The elf turned to see who spoke his name so tentatively, and his eyes widened briefly in surprise. 'You're a long way from home, Sir Cat.'
Kham looked from one to the other. 'Ya know each odder?'
Neko simply said, 'Hai,' but the elf was more elaborate, as usual. 'In truth, we have done some small business in the past, working our way through a tangled web of deceit in order to make the world a safer place. Though we disported in different dance halls, we moved to the same music.'
Also as usual, the elf hid what he meant to say in flowery, oblique phrases, but Kham thought he caught the drift. 'Da dogboy's big run?'
Dodger turned to him, his eyes wide in mock surprise. 'I am amazed at the speed with which you leap to the conclusion, Sir Tusk. More amazed, however, that you are correct. Have you used the proceeds of your last run to have a brain implanted? Nay, nay, no need to answer, for I spoke too quickly. Surely, had your brain capacity increased, you would not have taken your recent excursion into the country.''
'I ain't in no mood for your mouth, elf.'
'Your manner is surly as ever, Sir Tusk, but perhaps you are correct that this is not the time for you and / to talk. This is not a social call. Perhaps some other day when things are not so busy.''
The elf inclined his head, then swept a bow of greeting in the direction of the kitchen. Kham turned to see a group of juvenile and adolescent orks crowded in the archway. The kids must have come in the back way to gawk at the stranger. Kham shouted at them and they scattered, some back into the kitchen, some forming a ragged pack that tore across the main room past Neko, who wisely remained still as the kids flowed around him, then went screaming upstairs. In response to Dodger's remark, Neko bowed and started to leave.
Kham held up a hand. 'Maybe ya oughta stay, cat-boy. Seeing as how ya know da elf and all.' Neko smiled and stopped. As Kham had thought, the cat-boy's curiosity was stronger than his manners. It might be interesting to see the prissy elf squirm, to make him work at his fancy talk and try to phrase things so Kham would understand and the kid wouldn't. Then again, watching the elf while the kid was around might tell Kham something about their relationship. There had been a lot about the dogboy's run that Kham had not understood. 'So, elf, ya wanta talk, talk. Don't let da catboy bother ya. He practically lives here anyway. ''
Dodger smiled, wide and cheerful, without a hint of discomfort. Kham was annoyed.
'As you wish, Sir Tusk. Your kindness is overwhelming. I had not thought you to be so considerate of a busy decker's time.'
The elf actually seemed pleased that Neko was going to be present. Kham sneaked a look at Neko and found that the kid had dropped his poker face and actually looked as baffled as Kham felt. Not liking the twist things were taking, Kham growled, 'Like I said, talk.'
' 'Tis not I, but another, who wishes to speak to you, Sir Tusk. He awaits your invitation.' 'And who might dis odder guy be?' 'You ask for a name? Alas, I am distressed to see you return to your old ignorant ways. Names? I thought the fair Lady Tsung had taught you better.''
That was a clue to what was going on. 'So Sally ain't involved den?'
Dodger sighed. 'Alas, no. Her beauteous features grace some other venue and enrich some other shadows.'
'So dis is some kinda biz offer.' 'Biz, as you say, but biz that was, rather than biz that shall be.'
'Drek, elf! Will ya knock it off and talk plain like real people?'
'As I said, it is not I who wishes to speak to you.' To Kham's frown, the elf prompted, 'An invitation is awaited, Sir Tusk.'
'So get him in here. He's invited already.' 'Ah, such grace.' Dodger bowed to the open doorway, sweeping a hand wide in invitation.
The red-haired elf entering Kham's house didn't need a name after all. Kham recognized him from the vid. He was Scan Laverty, a member of the Tir Tairn-gire Council of Princes. Laverty's presence could only mean trouble- nothing else would bring such an important person to the slums of Orktown for a meet with a runner. Even if it was just biz, that biz would be trouble, too.
Laverty nodded greeting to Kham, then to Neko. 'I apologize for my unannounced arrival, Kham. I thought it best.'
Kham groaned inwardly, hoping he wasn't making any noise. It was trouble. 'No problem,' he said, hoping he'd be right.
'I wish it were so. I'm afraid that your involvement in a recent bit of shadow business has put you in danger.'
'We didn't go anywhere near da Tir,' Kham said defensively.
'No one is saying you did,' Laverty said with a smile that vanished as quickly as it appeared. 'Do you know who your principals were?'' 'Dey didn't give dere names.' Laverty gave him a look that said Kham had not answered the question, then he shruged philosophically, and continued. 'One of the principals in the recent operation is a bit draconian in his ideas. Wishing to keep the matter a total secret, he did not use any talent normally associated with him.'
'So dey used us instead, ya mean,' Kham interrupted.
'Indeed. I believe his original concept was that new tools would be unknown tools. No fuss. Loose ends perhaps, but unimportant ones without connections to other, shall we say, powers interested in the doings of this person.'
'Ya come to da wrong ork, elf. I ain't ratting on nobody named Johnson. If dey're unhappy wid me now, dey'11 be really unhappy if I rat on 'em.'
Laverty looked thoughtful for a moment. 'Do you believe that I stand in opposition to your recent employer? Or that I seek what they sought for my own use?'
Either or both was possible. Kham shrugged to show his indifference to Laverty's reasons. 'Whatever. Dey sure was being secretive. Musta had dere reasons.'
'Good reasons, indeed,' Laverty agreed solemnly. 'But let me assure you that although they intended me to remain ignorant of their actions, I was not the one whom they feared.'
Kham didn't like the sound of that. 'Awright, so ya ain't against dem or looking ta cop dere haul. So what-taya doin' here? I heard yer a philanthropist, but I ain't never heard of ya doing much fer orks.'
'You cannot know all that I do,' Laverty said warningly. 'For the moment, believe that I am concerned for your best interests. Certain sources have suggested to me that one of your principals has decided that his tools have become a liability.'
'Are you suggesting that he wishes us dead?' Neko asked.
Kham shook his head. 'If he wanted us dead, he wouldn'a boddered paying us. Dey'd have done us all out in da woods.'
' 'Twould not be unlikely that they feared your combined firepower, Sir Tusk. In the woods, you were all alert and looking for trouble. Your group would have been a more formidable threat.'
Neko gave a quick nod of agreement. 'Then this disgruntled employer seeks to eliminate us individually in an effort to hide his deed.'
Scratching his head, Kham said, 'If yer on da level, why should we worry? Yer being here makes dat pointless. Someone already knows about what we did-you do. If dis elf's worried about us talking, he's gonna be worried about you, too. If we're in danger, so are you.'
'No. He can be sure that I will not inform those he fears. He cannot be sure of you or the others. Though you intend to be honorable, you may inadvertently become an informer. He will not be content to rely on your intent to keep confidentiality.'
'So yer warning us. Why?' Kham asked. 'What are ya getting outta dis?''
'Hai. Your motives bear on your trustworthiness,' Neko stated. 'Do you seek to set us against our former employer?''
'No,' Laverty answered, waving his hand in a dismissive gesture. 'I only seek your lives.'
'A popular commodity today,' said a new voice from the door. Forestalling several attempts to reach for weapons, the voice added. 'Anybody who moves dies now.'
Under his breath Dodger whispered, 'But we all go later.'
Kham, Neko, and the elves remained where they were, but their eyes took in the half-dozen newcomers. The hoods they wore were like the ones of the Hu-manis policlubbers, but these raiders were too well-equipped to be
