HarperVoyager An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 1 London Bridge Street London SE1 9GF

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First published in Great Britain by HarperCollinsPublishers 2019

Copyright © by George R.R. Martin 2019 Jacket design by David G. Stevenson © HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2019 Jacket illustration by Raya Golden © HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2019

George R.R. Martin asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

A catalogue copy of this book is available from the British Library.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed

in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living

or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

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Source ISBN: 9780008342456 Ebook Edition © March 2019 ISBN: 9780008342463 Version: 2019-02-25

PROLOGUE

A decade ago, something amazing happened: Aliens

discovered Earth. Three Chaseen ships landed, all randomly

searching for active sports stadiums, looking to make a real

entrance. The first ship landed in Singapore during the AFF

Tiger Cup Championship. The second landed in Denmark at

the Parken Stadium during a New Firm local rivalry pregame

and unfortunately caused a small stampede of university

students–which was indeed an entrance, although maybe

not the one that particular pilot was looking for. The third

landed at one other notable stadium on the other

side of the planet, but more on that later.

Thankfully, they didn’t come to rule over us or anything

dramatic like that. Instead, humanity got to join the 314 other

species within the Harmony of Worlds. With the help of three

main pilgrim species–the Lohb, the Nhar, and the founding

Chaseen–Earth began to construct three intergalactic treaty

ports: one in Singapore, the first to open, six years after the

landing; one in Copenhagen, which opened the following year

...and one plagued with delays and all sorts of

intrigue, opening two years after that...

CHAPTER ONE

...IN CHICAGO.

...WHILE THEAMERICAN STARPORT’SFIRST ANNIVERSARY ISAPPROACHING AND AS EARTHCELEBRATES ITS TEN-YEARANNIVERSARY OF HUMANITY’SDISCOVERY BY THE HARMONYOF WORLDS.

THE PRESIDENT ISBUSY WORKING WITHOTHER GLOBAL LEADERS TOCOMMEMORATE THE DAY. ANINTERNATIONAL HOLIDAY IS BEINGPROPOSED, BUT MASSIVE TENSIONERUPTED OVER WHICH STARPORTWILL HOST THE CELEBRATION.AND HERE IN CHICAGO...

...PROTESTS

CONTINUE AS NATIONAL

MOTORS PREPARES TO

FINALIZE ITS CONTROVERSIAL

POWERCELL DEAL WITH

HARMONY’S MOST ELUSIVE

SPECIES, THE SKRIT.

CHARLIE?

WHAT TIME

IS IT?

MUCH RESTSON THE SUCCESSFULCONCLUSION OF THISVENTURE, WHICH MIGHTFINALLY PUT CHICAGOIN LINE WITHSINGAPORE...

...AND COPENHAGEN AS AMAJOR ECONOMICPOWER–DESPITE THE MANYDELAYS THAT PLAGUED THEOPENING OF ITS STARPORT JUST ABOUT A YEARAGO.

SIX-THIRTY

A.M.

WAKING

UP BRIGHT

AND EARLY FOR

YOUR NEW

JOB, HUH?

YES...

DAMN IT!

HERE,

LET ME.

YOU’RE

GOOD.

I THOUGHT

YOU LEARNED THAT

LAST NIGHT...

YOU THINK

THIS COLOR’S

OKAY?

YOU

LOOK

FINE.

SEVEN

YEARS IN UNIFORM,

ALL YOU KNOW

IS BLUE.

IT’S AN

ADJUSTMENT.

WAIT...

WHERE’S MY

BADGE?

DETECTIVE BAKER,

ARE YOU TELLING ME THAT

YOU LOST YOUR NEW GOLD

SHIELD WITHIN TWENTY-

FOUR HOURS OF

GETTING IT?

THAT’S

NOT FUNNY,

STACY.

IT HAS

TO BE HERE

SOMEPLACE!

WE DIDN’T GO

ANYWHERE LAST

NIGHT...

IT’S RIGHT

HERE, SILLY. YOU

DEPUTIZED ME,

REMEMBER? IT

WAS JUST

AFTER–

RIGHT! WELL,

I’D BETTER GET

GOING. MAKE SURE

YOU LOCK UP

WHEN YOU...

OF COURSE.

AND IF YOU

BUMP INTO GORT,

TELL HIM KLAATUBARADA NIKTO FOR ME.

BOY, THAT’S

THE WAY TO COMMUTE,

HUH? WOULDN’T YOU

LOVE TO OWN ONE OF

THOSE BABIES?

GOOD LUCK! THEY

DON’T SELL THEM

TO THE LIKES

OF US...

