The Complete Hammer's Slammers, Vol. 3

Vierziger spoke with almost proprietary satisfaction; the tone of a long-time veteran or even friend of President Alois Hammer. Coke looked at the sergeant and said nothing.

“I think, Matthew,” Vierziger added mildly, “that you have a visitor coming.”

Coke’s mind was one again with his body, aches and stresses complete. Pilar’s solid figure walked toward the NDP from the terminal building. She’d insisted on trying to put the facilities to rights immediately. It was hard to see that being possible, given the disruption the Heliodorans had caused and the damage from the exploding starship.

They had decisions to make in the near future, both of them.

Coke stood up. “Johann?” he said. “It’s quiet now, but the Marvelans will pull us out of here in a few weeks at the longest. Do you think the civilians here will do any better the next time?”

“That’s up to them, Matthew,” Vierziger said. “The only thing that matters to our souls is what we’ve done ourselves.”

“You believe in souls, then?” Coke snapped.

Vierziger nodded. His smile reminded Coke that Lucifer was a fallen angel. “Oh, yes,” the little killer said. “I believe in souls.”

Matthew Coke turned and walked to meet Pilar at the guard-post. By his own orders as Commanding Officer, troops of the Cantilucca Expedition were required to carry weapons with them at all times.

Coke’s sub-machine gun and holstered pistol remained on the crate where he’d been sitting.

The Sharp End

To Larry Barnthouse, who long ago as another 96 C 2 L 94 was missed by all the same bullets that missed me.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This book involved computer adventures unusual even for me, The Man Who Kills Computers. (Three dead within two weeks.) My son Jonathan, Mark Van Name, Karen Zimmerman, Allyn Vogel, and my wife Jo, were of particular importance in making it possible for me to continue working.

This book required a lot of attention by Dan Breen, my first reader. I’m very fortunate to have him.

PAYING THE PIPER

A Background Note from the Author