Free The Vastalimi Gambit by Steve Perry Page A

it. Or carry a lamp. Not like he didn’t already stand out everywhere he went . . .
    The street wasn’t crowded, only a few vehicles moving back and forth, and no other pedestrians near them . . .
    Wait. On the other side, leaning against a building, there was one, a big male, and he was definitely focused on Kay.
    Wink could almost taste blood in the wind. He slid his right hand back to his hip pocket and grabbed the butt of his pistol, eased it free, let it hang behind him. He edged his left hand around to the handle of his knife . . .
    Kay noticed. “Don’t do anything inciting,” she said.
    “You know this guy?”
    “I do.”
    “He looks like trouble.”
    “He is. Let me handle it.”
    Wink nodded. “If you say so.”
    _ _ _ _ _ _
    Kay resisted the urge to extrude her claws as they walked across the road.
    When they were ten meters away from him,
Vial
masc said, “Well, if it isn’t the hairless
ruta
who ran. You won’t escape me this time.”
    He spoke barely passable Basic, and she knew that was for Wink’s benefit.
    Kay smiled at him. “Is
that
the best you can do? One would think that a fighter who used to have skill could rise above such a pedestrian insult.”
    Vial shrugged. “It’s not the talking, Kluth, it’s the doing that matters. And you will find that my skill is unchanged from the time you observed it last.”
    “Good.”
    “Good?”
    “One hates to kill a worthless opponent, there is no honor in that.”
    “After I finish you, I’m am going to shred your tame human.”
    “He is legally immune to Challenge.”
    “Challenge? Hardly worthy of that, is he? I’m going to exterminate him, as I would any other pest.”
    “You think?” Wink said.
    Vial glanced up. Saw that Wink held his knife in his left hand.
    The big Vastalimi whickered. “How amusing! What do you think you are going to do with that stubby toy, ape? Wave it and hope I die from fright?”
    “No, actually, I planned to use it to cut your balls off and stuff them into your mouth after I shoot you with this.” Wink held up his pistol in the other hand.
    Vial looked at Kay. “You were speaking of honor? None among humans, is there?”
    “As I recall, you said you were going to slay him as you would a pest, no Challenge involved. It thus would be your own arrogance that caused your death. Not that it will get that far.”
    He whickered again. “Really? I am larger, stronger, extremely more experienced, and far more adept. Do you really think you have any chance whatsoever?”
    “Absolutely. Unlike you, my skills have improved since last we saw each other. I have spent some years on alien battlefields. They fight differently than we do. I know things you do not.”
    “Really? I doubt it.”
    “Offer
prigovor
and find out.” She radiated confidence.
    “I hear that your sister the Shadow watches over you.”
    “Not your concern. Challenge or don’t, my sister won’t trouble you as long as you do not cheat. Offer it.”
    He stood silently for a moment, considering.
    She was not going to scare him off even if he believed her. He was a professional killer, an assassin, and he had certainly been hired to take her out; he couldn’t walk away and expect anybody to employ him again. Plus, his own sense of honor could not allow it. But even a tiny crack in his confidence was to her advantage. A small doubt might make him pause when he should move or hurry a move he would better let ripen.
    Sometimes, the smallest advantage could lead to victory. It was valid to take it if it was offered.
    Kay was not at all sure she could beat him, but there was truth in her statement. He would hear it.
    Vastalimi chased and caught their prey, usually attacking from the sides or from behind, now and then face on, by bounding and launching themselves with claws extended. That shaped how they moved, how they thought.
    Most of their formal fighting techniques were based on the principle that one’s deadliest opponent would be