World's End

Page 78

I nodded. "As all right as she could be. He didn't have a chance to really harm her."

Ang nodded in turn and picked up the medical supplies.

"Don't try to go anywhere on that leg." He shot a warning glance at Spadrin and climbed into the vehicle's cab.

"You fucking son of a bitch," Spadrin hissed at me when Ang was out of earshot. His face was a map of red scratches from the fireshrub, and a bruise was forming on his jaw where I hit him.

"You think I don't know why

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you didn't shoot? You wanted that bloodsucker to drain me dry!"

"And you tried to rape that woman!"

"A crazy woman--"

"What the hell difference does that make? You degenerate, the thought of breathing the same air you breathe makes me sick. I know your type--"

"And I know yours." He leaned forward, baring his teeth at me. "Gedda. I know what that means on your homeworld, Tech. It means failed suicide--coward.

That's what those scars mean too. They mean you're dead to your own people, even if you didn't have the guts to end it all like a real man. What did you do that they found out about? What's really wrong with you?

You don't like it with women; maybe you like it with men? Or with something--"

I caught him by the front of his jacket, dragging him to his feet.

97

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JOAN D. VINGE

It was just what he wanted. Suddenly I was sprawled on the ground; all his weight was on top of me, and the blade of his knife hovered over my eyes. I cursed myself with helpless fury.

"You thought you were smarter than us, didn't you, Gedda? Well, now you see just how much you really know about anything." He spat the words into my face.

I flinched, and he laughed.

"Ang!" I shouted, bit it off as the knife lowered.

"Shut up." His free hand caught my chin. "You answer what I ask, and that's all. Understand?"

I nodded, panting. "What--what do you want to know?"