SURE THEY

DO, IF YOU GOT A

COUPLE MILLION TO

SPARE. I HEAR THE

SAUDIS BOUGHT

A DOZEN.

I READ

THAT JAY LENO’S

GOT ONE.

YEAH, AND

THE NEW TESLA

REALLY LOOKS LIKE ONE.

THAT’S NOT THE POINT.

POINT IS, THEY SHOULDN’T

BE ALLOWED TO FLY THEM

IN THE CITY. IF ONE OF

THEM CRASHES...

THEY DON’T

CRASH.

SAYS WHO?

THE MUNCHKINS?

I MEAN, WHAT THE

HELL DO YOU EXPECT

THEM TO SAY?

ACTUALLY,

THEY’RE DESIGNED

NOT TO CRASH. EVEN

IF YOU TRY TO SMASH INTO SOMETHING, THE SKIMMER WON’T LET YOU.

NOW, IF

YOU’LL EXCUSE

ME, THIS IS

MY STOP.

FIGURES.

SON

OF A...

HEY!

STOP!

POLICE!

COPS! EVERYBODY SPLIT!

EARTHBLOODS!

GRAB AS MANY

AS YOU CAN!

PUT

DOWN THE

BAT, SON.

HAHA

HAHAHA

HAHA!

I SAID

DROP IT,

YOU LITTLE

SHIT!

DROP

THE GUN,

ASSHOLE!

NOW!

OKAY,

AGAINST THE

WALL. SPREAD

’EM!

I’M A

COP, FOR

CHRISSAKE!

UH-HUH.

SURE YOU ARE.

LET’S SEE

A BADGE

THEN

I...

I SEEM

TO HAVE

LOST IT.

RIGHT.

HAPPENS TO

ME ALL THE TIME. NOW GET MOVING!

WAIT! IT’S

GOT TO BE

AROUND HERE

SOMEPLACE–

YOU HAVE

THE RIGHT

TO REMAIN SILENT.

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT

TO AN ATTORNEY. IF

YOU CAN’T AFFORD

ONE, ONE WILL BE

APPOINTED FOR

YOU–

LISTEN TO

ME, OFFICER...

OFFICER...WHAT’S

YOUR NAME?

OFFICER

LISA RUTLEDGE.

ANYTHING YOU SAY

CAN AND WILL BE USED

AGAINST YOU...

ESPECIALLY THAT CRAP

ABOUT BEING A COP!

IN YOU GO.

YOU

ALL RIGHT,

MA’AM?

WHAT

DID SHE

SAY?

AYSACH LEESAY NOAHASOMU WAILAANIS. CHAIT SLEEVA CHAI!

HOW THE

HELL DO I KNOW?

I DON’T SPEAK

MUNCHKIN.

I DON’T

BELIEVE THIS!

LIFE’S A

BITCH, MAN.

ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU

GET YOUR ASS HANDED

TO YOU BY A BUNCH

OF UMPA

LUMPA-LOVIN’

COPS!

THIS IS

NOT HAPPENING ON MY FIRST DAY.

LISTEN, IF YOU

COULD JUST LET

ME SPEAK TO THE

CAPTAIN...

I WANT

A SHYSTER,

MAN! I GOT

RIGHTS!

...CAN I

GET YOUR FULL

NAME FOR OUR

REPORT?

JANE

MANISCALCO,

DEAR.

GET

YOUR HANDS

OFF!

THIS IS NOT HAPPENING.

HOW DO

YOU SPELL THAT,

MA’AM?

MANISCALCO.

JUST LIKE IT SOUNDS,

OFFICER PARK. IT’S

NOT JUST THE

MONEY.

ALL MY CREDIT

CARDS WERE IN

THERE. AND THE PICTURES

OF MY GRANDKIDS...

AND MY DRIVER’S

LICENSE.

WE’LL DO

OUR BEST TO GET

THEM BACK FOR YOU,

MRS. MANISCALCO.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE

THE PURSE?

YOU WERE

THERE, OFFICER

MORELLO.

BROWN.

IT WAS

BROWN.

OR DID

I TAKE THE

BLACK ONE

TODAY?

YOU AND PARK

HAD HIM, AND YOU

LET HIM GET

AWAY!

GIMME A BREAK,

SARGE. THE GUY TOOK

OFF! WHAT THE HELL

WERE WE SUPPOSED

TO DO?

RUN HIM

DOWN–THE WAY

WE DID WHEN I

WAS ON THE

STREETS!

IT WAS A SIMPLE

PURSE-SNATCHING,

MORELLO. MAYBE IF

YOU SPENT MORE TIME

IN THE GYM AND LESS

IN THE DONUT SHOP,

RUNNING DOWN A

SUSPECT WOULDN’T

BE SO...

