Descending Road - WATCH YOUR BACK by Dana W. Paxson

WATCH YOUR BACK

1544 4D

Andrew and Alliji found a tuber stand, and munched for a while, eyeing the wares of a couple of trinket vendors nearby.

“You know,” Andrew said, “I don’t understand about Mentrius.”

“What’s there to understand? He’s a pain in the ass, especially as a lead.”

“But he’s mostly left me alone, since Abridor. I expected him to keep turning up the heat, but he hasn’t. I even thought he’d try to kill me. That time with the alien, he could have tried…"

“You don’t know him very well, do you? Everybody else does.”

“When Leil and I were getting married, he told me to watch my back. It was his way of welcoming me into the family.”

“It was good advice.” Alliji looked wistfully at a passing woman.

“Why? What do you know about him?”

“He’s got two ways he works. First, he goes straight for you with a blade.”

“I know, like what he did to Gej.”

“Yeah. But Mentrius doesn’t forget. If he can’t get what he wants by cutting it off, he hides his hand. That’s his second approach.”

“Yeah?”

“He lets you think he’s dropped it. Then just when you think it’s all done, he wipes you. Nexi told me that’s how he got where he is in the militia.”

“Nexi never told me.”

“He was going to. Then Nurumin got killed.” Alliji took a long breath. “Nexi heard it from a Sinantro guy. The Sinantro had three of the leads under Bermarin. Just before this training tour started, two of them got real sick, and one of the sick ones died. They’d just had dinner with Mentrius.”

“That’s no reason.”

“Except the dead one had been seen with Mentrius‘s sister at Water Nest last year. And Mentrius had heard about it back then, and he’d been livid. But he never did a thing, until he and two of his cousins went out with the Sinantro guys, and that was the dinner.”

“So he got rid of the guy.”

“And volunteered, and with all the missions he’s done, he got into place over us. You see?”

“Yeah, it fits.”

“His own advice was good, Andrew. I’ve been keeping my eyes open for you. But watch your back with him.”

The riaviti birds had quieted to an occasional chitter of song. Andrew and Alliji finished their food, saying nothing more.

Story List	SURPRISE ME	Author Page
USER SURVEY	PUZZLE ME	MAKE ELM MARK

HOVER Lucida Bright BARE	HOVER Lucida Bright FULL	HOVER Palatino Linotype BARE
HOVER Palatino Linotype FULL	HOVER Times New Roman BARE	HOVER Times New Roman FULL
PAD Arial BARE	PAD Arial FULL	PAD Lucida Bright BARE
PAD Lucida Bright FULL	PAD Times New Roman BARE	PAD Times New Roman FULL


	WATCH YOUR BACK 1544 4D Andrew and Alliji found a tuber stand, and munched for a while, eyeing the wares of a couple of trinket vendors nearby. “You know,” Andrew said, “I don’t understand about Mentrius.” “What’s there to understand? He’s a pain in the ass, especially as a lead.” “But he’s mostly left me alone, since Abridor. I expected him to keep turning up the heat, but he hasn’t. I even thought he’d try to kill me. That time with the alien, he could have tried…" “You don’t know him very well, do you? Everybody else does.” “When Leil and I were getting married, he told me to watch my back. It was his way of welcoming me into the family.” “It was good advice.” Alliji looked wistfully at a passing woman. “Why? What do you know about him?” “He’s got two ways he works. First, he goes straight for you with a blade.” “I know, like what he did to Gej.” “Yeah. But Mentrius doesn’t forget. If he can’t get what he wants by cutting it off, he hides his hand. That’s his second approach.” “Yeah?” “He lets you think he’s dropped it. Then just when you think it’s all done, he wipes you. Nexi told me that’s how he got where he is in the militia.” “Nexi never told me.” “He was going to. Then Nurumin got killed.” Alliji took a long breath. “Nexi heard it from a Sinantro guy. The Sinantro had three of the leads under Bermarin. Just before this training tour started, two of them got real sick, and one of the sick ones died. They’d just had dinner with Mentrius.” “That’s no reason.” “Except the dead one had been seen with Mentrius‘s sister at Water Nest last year. And Mentrius had heard about it back then, and he’d been livid. But he never did a thing, until he and two of his cousins went out with the Sinantro guys, and that was the dinner.” “So he got rid of the guy.” “And volunteered, and with all the missions he’s done, he got into place over us. You see?” “Yeah, it fits.” “His own advice was good, Andrew. I’ve been keeping my eyes open for you. But watch your back with him.” The riaviti birds had quieted to an occasional chitter of song. Andrew and Alliji finished their food, saying nothing more.