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Phil, and an unconscious Rico, whose entire right leg had disappeared inside an automedic. A cloud of Page 35 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html brightly colored aircars flitted all around them. They were all listening to the announcer on their radios and, urged on by his voice, they waved and cheered. Doing their best to smile cheerfully, McCade and Phil dutifully waved back. The unofficial escort was the announcer's idea, and a very effective one. Not only would the crowd make it difficult to execute an attack, they also made it stupid to launch one. With McCade and his companions riding a wave of public approval, to attack them within minutes of their victory would not only smack of poor sportsmanship, it would also amount to very stupid politics. McCade knew Claudia was a lot of things, but stupid wasn't one of them. To take and hold power she would need a good measure of public approval. She'd just lost some by taking a public position and losing. At this point a public attack could turn a minor loss into a major public relations disaster. So McCade felt fairly sure she'd control her temper and bide her time. Meanwhile, they'd get the hell off Terra and into the relative safety of space. A few minutes later the aircar landed next to Pegasus. Under McCade's watchful eye, two robots transferred Rico from the aircar to the ship. Then he and Phil engaged in one last round of waving and smiling, before ducking into the main lock, and cycling the outer hatch closed. Once in the control room, McCade was amused to find that a second customs inspection had been waived, and Pegasus was already cleared for lift-off. Apparently Claudia was as eager to get rid of them as they were to go. After considerable urging from Main Port ground control, the swarm of aircars backed off to a safe distance, and gave Pegasus enough room to lift. As she roared toward the sky, the announcer swung his feet up onto the console, and lifted a glass in salute. For the first time in many years he felt good about himself. "Good luck, McCade. We made one helluva team." Seven "MORE FOOD, SLAVES, and while you're at it, more cigars!" Rico's voice boomed over the intercom. "Shall I kill him, or would you like the honor?" McCade asked Phil. Phil shook his shaggy head in amazement. "I'm a trained biologist, and I can't believe that a single man can eat that much, and be that big a pain in the ass. It isn't normal." McCade grinned. "If you're suggesting that Rico isn't normal... I'll go along with that." "I heard that!" Rico said accusingly. "Here I am, layin' wounded... nearly starvin' ta death... and my friends sit around insultin' me ... me - the one that saved their miserable lives..." McCade reached up and flipped a switch, cutting Rico off in mid-complaint. "Well, much as I'd like to hang around and shoot the breeze with you guys, it's time to get to work." "Sure," Phil grumbled, "you take off for Joyo's Roid while I stay here with the crazed convalescent. Why Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html don't I go while you stay?" McCade grinned as he got to his feet. "Because I'm the bounty hunter, remember? And besides, from what I hear, it's damn hard to get off Joyo's Roid unless they decide to let you. So somebody's got to be here to save my ass if I get in trouble." Phil sniffed loudly, only partly mollified. "Maybe, but just make sure you don't have too much fun." "I promise," McCade replied readily, and flipped the intercom back on. "... not to mention the many favors I done them. By the way, did I mention cigars? How many cigars have I given you, Sam McCade? A hundred? A thousand? Page 36 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html And you won't bring Rico a cigar? Shame on you..." Phil groaned out loud, and McCade gave him a jaunty wave as he slid out of the control room. Stopping by his cabin he grabbed a box of cigars, took a fistful for himself, and then threw the rest into Rico's cabin. Grabbing his carryall he headed for the lifeboat. It was a tubby little affair, barely large enough to hold six very friendly adults. McCade secured the tiny lock, slid behind the rudimentary controls, and strapped in. He had a choice between Emergency Launch and Normal Launch. He chose normal. As the boat's computer ran an automated pre-flight check, [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] |
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