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.AAYYBBYYBB r rwould never learn just how competent Caine really was.Now the trick would be to stall off anyattack until the blackcollars outside had been alerted."But you see now why I want to have some morepeople like you behind me."Bernhard took a deep breath and looked him straight in the eye."You're dead, Lathe.All of youare you simply don't know it yet.Security has the edge in numbers, technology, and time, and there'sjust no way to fight it.We came to an agreement with them a long time ago, but I don't think there'sany way at this point for you to do the same.Even if you were willing to.You're dead and I'm notgoing down with you.Will you try to get that through your head?""If you insist." And Lathe's combat senses were starting to scream at him."I'll be in touch," hesaid, moving toward the door.Beside Bernhard, Kanai stirred."Comsquare.755-3984-581.That's my home phone number, ifyou need anything.It'll probably be tapped, though."Lathe nodded, mildly surprised and instantly suspicious.But if there was betrayal in theinformation it wasn't visible in Kanai's eyes."Taps are easy enough to work around.Thanks."The attack didn't come as he hurried down the walk to where they'd parked their car.Nor did itcome as he drove around the block, picking up Skyler and Hawking and Caine.As they passed blockafter block of normal traffic, Lathe finally was forced to admit that they'd just escaped from anonexistent trap."So when are you going to tell us what that was all about?" Skyler asked casually as they headednorth toward Reger's home."Just keeping us in practice?"Lathe shook his head slowly."I caught something off-key from Bernhard, but apparently Imisread him.I thought perhaps Security had already gotten in with an offer he couldn't turn down.""Such as his skin for ours?" Skyler suggested."That would be all we'd need.""Actually, I think it's inevitable," Lathe told him.He was banking on it, in fact, though for themoment it didn't seem advisable to tell the others that."But apparently that's still somewhere down theline.""But you weren't wrong about Bernhard," Caine said slowly."I felt something wrong, too."Lathe shrugged."Well, let's not let it worry us.For the moment, anyway, he can't touch us."aaTTnnssFFffooDDrrPPmmYYeeYYrrBB22.BBAAClick here to buyClick here to buywwmmwwoowwcc.AAYYBBYYBB r r"Well?" Kanai asked quietly when the sound of Lathe's car had faded into the night."Well what?" Bernhard retorted, his face unreadable."Come on, Bernhard we know each other too well for games like this.Something's wrong.What?"Bernhard held out for a few more seconds, then gave in as Kanai had known he would."I had avisitor at home this evening just before I came here," he said with a sigh."One guess as to who."Something cold crawled up Kanai's back."It wouldn't have been General Quinn, by any chance?""You got it.Just walked right in off the street, bold as a khassq-class Ryq.I didn't even know hehad me located and if he's got me centered, he's got all of us.I couldn't believe it."Kanai nodded."He dropped in on me like that, too, wanting information on Lathe.Whateverthey're up to, Security's sure worked up over it.""Yeah," Bernhard growled."Well.""So what'd Quinn have to say? Aside from threatening us if we help Lathe, that is?"Bernhard's mouth quirked."It seems to have gotten worse since he talked to you.He's decidedthat our leaving Lathe alone isn't going to be good enough."Kanai stared, the muscles of his throat tightening."No.""Yes." Bernhard nodded heavily."No choice, Kanai.As of an hour ago we're officially on theSecurity payroll.""We can't do it," Kanai insisted stubbornly."Bernhard, we can't betray another blackcollar teamin cold blood ""You think I like it?" the other shot back."I'm a blackcollar, too, in case you've forgotten.Wehave no choice, dammit.Our own survival's at stake here our survival, against bringing down a littlesooner a team that's doomed anyway."Kanai took a deep breath."I don't give a damn," he said between clenched teeth."I'm not going tobe a party to this.Quinn can go straight to hell and if you do his snake work you can go with him."Anger flushed Bernhard's face.But the emotion quickly vanished, to be replaced by weariness."Iunderstand your feelings, Kanai.I wish to hell myself this wasn't necessary.But it is.You don't haveto help, but I at least need you to stand out of the way."Kanai hesitated.To say no, to break all ties with Bernhard once and for all, to cross over and allyhimself with Lathe.but he knew down deep it was all just wordplay.He'd fought too long atBernhard's side, shared too much history with him and the others."All right." He sighed."I'll stayclear.I hope you realize he's not going to be an easy target.""I agree." Bernhard's eyes searched Kanai's face."But his allies may not be quite as tough orslippery.Where is she?""Who? The Shandygaff woman?" Kanai's lip twisted in contempt."So you're giving up alreadyon the bull and instead going after the calf?""If what she did in the bar is any indication, she hardly qualifies as a calf," Bernhard replieddryly."Would you rather some friend of the late Mr.Nash finds her? and he had a lot of very nastyaaTTnnssFFffooDDrrPPmmYYeeYYrrBB22.BBAAClick here to buyClick here to buywwmmwwoowwcc.AAYYBBYYBB r rfriends
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