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Machines of War; Collected Short Stories: 1993-1995
Machines of War; Collected Short Stories: 1993-1995
Chapter 1:
Gangland
Dallas, Texas was once the murder capitol of the United States. He is why.
Page 1:
"We clung to the American dream, rode it like a che..."
Page 2: "Where they went fishing or camping in the country ..."
Page 3: "Only difference? My friends didn't die for an abs..."
Page 4: "But the rest of us danced not for God and country...."
Page 5: "We cut the bonds that made us civilized men. Desi..."
Page 6: "But our prayers were not answered. For so long we..."
Page 7: ". . . I looked down at the metal lying in my lap, ..."
Page 8: "Drake, the driver, shouted back, "Fuck you! You'r..."
Page 9: "There was nothing different about tonight, or any ..."
Page 10: "I came up smart, "Anybody know the little bastard?..."
Page 11: ""Johnny's bleedin' bad, D." Pugsley squeaked like..."
Page 12: "Pugsley said he remembered. How could he forget? ..."
Page 13: "I heard the right, rear door thump open. Johnny B..."
Page 14: ""Maybe not. Let's catch up."
We both left ..."
Page 15: ""I know." Fucking virgins. But I had been one, t..."
Page 16: ""That's two," counted Pugs.
"Three," I amen..."
Page 17: ""Yeah." I didn't elaborate.
He pressed, "G..."
Page 18: ""Now listen, y'all. We're good. You like living,..."
Page 19: ""But you didn't see? For sure?"
I didn't t..."
Page 20: "The car was parked in a lot just south of the crow..."
Page 21: "Peaches, a giggly chick who dyed her hair a differ..."
Page 22: "A giggler came up behind me, a long, slender arm w..."
Page 23: ""I know just where you could shoot me . . ." she w..."
Page 24: ""Fuck her. Fuck you. I won't feel good sweatin' ..."
Page 25: ""Dunno."
"We've done what needs doin' ain't..."
Page 26: "We had just left the party houses of the West End...."
Page 27: "We watched the Maxima's doors slam shut and its ti..."
Page 28: "So ended the dream for so many of my generation. ..."
Page 29: "Without further thought, I raced the squad's engin..."
Page 30: "Driving one handed, with my right still clutching ..."
Page 31: "On either side of the railroad right of way, a den..."
Page 32: "To the west, yesterday, and all my yesterdays beyo..."
Page 2: "Where they went fishing or camping in the country ..."
Page 3: "Only difference? My friends didn't die for an abs..."
Page 4: "But the rest of us danced not for God and country...."
Page 5: "We cut the bonds that made us civilized men. Desi..."
Page 6: "But our prayers were not answered. For so long we..."
Page 7: ". . . I looked down at the metal lying in my lap, ..."
Page 8: "Drake, the driver, shouted back, "Fuck you! You'r..."
Page 9: "There was nothing different about tonight, or any ..."
Page 10: "I came up smart, "Anybody know the little bastard?..."
Page 11: ""Johnny's bleedin' bad, D." Pugsley squeaked like..."
Page 12: "Pugsley said he remembered. How could he forget? ..."
Page 13: "I heard the right, rear door thump open. Johnny B..."
Page 14: ""Maybe not. Let's catch up."
We both left ..."
Page 15: ""I know." Fucking virgins. But I had been one, t..."
Page 16: ""That's two," counted Pugs.
"Three," I amen..."
Page 17: ""Yeah." I didn't elaborate.
He pressed, "G..."
Page 18: ""Now listen, y'all. We're good. You like living,..."
Page 19: ""But you didn't see? For sure?"
I didn't t..."
Page 20: "The car was parked in a lot just south of the crow..."
Page 21: "Peaches, a giggly chick who dyed her hair a differ..."
Page 22: "A giggler came up behind me, a long, slender arm w..."
Page 23: ""I know just where you could shoot me . . ." she w..."
Page 24: ""Fuck her. Fuck you. I won't feel good sweatin' ..."
Page 25: ""Dunno."
"We've done what needs doin' ain't..."
Page 26: "We had just left the party houses of the West End...."
Page 27: "We watched the Maxima's doors slam shut and its ti..."
Page 28: "So ended the dream for so many of my generation. ..."
Page 29: "Without further thought, I raced the squad's engin..."
Page 30: "Driving one handed, with my right still clutching ..."
Page 31: "On either side of the railroad right of way, a den..."
Page 32: "To the west, yesterday, and all my yesterdays beyo..."
Chapter 5:
Out-World
A desperate mission through the depths of space. They must get out-world to survive.
Page 1:
""Do you think we're safe?" she whispered when the ..."
Page 2: "I did. I hit her with a restraint field, and that..."
Page 3: "T.C. had grown careless during the voyage in-syste..."
Page 4: "Worlds had fallen to my manipulations. The politi..."
Page 5: "My opponents would soon be suffering from the same..."
Page 6: "I crawled quickly through the pressure duct, pushi..."
Page 7: "The Constantine was a maze, and the PACI was bait...."
Page 8: "She snorted derisively. "Honey, I've been lucky a..."
Page 9: ""Do you ever shut up?"
"Only when there's n..."
Page 10: "Instead she pushed further, looking for a chink in..."
Page 11: "So I let her talk, as long as she understood I sti..."
Page 12: ""On a station in the Centauri system."
"Oh...."
Page 13: ""Well... when you put it that way..."
She f..."
Page 14: ""Meaning you don't want anybody else around."
<..."
Page 15: ""I see. You know everything else about me, just n..."
Page 16: "But I replied, "I don't want you to."
"Then..."
Page 17: "I smiled despite my mood, "It's real enough."
<..."
Page 18: "His suit's comsys tuned to broadcast, the silhouet..."
Page 19: ""We've come for the girl. That's all we want, jus..."
Page 20: ""With the kind of money we're offering, you could ..."
Page 21: "As he stuck his armored head into one dark corner ..."
Page 22: ""Like I said, killing him was a mistake." The Set..."
Page 23: "The next level up, the highest level, was ours. H..."
Page 24: "The PACI hadn't been asleep, after all. I answere..."
Page 25: "The PACI and I verified each the other's pressure ..."
Page 26: "To start, I chose a wrap that looked as if it woul..."
Page 27: ""To hell there's not! We have eighteen months of ..."
Page 28: ""Okay, let me run this situation by you the way it..."
Page 29: ""I don't want to know, either. Get in."
"F..."
Page 30: "I must have switched two hundred bodies and tanks ..."
Page 31: "They entered the hibernetics bay in pairs, utilizi..."
Page 32: "It was something Forby had said while we were maki..."
Page 33: "Forby believed, had been led to believe by her con..."
Page 34: "The possibilities were endless. I only knew two t..."
Page 35: "Maybe, in their minds, they had their reasons. Ma..."
Page 36: "Suddenly, I understood. He had taken the one bill..."
Page 37: "In the end, though, I realized it would inevitably..."
Page 38: "I couldn't imagine. There were a great many thing..."
Page 39: "Neither did I. Since the first portal had opened ..."
Page 40: "T.C. had swallowed the bait. He hurried forward. ..."
Page 41: "I was exhausted. All my strategies had been playe..."
Page 42: "So, by recording the time, velocity, and coordinat..."
Page 43: "An added benefit of this plan was the fact that th..."
Page 2: "I did. I hit her with a restraint field, and that..."
Page 3: "T.C. had grown careless during the voyage in-syste..."
Page 4: "Worlds had fallen to my manipulations. The politi..."
Page 5: "My opponents would soon be suffering from the same..."
Page 6: "I crawled quickly through the pressure duct, pushi..."
Page 7: "The Constantine was a maze, and the PACI was bait...."
Page 8: "She snorted derisively. "Honey, I've been lucky a..."
Page 9: ""Do you ever shut up?"
"Only when there's n..."
Page 10: "Instead she pushed further, looking for a chink in..."
Page 11: "So I let her talk, as long as she understood I sti..."
Page 12: ""On a station in the Centauri system."
"Oh...."
Page 13: ""Well... when you put it that way..."
She f..."
Page 14: ""Meaning you don't want anybody else around."
<..."
Page 15: ""I see. You know everything else about me, just n..."
Page 16: "But I replied, "I don't want you to."
"Then..."
Page 17: "I smiled despite my mood, "It's real enough."
<..."
Page 18: "His suit's comsys tuned to broadcast, the silhouet..."
