Althaya looked troubled. She said, "Black Randolph will know ... and
that reminds me. He will want to see you."
* * * * *
Black Randolph went hysterical when he saw Grim. He threw back his head
and roared. He slapped his hand against his thigh, making a sharp, flat
sound. Tears of mirth sprang from his deep-sunk eyes.
He came across the tiled floor of the room to stand spraddle-legged
before Grim, hands slammed into lean hips. His thin lips twitched
amusedly.
"So you found me at last, Thorssen! You've come to the end of your
eight-year trail. Congratulations! Too bad you aren't going back to
Unions Council. You could tell 'em you're the only Fleet man ever to
meet Black Randolph face to face."
Fury and hate seethed in the man's face. He brought his hard palm flat
against Grim's cheek. "For eight years you've hounded me, Thorssen. You
never caught me, but you smashed my empire. One by one--from Antares to
Betelgeuse--you got my best men. But you'll suffer for it. Oh Lord, how
you'll suffer!"
Black Randolph's eyes flickered when they brought Tlokine in. He
grinned at her, running his eyes over her lissome body. He chuckled,
"Too bad she has to go on your altar, Red. I could use that myself."
Althaya went white. She whispered sibilantly, "My patience is strained
already. See that you don't test it further."
The pirate laughed, slid an arm around her waist and drew her against
him. He laughed, "Once we get that force in our hands, Red--I'll make
you a goddess as I promised. What about that, Thorssen? Imagine Black
Randolph with that force all his own--free to roam between the stars,
in the spacelanes--dictate my own terms to Unions Council or smash
their ships! It was my lucky day when I spacewrecked on this planet."