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By Root 1094 0

him. Try as he might Keefer could think of nothing to connect him to either of them. This left him no choice but to pick one at random and go after them. That way right or wrong he‟d have the answer he needed. Both were almost mythical figures with power beyond wealth, and wealth beyond imagining. But nobody was completely beyond the attentions and speculations of the press, not even they were rich and powerful enough for that, so some details of their lives were public knowledge. Where they operated from and spent most time for example, what for less exotic figures might be called „home‟, was no secret back on the planet.

Indeed why should it be as neither of them lived there?

Which of the two Keefer chose to go up against would depend, he decided simply, on which ships were leaving for where in the next few hours. He didn‟t realise as he scrolled slowly through the lists that this made it somewhat less than a random choice. When he found what he was looking for he booked a one-way flight claiming seat priority and Class A personal security, but cancelling the rest of the open ticket in favour of a full cash refund in the strongest trademark currency notes.

The machine questioned the transaction politely but loudly:

„All leading reassurance and crime-prevention companies advise against carrying cash.‟ There was an element of blackmail in the volume of this announcement. By drawing the attention of everyone within earshot it was assumed that customers would feel vulnerable enough to change their minds. „We would be failing in our duty not to warn you of the danger you will be in with that number of currency notes on your person.‟

A fluorescent flashing Rob Me would be subtler, Keefer thought.

„Would you care to revise your instructions?‟ the teller finished in a more reasonable tone.

„No.‟

While the machine printed and registered the currency with the Central Bank of Sumana it tried one last time. „Are you sure you understand the risks?‟

„Yes.‟

„I doubt that,‟ a voice behind Keefer said softly, and he felt something pressed lightly into the small of his back. He made no attempt to turn round. „Don‟t even think about turning round,‟ the voice went on, „what you don‟t see may not kill you. Yet.‟

„Here is your currency,‟ the machine said, pushing the wad of brightly coloured notes forward between its dispensing rollers. „Please check the transaction and confirm that it is correct.‟

Keefer needed to know what his adversary was using. „What do you want me to do?‟ he asked.

„Please check the transaction and confirm that it is correct,‟

the automatic teller repeated automatically.

„Well?‟ Keefer was coldly focused now, waiting for the combat options to open out.

„Take the money and say it‟s right, you stupid scuffwit,‟ the voice had a smirk in it, „unless you want to be a freelance kidney donor.‟

Too confident to be bluffing, and the wordplay was knife not gun. Slowly Keefer reached for the money. A knife in zero-G? Had to be laser-enhanced. Lethal range on a decent blade: fifty centimetres set for slash; for stab, maybe half that. It would be cued for stab and the less conspicuous kill.

He took the money and riffled through the notes. „The transaction is correct,‟ he said.

„Thank you for using Instacash, the currency that counts,‟

the machine crooned as it closed down.

„Okay lets go.‟ Another light touch on his back. „Put the cash in your pocket and head for the cheap washrooms.‟

Keefer pushed himself off. He didn‟t bother to pretend that he was having difficulty with weightlessness, although that might have given him an edge. Somehow he wanted this man to understand what he was taking on, as much as he could ever understand, because if it came to a fight killing him would be unavoidable. He wondered briefly whether that had been in his mind all along, right from the moment he decided to draw such a lot of cash in the crowded GA sector.

Chapter Eight

From behind the darkened windows of one of the lock-up’s official runners the Doctor and Leela could see the assembled news crews waiting in front