Free Soothsayer by Mike Resnick Page B

to go?"
    "Very far."
    "Then it'll cost very much."
    "You haven't named a price,” noted the Mouse.
    The Forever Kid smiled for the first time. “You haven't named the opposition."
    "I don't know who it is."
    "Then I hardly see how I can help you."
    "But I'm traveling with someone who will know."
    "The little girl?"
    "You know about her?"
    The Kid nodded. “The bartender isn't exactly close-mouthed. Who are they after, you or her?"
    "Right now, both of us."
    "And you want my protection."
    "And your ship,” added the Mouse.
    "That's going to cost more."
    "I don't know how much you cost to begin with."
    "I don't come cheap,” said the Kid.
    "I couldn't use someone who did."
    He stared at her for a long moment. “100,000 credits a week."
    The Mouse took a deep breath. “That's awfully high."
    "How highly do you value your life?"
    "You'll go wherever I tell you to?"
    The Kid nodded.
    "I might have to pay in some other currency."
    "New Stalin ruples or Maria Theresa dollars are acceptable. I won't take Far London pounds."
    "Deal,” said the Mouse, wondering where she could get the money and what the Forever Kid might do to her if she didn't come up with it.
    "I'll want a week's pay in advance."
    "That's out of the question."
    "How do I know you can pay me?"
    "You'll have to trust me."
    "I trusted someone two centuries ago,” said the Forever Kid, and suddenly his eyes briefly blazed to life. “She lied to me. I haven't trusted anyone since."
    "But I haven't got the money now,” protested the Mouse.
    "Then you'll have to get it before I leave."
    "When is that?"
    "I have a little business to transact later tonight. I plan to leave in the morning."
    "You're here on a contract?"
    The Kid almost looked amused. “Nobody comes to Ophir for his health."
    "A miner?"
    "Why do you care?"
    "Because you've been hired to kill someone, not rob him,” said the Mouse. “Let me come along with you. If he's got 100,000 credits worth of diamonds, we can still make a deal."
    "What makes you think I won't appropriate his diamonds myself?” asked the Kid.
    "You're a killer, not a thief,” she said adamantly.
    The Kid actually smiled at her. “What makes you think the two are mutually exclusive?"
    "Because I am a thief, and if I was a killer too, I wouldn't need you."
    He stared at her for a long moment, and she shifted uncomfortably on her chair. “You amuse me,” he said at last.
    "I assume that means it's no deal?” said the Mouse dejectedly.
    "I haven't met an amusing woman since before you were born,” continued the Forever Kid. He paused and stared at her again, then nodded his head. “Okay, we've got a deal."
    The Mouse extended her hand. “Shake."
    The Kid stared at her outstretched hand. “I never shake hands."
    "Have it your way,” said the Mouse with a shrug. “When do we leave?"
    "Another hour or so. I want to give them time to relax."
    " Them? ” said the Mouse.
    The Kid nodded.
    "Just how many miners do you plan to kill tonight?"
    "Eight."
    " Eight? ” she repeated incredulously.
    "Don't look so upset,” said the Kid. “You'll have that much more opportunity to raise some capital."
    "Eight,” said the Mouse again. “That's awfully high odds."
    "I charge awfully high prices."
    "If you waited until midnight or so, you might be able to sneak up on them,” suggested the Mouse.
    "I doubt it."
    "Why?"
    "I sent them a message this afternoon that I was coming,” said the Kid.
    "You sent them a message? Why?"
    "There's always a chance,” he said almost wistfully.
    "A chance they'll kill you?” she asked, not quite understanding.
    He stared off into the distance for a long moment. “No,” he said at last. “No, they won't be that lucky.” He sighed. “And neither will I."
    Ryan arrived just then with the Mouse's dinner. Suddenly she found that she no longer had an appetite.
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7.
    Most deserts are cold at night, but this one, decided the Mouse as she and the Forever Kid drove across