Chasing the Phoenix (45 page)

Authors: Michael Swanwick

They were taken to the docks on the White River, where a junk awaited them. Downriver it sailed, and though occasionally Surplus indicated by gestures that if their captors put in at a bankside tavern he would buy drinks for all, they did not stop.

They arrived at Port of Heaven the next day. The river smell gave way to a rich mixture of salt spray, the sulfur of decaying sea creatures, and mud. The harbor was still thronged with empty warships riding at anchor, and the tide was going out.

Their junk laid up not far from a resin-hulled three-master, whose polymer bubble sails were even then being hoisted up to catch the wind where the sunlight covered them with rainbows. A dinghy was lowered into the water, and Darger and Surplus climbed down to it. They were transported to the ship, where a great-bearded man whose air of command proclaimed him the captain made a short speech and then clapped the shoulder of each of them before turning away. They were, it appeared, honored passengers.

Then there were shouts everywhere, the anchor was winched up, and the ship was under weigh. At the captain's direction, the pilot turned the nose of the ship to the east, catching the tide out of the harbor.

Darger and Surplus went to the bow to stare out over the billowing waves. Now that they were finally alone, Surplus had the opportunity at last to examine the contents of the purse they had been given. In answer to his friend's unspoken question, he said, “Enough to set us up in business when we reach our destination. Far less than we had reason to hope for.”

He heaved a deep sigh, and they watched the Chinese mainland slowly grow dim in the distance. Finally, Surplus said, “I wonder where we are going?”

About the Author

MICHAEL SWANWICK
lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He has won five Hugo Awards and one Nebula Award (best novel). You can sign up for email updates
here
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OTHER BOOKS BY
MICHAEL SWANWICK

Vacuum Flowers

The Iron Dragon's Daughter

Jack Faust

Dragons of Babel

Stations of the Tide

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Contents

Other Books by Michael Swanwick

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.

CHASING THE PHOENIX

Cover art by Stephan Martiniere

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The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:

Swanwick, Michael.

Â Â Â Â Â Chasing the Phoenix / Michael Swanwick.âFirst edition.

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â p. cm.

Â Â Â Â Â ISBN 978-0-7653-8090-6 (hardcover)

Â Â Â Â Â ISBN 978-1-4668-7606-4 (e-book)

Â Â Â Â Â I.Â Title.

Â Â PS3569.W28C48 2015

Â Â 813'.54âdc23

2015015733

e-ISBN 9781466876064

First Edition: August 2015