Brong Vrop, his eyes never leaving S’iug’s face, said “I want to speak to you. Alone.”
Elias said, “I have an idea of what you want to say Brong. I’m here to protect the Union’s witness while you are trespassing.”
Vrop’s eyes shrewd even more. “I didn’t come here to hurt him, flat. But what I have to say is private and I have this right.”
There was silence.
S’iug glanced at Elias who shrugged slightly. “Suppose you search him, take rays and anything else, Elias, and wait out in the hall. If I need you, I’ll call if you hear something you don’t like you enter.”
“Sure,” said Brong eagerly. “That’s fair enough. I can’t do much unarmed and with a flat fully armed right outside.”
Elias hoped that this was not ironic.
With faint reluctance, Elias stood up search extremely carefully Brong paying special attention to his tentacles and took hold of a ray and a couple of weird knives. Elias already knew from his file that Brong had permit for the rays stowed way in his wallet. In this planet the hands of the kotoworld reached into high places.
And then Elias walked into the chilled empty hall, closing the door of the drawing room behind him.
Now Elias knew clearly what Brong Vrop was about to say. Since he obviously would not try violence nor threat with a flat in the hall and aware to S’iug situation, the only other proposition he could make would be financial. Elias sighed; he was not worried about the Union losing a witness.
He knew S’iug better than that. True, the Koelian had become a psychopathic drunkard, a bum in his own unique way. But he had never last his strong sense of superiority. S’iug could not be bribed. Above all by Brong Vrop. S’iug would starve to death before he would accept credits from a gutter-bred reptile like Brong.
Elias shivered in the hall. The friendship between a ruthless thug like Brong and Welng, who was locked in the planet’s high security unit, was an odd thing. Even in institute they had been bosom companions. Brong supplied the ideas and the plans and Elephine-strong Welng carried them to execution. So had it happened this time. Only S’iug had been an accidental witness to the killing Brong had order his henchman to perform and with all coincidences and the institute S’iug knew who is who.
All of a sudden, Elias hard Brong’s voice raised and beating violently through the heavy door into his ears. Elias span around swiftly and re-entered the room.
S’iug mockingly and more insufferable than ever, casually sipped another drink. Brong’s dark face was flushed and his many eyes glittered with anger. S’iug’s refusal of Brong’s credit offer must have been larded with an insult.
Vrop paid no attention to Elias entrance. He stood legs apart and tentacles folded, glaring with all his eyes at S’iug.
He said with hot, exploding bitterness, “S’iug, if Welng burns, you’ll die. I shall see it to it personally. With my own… I…”
“Shut up,” snapped Elias. “That’s a threat Brong. I can take him in for that, S’iug.” S’iug eyes were contemptuous above the rim of his glass. “Don’t bother,” he said. “Get out of here. Both of you.”
Read all the Koelian tomb chapters in order, HERE!
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