NO OFFENSE,

SERGEANT

MONDRAGON, BUT

WHEN YOU WERE ON

THE STREETS, THE

PURSE-SNATCHERS

DIDN’T HAVE

WINGS!

EXCUSE ME?

YEAH. HE

WASN’T RUNNING

AWAY. THE LITTLE

PISSANT COULD

FLY.

...AS I

SAID.

BUT WE’VE

ALREADY ASSIGNED

HALF A DOZEN MEN

TO THE HOTEL. AND I

CAN’T GIVE EVERY

VISITING DIGNITARY A

FULL DETAIL...

...I

UNDERSTAND,

BUT THAT WAS

THE POPE!

THEN TELL

TOPMAN TO CALL

THE MAYOR AND GET

US APPROVED FOR

MORE OVERTIME!

NO, I DON’T

NEED TO TALK TO

TOPMAN MYSELF.

NO REALLY,

THERE’S...

STAMM!

NO, I WASN’T

TALKING TO YOU,

AND I DON’T KNOW

WHAT THAT MEANS IN

YOUR LANGUAGE.

CAN YOU GIVE ME

A MOMENT,

PLEASE?

EMILE, IF

YOU LIGHT THAT THING,

I SWEAR I’M GOING TO

SHOVE IT RIGHT UP

YOUR–

NO, I’M STILL

HERE. I WAS

SPEAKING TO SOME-

ONE ELSE...YES, AND

TO YOU CHAY’ASH

LENAERHI. A PLEASURE.

THIS IS LIEUTENANT

KELLEHER.

YES, PROFIT

TO YOUR HOUSE,

TOO. YES, OF COURSE

WE UNDERSTAND THE

IMPORTANCE OF

THESE TALKS...

TOPMAN,

WE’LL DO EVERYTHING

IN OUR POWER TO

PROTECT THE TRADE

ENVOY, BUT YOU MUST

UNDERSTAND...

FINE. YOU SPEAK TO THE MAYOR! AND TO THE GOVERNOR.

HELL, YOU

MIGHT AS WELL

SPEAK TO THE

PRESIDENT. MAYBE

SHE’LL BE ABLE

TO HELP

YOU!

STAMM, I

WARNED YOU

ABOUT THAT

CIGAR.

SORRY,

LIEUTENANT.

I MUST NOT HAVE

HEARD...

I DIDN’T

WANT TO

EAVESDROP.

WORD IS

YOU’RE GOING TO

STICK ME WITH A

NEW PARTNER.

DETECTIVE

CHARLES K. BAKER, A

TRANSFER FROM THE

22ND. SEVEN YEARS ON

THE FORCE, JUST GOT

HIS GOLD SHIELD.

C’MON, L.T.,

GIMME A BREAK.

YOU KNOW I DON’T

DO VIRGINS.

STAMM, WHAT

I KNOW IS YOU GO

THROUGH PARTNERS LIKE

A HYPOCHONDRIAC GOES

THROUGH KLEENEX. BAKER

IS SUPPOSED TO BE A

GOOD COP.

YEAH, SO

WHERE THE

HELL IS THIS

PARAGON?

GOOD

POINT. HE’S

LATE.

JUST WHAT

WE NEED–A

DETECTIVE WHO

CAN’T EVEN FIND

HIS OWN DESK.

HEY, MAN,

WHY DON’T YOU

LOCK UP THE FREAKIN’

ALIENS INSTEAD?

YOU OUGHT

TO ARREST THEM

FOR SELLING

THAT CRAP!

EARTH

FIRST, EH?

YOU BOYS

LOOK GOOD

BEHIND

BARS.

EXCUSE ME,

OFFICER, BUT

THERE’S BEEN A

MISTAKE. I’M

A COP.

HELL,

YEAH. ME,

TOO!

YEAH, MAN!

AND I LOST MY

GUN AS WELL. CAN

I HAVE THAT

BACK NOW?

HEHEH...

SCREW

YOU. I’M WITH THE FBI!

MMM-

HMMM.

ALL RIGHT,

GENTLEMEN, SETTLE

DOWN. WE’RE GOING

TO TAKE YOU UP ONE

AT A TIME AND BOOK

YOU. YOU GET ONE

PHONE CALL

APIECE.

LISTEN,

IF I COULD JUST

SEE CAPTAIN SWOBODA

FOR A MINUTE...

YOU FIRST,

PRETTY BOY,

SINCE YOU’RE

SO EAGER.

