CHAPTER 12

Standing outside the containers housing Badger's office, rain pounding on his unprotected skull, Mal could feel his headache growing and his temper shortening. "What?"

"He ain't here." The man with the dreadlocks shook his head.

"Is he dead?" Jayne asked hopefully.

"Nope. Just moved."

"Shit." The big man hunkered deeper into his jacket, but the rain was getting everywhere.

"Where'd he go?" Mal wanted to know.

"Outside the docks. East India Street. Cooper Building."

"East India?" Even Mal was surprised. "What's he doing there?"

The man shrugged. "Go ask him yourself." He closed the door in their faces.

"Do you think Badger's the janitor, sir?" Zoe asked, ignoring the rain making her hair curl more than ever.

Mal didn't answer, just stalked off, the others on his heels.

Cat followed, a pace or two behind, her senses switched to full. She shook her head, droplets flying even as she tried not to smile. Woe betide anyone getting in Mal's way the mood he was in.

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"You've got to make an appointment." The man was short, thin, and full of himself.

They stood in the foyer of the Cooper Building, dripping onto the black and white marble floor, their muddy footprints decorating the parquet.

"Appointment." Mal's temper, never under that strong a control at the best of times, snapped audibly. "An appointment? Why the good gorram would I be wanting to make an appointment? Just tell that goushi buru that I want to see him."

"Really, sir, that kind of language is unnecessary." Despite being a good ten inches shorter than Mal, he still managed to look down his nose. "The Mayor will be more than happy to see you, but not until -"

"Mayor?"

"Mr Badger."

"Nope, you said 'Mayor'."

"That's right. Mr Badger is the Mayor of Eavesdown."

Mal closed his eyes briefly. "Okay, now I know I'm dead. Or at the very least hallucinatin'." He looked again, but the man was still there. "Mayor of Eavesdown."

"Yes, sir. It's