Page 19: ""We've come for the girl. That's all we want, jus..."
Page 20: ""With the kind of money we're offering, you could ..."
Page 21: "As he stuck his armored head into one dark corner ..."
Page 22: ""Like I said, killing him was a mistake." The Set..."
Page 23: "The next level up, the highest level, was ours. H..."
Page 24: "The PACI hadn't been asleep, after all. I answere..."
Page 25: "The PACI and I verified each the other's pressure ..."
Page 26: "To start, I chose a wrap that looked as if it woul..."
Page 27: ""To hell there's not! We have eighteen months of ..."
Page 28: ""Okay, let me run this situation by you the way it..."
Page 29: ""I don't want to know, either. Get in."
"F..."
Page 30: "I must have switched two hundred bodies and tanks ..."
Page 31: "They entered the hibernetics bay in pairs, utilizi..."
Page 32: "It was something Forby had said while we were maki..."
Page 33: "Forby believed, had been led to believe by her con..."
Page 34: "The possibilities were endless. I only knew two t..."
Page 35: "Maybe, in their minds, they had their reasons. Ma..."
Page 36: "Suddenly, I understood. He had taken the one bill..."
Page 37: "In the end, though, I realized it would inevitably..."
Page 38: "I couldn't imagine. There were a great many thing..."
Page 39: "Neither did I. Since the first portal had opened ..."
Page 40: "T.C. had swallowed the bait. He hurried forward. ..."
Page 41: "I was exhausted. All my strategies had been playe..."
Page 42: "So, by recording the time, velocity, and coordinat..."
Page 43: "An added benefit of this plan was the fact that th..."
Chapter 9:
Mutiny
An aquatic warrior with designs of his own.
Page 1:
"The pressure. My God, the pressure. Not just the..."
Page 2: ""Pressure overload, cervical joint right one." Oh..."
Page 3: "Please, God, just this one favor. Just let my hel..."
Page 4: ""I'm not sure I want to go, sir."
"What?! ..."
Page 5: ""Evacuation complete. Depth, one hundred twenty m..."
Page 6: "My flotation bladder automatically held me at a de..."
Page 7: "Even as I was sucked into the rescue scoop, a hulk..."
Page 8: "A shadow crossed the sun and a gong sounded warnin..."
Page 9: "I made the beach. My weapons ports grew hot from ..."
Page 10: "With all the speed of mortal fear I replenished my..."
Page 11: "I began to climb. After fifty meters of progress,..."
Page 12: "The last of the marines had come ashore. Most of ..."
Page 13: "In seconds the powerful laser was slicing through ..."
Page 14: "Then I collapsed, and everything went black. Not ..."
Page 15: ""Is that an order, sir?"
"No," his tone was..."
Page 16: "All pretense dropped away. There was real threat ..."
Page 17: "Now that the reporters had pressed up against the ..."
Page 18: ""Special War Order Seven, ma'am. Ask the general,..."
Page 19: ""I think that's about enough for tonight, the spec..."
Page 20: "All I needed to do was make it one or two rooms ov..."
Page 21: "Moving to the door I listened a moment. Everythin..."
Page 22: "Nobody made reply. Many of the faces turned away...."
Page 23: ""Yes, it services this floor and the one below it...."
Page 24: ""Excuse me?"
"Can't let Pete keep you all f..."
Page 25: "One of them turned around. I ran to catch up, hat..."
Page 26: ""No. But I know Tad." I tried to lisp, assumed t..."
Page 27: ""Okay. That's alright. Let's go."
As he o..."
Page 28: ""Sorry. There's been a breach." The spec returne..."
Page 29: ""Gross, no way. I wouldn't eat that garbage with ..."
Page 30: "The bureaucracy was a virus, it preyed upon the ma..."
Page 31: "I was ready. The chairman and his command infrast..."
Page 32: "Two more men stepped out of the shadows to be gree..."
Page 33: "A shock wave rumbled through the building. Artwor..."
Page 34: "As heavy blast shields began to cover doorways and..."
Page 35: "One flamer charge incinerated a hundred legislator..."
Page 2: ""Pressure overload, cervical joint right one." Oh..."
Page 3: "Please, God, just this one favor. Just let my hel..."
Page 4: ""I'm not sure I want to go, sir."
"What?! ..."
Page 5: ""Evacuation complete. Depth, one hundred twenty m..."
Page 6: "My flotation bladder automatically held me at a de..."
Page 7: "Even as I was sucked into the rescue scoop, a hulk..."
Page 8: "A shadow crossed the sun and a gong sounded warnin..."
Page 9: "I made the beach. My weapons ports grew hot from ..."
Page 10: "With all the speed of mortal fear I replenished my..."
Page 11: "I began to climb. After fifty meters of progress,..."
Page 12: "The last of the marines had come ashore. Most of ..."
Page 13: "In seconds the powerful laser was slicing through ..."
Page 14: "Then I collapsed, and everything went black. Not ..."
Page 15: ""Is that an order, sir?"
"No," his tone was..."
Page 16: "All pretense dropped away. There was real threat ..."
Page 17: "Now that the reporters had pressed up against the ..."
Page 18: ""Special War Order Seven, ma'am. Ask the general,..."
Page 19: ""I think that's about enough for tonight, the spec..."
Page 20: "All I needed to do was make it one or two rooms ov..."
Page 21: "Moving to the door I listened a moment. Everythin..."
Page 22: "Nobody made reply. Many of the faces turned away...."
Page 23: ""Yes, it services this floor and the one below it...."
Page 24: ""Excuse me?"
"Can't let Pete keep you all f..."
Page 25: "One of them turned around. I ran to catch up, hat..."
Page 26: ""No. But I know Tad." I tried to lisp, assumed t..."
Page 27: ""Okay. That's alright. Let's go."
As he o..."
Page 28: ""Sorry. There's been a breach." The spec returne..."
Page 29: ""Gross, no way. I wouldn't eat that garbage with ..."
Page 30: "The bureaucracy was a virus, it preyed upon the ma..."
Page 31: "I was ready. The chairman and his command infrast..."
Page 32: "Two more men stepped out of the shadows to be gree..."
Page 33: "A shock wave rumbled through the building. Artwor..."
Page 34: "As heavy blast shields began to cover doorways and..."
Page 35: "One flamer charge incinerated a hundred legislator..."
Chapter 13:
Half a Minute of Madness
Don't kill here. He'll catch you and this is Texas.
Page 1:
"Like ethereal, indecisive ghosts, curtains whipped..."
Page 2: ""Pecan Groves police department," the cop answered..."
Page 3: ""No," Redman choked, suddenly ashamed, suddenly an..."
Page 4: ""Naked?"
"No, she's dressed. Doesn't look ..."
Page 5: "Until now the other detective had remained silent...."
Page 6: ""Jesus, Oak, give the guy a break."
"Fuck h..."
Page 7: ""John, just have Pete take the fucking pictures so..."
Page 8: ""Hell, yes."
"You like being a cop?"
Page 9: ""Maybe." John gave Redman a friendly squeeze with..."
Page 10: ""Hey," Redman raised his hands like a traffic cop ..."
Page 11: "They walked through the scene together, following ..."
Page 12: "The Oak towered in the doorway of the death house,..."
Page 13: "Before long they had examined the lower floor of t..."
Page 14: "Hours later, Oak sat alone in the darkness of his ..."
Page 15: "Oak's father had died only seventeen years ago, a ..."
Page 16: "Now here was this Darla Simpson case, a murder he ..."
Page 17: "He approached the suspect corner, stuck out his ha..."
Page 18: ""Please don't laugh at me, Officer Hart. I feel q..."
Page 19: ""Somebody . . . slit my . . ." she whispered throu..."
Page 20: ""Who was it?"
"I don't know. I mean, I did..."
Page 21: ""About what?"
"About her sense of humor."
Page 22: ""Which ones?"
"Not the big top teeth, you k..."
Page 23: ""What?"
"They were track marks. Needle mar..."
Page 24: ""It's a nickname given to me by my mother, long, l..."
Page 25: ""I don't know those other two men. I couldn't fin..."
Page 26: "Oak waved the statement away, knowing it didn't ma..."
Page 27: ""It feels like a need for vindication. For justic..."
Page 28: ""Who were you expecting?"
"Len. I met him ..."
Page 29: "Darla smiled. "I like that. It's so . . . colloqu..."
Page 30: ""What kind of knife?"
"A big one. Like a b..."