SO

YOU’RE

A COP,

HUH?

THIS IS NOT

HAPPENING...

HERE HE IS,

LIEUTENANT. HE TRIED

TO USE MANNING’S

HEAD FOR BATTING

PRACTICE.

WHAT’S

ERNIE KVETCHING

ABOUT?

I WHIFFED,

DIDN’T I? TELL

HIM “ALMOST” ONLY

COUNTS IN HORSE-

SHOES AND HAND

GRENADES.

YOU SURE

I CAN’T GIVE HIM

A FEW DINGS, FOR

AUTHENTICITY?

THANK

YOU, SERGEANT

MONDRAGON.

THAT’LL BE

ALL.

AARON, THIS

IS SAM WINEGLASS

FROM THE STATES

ATTORNEY’S OFFICE.

SAM, THIS IS

DETECTIVE AARON

STEIN.

DETECTIVE?

THAT ISN’T A

REAL TATTOO...

IS IT?

ONLY MY

HAIRDRESSER WILL

EVER KNOW FOR

CERTAIN.

WHAT THE

HELL WERE YOU

DOING AT THE EL THIS

MORNING, ESPECIALLY

AT A STOP THAT’S

THREE BLOCKS

AWAY? ARE YOU

NUTS?

WHAT DO

YOU THINK I WAS

DOING? I WAS

GETTING MYSELF

ARRESTED!

THEY LIVE LIKE

A PACK OF WILD DOGS,

AND HOLLANDER’S GOT

SOMEONE ON ME 24/7,

SINCE I’M THE NEW

GUY AND SO

CHARMING

AND ALL.

THIS WAS

THE ONLY WAY TO

REPORT IN, MAKE SURE

I DIDN’T GET STUCK

EXPLAINING MYSELF

AT THE WRONG

DISTRICT.

WE GOT

A FEW OF THEM

OFF THE STREETS,

ANYWAY.

WELL, GO

PUT THEM BACK.

THEY’LL WALK ANYWAY.

ENTRAPMENT. THIS

MORNING’S LITTLE

PRANK WAS

MY IDEA.

LITTLE PRANK?

TRY FELONY ASSAULT,

BATTERY, MALICIOUS

DESTRUCTION OF

PROPERTY...

...AND A

PARTRIDGE

IN A PEAR

TREEEEE.

DIME-STORE

CRAP, COUNSELOR.

THE BIS PRIZE IS

STILL BEHIND

DOOR NUMBER

THREE.

EARTHBLOOD’S

GOING TO TRY AND

WHACK THE SKRIT

TRADE ENVOY.

DAMN IT!

ARE YOU

SURE?

I CAN’T TELL

YOU WHEN OR

WHERE–YET. BUT

BELIEVE ME,

LIEUTENANT, IT IS

GOING DOWN.

CAN

WE BRING

’EM IN?

CONSPIRACY

CHARGES ARE

NOTORIOUSLY HARD

TO PROVE.

THEN HOW

ABOUT ARMS

SMUGGLING?

HOLLANDER’S

UGLY, BUT HE’S NOT

STUPID. AND HE’S NOT

GOING TO TRY AND

SNUFF ONE OF OUR

FRIENDS FROM THE

STARS WITH A

SATURDAY-NIGHT

SPECIAL.

WORD IS,

HE’S FIXED TO

GET HIS HANDS ON

SOME HEAVY-DUTY

FIREPOWER.

ARE WE

TALKING UZIS,

HERE? HAND

GRENADES,

BAZOOKAS?

WHAT?

NAH, EVEN

BETTER. SOMETHING

STRAIGHT OUTTA

STARPORT...

RAYGUNS!

CHAPTER TWO

WHAT DID

HE EXPECT ME

TO DO, FLAP MY

ARMS AND

THINK ABOUT

CHRISTMAS?

YOU ASK

ME, MONDRAGON’S

HAD A BUG UP HIS

BUTT EVER SINCE HE

MADE SERGEANT. HE’S

LIKE ME. A MAN OF

ACTION CAN’T BE

HAPPY BEHIND

A DESK.

A MAN OF

ACTION?

DON’T GIVE

ME THAT LOOK,

PARK. YEAH, OKAY, I’M

NOT INTO YOUR

KUNG-FU...

...BUT I’M

STILL WHO

I AM, YA

KNOW?

HAPKIDO.

A MAN OF

ACTION.

DAMN

STRAIGHT!

HEY,

MORELLO.

THERE HE IS!

HELP!

THIEF!

LEGGO!

HEY,

HOLD IT!

GET

DOWN

HERE! I’M

WARNING YOU,

I SWEAR…

HAHA

HAH!

