Free DarkStar Running (Living on the Run Book 2) by Ben Patterson Page A

grub, and if’n you want it you’ll back yersef up some.”
    Billy stepped back and knelt to
retake the mattress. “Where am I, old man?”
    “Old man?” the codger cackled, “I
ain’t old by no account. Tain’t more’n fifty-five says I, so you jus’ mind
yersef or I’ll set ya straight on that account right quick.”
    When the pirate stooped to set the
tray on the floor in front of the young Enforcer, Billy sprang up, caught the
pirate by the collar and slammed him against the wall. “Where am I, old man?
How do I get off this ship?”
    With one hand, the pirate took
hold of Billy’s heavy leather dog collar, nearly strangling him with his fat
knuckles pressed hard against Billy’s Adam’s apple. The pirate slowly lifted
him from the floor.
    Thoroughly amused, the pirate
cackled again as Billy’s feet dangled midair.
    “Son, I’m in charge of this here
brig. You behave and take holt o’ what I’m sayin,’ and you’ll save yersef a
boatload o’ grief. You get me?”
    Billy coughed and tried to speak,
but the best he could manage was a faint, raspy whisper. “Yes, sir. I get you
clear enough.”
    “That’s it? That’s the bes’ you
got in a ‘pology?”
    Billy was certain his whole head
was turning blue. The room was growing dark.
    “Sorry . . .” he said
weakly.
    The pirate let him down and shoved
him back onto the bare mattress.
    Billy coughed, and looked up at
the old pirate in disbelief, wondering where so much strength hid in such a
feeble frame.
    “What are your plans for me?” he
managed to croak.
    The pirate cocked his head.
“Captain says they’s a farmer in Providence territory lookin’ for good stock.
Pay top dollar for the likes of you—young, learnable—not so strong as he wants,
but that’ll change.” He chortled again. “Yes indeedy, that will change onest ya
start toten hay, that’s for sure. Build you up strong, quick, toten hay will.”
    “Farmer?” Billy frowned. “Not if I
can help it!” He pulled himself up on an elbow. “Look. I got money saved back
on Parandi. Tell your Captain I’ll buy myself from him at twice what that
farmer will pay. Just drop me off anywhere this side of the border, and I’ll
wire the money into any account you want, and say no more.”
    The pirate snorted. “You talk
funny, boy. Wut kind of accent is that anyways?”
    “Just tell your Captain, will
you?”
    “Eat cha grub ‘fore I forces it
down yer fool throat,” the pirate snarled before stepping back out into the
hallway. The door closed behind him. The pirate stepped up to Lilia. His
holographic camouflage disappeared.
    With arms casually folded, Lilia
leaned against the wall.
    Stan glanced back at the closed
door. “ DarkStar , thanks for the added strength. Your energy beams made
me seem stronger than even I could’ve imagined.”
    “You’re welcome, sir. I was glad
to be of assistance.”
    “So, now what?” Lilia said,
turning to head for the galley.
    Stan followed at a casual
distance. “We drop him somewhere this side of the border. He’ll go back and
report that everyone was killed by pirates.”
    “You think he bought it, huh?”
    “What? You don’t think I’m a
convincing buccaneer?”
    “Your costume seems pretty silly
to me, Stan. Do pirates really wear stuff like that?”
    “Flamboyant, garish?”
    She turned to face him and shook
her head in dismay. “Outlandishly over-the-top?”
    “I’d like to think of myself as
ostentatious, woman. You betcha pirates dress like this, yes they do. Most
pirates want folks to remember them as daring. And there’s a certain
intimidating air surrounding loud—”
    “Clothing?”
    “I was going to say . . .
people.”
    “Yeah, well . . .” Lilia
entered the galley and requested eggs, bacon, and toast for each of them. Then
she turned to Stan. “Do you think gruel is all we should serve our guests?”
    Stan went to the fluid dispenser
to order coffee for Lilia and himself. “Only Billy Taft. The boy