Page 31: ""Yes! There was a tattoo!" Darla's essence shimm..."
Page 32: ""And what did the words say?"
"'Life is a c..."
Page 33: "Four days later, the Simpson case was cold, gettin..."
Page 34: ""We- uh," she paused hesitantly. Again, the inve..."
Page 35: ""What do you mean, sir?"
"Who's down there ..."
Page 36: ""Did you call me?"
"Not that I can think of..."
Page 37: ""Worse. A lot lizard. One of our guys picked her..."
Page 38: "But Oak had already left his desk. The telephone ..."
Page 39: "In his hand, the detective held the prisoner's arr..."
Page 40: "Despite that fact, Oak thought he had seen everyth..."
Page 2: ""Pecan Groves police department," the cop answered..."
Page 3: ""No," Redman choked, suddenly ashamed, suddenly an..."
Page 4: ""Naked?"
"No, she's dressed. Doesn't look ..."
Page 5: "Until now the other detective had remained silent...."
Page 6: ""Jesus, Oak, give the guy a break."
"Fuck h..."
Page 7: ""John, just have Pete take the fucking pictures so..."
Page 8: ""Hell, yes."
"You like being a cop?"
Page 9: ""Maybe." John gave Redman a friendly squeeze with..."
Page 10: ""Hey," Redman raised his hands like a traffic cop ..."
Page 11: "They walked through the scene together, following ..."
Page 12: "The Oak towered in the doorway of the death house,..."
Page 13: "Before long they had examined the lower floor of t..."
Page 14: "Hours later, Oak sat alone in the darkness of his ..."
Page 15: "Oak's father had died only seventeen years ago, a ..."
Page 16: "Now here was this Darla Simpson case, a murder he ..."
Page 17: "He approached the suspect corner, stuck out his ha..."
Page 18: ""Please don't laugh at me, Officer Hart. I feel q..."
Page 19: ""Somebody . . . slit my . . ." she whispered throu..."
Page 20: ""Who was it?"
"I don't know. I mean, I did..."
Page 21: ""About what?"
"About her sense of humor."
Page 22: ""Which ones?"
"Not the big top teeth, you k..."
Page 23: ""What?"
"They were track marks. Needle mar..."
Page 24: ""It's a nickname given to me by my mother, long, l..."
Page 25: ""I don't know those other two men. I couldn't fin..."
Page 26: "Oak waved the statement away, knowing it didn't ma..."
Page 27: ""It feels like a need for vindication. For justic..."
Page 28: ""Who were you expecting?"
"Len. I met him ..."
Page 29: "Darla smiled. "I like that. It's so . . . colloqu..."
Page 30: ""What kind of knife?"
"A big one. Like a b..."
Page 31: ""Yes! There was a tattoo!" Darla's essence shimm..."
Page 32: ""And what did the words say?"
"'Life is a c..."
Page 33: "Four days later, the Simpson case was cold, gettin..."
Page 34: ""We- uh," she paused hesitantly. Again, the inve..."
Page 35: ""What do you mean, sir?"
"Who's down there ..."
Page 36: ""Did you call me?"
"Not that I can think of..."
Page 37: ""Worse. A lot lizard. One of our guys picked her..."
Page 38: "But Oak had already left his desk. The telephone ..."
Page 39: "In his hand, the detective held the prisoner's arr..."
Page 40: "Despite that fact, Oak thought he had seen everyth..."
Chapter 17:
Contract K-117
They're rich and powerful. He's poor and unknown. They want his organs.
Page 1:
"The car was unusually crowded. I should have know..."
Page 2: "Whitecaps fled past at a blinding rate. In the di..."
Page 3: "With recognition of the danger, my sphincter unbuc..."
Page 4: "So my mind turned to thoughts of fight or flight. ..."
Page 5: "I thought at least two of the org-procs had been t..."
Page 6: "As carefully as I could manage, I pulled out the e..."
Page 7: "Having been running without really paying attentio..."
Page 8: "But how well did I know my own backyard? I mean, ..."
Page 9: "But the more I thought of that way, the more I dec..."
Page 10: "Realizing my struggles were wasted for the time be..."
Page 11: "Grimacing behind Goggles' calloused palm, I nodded..."
Page 12: "I started to shrug my shoulders, but stopped, suck..."
Page 13: ""Your odds, friend. We wanted to even them up a b..."
Page 14: ""You noticed that, huh?" I queried without pausing..."
Page 15: "For the first time the big oaf spoke up. "We got ..."
Page 16: ""We know everything about the game. You could say..."
Page 17: ""You see, if we were to do as you suggested, the g..."
Page 18: "I stepped forward to do as Goggles suggested. Wha..."
Page 19: ""Just point it and shoot."
"Like this?" I ..."
Page 20: "The key went into a pouch tied around my waist. I..."
Page 21: "Standing, I decided the moral dialectic could wait..."
Page 22: "I couldn't see it for the polluted skies, but the ..."
Page 23: "Obeying slowly and unsteadily, I reached out a han..."
Page 24: "While my would be torturer had been making his spe..."
Page 25: "Seconds later I found myself in a vehicular traffi..."
Page 26: "After a haircut, shave, bath and a change of attir..."
Page 27: "My timing couldn't have been better. As I reached..."
Page 28: "When that was finished, I made my way forward atop..."
Page 29: "Next, it was a small matter to scramble out of the..."
Page 2: "Whitecaps fled past at a blinding rate. In the di..."
Page 3: "With recognition of the danger, my sphincter unbuc..."
Page 4: "So my mind turned to thoughts of fight or flight. ..."
Page 5: "I thought at least two of the org-procs had been t..."
Page 6: "As carefully as I could manage, I pulled out the e..."
Page 7: "Having been running without really paying attentio..."
Page 8: "But how well did I know my own backyard? I mean, ..."
Page 9: "But the more I thought of that way, the more I dec..."
Page 10: "Realizing my struggles were wasted for the time be..."
Page 11: "Grimacing behind Goggles' calloused palm, I nodded..."
Page 12: "I started to shrug my shoulders, but stopped, suck..."
Page 13: ""Your odds, friend. We wanted to even them up a b..."
Page 14: ""You noticed that, huh?" I queried without pausing..."
Page 15: "For the first time the big oaf spoke up. "We got ..."
Page 16: ""We know everything about the game. You could say..."
Page 17: ""You see, if we were to do as you suggested, the g..."
Page 18: "I stepped forward to do as Goggles suggested. Wha..."
Page 19: ""Just point it and shoot."
"Like this?" I ..."
Page 20: "The key went into a pouch tied around my waist. I..."
Page 21: "Standing, I decided the moral dialectic could wait..."
Page 22: "I couldn't see it for the polluted skies, but the ..."
Page 23: "Obeying slowly and unsteadily, I reached out a han..."
Page 24: "While my would be torturer had been making his spe..."
Page 25: "Seconds later I found myself in a vehicular traffi..."
Page 26: "After a haircut, shave, bath and a change of attir..."
Page 27: "My timing couldn't have been better. As I reached..."
Page 28: "When that was finished, I made my way forward atop..."
Page 29: "Next, it was a small matter to scramble out of the..."
Chapter 21:
Mr Forbes Bad Feeling
He has a bad feeling about that guy. Should he do something about it?
Page 1:
"Mr. Forbes had a problem. To solve his problem, M..."
Page 2: ""No, nothing like that, Harve," said Forbes as he ..."
Page 3: ""It will be, soon enough. Maybe too soon. How ol..."
Page 4: ""Probably." Mr. Forbes tried to force a similarly..."
Page 5: "This time it was the detective's turn to look down..."
Page 6: ""A Chester?"
"Chester Molester. In the joi..."
Page 7: ""You haven't seen and heard what I've seen and hea..."
Page 8: ""In a sick sort of way, the molester can't help hi..."
Page 9: "Now they were interrupted by a plump woman of midd..."
Page 10: ""Bullshit, John," and this time there were no plac..."
Page 11: ""No. I don't know." Harve blew lightly across th..."
Page 12: ""Yeah." Mr. Forbes sighed again, heavily, wearily..."
Page 13: ""So, after a five minute conversation, you're cert..."
Page 14: ""Of course I'm concerned, Harve," Mr. Forbes voice..."
Page 15: ""Overqualified, huh?" The detective took a first ..."
Page 16: ""Alright. If you insist." Mr. Forbes gave the de..."