SKREEEE!

HAHA

HAH!

SKREEEE!

I TOLD

YOU, LITTLE FILTH

MONKEY...

HISSSSS!

...TO

GET DOWN HERE!

HAHAHA

HAHAHAHA

HAHAHA!

ARE YOU

ALL RIGHT,

MA’AM?

HE...

IT...

I SAW.

CAN I

HAVE MY

PURSE BACK

NOW?

THAT’S IT! I’LL SHOOT ITS WINGS OFF NEXT TIME, I SWEAR!

I WAS FOUR YEARS,

TWO MONTHS, AND FIVE

DAYS FROM MY PENSION WHEN

I MET MY FIRST ALIEN. REMEMBER,

BOBBI, WHEN THE MUNCHKINS LANDED

AND THEY ANNOUNCED HOW THEY’D

BEEN WATCHING US FOR NEARLY SIXTY

YEARS, WAITING? AND THE DELAYS

TRYING TO OPEN A STARPORT HERE?

WHAT WAS IT, FIVE YEARS OF

ANTICIPATION BEFORE THEY EVEN

SET FOOT ON AMERICAN SOIL?

ENDLESS CONGRESSIONAL MEETINGS,

TREATIES, AND RED TAPE OUT

THE ASS. THE TUNNEL COLLAPSE,

THE RIOTS IN NEW YORK.

ENDLESS.

POINT IS, THEY

TOOK SIX DECADES

TO COME KNOCKING ON

OUR DOOR, AND ONE MORE

BEFORE KNOCKING ON MINE,

SO DON’T YOU THINK THEY COULD

HAVE WAITED A BIT LONGER? MAYBE

LET ME GET ON WITH MY DAMNED

RETIREMENT BEFORE I BECAME

BEHOLDEN TO SOME PINK

FROG-FACED ASSHAT WHO

INSISTS ON BEING

ADDRESSED AS

"TOPMAN"?

AND WHY HERE,

KELLEHER? WHY ME?

WHY MY CITY?

DON’T WORRY,

CAPTAIN, YOU STILL

GET TO RETIRE. THE

TOPMAN HAS SENT A

SKIMMER. IT SHOULD

BE OUTSIDE RIGHT

NOW.

THAT’S ALL

I NEED. IF GOD HAD

MEANT CARS TO FLY, HE

WOULDN’T HAVE GIVEN

THEM WHEELS.

I SPENT MY

WHOLE LIFE ON

THE FORCE, BOBBI.

UNTIL THE STARPORT

OPENED, I FIGURED I’D

SEEN JUST ABOUT

EVERYTHING...

BUT...HE

LOOKS LIKE A

COCKROACH.

WHO?

THE SKRIT

TRADE ENVOY.

HE’S FIVE FEET THREE

INCHES TALL, ONLY HE’S

A COCKROACH. KAFKA

WOULD BE PROUD, BUT

IT CREEPS ME RIGHT

THE FUCK OUT.

WITH 314

OTHER SPECIES

IN THE HARMONY, IT

FIGURES THAT SOME OF

THEM MIGHT BE

INSECTS...

THE MAYOR

IS GOING TO GIVE

HIM A KEY TO THE CITY.

HE’LL PROBABLY SHAKE

HANDS WITH HIM. CAN

COCKROACHES SHAKE

HANDS?

DO

COCKROACHES

EVEN HAVE HANDS?

MAYOR DALEY

WOULD NEVER HAVE GIVEN A COCKROACH THE KEY TO THE CITY!

WELL...

MAYBE IF IT WAS A

DEMOCRAT?

IF THERE’S

NO DRIVER, I’M NOT

GETTING IN.

C’MON,

CAPTAIN.

THE TOPMAN’S

EXPECTING

US.

WOULD YOU

ENJOY TO HEAR

LISTEN ATTEND TO

MUSIC TUNE

MELODY?

NO. NO,

WE’RE FINE.

POSSIBLY

PREFER TALK

CONVERSE

SHARE-VIEWS?

SHOULDN’T

YOU WATCH WHERE

YOU’RE FLYING?

BUT, OF

INTERESTING

ARE YOU...

NOT

NECESSARY VITAL

IMPORTANT, OF

FLIGHT ACHIEVEMENT

DESTINATION,

PARAMETERS

FUNCTION WORKING

TOP TIPS.

JUST

HUMOR US,

OKAY?

AHHHH!

HUMOR

FUNNY HA-HA.

HOKAY!

SPECIES 26,

91, AND 214

WALK INTO TAVERN

SALOON BAR.

