“It had better be a VZ Model 3 or 4,” said Scorpio. “Anything else will sink right into this mud if it’s carrying the four of us plus our gear.”
“It’s a VZ4,” confirmed Quintaro.
“Okay,” said Scorpio. “All that’s left is your down payment.”
Quintaro reached into a pocket, pulled out a wad of thousand-credit notes, peeled off fifteen of them, and pushed them across the table to Scorpio.
Scorpio pocketed the money and turned to Sapphire. “You don’t say much, do you?”
“Not much,” she agreed.
“How did you two meet?”
“It was the strangest damned thing,” said Quintaro. “I was actually getting set to take my leave of this world—I hear they’ve discovered a couple of truly phenomenal diamond pipes on Ganymede, and since I’m a jeweler by trade, I was thinking of going there—”
He’s lying. He’s a gambler, and he’s got a criminal record as long as your arm.
“—when I ran into this lovely lady as I was checking out of my hotel by the Amber City spaceport. We got to talking, found we had a lot in common, and eventually she mentioned the godstone. Well, hell, everyone on Venus has heard about it …”
“Not me,” said Scorpio.
Not him, either—until she planted his interest in his head.
“Well, you’re a transient,” said Quintaro. “People talk about you all over the system. I’ve heard about your exploits on Mars and half a dozen moons. They say you can’t go back to Earth, but I figure that’s either just romantic bullshit or else at least you had a good reason for whatever you did.”
“You don’t have to sell, Mr. Quintaro,” said Scorpio. “I’ve already accepted your offer.”
“Anyway, it’s perfectly understandable that someone who spends so little time here—or anywhere—wouldn’t know about the godstone.”
“Interesting name: godstone,” said Scorpio.
“I find it very evocative. Even if it was worthless, I’d spend this much money just to say I was the guy who found it.”
“Well, I hope we can make you feel you’ve gotten your money’s worth,” said Scorpio. “We’ll be leaving at daybreak, which comes pretty early around here. You might want to grab some sleep.”
“Good idea,” said Quintaro. He got to his feet. “Come, my dear.”
Sapphire stood up with an alien grace, linked her arm in his, and walked to the door.
“Where is our room?” Quintaro asked McAnany.
“Down the corridor, last room on the right,” answered the bartender. “Door’s unlocked. You’re just staying one night. I’ll lock it from here once you’re inside the room, and just open it tomorrow when you’re leaving.”
“Thanks,” said Quintaro. He handed a bill to McAnany. “This ought to cover it.”
“That’ll buy you three rooms,” answered McAnany, “each with a woman in it.” Suddenly he looked embarrassed. “Sorry, Miss Sapphire, ma’am … Just a figure of speech.”
She’d shown no annoyance when he uttered the remark, and she showed no reaction when he apologized. A moment later the couple walked out of the bar and down the corridor, and though they were still arm in arm Scorpio got the feeling that she was leading him. He got up and placed his empty glass on the bar.
“You ever heard of this godstone?” he asked.
McAnany shook his head. “Nope. He makes it sound like you and me are the only ones who haven’t.”
“Yeah,” said Scorpio. “Well, don’t believe everything you hear.” He looked over at Merlin. “You all through making a new generation? We’ve got work to do if we’re heading out in the morning.”
My race has sexual seasons, just like many mammals on your home world. Live with it. At least I’m not chasing a new female on every world we visit like some partners I could mention.
Only because it wouldn’t do you the least bit of good, thought Scorpio. Now, what kind of equipment are we going to need for this foolishness?
It’s only foolish if you consider Quintaro. He thinks he’s looking for a valuable gem, and he intends to kill us when he finds it.
It’s probably just what he hopes it is—something worth a few million on the black market—or even the open market if the government doesn’t claim it as a planetary treasure.
Don’t think about it or him. She is the wild card.
She’s one of the better-looking cards in the deck.
That’s all you can say—or think—after what I’ve told you?
What do you want me to say?
Idiot.
Scorpio reached behind the bar, grabbed a bottle, and filled his glass.
“You look annoyed,” noted McAnany.
“There are two blue creatures in this place,” answered Scorpio. “Quintaro went off with the gorgeous one, and I’m stuck with the ugly one who doesn’t trust anyone, including his partner.”
“If he’s worried about you running off with the money that guy gave you, I can stick it in the safe until you get back,” offered McAnany.
“Bad trade,” muttered Scorpio.
“Trade? What trade?”
“You get fifteen thousand credits, and I get a deserted, beat-up tavern when I get back.”
“You think I’d do that to you?” said McAnany in hurt tones.
“Even Merlin thinks so, and he hates to agree with me.” Scorpio picked up his bottle and began walking to the door. “Unlock my room for me. I got a feeling this is the last night I’m going to be sleeping in a bed for a month.”
Scorpio dragged himself out of bed at sunrise, staggered to the bathroom, and rinsed his face off. He wasn’t thrilled with the smell or taste of Venus’s water, but he remembered all the worlds where water was almost impossible to come by. He considered shaving, decided not to, stuck a trio of fresh outfits into a cloth bag, slung it over his shoulder, strapped on a holster and a modified laser pistol, donned his boots, and walked out into the corridor, almost tripping over Merlin.
Good morning, said the Venusian silently.
I think what I hate most about you is that you never have to sleep, Scorpio replied grumpily.
Right. It’s only saved your life three or four times.
Okay, I’ll find something else to hate about you. Where are our clients—up or still snoring?
They were eating what passes for breakfast in the bar about an hour ago. They’re outside now.
“Why?” said Scorpio aloud. “It’s been pouring for the past month. I can’t imagine it stopped in the last six hours.”
They’ve got all kinds of protective gear. Also, I think they’re probably sitting in the vehicle.
“A car or a boat?”
A little of each, I think.
“And there’s room for all four of us and our gear?” said Scorpio. “This guy’s not a piker.”
Whatever that is.
“Okay, well, we might as well get this show on the road,” said Scorpio, walking down the crushed-rock path with Merlin falling into step behind him. He descended until the ground leveled out, and came to the Venusian version of a safari car, an amphibious vehicle that could negotiate oceans, rivers, streams, muddy jungles, just about every kind of unfriendly landscape the planet could provide.
Scorpio briefly looked up from force of habit, but there was no sun to be seen, nor had there been in many millennia, just incredibly thick cloud cover. He then paused to wipe the rain from his face.
“Good morning, Scorpion,” said Quintaro from where he and Sapphire sat in the back of the vehicle. “I assume you’re doing the driving. That is, unless your partner can …”