Page 17: ""You mean . . . ?" Mr. Forbes was stunned by the h..."
Page 18: ""Hopefully, the worst. The name he gave you is an..."
Page 2: ""No, nothing like that, Harve," said Forbes as he ..."
Page 3: ""It will be, soon enough. Maybe too soon. How ol..."
Page 4: ""Probably." Mr. Forbes tried to force a similarly..."
Page 5: "This time it was the detective's turn to look down..."
Page 6: ""A Chester?"
"Chester Molester. In the joi..."
Page 7: ""You haven't seen and heard what I've seen and hea..."
Page 8: ""In a sick sort of way, the molester can't help hi..."
Page 9: "Now they were interrupted by a plump woman of midd..."
Page 10: ""Bullshit, John," and this time there were no plac..."
Page 11: ""No. I don't know." Harve blew lightly across th..."
Page 12: ""Yeah." Mr. Forbes sighed again, heavily, wearily..."
Page 13: ""So, after a five minute conversation, you're cert..."
Page 14: ""Of course I'm concerned, Harve," Mr. Forbes voice..."
Page 15: ""Overqualified, huh?" The detective took a first ..."
Page 16: ""Alright. If you insist." Mr. Forbes gave the de..."
Page 17: ""You mean . . . ?" Mr. Forbes was stunned by the h..."
Page 18: ""Hopefully, the worst. The name he gave you is an..."
Chapter 25:
The Pirate
He has ambition and a sharp knife. What becomes of a modern day Blackbeard?
Page 1:
"It can be strange, the way things happen. I didn'..."
Page 2: "I was elated. I knew Ladon would want the best fo..."
Page 3: "It was a short letter, printed on expensive paper...."
Page 4: "I had been employed as a deck hand, an ordinary sa..."
Page 5: "The Avocet's computers could guide me across the G..."
Page 6: ""Okay, okay. Don't piss yourself, esse'. Nobody ..."
Page 7: "I put the bottle to my lips and turned it upside d..."
Page 8: ""Hey, what you think, man? You think I'm just goi..."
Page 9: ""I've already punched the coordinates into the nav..."
Page 10: "Once on the boat deck, I decided I really didn't l..."
Page 11: "I didn't bother to climb down to count the money. ..."
Page 12: "When I came to, the sun was just rising. The wind..."
Page 2: "I was elated. I knew Ladon would want the best fo..."
Page 3: "It was a short letter, printed on expensive paper...."
Page 4: "I had been employed as a deck hand, an ordinary sa..."
Page 5: "The Avocet's computers could guide me across the G..."
Page 6: ""Okay, okay. Don't piss yourself, esse'. Nobody ..."
Page 7: "I put the bottle to my lips and turned it upside d..."
Page 8: ""Hey, what you think, man? You think I'm just goi..."
Page 9: ""I've already punched the coordinates into the nav..."
Page 10: "Once on the boat deck, I decided I really didn't l..."
Page 11: "I didn't bother to climb down to count the money. ..."
Page 12: "When I came to, the sun was just rising. The wind..."
Chapter 2:
Judgment on Rylox 5
Survive as best you can, but be careful what you say.
Page 1:
"All the martial ranks stood at attention, mustered..."
Page 2: ""AND WHO IS OUR ENEMY?!"
"RYLOX 5!"
..."
Page 3: ""They must be stopped. You must stop them. You ..."
Page 4: ""KILL THEM!" screamed the Speaker.
"KILL TH..."
Page 5: "The lights in the bay dimmed quickly to black. Be..."
Page 6: "Then the cataclysm occurred. Rylox became a pseud..."
Page 7: "As the highly erratic, pseudo-binary solar arrange..."
Page 8: "Then the transparent floor was jerked from beneath..."
Page 9: "Combat was nothing new to me. It was nothing to f..."
Page 10: "The obvious benefit to this plan was that the majo..."
Page 11: ""What?! Bullshit. Run a secondary diagnostic, To..."
Page 12: ""Aye, aye, sir."
"Wish I was going with you..."
Page 13: "I hoped the divisional dispatch channel would rema..."
Page 14: "A three second burst of machine language squelched..."
Page 15: ""Scanned." A short pause, then dispatch continue..."
Page 16: "Rally beacons dominated the comsys. I was halfway..."
Page 17: "My initial charge took the Gore by surprise. A do..."
Page 18: "After arranging the defensive formation, I began a..."
Page 19: "Another was muttering, "We should never have left ..."
Page 20: ""Shut up! Listen. Live. A thousand clicks north..."
Page 21: ""Selfish bastard," I cursed, and would have spat, ..."
Page 22: "Silence filled the comsys. The first Gore appeare..."
Page 23: "I shuddered, directed my flight plan around this g..."
Page 24: ""Just be glad you weren't there, Tolsen," advised ..."
Page 25: "It all happened so fast I barely even glimpsed the..."
Page 26: "We were speeding rapidly away from the ambush site..."
Page 27: ""Yeah."
"They were careless," I intoned om..."
Page 28: ""Sergeant! The log is up!"
"Screw it and y..."
Page 29: ""Like we're going to forget, or something." Whoev..."
Page 30: " The Gore had been close. Really close.
I ..."
Page 31: ""You're on-line."
"What do you think about ..."
Page 32: ""Fuck that. I'm going back! I don't have enough,..."
Page 33: ""You can't go back, we're nearly nine hours out."<..."
Page 34: ""Under twenty five percent, then."
"Not eve..."
Page 35: ""You knew the bottom line. You fucked up. Sorry...."
Page 36: "Darwin began to casually drift to my starboard, Fr..."
Page 37: ""I'm not asking, damn you! I'm demanding! Give m..."
Page 38: ""Garcia, kill Fricky's weapons systems."
"D..."
Page 39: "Garcia understood. Van Nguyen understood. Everyo..."
Page 40: "During the following hour, we lost three more. Th..."
Page 41: ""We were thinking of that wrecked transport ship w..."
Page 42: "Studying the data more accurately, I realized I ha..."
Page 43: ""...Then I flew north to the evac site. The rest ..."
Page 44: ""This court is adjourned until eight hundred hours..."
Page 45: "In a few days college students will be hacking awa..."
Page 2: ""AND WHO IS OUR ENEMY?!"
"RYLOX 5!"
..."
Page 3: ""They must be stopped. You must stop them. You ..."
Page 4: ""KILL THEM!" screamed the Speaker.
"KILL TH..."
Page 5: "The lights in the bay dimmed quickly to black. Be..."
Page 6: "Then the cataclysm occurred. Rylox became a pseud..."
Page 7: "As the highly erratic, pseudo-binary solar arrange..."
Page 8: "Then the transparent floor was jerked from beneath..."
Page 9: "Combat was nothing new to me. It was nothing to f..."
Page 10: "The obvious benefit to this plan was that the majo..."
Page 11: ""What?! Bullshit. Run a secondary diagnostic, To..."
Page 12: ""Aye, aye, sir."
"Wish I was going with you..."
Page 13: "I hoped the divisional dispatch channel would rema..."
Page 14: "A three second burst of machine language squelched..."
Page 15: ""Scanned." A short pause, then dispatch continue..."
Page 16: "Rally beacons dominated the comsys. I was halfway..."
Page 17: "My initial charge took the Gore by surprise. A do..."
Page 18: "After arranging the defensive formation, I began a..."
Page 19: "Another was muttering, "We should never have left ..."
Page 20: ""Shut up! Listen. Live. A thousand clicks north..."
Page 21: ""Selfish bastard," I cursed, and would have spat, ..."
Page 22: "Silence filled the comsys. The first Gore appeare..."
Page 23: "I shuddered, directed my flight plan around this g..."
Page 24: ""Just be glad you weren't there, Tolsen," advised ..."
Page 25: "It all happened so fast I barely even glimpsed the..."
Page 26: "We were speeding rapidly away from the ambush site..."
Page 27: ""Yeah."
"They were careless," I intoned om..."
Page 28: ""Sergeant! The log is up!"
"Screw it and y..."
Page 29: ""Like we're going to forget, or something." Whoev..."
Page 30: " The Gore had been close. Really close.
I ..."
Page 31: ""You're on-line."
"What do you think about ..."
Page 32: ""Fuck that. I'm going back! I don't have enough,..."
Page 33: ""You can't go back, we're nearly nine hours out."<..."
Page 34: ""Under twenty five percent, then."
"Not eve..."
