Page 20 of Throwing Fire

“That’s right. Garden colony. Good soil. Plenty of water. They cranked it out for Tsing-Gold for three decades. Finally, the chains got a little too heavy. They tried to throw them off. Stopped shipping food to the Core. Colonial Army went in first. Bunch of farmers and bio-techs kicked their asses straight back to Earth. So we were sent in.”

“We—?” Acker asks. He’s watching me now, not eating.

“SAWL”

“Space Marines,” Kez says softly.

She’s not quite right, but the distinction between old Earth’s military divisions hasn’t been relevant for a century. Not since the United Nations became Earth Authority and began recognizing corporations as members as well as countries. If Acker and Tiancha want a history lesson that old, they’ll to have to wait for another day.

“And you were?”

“Tech Sergeant First Class. But don’t let the title fool you. I was a killer. That’s what they trained me to do, and that’s what I did. First to the colonists, and when I realized the truth and the light, to the Company Xecs and D.C.A. Genny who tried to order my unit back in.”

Acker bows his head. “The Butcher of Tje Dhos. Diamond named you, but I did not make the connection.”

So that’s how Acker and his crew know my real name. Guess there aren’t any secrets underground.

“I understand war. And the value of allies. You want to make sure you have some before you strike back at the Founders, even indirectly.”

Acker picks at one of his very sharp teeth with a black claw. “I would welcome any who would ally with us.”

“Yeah, about that?—”

Acker chuckles. “I wondered when we would come to this.” He takes a bowl of jellied imree out of the cool shelf, offers it to me and after I take some, spoons himself a fist-sized chunk. Acker likes his food. Man after my own heart. “As pleasant as it is to dine with you, I didn’t think you came all the way out here for this.”

“No,” I allow. “But you do put on a nice spread.” I’ve eaten well, and the imree goes down smooth and cool and sweet.

“I’m glad you’ve enjoyed it.” He strokes Tiancha’s head with his free hand. “My Wisdom is a woman of many talents.”

I lift my bulb to Tiancha; Kez mirrors me. She’s still got a full plate of food in front of her, and since Kez usually has a healthyappetite, either she doesn’t like the food, or she’s been distracted by the conversation. I nudge her and tip my chin at her plate. She looks sheepish as she picks up her chopsticks.

“My friend,” Acker says. “Why have you come?”

“I been cleanin’ house,” I say. “You probably heard.”

“Indeed. Nor have you started small. It’s said Kincaid bled out into a flash can after he was—” Acker casts a meaningful glance into his lap. “Disarmed.”

“Less mess for the clean-up crew,” I say. “They’re Tyng employees, too.” I didn’t kill him that way, actually, but only because the idea of touching his junk made my skin crawl. I did carve him up some first. And I did do him in the bathroom.

Like I said, the clean-up crew work for us, too.

“That seems a pointed way to kill a man,” Acker observes, glancing at Kez. To her credit, my kitten returns his gaze steadily, without any reaction. Kez has a decent poker face when she wants to.

She’s still not eating, though, so I nudge her again as I say, “Everything I do has a point.”

“Even so.” Acker nods. “What, may I ask, did Dag do to you, Lightfoot?”

Kez chews and swallows before she answers. Wipes her mouth. Says very evenly. “He took flesh he didn’t bargain for. I’d already paid for passage, but he wanted more.”

Acker tips his head at her. “Your vengeance is a fearsome thing. I trust none of my people have offended you.”

Kez grins. A little too toothy for her usual mischievous grin. “Not so far.”

Acker spreads his hands again. “Are you here for vengeance, my friend? I have no wish to quarrel with you.”

“You know I’m here to recruit you.” If he hasn’t figured it out by now, it’s because he doesn’t want to.

Acker sits back in his chair. “So long as it poses no threat to the Whites, I will happily tell you anything you wish to know?—”