The metallic sheen of his artificial tan lent him a surreal mien, but the bone through his nose was real, as were the facial tattoos that gave him the distinctive Islander look.
    "Find the boat-boys who work for Lish," Karuu ordered the chief, jovial small talk dropping abruptly from his conversation. "On the sly, no obvious pressure. Make it casual: friendly drinks, share some euphorics—you know what I mean."
    "What are we looking for?" the derevin leader asked.
    "Big cargo drop is coming along soon. Find out everything you can. Her movements, the timing, everything."
    Daribi nodded.
    "Contact me, direct, as soon as you are knowing things. And make it fast."
    "Right, Boss." The Islander acknowledged his orders and the screen went blank.
    Karuu pondered what he had set in motion. First he would learn more, then take decisive action, and then he would again be secure in his position among Selmun Holdouts.
    With that plan in mind, Karuu started to leave his desk, then hesitated, and called up Janus instead. Karuu was going to need a bit of help with the Imperials, and Adahn's lieutenant, who had so kindly offered, was going to provide it.

XXVI
    The guidepack was a small shoulder-mount unit, worn in the same spot where Reva and Lish had placed their ammo reserves. The device was an artificially intelligent construct, a brain in a box consisting of neural net, voice and sensor chips, a data library, and a variety of narrator personalities to chose from. Vask punched up the neutral docent tone, got the guide in place on one shoulder, slung the standard tourist-issue Berka 408 dart rifle on the other, and started into the preserve.
    When he set foot inside the gate, the tour guide stirred to life.
    "Is this your first visit to Keshnavar, sir?'' it asked.
    "Hmm," Vask replied distractedly, surveying the trails ahead of him to see which way the two women had gone.
    The tour guide was used to ambiguous answers from humans. "May I suggest the Yeskaya Nature Walk for your first excursion, sir? It is mildly invigorating, gives an overview of the six different terrain and vegetation systems contained within the preserve, and, of course, I will be happy to comment on the nature and habits of wildlife we might encounter—"
    "Quiet," Vask commanded. "Guide, answer queries only."
    "Certainly, sir," the unit responded, and lapsed into dutiful silence.
    He saw two hikers on a path through the brown-needled yeskaya trees, an elderly couple pausing every now and then to record vistas with a hand-held holocam. A few other strollers, singly or in small groups, could be