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Yet he could have lined all these vehicles up outside the fortress gate Rolling through the Maze, Russell thought he understood Grillo wanted him to see this Calm streets, faces filled not with fear or dismay but with quiet respect

In Coconut Grove, a portion of Darwin that butted against Nightcliff’s southern edge, the buildings were much taller Offices and luxury apart structures were called home by many multinational aerospace and tech co the heyday of the space elevator Some had been abandoned before co and scaffolds Theseall the way up the open grid of steel bea near the lowest floors of the garden

If Russell’s intelligence was up to date, Grillo had little sway in this area Barreling down the center of the street, at the tip of a fleet of vehicles carrying aruess the purpose of Grillo’s theatrics

He played along, regardless "What are we doing here?"

"Atterinned, despite hied in orbit Saw the Builders’ turd of a spacecraft"

"There’s fondness in your voice," Grillo said "I’ve heard you spend ht He shrugged

"Hold your judgment," Grillo added He leaned around the truck’s cab and spoke to the driver again "Proceed," he sihting the noon sun, and sao aircraft swooping in over the skyscrapers They were in formation, side by side As Russell watched, one banked and separated while the other round vehicles were on

The truck slowed and turned Russell glanced down in tie forward on either side They approached the sa the aircraft had and surrounded it

Grillo’s people leapt from the backs of their vehicles before they even stopped They took doo lackwit guards at the barricaded entrance and swarround

Russell took a quick glance backward, expecting to see the re in behind His eyebrows shot up when he saw the truth: They werethe saed He stood fir on top of the cab Five unfire fro The aircraft above circled the two buildings Twice Russell thought he heard h up for hione in with the to sound casual

Grillo frowned "We all have our specialties Yours is fighting"

"What’s yours?"

"I h He doubted s would be friendly now

Grillo turned and stepped lightly frouards stayed behind Russell followed, ordering his two men to wait in the truck as well He fell in next to Grillo, expecting they would enter one of the buildings Instead Grillo moved with calm confidence to the center of the street, placed his hands behind his back, and waited Unsure what to do, Russell stood next to hi exposed in the middle of the wide avenue, out in the squalor and anarchy of Darwin

"In hindsight," Grillo said, "I should have had you wear a disguise of soun and I’ll go inside where the action is"

"The real action is out here, Mr Blackfield Ah, as you noill see"

A group of Grillo’s people caht They prodded an Asian man ahead Three other prisoners were shuffled off to the side and held there All four of the captives shared the same bewildered expression

The man, an elder, was ushered toward the center of the street His eyes grew even wider when he recognized Russell

Before anyone could speak, another group ca to the left Two burly men were led forward One held a hand to his forehead, and Russell could see a trickle of blood co down his wrist and forearm

These two scohen they saw Russell, and their expressions turned to raw hatred when they saw the Asian man held across from them

Grillo moved to stand between the two parties He held out a hand toward each,them to be calm

"You are Shane Killen and Ben Paston," the crime lord said to the two men on his left "You clai called Phoenix, and its inhabitants"

"Who the hell are you?" one asked in a thick New Zealander accent

"I go by Grillo in lance, faces flushed Their eyes both darted to Russell, then back

Grillo ignored theht He spoke to the er lish?" Grillo asked, and received a nod

The fighting had stopped, and a strange serenity fell over the wide street Russell saw faces in the shadows, people gathering in the alleyways, watching

"If you’re going to kill us, get it over with," the one called Shane Killen said

"On the contrary, Mr Killen, I’m here to hire you"

The word tripped everyone present, including Russell

Shane’s eyes narrowed as he recovered his co what?"

"I’ve a job for you," Grillo said "For all of you It’s a si food"

"We do this already," the Chinese h," Grillo said Russellsoentleh this city of a probleht panic to certain districts--"

Except yours, Russell added mentally

"--and has led to a situation huht each other You fend off the poor who live on these streets, forcing the themselves The problem cascades across the entire city Worst of all, you hoard your food even as you burn the other’s"

The Chinese man cast his eyes down to the cracked pavement, shamed The tis remained steadfast, if not defiant

"Unity is required," Grillo said in a new tone of un his voice

"You want us to ith hi to work for Darwin You’re going to set aside your petty squabbles, your outdated sense of ownership and entitleht possible, and you’re going to share it"

"Or what?"