SALOON

TENDER PROPRIETOR

SPEAKS REMARKS,

SAYING...

DID YOUR

SPORE FALL FROM

ITS BRANCH BEFORE

SUN’S ZENITH? YES!

ENJOYMENT!

THE POLICE

ARE HERE!

STEP ASIDE,

PLEASE. MOVE

ASIDE.

WHAT’S THE

PROBLEM?

WHAT THE

HELL TOOK YOU

SO LONG?

THE POLICE...

THANK YOU,

JESUS!

UH-OH.

ANGELS.

WORSE.

MAROON

CADRE.

DO YOU

CHAMPION THESE

THIEVES?

UH, YES.

WE DO. WHAT

SEEMS TO BE THE

PROBLEM?

SHE’S

CRAZY!

SHE PULLED

THAT LASER KNIFE

THINGY ON MY

HUSBAND, THEN

TRIED TO TAKE

OUR PHONE!

STILL YOUR

TONGUE, HUMAN...

OR DIE BESIDE

YOUR MATE!

YOU HEARD

HER. ARREST

THEM!

HOW

DARE

THEY?

EARTH

FIRST!

CAREFUL,

SHE’S GOT ONE

OF THEM SWORD-

STICKS!

SETTLE DOWN,

ROOKIE. NOW, DO

ME A FAVOR AND

HANDLE THE

CROWD.

WILL

EVERYBODY

JUST SHUT UP AND

CALM DOWN FOR

A MOMENT?

HI THERE,

SIR. I’M OFFICER

ERNIE MANNING. MAY

I SEE YOUR PHONE,

PLEASE?

VERY NICE.

WHERE YOU FOLKS

FROM?

I...IOWA.

WE’RE ON

VACATION...

AND HOW

CLOSE DID YOU

GET WHILE TAKING

PICTURES OF

THEM?

I...THEY’RE

SO TALL AND

COLORFUL! AND

WE’VE NEVER

SEEN...

ALIENS

BEFORE.

NO.

AH.

THERE

IT IS.

LOOKS LIKE YOU FOLKS

DIDN’T GET THROUGH YOUR

NEW-SPECIES-INTERACTION

PAMPHLET AT THE AIRPORT, HUH?

MISSED THE BIT ABOUT HOW

SERIOUSLY THESE GUYS

TAKE THEIR PERSONAL

SPACE?

DO YOU

MIND IF I ERASE

YOUR PHOTOS AND

TURN OFF YOUR

PHONE, SIR?

YES! YES, OF COURSE! WHATEVER YOU NEED, OFFICER.

THERE, I’VE

ERASED ALL

THE IMAGES. THEY

ARE TOTALLY

IRRETRIEVABLE.

IS HONOR

SATISFIED?

NO. THE

THEFT IS UNDONE,

YET THE INSULT

STILL STANDS.

TELL THE

NICE LADY

YOU’RE SORRY.

I DIDN’T...

THESE ARE

NHAR, SIR. ANGELS.

IF YOU HAD READ

YOUR PAMPHLET,

YOU’D KNOW THAT BY

STEPPING INTO HER

PATH AND TAKING THAT

UNFLATTERING PHOTO,

YOU’VE INADVERTENTLY

STOLEN HER SPACE

AND “BESMIRCHED”

HER IMAGE.

I DIDN’T

KNOW! I DIDN’T

MEAN TO...I’M SORRY!

SO SORRY. I’LL READ

THE PAMPHLET AT

THE HOTEL. I

PROMISE!

YOU HEARD

HIM. HE DIDN’T MEAN

ANYTHING. HE’S SORRY.

AND HE’S NOT EVEN

ARMED. LOOK

AT HIM!

THIS APOLOGY

IS A POOR THING,

AND YET I WILL

HEAR IT.

BUT,

SHOULD IT

HAPPEN

AGAIN...

NAH-TO!

TREASURE

THIS LESSON AS

A GIFT FROM DAHRYS

NHAR-KQL, ARYANNE OF

THE MAROON CADRE

OF THE CHILDREN OF

THE ENDLESS

NIGHT.

PAY THE

HUMAN FOR HIS PITIFUL

COMMUNICATION

DEVICE.

WHAT

WAS THAT ALL

ABOUT?

GET USED

TO IT, ROOKIE.

BEING A COP IN

CHICAGO ISN’T

WHAT IT USED

TO BE.

BUT...SIR, I DON’T

THINK THAT’S ENOUGH

TO COVER MY PHONE.

IT WAS BRAND-NEW,

AND ON A PAYMENT

PLAN...

SO WHO’S

GOING TO PAY

FOR THE

REST?

