Jade War

The next day, however, Bero felt a little bad for having spoken so harshly to Mudt. They had been through quite a few harrowing times together, he and Mudt. They had stolen jade and risked death together. They were each alone, and so they were friends, of a sort. He was surprised to realize that he did not want to lose the kid, that deep down, he kind of liked him. So he called Mudt up, and they went to play pool in the basement of the Rat House. Bero said, “I didn’t mean what I said about your da. We’ll get Maik. I’ll help you get that fucker back for what he did. And then we’ll take his jade for ourselves, the same way we took Kaul’s. You and me.”

Mudt looked up with eagerness in his small black eyes and was a lot more cheerful after that. They hung out and trained, and Bero went back to dealing shine, but still he hoped that Soradiyo would call with some other work, or a new opportunity would materialize, because despite what he’d said to Mudt to make the kid feel better, Bero had no intention of going after the Maiks for the sake of some foolish sense of revenge that wasn’t important to him.

When Soradiyo finally called them up to meet in the Rat House, he clapped Bero and Mudt on the backs and spoke to them in a perfectly friendly way, as if there had never been any problems between them. When they’d all had a few drinks and gone through the usual conversational bullshit, Bero said, “We’ve been working as rockfish for more than a year. Where’s the jade you promised we’d be earning by now?”

Soradiyo spread his hands. “You’re getting it soon, keke.” He seemed to have picked up some Kekonese slang and mannerisms since Bero had first met him. “But the rainy season doesn’t count. That’s vacation time. You’ve got another couple months to go.”

Bero scowled. “So you’ve got more work for us, then?”

For the first time that Bero could remember, Soradiyo appeared nervous. He wetted his lips and leaned in to speak so that no one could overhear them. “Yeah, but it’s not a scavenge,” he said.

“What is it, then?” said Bero. “Packing rock, again?”

“It’s what you call a whispered name. Can’t wear jade to do it either, because it’s not just any

name. We’ve been offered the chance to go on the offensive. To go into the tiger’s lair, so to speak. I need a couple of kekes who’re fearless and want to make a shitload of money.”

“Who are we going after?” Mudt leaned in, sounding interested for the first time.

“First, I have to be sure you’re both up to the task. We’ve got a plan to get you in, do the job and get out, no problem. Still, it’s going to be—”

“Not interested,” said Bero.

Soradiyo sat back, surprised by his quick refusal. “It’s a big opportunity. If you don’t take it, I’ll give it to Mo and Shrimps.” They were another pair of his rockfish managers.

Bero shrugged. He didn’t care to explain that he’d already been down this road. Every time he’d had a run-in with Green Bones, he’d been lucky to escape the encounter alive, and far from gaining what was promised, his fortunes had taken a nosedive. He’d had enough near-death experiences for someone who was only twenty years old, and he’d learned by now that there were easier ways to get jade than trying to kill a Green Bone directly. He finally knew what it was like to wear jade and walk around with a secret sense of power over all the weaker people around him—but the Green Bones could take it all away from him in an instant, leave his body floating in Summer Harbor.

“Give me another scavenge job. I’ll even pack fish like last time, but I’m not taking off my jade for anything, and I’m not doing any whisper work, not if it involves Green Bones,” Bero said. “I’m not that stupid.”

Soradiyo got out of his chair. “Wait, what about me?” protested Mudt, but the barukan threw down some money for the drinks, gave both of them a scornful, disappointed glance, and walked out of the Rat House.

CHAPTER 29

Opening and Closing Doors

The Lantern Man Mr. Enke was back in Shae’s office. His overall demeanor was considerably more amenable this time because he was asking for money. “The Oortokon War is having a terrible effect on Janloon’s real estate market,” Enke said. “My company needs to diversify our holdings. Property in Port Massy is a reliable, high-return investment. And this particular development is good value for its location.”

“And you want the clan to loan you the capital,” Shae concluded.

Mr. Enke extracted a file folder from his briefcase, placed it on the table, and opened it to a page with a financial summary detailing his request. “With the assistance of the Weather Man’s office, Enke Property Group could purchase a forty percent stake in the development.”