Page 35: ""You knew the bottom line. You fucked up. Sorry...."
Page 36: "Darwin began to casually drift to my starboard, Fr..."
Page 37: ""I'm not asking, damn you! I'm demanding! Give m..."
Page 38: ""Garcia, kill Fricky's weapons systems."
"D..."
Page 39: "Garcia understood. Van Nguyen understood. Everyo..."
Page 40: "During the following hour, we lost three more. Th..."
Page 41: ""We were thinking of that wrecked transport ship w..."
Page 42: "Studying the data more accurately, I realized I ha..."
Page 43: ""...Then I flew north to the evac site. The rest ..."
Page 44: ""This court is adjourned until eight hundred hours..."
Page 45: "In a few days college students will be hacking awa..."
Chapter 6:
Death of Golden Wing
Life is brief, sweet and endlessly cruel.
Page 1:
"She awoke at dawn. The first touch of the sun's w..."
Page 2: "Even as her own scratching filled her tiny ears, G..."
Page 3: "And it was as irresistible as the sweet scent of d..."
Page 4: "For the first time her new eyes could see past her..."
Page 5: "She was disturbed by an unfamiliar sound in her he..."
Page 6: "Then the wind caught something stiff at her back. ..."
Page 7: "There were so many strange things surrounding her ..."
Page 8: "How many more such dangers were there to fear? Ho..."
Page 9: "She knew it was true. She knew it was a lie.
<..."
Page 10: "Flying, the sound of her wings thick in her ears, ..."
Page 11: "She dove for sanctuary. A congregation of her kin..."
Page 12: "Then six long, slender, black legs were wrapped ab..."
Page 13: "And the voice.
Come to me now, my Golden Wi..."
Page 14: "Golden Wing believed the promises, she was deceive..."
Page 2: "Even as her own scratching filled her tiny ears, G..."
Page 3: "And it was as irresistible as the sweet scent of d..."
Page 4: "For the first time her new eyes could see past her..."
Page 5: "She was disturbed by an unfamiliar sound in her he..."
Page 6: "Then the wind caught something stiff at her back. ..."
Page 7: "There were so many strange things surrounding her ..."
Page 8: "How many more such dangers were there to fear? Ho..."
Page 9: "She knew it was true. She knew it was a lie.
<..."
Page 10: "Flying, the sound of her wings thick in her ears, ..."
Page 11: "She dove for sanctuary. A congregation of her kin..."
Page 12: "Then six long, slender, black legs were wrapped ab..."
Page 13: "And the voice.
Come to me now, my Golden Wi..."
Page 14: "Golden Wing believed the promises, she was deceive..."
Chapter 10:
Afterlife
Have corpse, will travel.
Page 1:
""How's it feel to be dead?!" His face was wrinkle..."
Page 2: "Tad sat up, rubbed his eyes. The strange man with..."
Page 3: "The stranger rocked back on his heels, assumed an ..."
Page 4: ""I'm Tad. Tad Aslowe. You're a doctor?"
"..."
Page 5: ""Where are we?"
"Nowhere. Ever'where. We'..."
Page 6: ""Dead?"
"Yeah. Do you think she's dead, to..."
Page 7: ""Is it heaven?"
"Don't know that, either. ..."
Page 8: ""S'pose."
"Why do I look the same? I mean,..."
Page 9: ""So where are we going?"
"Up the road a spe..."
Page 10: ""Yep, he's here."
"Really? You've met him?..."
Page 11: ""Jim Jones? No, it couldn't be."
"You know..."
Page 12: ""Holliday."
"Doc Holliday. Oh shit," Tad g..."
Page 13: ""But you won. You went toe to toe with the bad gu..."
Page 14: ""I think you boys now a'days call it fur pie. Or ..."
Page 15: ""At least you are. Nobody will remember me, unles..."
Page 16: ""It won't, least ways the sun ain't never set whil..."
Page 17: ""Here it is. This is the place. Better dust off ..."
Page 18: ""But- but-," stammered the young man, "How can thi..."
Page 19: ""Forever, I s'pose. You'd already been out there ..."
Page 20: ""You still haven't answered my question." Tad pou..."
Page 2: "Tad sat up, rubbed his eyes. The strange man with..."
Page 3: "The stranger rocked back on his heels, assumed an ..."
Page 4: ""I'm Tad. Tad Aslowe. You're a doctor?"
"..."
Page 5: ""Where are we?"
"Nowhere. Ever'where. We'..."
Page 6: ""Dead?"
"Yeah. Do you think she's dead, to..."
Page 7: ""Is it heaven?"
"Don't know that, either. ..."
Page 8: ""S'pose."
"Why do I look the same? I mean,..."
Page 9: ""So where are we going?"
"Up the road a spe..."
Page 10: ""Yep, he's here."
"Really? You've met him?..."
Page 11: ""Jim Jones? No, it couldn't be."
"You know..."
Page 12: ""Holliday."
"Doc Holliday. Oh shit," Tad g..."
Page 13: ""But you won. You went toe to toe with the bad gu..."
Page 14: ""I think you boys now a'days call it fur pie. Or ..."
Page 15: ""At least you are. Nobody will remember me, unles..."
Page 16: ""It won't, least ways the sun ain't never set whil..."
Page 17: ""Here it is. This is the place. Better dust off ..."
Page 18: ""But- but-," stammered the young man, "How can thi..."
Page 19: ""Forever, I s'pose. You'd already been out there ..."
Page 20: ""You still haven't answered my question." Tad pou..."
Chapter 14:
The Evacuation
It's time for a change, but no matter where you go - there you are!
Page 1:
"The sun was a god, high and aloof, and it burned i..."
Page 2: "Returning to his open driver side door, Jack retri..."
Page 3: "Little bastards, he thought, Just be glad you're n..."
Page 4: "The letter was hand addressed in a flowery, female..."
Page 5: "Probably just long enough to come home from work o..."
Page 6: "About three o'clock in the morning, Jack was awake..."
Page 7: "What he saw made Jack hiss involuntarily. These w..."
Page 8: ""Right. Any trouble back down that way?"
"..."
Page 9: "A familiar pattern of footsteps began sounding on ..."
Page 10: "Well, I'll see about this tomorrow morning. They'..."
Page 11: "Simultaneously, a speaker began to broadcast urgen..."
Page 12: ""But-"
"Do it! NOW!"
Some of the wo..."
Page 13: "A few stray suits returned from last minute search..."
Page 14: ""He'll have to be disciplined."
"Severely,"..."
Page 15: ""Good. Those guys don't sleep."
"None of u..."
Page 16: "Blondie said, "We were bound to make a mistake soo..."
Page 17: ""Right. I have no questions."
"Then let's ..."
Page 18: "Then he remembered the dream. And the blow to his..."
Page 19: "There, at his feet, was what appeared to be fresh ..."
Page 2: "Returning to his open driver side door, Jack retri..."
Page 3: "Little bastards, he thought, Just be glad you're n..."
Page 4: "The letter was hand addressed in a flowery, female..."
Page 5: "Probably just long enough to come home from work o..."
Page 6: "About three o'clock in the morning, Jack was awake..."
Page 7: "What he saw made Jack hiss involuntarily. These w..."
Page 8: ""Right. Any trouble back down that way?"
"..."
Page 9: "A familiar pattern of footsteps began sounding on ..."
Page 10: "Well, I'll see about this tomorrow morning. They'..."
Page 11: "Simultaneously, a speaker began to broadcast urgen..."
Page 12: ""But-"
"Do it! NOW!"
Some of the wo..."
Page 13: "A few stray suits returned from last minute search..."
Page 14: ""He'll have to be disciplined."
"Severely,"..."
Page 15: ""Good. Those guys don't sleep."
"None of u..."
Page 16: "Blondie said, "We were bound to make a mistake soo..."
Page 17: ""Right. I have no questions."
"Then let's ..."
Page 18: "Then he remembered the dream. And the blow to his..."
Page 19: "There, at his feet, was what appeared to be fresh ..."
Chapter 18:
Her Icy Fate
Her maiden voyage will be the last for many of her passengers.
Page 1:
"Death dallied in port an extra day. All her berth..."
Page 2: "As her wake, history formed and roiled away at her..."
Page 3: "Moving reluctantly away from a grand model of the ..."
Page 4: "The Atlantic Ocean was the most obvious thing to m..."
Page 5: "Sometime in the night, Satan reached up from the d..."
