Page 24 of Throwing Fire

Slip returns to us once the crowd begins to disperse and divides the contents of his hat with Kez. I scoop up a handful of blues, press them into Kez’s palm and say, “You and Slip mind getting us some drinks?”

She looks up at me, hurt writ large in those big eyes. She doesn’t like me sending her away. Then she realizes what I’m doing and nods. “You want a beer?”

“Sure.”

She tosses the credits on her palm, then grabs Slip’s arm. “C’mon, water-boy.”

I drag Kez’s backpack over to where Alb is sitting. Join him on the cold sand. He watches me warily.

“Let’s cut right to it,” I say. “Tell me everything you heard about the price on Kez’s head.”

Alb spreads his hands, resting them on the edges of his drums. “I’m no one, man.”

“Didn’t say you were. Tell me what you heard and that’s the end of it.”

“Swear?” he asks.

“Swear.”

Alb blows out a long breath. “Did Kez tell you I used to be with the NoBos?”

“No.”

“It was only for a couple of years, when I was a kid.” More of a kid than he is now, presumably. He must have been barely out of v-school. “But I was in pretty tight. I still keep in touch with Sutton and a couple of the others. They were just out here yesterday. Sutton and the big man. Sutton asked me if I wanted in on something. He said it would pay real well.”

“Yeah? What was it?”

“I said no, okay?”

“Okay. Tell me what it was.”

“Tracking Kez. Sutton said there was a huge tag on her head. She’d slipped the noose in Nock, but she might come to the Clouds. They were spreading the word. He said she was going down no matter what, so there was no point in trying to help her. Might as well make a few cred.” Alb hunches over on himself. “I swear, I didn’t tell them anything.”

If I had any hair on the back of my neck, it would be standing up. We’ve walked right into a trap. I reach into my boot and pull out one of my new kukris. “Alb, are they still here?”

“No! No, man. The big man was all squirrelly about something. They headed back to the mainland on the last ferry. But Hummer isstill here. If he sees her ... you have to believe me, I didn’t think she’d come?—”

I stand. Scan the beach and see the dark shapes of Kez and Slip returning, drinks balanced in their outstretched hands. Good thing the drinks kiosk wasn’t too far up the berm. “Where is Hummer?”

“I don’t know. I swear, I don’t know.” Alb puts his hands over his dark head.

“You didn’t tell anyone she’d be here tonight?” I say it harshly, holding the knife at my side. Not threatening, because Kez counts this kid as her friend, but there’s no mistaking my meaning.

“I didn’t. Look, everyone loves Kez. I don’t know what the big man’s thing is with her. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt her!”

“Okay. Settle down.” Kez is near enough that I could defend her easily if someone came at her now. I hold my hand out to her and reel her in when she draws close.

“You stay right with me from now on,” I say, breathing into her hair. “Even if I send you away.”

She looks up at me. Smiles tentatively. She’d probably rather we stuck together anyway. Kez is the only person in the universe I don’t mind spending twenty-three/six with; I know she feels the same way.

“Here.” She gives me a tall bulb that smells of seaweed and hops.

I draw her down to sit next to Alb again. Set the bulb on the sand. Better to keep a clear head.

Kez leans warmly against me. “What’s going on?” she asks.

I’m tempted to say that I’m trying to find out whether her buddy has sold her out, but that would be needlessly cruel. “Alb’s just telling me about a guy named Hummer.”