Free Deathstalker by Simon R. Green

she wanted the reward on his head and didn’t feel like sharing, but somehow he didn’t think so. He supposed he should cautiously draw her out with clever questions and gradually determine what she wanted with him, but he didn’t have the strength or the patience. So, when all else fails, be direct. He cleared his throat painfully.
    “I’m Owen Deathstalker. Who are you, and why did you help me?”
    His voice sounded weak and thin to him, but if his rescuer noticed, it didn’t show in her answer. “I’m Hazel d’Ark. How I got here’s rather complicated. I rescued you because I didn’t like the odds you were facing. I’ve always had a soft spot for the underdog. What did you do to get so many people mad at you?”
    “I’ve been outlawed. There’s a very attractive price on my head, if you think you can take it.”
    “Relax, stud. I’m an outlaw, too. No way I could collect your price without getting topped myself. There’s a lot of us about these days, but then, that’s the Iron Bitch for you. Deathstalker. That name rings a bell.”
    “I should hope so,” said Owen wryly. “I used to be Lord of this planet.”
    Hazel whistled. “I’m impressed. I don’t normally move in such high circles. Look, you got any ideas where I should point this tub? There are five ships right behind us and closing fast. I feel I should also point out this is a ship’s escape pod, and my power cells are almost dead, so don’t start getting ambitious. We’ve got maybe forty minutes of flight left, assuming I don’t have to divert power to the energy shields.”
    Owen hesitated. “You still haven’t explained why you risked your ship and yourself to rescue me.”
    “Underdogs have to learn to look out for each other because no one else will. An outlaw needs all the friends he can get. You’ll learn that, if you survive this mess. Life as an outlaw can be very enlightening.”
    “All right. Head due north. There should be a large lakeabout ten miles from here, unless I’m even more lost than I thought I was. Tell me when we get there.”
    He lay back in the crash webbing and fought to clear his thoughts. He had an ally now, and a second chance at escape. If she could just get him to the
Sunstrider
, he might yet live to get his revenge after all. The thought stirred new strength in him, and he took a second look at his surroundings. Apart from the crash webbing, the control panels, and the bulkheads, there wasn’t much to look at. It was all pretty minimalist, but it seemed solid enough. Presumably there wasn’t much point in wasting frills and fancies on an escape pod.
    “It’s been a long time since I traveled in anything this primitive,” he said finally. “What does it run on: steam?”
    “Any more smart remarks like that and you can get out and push,” said Hazel. “Don’t knock this tub. It’s saving your ass and mine. Okay, forward sensors report a large body of water dead ahead. Rear sensors report a whole mess of people coming after us in everything that flies. You’d better have a plan to get us out of this, Deathstalker, because I am fast running out of options.”
    “Relax,” said Owen. “I have an ace up my sleeve and it’s a beauty. In fact, she’s waiting for us at the bottom of that lake.”
    Hazel looked across at him sharply. “Wait a minute; we’re going diving?”
    “You got it. My private yacht is sitting in its own little niche right at the bottom, hidden from everything but heavy-duty sensors. No one knows it’s there but me. Had a feeling it might come in handy someday. Paranoia doesn’t just run in my Family, it gallops. Part of the territory that comes with being a Lord. Drop this thing in the lake and head straight down. I’ll contact the yacht, lower her shields and start powering her up. Your sensors will pick up the
Sunstrider
once you get close enough. Slip in next to her and fasten on to the outer airlock.
    “She’s special, my
Sunstrider
. Has all the power and