Smuggler's Gold

Note that although both Abbey and Asprin contributed to this volume, the style isn't like THIEVES' WORLD. All the Merovingen anthologies are written in an almost-seamless braided format (see reviews of FESTIVAL MOON, FEVER SEASON, et al.) For anyone who's been wondering when somebody would *do* something about the Megary slavers...enjoy. Boy, did they make a mistake in laying hands on the Trade, in the form of one Altair Jones... Abbey, Lynn: "A Day in the Life" - The consequences of Mondragon's affair with the highborn Marina Kamat start coming home to roost. Asire, Nancy: "A Fish Story" - Explains where Ito Boregy gets some of the deathangel powder he uses in his religious orientation sessions; further develops the relationships (or lack thereof, in Krishna's case) between Justice, Sonja Kiesel, Raj, and Krishna Malenkov. Asprin, Robert Lynn: "A Harmless Excursion" - continues the Hannon-Gregori feud. Cherryh, C.J.: "Smuggler's Gold" - Since Mondragon first got into financial difficulties, and since she wants to keep her reputation with the trade, Jones has taken on a few more dangerous runs for old man Hafiz than the trips to Moghi's. Fish, Leslie: "Fair Game" - Black Cal's volunteered to take some rookies on his beat today, so the blacklegs back at the Signeury know it's time to clear out the special cell for highborn perps. Lackey, Mercedes: "More Than Meets the Eye" - The continuing adventures of the Takahashi brothers. This one would make a good Thief adventure (see the Thief computer game series by Eidos Interactive). Denny, a daredevil with a thief's skills, helps Jones in her vendetta against the Megary slavers, who held her prisoner in TROUBLED WATERS. Raj, on the other hand, is investigating some fraud at Gallandrys, his employers, on behalf of Mondragon ("I sell information; I'm not particular about who I sell it to, or how many times I sell it"). Morris, Chris and Janet: "Mystery" - The College has inadvertently made deathangel use popular - by giving it a reputation for use with past-life regression. Cassie Boregy's reputation as a prophet starts at about this time. (The stuff is hallucinogenic, in case you're wondering.) Rogow, Roberta: "Paper Chase" - The Janists need enough paper to complete the print run of a book to be distributed at Greening; but due to an accident at the paper mill, the only supply is at the Signeury (police HQ). This one is more implausible than it may at first appear (you'll see why).