Page 34 of Alien's Luck
“What got you into the antique dealer business?” she asked.
He skillfully shuffled the deck, the cards flying from one hand to another. “I told you. A friend found it. She gave me her share?—”
“To rescue the elusive Darla, yeah,” she said. “But what’s the long-term plan?”
“I told you my plan. Rescue humans and set them up with enough funds to live a comfortable life.”
“I have some thoughts?—”
“I am astounded,” he replied in a flat tone. He split the deck in two and showed her the top card. “Is this your card?”
It was, but she lied and said, “Nope. Mine was the spider with five eyes with the rope around the neck.”
“That is a strand of silk. It is symbolic,” he said, giving her a harsh look as if he knew she lied. He shuffled the cards again and repeated the card selection process, spreading the cards face down on the table.
“First, there are other people besides humans who are slaves. Does your contract with your benefactor specifically say rescue only humans or just that one human in particular?” Carla selected a card. It was the same spider wearing the silk around its neck like a noose.
She glared at him, uncertain how he managed to pull that off.
“Your card,” he said, sounding quite pleased with himself. “Twenty people was the agreed -upon number, if you must know.”
“So not just humans.” Carla nodded her head. “Good. Second observation, you don’t seem to be utilizing your assets effectively.”
Ari looked at her like she had grown a second head.
“I went to school. I know words,” she said, her tone a touch defensive.
“I am aware that you know words. You are extremely loquacious.” He shuffled the cards again.
Smartass gargoyle.
“Look, I just mean that you have a lot of resources, but you’re doing everything by yourself. Those twenty people will take you forever. Hire someone to help.”
“What positions do you propose?”
It took her a solid thirty seconds to parse that he meant job positions, not… other stuff. Stuff she had no business thinking about because she just met this guy a few days ago. Her sister was in mortal peril, and she should not be fantasizing about jumping the alien gargoyle’s bones.
“Umm, dudes with guns. Lots of them. Pew-pew-pew up the place and liberate all the people,” she said, demonstrating her astounding tactic with finger guns.
“What is to prevent the dudes with guns from murdering me and helping themselves to my fortune?” He spread the cards face down across the table. “Draw a card.”
“Well, nothing, I guess, but some hired muscle wouldn’t hurt.” She drew a card. The damn spider again.
Making a frustrated noise, she tossed the card at Ari. He grinned, as if pleased with his trick. “I am muscle enough. I do not need to hire another person who will betray me or rob me, likely both.”
Fair. She said, “You’re one person and you can’t be everywhere at once. At least hire someone to fly the ship.”
“I manage.”
She snorted. “Barely.”
His wings fluttered. “You are hardly an expert.”
“I’ve got eyes,” she snapped back. “You use the autopilot and can’t change course when it’s running.”
“I was led to believe that Earth was technologically primitive. When did you gather your extensive knowledge of interstellar vessels and navigation?” He shuffled the cards, elegant in his tailored suit and looking like butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth.
“Don’t try to make me feel ignorant by using a lot of fancy words,” she warned. “Not that I have to explain anything, but Poppy is a bit of a trainspotter. That’s not the right word. She geeks out over the ships and I get to listen to her list all the specs.”