SEND THE

BILL TO THE TOPMAN,

CARE OF STARPORT

CHICAGO.

OK. WHICH ONE

OF YOU DOUCHEBAGS

KILLED DETECTIVE

BAKER AND STOLE

HIS GUN?

HERE!

I MEAN, I’M

BAKER. I DIDN’T

KILL ANYONE!

SO HOW COME YOU’RE

COVERED WITH

BLOOD?

HUH. THAT’S

WHAT THEY

ALL SAY.

IT’S

FRUIT

JUICE.

THEY RAN

A MAKE ON YOUR

GUN. IMAGINE THE

HORROR WHEN IT

TURNED OUT TO BE

ONE OF OURS...

YO, LIVINGSTONE,

BETTER UNLOCK MY

PARTNER, HERE. LET’S

SEE IF MAYBE I CAN

KEEP HIM OUT OF

TROUBLE.

MMMM-

HMMM.

HERE WE ARE,

SKIP, AT CHICAGO’S

FINEST, DISTRICT 19,

AKA THE ZOO, AKA

THE UNIVERSE’S

CRAP HOLE.

AND ON

THAT SUBJECT,

THERE’S THE

CRAPPER. DEEP,

I KNOW...

HEY,

RICHY!

IT’S SERGEANT

MONDRAGON,

DETECTIVE STAMM,

NOT RICHY.

I SEE

THEY’VE GIVEN

YOU A NEW

PARTNER.

I’M SERGEANT

RICHARD MONDRAGON.

WELCOME TO THE

ZOO, SON.

AND MY

SYMPATHIES

ON YOUR

PARTNER.

HEY...

AND ANOTHER

BATHROOM...YOU

GETTING ALL

THIS?

SO,

JUST HOW

SEXY AM

I?

ABOUT

AS SEXY AS

SOMETHING I’D

FLUSH DOWN

THE TOILET.

I CAN’T

BELIEVE SHE’S

SENDING YOU

BACK IN.

YEAH, WELL,

SHE HAS TO. I

HAVEN’T LEARNED

ALL THE WORDS TO

“EARTHLAND UBER

ALLES” YET.

I WANT

YOU TO WEAR

A WIRE.

LOVE TO!

DARLING IDEA,

REALLY. SO KIND

OF YOU TO

SUGGEST IT.

THE THING IS,

THERE’S THIS HOT

LITTLE EARTHBLOOD

NUMBER WHO CAN’T

KEEP HER HANDS

OFF ME.

SO IMAGINE,

THERE WE ARE

PETTING IN THE BUNKER,

AND SHE SLIDES HER

HAND UNDER MY SHIRT,

AND...OH MY

GOODNESS...

SURPRISE!

IT’S. A.

WIRE!

ONLY YOU

WOULD HAVE THAT

KIND OF PROBLEM,

AARON.

YEAH,

WELL...

...I KNEW THE

JOB WAS DANGEROUS

WHEN I TOOK IT. DON’T

BE JEALOUS, RICHY.

IT LOOKS BAD

ON YOU.

HEY, NICE LOOK, MORELLO.

YOU UNDERCOVER AS A

COUCH POTATO, OR DID

YOU JUST FORGET

YOUR SHIRT?

I’VE HAD

THAT URGE MYSELF,

FROM TIME

TO TIME.

THAT’S “EAT

IT, DETECTIVE STAMM.”

THESE ARE

OUR NEIGHBORS,

OFFICERS JI-HUN PARK

AND LOUIS MORELLO,

UNDERCOVER CHICAGO

FASHION ICONS.

AN ALIEN...

UHH...HEH...THREW UP ON HIM.

EAT IT,

STAMM!

THAT’S MY

DESK BACK BY THE

STAIRS, AND THIS IS

YOU. MY LAST PARTNER

DIED IN THAT CHAIR.

MASSIVE CEREBRAL

HEMORRHAGE.

WENT

JUST LIKE

THAT.

HOW MANY

PARTNERS

HAVE YOU HAD,

ANYWAY?

YOU

CAN’T COUNT

THAT HIGH.

DAMN,

MORELLO, YOU

FORGET HOW

TO USE A

REMOTE?

SCREW YOU,

DETECTIVE

STAMM.

PARK, CAN

YOU HELP ME?

YOUR PEOPLE

MADE THIS DAMN

THING...

MY PEOPLE

ARE KOREAN.

THAT “DAMN THING” IS JAPANESE, AND– REGARDLESS OF ITS ORIGIN–NOT MY PROBLEM.

HERE,

LET ME

TRY.

LET’S SEE.

