World's End

Page 47

"Hauling mud? That's absurd. That isn't work, it's--"

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"Punishment." He shrugged.

"But, ye gods, man, it doesn't help anybody! It can't possibly be efficient--a pipe would do the work ten times as well. And you could train those men to do something useful."

He stood up, towering over me. "There are more honest people than jobs out here as it is. You want more of them put out of work so a thief or a murderer can learn a trade?" The question was rhetorical. "By the Aurant, you sound like my wife! Nothing ever suited her, either."

I stared at him, amazed to think that he was actually

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WORLD S END

married. He'd never mentioned a wife.... I'd never even wondered about his past. With some people it's easy to

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forget how much of another person's life lies hidden from view.

Ang laughed once, glaring at me with his head bent to one side. "What is it with you, Gedda?

What are you really after out here?" This time he actually wanted to know.

I didn't answer, afraid to tell the truth, afraid he would leave me behind if I told him now that I wanted to go to Fire Lake.

"Yeah, Gedda," Spadrin goaded, "what are you running away from . . . what's your crime?" He pushed himself up again, watching me with hard eyes.

I looked down. "Impersonating a police officer." I turned away toward the lockers.

"Well, that suits." Ang's voice was sour.

I turned back. "What do you mean by that?"

"It suits your Technocrat arrogance. You Techs can strut around Kharemough like tin gods, but your gods or ancestors or whatever the hell you worship don't own

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