Page 6: "I remember how father's eyes bulged with realizati..."
Page 2: "As her wake, history formed and roiled away at her..."
Page 3: "Moving reluctantly away from a grand model of the ..."
Page 4: "The Atlantic Ocean was the most obvious thing to m..."
Page 5: "Sometime in the night, Satan reached up from the d..."
Page 6: "I remember how father's eyes bulged with realizati..."
Chapter 22:
The One Percent Man
Sometimes, a man becomes lost and anonymous to the point of oblivion.
Page 1:
""I must have traveled ten thousand miles in the la..."
Page 2: ""That right?" Simian sighed, resigning himself to..."
Page 3: ""No, that's not all. Not all, by any dip of the s..."
Page 4: ""No, I'm not." The younger man tried not to sound..."
Page 5: "But the old man was having none of that. "My name..."
Page 6: ""Randolph Hearst."
Joe frowned disapproving..."
Page 7: ""Why'd you drop out?"
"The money dried up. ..."
Page 8: ""What's more, I think you know more about the kind..."
Page 9: "The rain fell in sheets, smacking the ground with ..."
Page 10: "Simian took another step forward, so he was toweri..."
Page 11: ""You. Flinching." Simian smiled sadistically, an..."
Page 12: ""Why too bad?" Joe coughed again.
The rain..."
Page 13: ""Once," Joe sighed, his breath a plume of smoke, "..."
Page 14: ""After that, I put the gun to my own head and pull..."
Page 2: ""That right?" Simian sighed, resigning himself to..."
Page 3: ""No, that's not all. Not all, by any dip of the s..."
Page 4: ""No, I'm not." The younger man tried not to sound..."
Page 5: "But the old man was having none of that. "My name..."
Page 6: ""Randolph Hearst."
Joe frowned disapproving..."
Page 7: ""Why'd you drop out?"
"The money dried up. ..."
Page 8: ""What's more, I think you know more about the kind..."
Page 9: "The rain fell in sheets, smacking the ground with ..."
Page 10: "Simian took another step forward, so he was toweri..."
Page 11: ""You. Flinching." Simian smiled sadistically, an..."
Page 12: ""Why too bad?" Joe coughed again.
The rain..."
Page 13: ""Once," Joe sighed, his breath a plume of smoke, "..."
Page 14: ""After that, I put the gun to my own head and pull..."
Chapter 3:
Marks Mirrors
Through the looking glass in search of a monster.
Page 1:
"'You must do something for me... ' Mark typed, the..."
Page 2: "Must be about noon, he thought. Concrete only gla..."
Page 3: "So went the stories he wrote. Most of them, anywa..."
Page 4: "Then he typed, starting a new paragraph and changi..."
Page 5: "He stood up to bolt the blinds. Using a willowy p..."
Page 6: "With the window at his back, Mark paused to consid..."
Page 7: "No, the muse could not be denied. Neither could t..."
Page 8: "Which was real? Which the illusion?
Thus, ..."
Page 9: "'For the demon had a boon to ask of the man-child...."
Page 10: "'Yes or no. Light or darkness. Pain or pleasure...."
Page 11: "'"Yes I do!" Rolande shouted. "I am not bound to ..."
Page 12: "'"What makes you think my request is so important ..."
Page 13: "'Rolande shook his trembling head. No.
'"W..."
Page 14: "... Marked stopped to crack his spine. His verteb..."
Page 15: "Mirror reflected mirror, and his fates would be fo..."
Page 16: "'"Exactly."
'More demonic laughter. "Do no..."
Page 17: "'To fill the silence, and curse the wind that moan..."
Page 18: "'"This innocence has so far allowed you to defeat ..."
Page 19: "'"Purpose breeds concentration. Concentration giv..."
Page 20: "'Standing now, his wounded thigh healed, his flesh..."
Page 21: "'The deed, whatever it was, would be done. The la..."
Page 22: "Mark sat up from his slumber and blinked his wide ..."
Page 23: "Looking more puzzled than ever, Rolande stepped ou..."
Page 24: ""No," responded Mark promptly, "I am not omnipoten..."
Page 25: "Again, it was the boy who cut the silence, "I am s..."
Page 26: ""For me to counsel you, I must know why the demon ..."
Page 27: "Assuming a condescending attitude, Rolande retorte..."
Page 28: "Mark recalled his earlier thoughts regarding the m..."
Page 29: ""Now I am afraid my wisdom has come too late to ai..."
Page 30: "Mark laughed, "My spells are powerless in this wor..."
Page 31: ""You have indeed been granted immortality within t..."
Page 32: "All this the author saw from an ethereal point of ..."
Page 33: "Now there were many more pages attached to the doc..."
Page 34: "'Everything came to an abrupt, thought shattering ..."
Page 35: "'The prince said nothing. His balance was unstead..."
Page 36: "'"Your deed is done," hissed the beast, its tone r..."
Page 37: "'Brave Rolande made no reply, consumed as he was b..."
Page 38: "'With its descent, the Seven Kingdoms of Dementium..."
Page 2: "Must be about noon, he thought. Concrete only gla..."
Page 3: "So went the stories he wrote. Most of them, anywa..."
Page 4: "Then he typed, starting a new paragraph and changi..."
Page 5: "He stood up to bolt the blinds. Using a willowy p..."
Page 6: "With the window at his back, Mark paused to consid..."
Page 7: "No, the muse could not be denied. Neither could t..."
Page 8: "Which was real? Which the illusion?
Thus, ..."
Page 9: "'For the demon had a boon to ask of the man-child...."
Page 10: "'Yes or no. Light or darkness. Pain or pleasure...."
Page 11: "'"Yes I do!" Rolande shouted. "I am not bound to ..."
Page 12: "'"What makes you think my request is so important ..."
Page 13: "'Rolande shook his trembling head. No.
'"W..."
Page 14: "... Marked stopped to crack his spine. His verteb..."
Page 15: "Mirror reflected mirror, and his fates would be fo..."
Page 16: "'"Exactly."
'More demonic laughter. "Do no..."
Page 17: "'To fill the silence, and curse the wind that moan..."
Page 18: "'"This innocence has so far allowed you to defeat ..."
Page 19: "'"Purpose breeds concentration. Concentration giv..."
Page 20: "'Standing now, his wounded thigh healed, his flesh..."
Page 21: "'The deed, whatever it was, would be done. The la..."
Page 22: "Mark sat up from his slumber and blinked his wide ..."
Page 23: "Looking more puzzled than ever, Rolande stepped ou..."
Page 24: ""No," responded Mark promptly, "I am not omnipoten..."
Page 25: "Again, it was the boy who cut the silence, "I am s..."
Page 26: ""For me to counsel you, I must know why the demon ..."
Page 27: "Assuming a condescending attitude, Rolande retorte..."
Page 28: "Mark recalled his earlier thoughts regarding the m..."
Page 29: ""Now I am afraid my wisdom has come too late to ai..."
Page 30: "Mark laughed, "My spells are powerless in this wor..."
Page 31: ""You have indeed been granted immortality within t..."
Page 32: "All this the author saw from an ethereal point of ..."
Page 33: "Now there were many more pages attached to the doc..."
Page 34: "'Everything came to an abrupt, thought shattering ..."
Page 35: "'The prince said nothing. His balance was unstead..."
Page 36: "'"Your deed is done," hissed the beast, its tone r..."
Page 37: "'Brave Rolande made no reply, consumed as he was b..."
Page 38: "'With its descent, the Seven Kingdoms of Dementium..."
Chapter 7:
Model Minds
Some day we will keep sentience in a box.
Page 1:
"We were in flight bound for my stat in the suburbs..."
Page 2: "This psych set I knew had been programmed by Yuri ..."
Page 3: "Now sunlight exploded, showered the tulip fields w..."
Page 4: ""What happened to the bimbo I picked up?"
"..."
Page 5: "The set came to coda. My mind was a seed, and the..."
Page 6: ""You noticed that. I did too. It's kinda cute."<..."
Page 7: "She squeezed harder, breached my testicular thresh..."
Page 8: ""I told you I was an asshole, didn't I? Nobody li..."
Page 9: ""Private Vehicle, registration Alexi Blandt, respo..."
Page 10: ""You change it. You know what to do."
And ..."
Page 11: ""This is SOME system. What is it? A Selby Turbo?..."
Page 12: ""I'm somebody great enough to sell your work in th..."
Page 13: "She pouted, let her lips flap together, closed her..."
