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“What are you suggesting?”
“Jacob Ba
“That’s a strong accusation,” Levin said. “Particularly if there’s no proof.”
“Given how smooth an operator the man is, I’d say that the very lack of proof is significant.”
“I don’t like that logic,” Levin said. “But there isn’t much that can be done about Ba
“The Steel Wolves hold the planet,” Crow said. “When I left, the Highlanders had been defeated and their Countess was in the process of negotiating their surrender.”
Levin frowned slightly. “But you came to Terra instead of staying to put some spine into them—if spine is what was needed.”
“I became separated from the main Northwind force during the fighting in the capital,” he said. “When I saw that there was still a civilian DropShip remaining on the field, I realized that somebody had to get away and warn Terra that Northwind was no longer reliable and that the Wolves were on the move.”
“I see your point,” Levin said. “What do you suppose are the Wolves’ long-term intentions?”
Crow shrugged. “With the Clans, who can ever tell? But Terra has come under threat from that quarter in the past—and if the Steel Wolves are as in love with their own history as some of the other breakaway factions operating in The Republic are, it would be foolish to think that such a threat will never come again.”
18
Ba
Tybalt
Prefecture II
March 3134; local autumn
One-Eyed Jack Farrell lounged at his ease in the upper-level waiting room at Jacob Ba
Is that tabletop solid jade, or just a high-grade synthetic? This is Ba
The game worked as well for him in Ba
It kept Farrell from getting bored while he waited, though, which was the important thing. Like most self-made men, Jacob Ba
Ba
Farrell yawned and slouched easily to his feet. Standing, he was a full head taller than Ba
“This way, please.”
Farrell allowed Weedy to lead the way into the i
Money talked, and Jacob Ba
“You can go now,” Ba
Weedy departed, looking miffed. By the time the door closed again, his employer had to all appearances already forgotten him.
“Have a seat,” Ba
“Thanks for the offer,” Farrell said. “But not while I’m working.” He took the offered chair. “I’ve still got my report to make.”
Ba
“Thought you might have.” Farrell considered his employer. Ba
“More than good enough, Mr. Farrell.” Ba
“I’m honored.”
“You’re getting paid a good bonus,” Ba
“Damn straight,” agreed Farrell. “You want the verbal report now?”
“Go ahead.”
“All right. Crow you know about already—holier-than-thou son-of-a-bitch and proud as Lucifer. Brains and guts, though. And if I had to make a bet on it, I’d say that he’s already managed to convince himself he did the right thing by cutting and ru
“He’s that type,” Ba
“Tara Campbell. Still a bit green, but getting over it fast. Good fighter, and not too proud to take help when it’s offered. Knows how to pick her subordinates.” Farrell paused, considering. “Maybe a bit too trusting, at least until our friend Ezekiel showed her the error of her ways. I don’t believe she’s going to thank him for the lesson, though.”
“You’re probably right.” Ba
“Setting herself up as a faction leader and saying the hell with the memory of Devlin Stone?” Farrell shook his head. “No way. She really is as loyal as all the posters and magazine articles make her out to be. And where the Countess goes, all of Northwind follows.”
“Moral authority’s a wonderful thing,” said Ba
He swallowed a healthy slug of his brandy. Not the sip-and-savor type, after all, Farrell thought, recognizing the betraying mark of a man who’d learned to drink on rough spirits. He goes right for the burn.
“How about the leader of the Steel Wolves?” Ba
“Anastasia Kerensky”—Farrell spoke slowly, choosing his words with care—“is crazy. Vicious fighter, not afraid of anything, sees what she wants and takes it without asking. None of it matters, though, because it’s the kind of crazy that makes all the Clan Warrior types want to follow her around with their tongues hanging out.”
“How good is she?”
“Almost as good as she thinks she is. Growing better all the time, if she doesn’t get herself killed first. She and the Countess of Northwind are quite a pair. Probably hate each other’s guts by now.” Farrell chuckled, thinking about it. “Now that’s a ’Mech fight you could sell tickets to and clean up on the simulation rights afterward.”
Ba
Farrell straightened, coming alert like a warhorse hearing the distant sound of bugles. “You have another job for me and my people, then?”