The Chaos Kind (John Rain, #11, Livia Lone, #5)

by Barry Eisler

He looked at Manus and said, “We’re good? Not going to try to kill each other, at least for now?” It was a strange question. Why would the man trust any such assurance from Manus? Manus wouldn’t trust it from him. But the straightforwardness didn’t feel devious. It felt . . . straightforward. He couldn’t think of any other way to answer, so he simply said, “We’re good.” “Great. Then pardon me while I get the shakes. ’Cause that was a very near thing back there.” At which point, as promised, he started trembling. After a minute of breathing deeply in and out, he held up his hands. When he seemed satisfied they were steady enough, he said, “That doesn’t happen to you?” “It depends.” Dox smiled. “Okay, good. We’ve only just met, and I wouldn’t want you thinking less of me.” Manus couldn’t tell if he was joking. Why would Manus think less of him? The man was obviously competent. Shaking was just what your body did after you’d been scared. There had been times Manus was so scared he’d pissed himself. That was just something your body did, too.