Page 14: ""Your mind."
She didn't even break stride. ..."
Page 15: ""I'll play. With a contract."
"No contract..."
Page 16: ""I'm happy that's settled. Now suck me off," I gr..."
Page 17: "I told her, "That's none of your business. Disclo..."
Page 18: "My programs began to work their magic. Atom by at..."
Page 19: "Once the synthetic synapses of my model were compl..."
Page 20: ""Tell me, or I'll kick a vagina between your legs...."
Page 21: ""If it's good enough."
She made a half hear..."
Page 22: "First things first, however, and I turned back to ..."
Page 23: "To make communication simpler, I conjured a holo o..."
Page 24: ""What kind of company?"
"Any kind you desir..."
Page 25: ""Ah, that fetish didn't last long. Last time you ..."
Page 26: ""You always were an asshole, Blandt."
"And ..."
Page 27: ""See for yourself." The organic structure was not..."
Page 28: "It attacked her inside her stat. She hadn't even ..."
Page 29: "She was right, I thought, her work was of the fine..."
Page 30: ""On which side of the keyboard you happen to be."<..."
Page 31: "The assassin considered that question a moment, a ..."
Page 2: "This psych set I knew had been programmed by Yuri ..."
Page 3: "Now sunlight exploded, showered the tulip fields w..."
Page 4: ""What happened to the bimbo I picked up?"
"..."
Page 5: "The set came to coda. My mind was a seed, and the..."
Page 6: ""You noticed that. I did too. It's kinda cute."<..."
Page 7: "She squeezed harder, breached my testicular thresh..."
Page 8: ""I told you I was an asshole, didn't I? Nobody li..."
Page 9: ""Private Vehicle, registration Alexi Blandt, respo..."
Page 10: ""You change it. You know what to do."
And ..."
Page 11: ""This is SOME system. What is it? A Selby Turbo?..."
Page 12: ""I'm somebody great enough to sell your work in th..."
Page 13: "She pouted, let her lips flap together, closed her..."
Page 14: ""Your mind."
She didn't even break stride. ..."
Page 15: ""I'll play. With a contract."
"No contract..."
Page 16: ""I'm happy that's settled. Now suck me off," I gr..."
Page 17: "I told her, "That's none of your business. Disclo..."
Page 18: "My programs began to work their magic. Atom by at..."
Page 19: "Once the synthetic synapses of my model were compl..."
Page 20: ""Tell me, or I'll kick a vagina between your legs...."
Page 21: ""If it's good enough."
She made a half hear..."
Page 22: "First things first, however, and I turned back to ..."
Page 23: "To make communication simpler, I conjured a holo o..."
Page 24: ""What kind of company?"
"Any kind you desir..."
Page 25: ""Ah, that fetish didn't last long. Last time you ..."
Page 26: ""You always were an asshole, Blandt."
"And ..."
Page 27: ""See for yourself." The organic structure was not..."
Page 28: "It attacked her inside her stat. She hadn't even ..."
Page 29: "She was right, I thought, her work was of the fine..."
Page 30: ""On which side of the keyboard you happen to be."<..."
Page 31: "The assassin considered that question a moment, a ..."
Chapter 11:
The Devil In Tom Bradly
He's thirsty and broke and the devil is a beautiful woman.
Page 1:
"That summer the rains came late to the 'Groves. W..."
Page 2: "Bradly stopped dancing and wiped a thick sheen of ..."
Page 3: "Today he would celebrate the good fortune of the g..."
Page 4: "Handing over the bottle, the mayor mumbled, "Just ..."
Page 5: ""Oh? What kind of insurance were you considering?..."
Page 6: "This man was no religious nut. His gaze burned st..."
Page 7: "Bradly laughed in a shocked explosion, but it was ..."
Page 8: ""Didn't you? Just now, out in the street? What w..."
Page 9: "A white hot flash of light dazzled the room, blind..."
Page 10: ""Yes," remarked the devil amusedly, "I see you hav..."
Page 11: ""And if there is no true evil of action, if evil i..."
Page 12: "She said, "Tommy? Are you there, Tommy? Get out,..."
Page 13: ""She wasn't so idle all those years spent home alo..."
Page 14: ""Fucked and fucked again, eh, Tommy Boy? He had b..."
Page 15: ""She is, and she isn't. Just as I am, but am not...."
Page 16: ""And if you say yes, one evil deed poisons the ent..."
Page 17: ""You've lost me again." Bradly unscrewed the blac..."
Page 18: ""In a manner, yes." The devil's eyes fairly gleam..."
Page 19: ""Oh. I said I would sell my soul for a few days o..."
Page 20: ""But it is. You see, I could never fully own your..."
Page 21: ""Beyond your wildest dreams." The gaunt man smile..."
Page 22: ""Yeah," Bradly agreed, suddenly talking to nothing..."
Page 2: "Bradly stopped dancing and wiped a thick sheen of ..."
Page 3: "Today he would celebrate the good fortune of the g..."
Page 4: "Handing over the bottle, the mayor mumbled, "Just ..."
Page 5: ""Oh? What kind of insurance were you considering?..."
Page 6: "This man was no religious nut. His gaze burned st..."
Page 7: "Bradly laughed in a shocked explosion, but it was ..."
Page 8: ""Didn't you? Just now, out in the street? What w..."
Page 9: "A white hot flash of light dazzled the room, blind..."
Page 10: ""Yes," remarked the devil amusedly, "I see you hav..."
Page 11: ""And if there is no true evil of action, if evil i..."
Page 12: "She said, "Tommy? Are you there, Tommy? Get out,..."
Page 13: ""She wasn't so idle all those years spent home alo..."
Page 14: ""Fucked and fucked again, eh, Tommy Boy? He had b..."
Page 15: ""She is, and she isn't. Just as I am, but am not...."
Page 16: ""And if you say yes, one evil deed poisons the ent..."
Page 17: ""You've lost me again." Bradly unscrewed the blac..."
Page 18: ""In a manner, yes." The devil's eyes fairly gleam..."
Page 19: ""Oh. I said I would sell my soul for a few days o..."
Page 20: ""But it is. You see, I could never fully own your..."
Page 21: ""Beyond your wildest dreams." The gaunt man smile..."
Page 22: ""Yeah," Bradly agreed, suddenly talking to nothing..."
Chapter 15:
Level 1999
Looking backward into the dismal past to understand the ultimate cataclysm.
Page 1:
""Is it post-cataclysmic?"
"Possibly. The d..."
Page 2: ""Does it really matter? However things turn out, ..."
Page 3: ""Imagine what?"
"A zero site. What must it..."
Page 4: "Leiza hesitated a moment, on the brink of pushing ..."
Page 5: ""And I could throw things at you in frustration wi..."
Page 6: ""Fun, how?"
"Well, wouldn't it be fun if ei..."
Page 7: ""With rights of publication?"
Grudgingly, h..."
Page 8: "Secretly, she hoped he would come to her at night,..."
Page 9: ""The level recording the rise of your so-called De..."
Page 10: ""What about barricades? Shouldn't I seal the dig?..."
Page 11: ""Our luck keeps getting better and better." When..."
Page 12: ""Don't forget famous."
"No, I could never f..."
Page 13: ""Oh?" that brought Marek up short. "Now it sounds..."
Page 14: ""To hells with them, then."
Grateful to cha..."
Page 15: ""Good. Step back, I'm going to initialize the rea..."
Page 16: ""Oh, Marek! I can't believe this is happening. I..."
Page 17: "Marek cleared his throat and stated, "Now, all we ..."
Page 18: ""Nothing. You have to do nothing. Come with me. ..."
Page 19: "What would they find? Nothing? Something? The k..."
Page 20: ""Good. Much longer and I might have lost my mind...."
Page 21: "They first sifted through the raw, sometimes scram..."
"Possibly. The d..."
Page 2: ""Does it really matter? However things turn out, ..."
Page 3: ""Imagine what?"
"A zero site. What must it..."
Page 4: "Leiza hesitated a moment, on the brink of pushing ..."
Page 5: ""And I could throw things at you in frustration wi..."
Page 6: ""Fun, how?"
"Well, wouldn't it be fun if ei..."
Page 7: ""With rights of publication?"
Grudgingly, h..."
Page 8: "Secretly, she hoped he would come to her at night,..."
Page 9: ""The level recording the rise of your so-called De..."
Page 10: ""What about barricades? Shouldn't I seal the dig?..."
