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nydus/The Stainless Steel RatPublic

An intergalactic thief tries life on the side of the law.

Page 68 of 178
Table of Contents

VII

“I want to talk to you, arrange a deal. Something that would be profitable for both of us. But let me first show you the rest of the bombs, so you won’t get any strange ideas about cooperating.”

Of course I had to show him the rest of the bombs, there was no getting out of it. The scanners in the ship were following a planned program. I made light talk about all my massive armament that would carry us both to perdition, while I climbed through the hole in the battleship’s hull. There was no armor or warning devices at this spot, it had been chosen carefully from the blueprints.

“Yeah, yeah⁠ ⁠… I take your word for it, you’re a flying bomb. So stop with this roving reporter bit and tell me what you have in mind.”

This time I didn’t answer him, because I was running and panting like a dog, and had the mike turned off. Just ahead, if the blueprints were right, was the door to the control room. Pepe should be there.

I stepped through, gun out, and pointed it at the back of his head. Angelina stood next to him, looking at the screen.

“The game’s over,” I said. “Stand up slowly and keep your hands in sight.”

“What do you mean,” he said angrily, looking at the screen in front of him. The girl caught wise first. She spun around and pointed.

“He’s here !”

They both stared, gaped at me, caught off guard and completely unprepared.

“You’re under arrest, crime-king,” I told him. “And your girlfriend.”

Angelina rolled her eyes up and slid slowly to the floor. Real or faked, I didn’t care. I kept the gun on Pepe’s pudgy form while he picked her up

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