YOU JUST NEED

TO GET INTO THE

MENU–THERE IT

IS–AND...

THAT

SHOULD

DO IT!

GOOD

LORD...

WHASSAMATTER,

MORELLO, WERE THEY

ALL OUT OF DEBBIE DOES STARPORT?

FOR YOUR

INFORMATION,

I’M DOING SOME

RESEARCH.

MAYBE I

CAN HELP. I’M

SOMEWHAT OF

AN AMATEUR

XENOLOGIST...

UHHHHH...

IT MEANS

I’VE READ JUST

ABOUT EVERYTHING

I CAN GET MY HANDS

ON CONCERNING

THE ALIENS.

CAN YOU

DESCRIBE HIM

FOR ME?

WE’RE TRYING

TO GET A MAKE ON

AN ALIEN PURSE

SNATCHER.

YEAH. SHORT–

SMALLER THAN A

MUNCHKIN, EVEN–WITH

BIG EARS, WINGS,

AND NO PANTS.

SORT OF

A MONKEY/BAT/

GREMLIN LOOK.

REALLY?

THAT’S WEIRD.

NONE OF THE WINGED

SPECIES I KNOW

FIT THAT

DESCRIPTION...

SO WHAT...

PUKED ON

ME, THEN?

I DON’T KNOW.

SO LET’S SEE IF WE

RECOGNIZE OUR

WINGED FRIEND IN THIS

LOVELY DEPICTION

OF DEBBIE DOES STARPORT...

SPACE. THELAST UNKNOWN. FORTHOUSANDS OF YEARS,MEN HAVE LOOKED UPINTO THE STARRY NIGHT,WONDERING WHAT WASOUT THERE...

WHO’D’VE THOUGHT,

FOR ALL THOSE YEARS,

THAT THE ANSWER WAS

“MUNCHKINS”?

I’M TELLING

YOU GUYS, I’VE

SEEN THIS VIDEO

BEFORE, AND THERE’S

NO SPECIES LIKE

THAT!

THE HARMONY OFWORLDS. VAST FLEETSOF FASTER-THAN-LIGHTSTARSHIPS, LINKING NINETHOUSAND INHABITEDPLANETS, MOONS,AND COLONIES.

A VAST TRADINGWEB THAT UNITESAN ENTIRE GALACTICARM, WITH THE ANCIENTWISDOM ANDACCUMULATED SCIENCEOF 315 SENTIENTSPECIES.

WELCOME TOOUR PLANET’SGUIDE TO THE HARMONYOF WORLDS, AND OURFRIENDS FROMTHE STARS...

...THEY CAMETO US NEARLY TENYEARS AGO, DURING THESUPER BOWL...

CHAPTER THREE

PLEASE TO

FOLLOWING

LIGHT OF INDICATION-

PROGRESSION-

WALKING DESTINATION.

OFFICE TOPMAN

AWAITS.

WELCOME

TO STARPORT

CHICAGO. I’M

MELANTHA MOORE, FROM

THE UNITED NATIONS

INTERSTELLAR TRADE

ORGANIZATION.

PROFIT

TO YOUR

HOUSE.

AND

TO YOURS,

CHAY’ASH.

CAPTAIN

SWOBODA.

LIEUTENANT KELLEHER.

APPRECIATION FOR

YOUR PRESENCE. YOUR

FLIGHT WAS SWIFT

AND EXCELLENT,

I TRUST?

WELL...

IT WAS

SWIFT.

YOU ARE

UNCOMFORTABLE,

CAPTAIN?

I JUST

GET A LITTLE...UH....

MERVOUS AROUND

HEIGHTS.

AH, ONE

UNDERSTANDS...

AND REQUIRES BUT

A MOMENT TO

RECTIFY.

PLEASE TO

BE SEATED.

IT IS

SUPERIOR TO

SPEAK IN COMFORT,

NAI?

UH, YEAH.

LOOK, I’LL

COME RIGHT TO

THE POINT. WE’VE UNCOVERED

EVIDENCE OF AN ASSASSINATION

PLOT AGAINST THE SKRIT TRADE

ENVOY. WE BELIEVE IT’S THE

WORK OF A GROUP CALLED

EARTHBLOOD...

THEY ARE A

RADICAL OFFSHOOT

COMBINATION OF

THE EARTH-FIRST AND

ALT-RIGHT PURITY GROUPS.

BASICALLY, THEY...OBJECT

TO THE ALIEN

PRESENCE.

OBJECT?

ISOLATIONISTS

AND BIGOTS, CHAY’ASH.

WE’SHEY ASSIAYAS NOVO TELLA NASH-TARA.

Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

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