Page 11: ""Our luck keeps getting better and better." When..."
Page 12: ""Don't forget famous."
"No, I could never f..."
Page 13: ""Oh?" that brought Marek up short. "Now it sounds..."
Page 14: ""To hells with them, then."
Grateful to cha..."
Page 15: ""Good. Step back, I'm going to initialize the rea..."
Page 16: ""Oh, Marek! I can't believe this is happening. I..."
Page 17: "Marek cleared his throat and stated, "Now, all we ..."
Page 18: ""Nothing. You have to do nothing. Come with me. ..."
Page 19: "What would they find? Nothing? Something? The k..."
Page 20: ""Good. Much longer and I might have lost my mind...."
Page 21: "They first sifted through the raw, sometimes scram..."
Chapter 19:
The Gamma Target
A mission of self-sacrifice and assassination. Why didn't you say so sooner?
Page 1:
""Can you feel it?" hissed a voice in the darkness...."
Page 2: ""I'm not. Why would I? Why would I lie about tha..."
Page 3: ""There is the truth. The truth can set you free...."
Page 4: "The room fell silent, save for a rasping pant eman..."
Page 5: ""So, I am the charmer. You are the sack. Within ..."
Page 6: ""Yes."
"How much, I wonder? Completely? D..."
Page 7: ""Ahhhh," breathed the task master, "Truth. How de..."
Page 8: ""First, however, your trust of me must be fathomed..."
Page 9: ""If I tell you the skewer will make its closest po..."
Page 10: ""I pray you will do as you promised."
"Beca..."
Page 11: "Watching its agonizing creep, the wastrel licked h..."
Page 12: ""And now, it is my turn to believe. You will tell..."
Page 13: "For a moment the interrogator was silent, speechle..."
Page 2: ""I'm not. Why would I? Why would I lie about tha..."
Page 3: ""There is the truth. The truth can set you free...."
Page 4: "The room fell silent, save for a rasping pant eman..."
Page 5: ""So, I am the charmer. You are the sack. Within ..."
Page 6: ""Yes."
"How much, I wonder? Completely? D..."
Page 7: ""Ahhhh," breathed the task master, "Truth. How de..."
Page 8: ""First, however, your trust of me must be fathomed..."
Page 9: ""If I tell you the skewer will make its closest po..."
Page 10: ""I pray you will do as you promised."
"Beca..."
Page 11: "Watching its agonizing creep, the wastrel licked h..."
Page 12: ""And now, it is my turn to believe. You will tell..."
Page 13: "For a moment the interrogator was silent, speechle..."
Chapter 23:
That Long Step Off
She says she loves him. He refuses to believe her, but he's still willing to take that long step off.
Page 1:
""Just push him over. When you're alone. Nobody b..."
Page 2: "But to feel justified, a man had to know, really k..."
Page 3: ""You could." She turned around to face me now, bu..."
Page 4: "The next day we were wrestling a truss into place,..."
Page 5: "I pulled it off my tool belt. Handed it to him. ..."
Page 6: ""No, I mean real life insurance. Stuff you pay fo..."
Page 7: ""Too much."
"Who's your agent? I was think..."
Page 8: "I awakened to find a half dozen puffy, reddened fa..."
Page 9: "As it turned out, my injuries were worse than they..."
Page 10: ""I'm sorry all this had to happen, but I wanted to..."
Page 11: "On her way out the door, she said something strang..."
Page 12: "I didn't know whether to love or hate it. After s..."
Page 13: "He finally understood Brad had been murdered about..."
Page 14: "It reeked of desertion. I liked it that way. It ..."
Page 15: "I picked it up, and turned around to stand over my..."
Page 16: "My ears were ringing madly from the gunfire. When..."
Page 17: "I was stunned. I felt my mouth working stupidly.<..."
Page 18: "There were no flowers waiting for me on the porch ..."
Page 19: "A few nights later she came home, only to find me ..."
Page 20: ""Hi!" I said as brightly, as cheerily as I could m..."
Page 21: ""Maybe you needed killing."
With that, the ..."
Page 2: "But to feel justified, a man had to know, really k..."
Page 3: ""You could." She turned around to face me now, bu..."
Page 4: "The next day we were wrestling a truss into place,..."
Page 5: "I pulled it off my tool belt. Handed it to him. ..."
Page 6: ""No, I mean real life insurance. Stuff you pay fo..."
Page 7: ""Too much."
"Who's your agent? I was think..."
Page 8: "I awakened to find a half dozen puffy, reddened fa..."
Page 9: "As it turned out, my injuries were worse than they..."
Page 10: ""I'm sorry all this had to happen, but I wanted to..."
Page 11: "On her way out the door, she said something strang..."
Page 12: "I didn't know whether to love or hate it. After s..."
Page 13: "He finally understood Brad had been murdered about..."
Page 14: "It reeked of desertion. I liked it that way. It ..."
Page 15: "I picked it up, and turned around to stand over my..."
Page 16: "My ears were ringing madly from the gunfire. When..."
Page 17: "I was stunned. I felt my mouth working stupidly.<..."
Page 18: "There were no flowers waiting for me on the porch ..."
Page 19: "A few nights later she came home, only to find me ..."
Page 20: ""Hi!" I said as brightly, as cheerily as I could m..."
Page 21: ""Maybe you needed killing."
With that, the ..."
Chapter 4:
House of Pain
We all cage our monsters.
Page 1:
"There was a monster in his mirror. He shaved it e..."
Page 2: "So there was a monster in his mirror. There was d..."
Page 3: "Again, win or lose, it wouldn't matter. Everybody..."
Page 4: "It waited for his mistakes, for his briefest momen..."
Page 5: "Allan Stolz glanced at his watch, jauntily cocked ..."
Page 6: ""You also know company policy allows only two unan..."
Page 7: ""-a phone," Stolz finished for him. "What is it w..."
Page 8: "Gasps. More laughter.
Stolz smiled sadisti..."
Page 9: "Didn't they always say the same things? Tommy won..."
Page 10: "Tommy was pinned. Allan's grip on his shoulder wa..."
Page 11: ""What was the question?"
"The same question..."
Page 12: ""Oh." The fingers stopped moving. Allan inched c..."
Page 13: "'Tell us . . .' beamed the monkeys.
Tommy t..."
Page 14: "Now he realized that HIS monster was the only defe..."
Page 15: "Though their apprehension was growing, they could ..."
Page 16: "Tommy ignored the question, let his words follow t..."
Page 17: ""I didn't know," Allan pretended to muse for a mom..."
Page 18: "The vultures didn't like that. As Allan and his p..."
Page 19: ""Actually, I only sleep there. I spend most of my..."
Page 20: ""What's the point?"
There was a rumble in S..."
Page 21: ""I said; I think I might be going insane."
..."
Page 22: ""Certainly. I can't personally remember their nam..."
Page 23: "He stooped to open a file drawer, rummaged around,..."
Page 24: "But Tommy's monster cut him off. It sprang free a..."
Page 25: "Tommy's monster didn't stop or speak until it foun..."
Page 2: "So there was a monster in his mirror. There was d..."
Page 3: "Again, win or lose, it wouldn't matter. Everybody..."
Page 4: "It waited for his mistakes, for his briefest momen..."
Page 5: "Allan Stolz glanced at his watch, jauntily cocked ..."
Page 6: ""You also know company policy allows only two unan..."
Page 7: ""-a phone," Stolz finished for him. "What is it w..."
Page 8: "Gasps. More laughter.
Stolz smiled sadisti..."
Page 9: "Didn't they always say the same things? Tommy won..."
Page 10: "Tommy was pinned. Allan's grip on his shoulder wa..."
Page 11: ""What was the question?"
"The same question..."
Page 12: ""Oh." The fingers stopped moving. Allan inched c..."
Page 13: "'Tell us . . .' beamed the monkeys.
Tommy t..."
Page 14: "Now he realized that HIS monster was the only defe..."
Page 15: "Though their apprehension was growing, they could ..."
Page 16: "Tommy ignored the question, let his words follow t..."
Page 17: ""I didn't know," Allan pretended to muse for a mom..."
Page 18: "The vultures didn't like that. As Allan and his p..."
Page 19: ""Actually, I only sleep there. I spend most of my..."
Page 20: ""What's the point?"
There was a rumble in S..."
Page 21: ""I said; I think I might be going insane."
..."
Page 22: ""Certainly. I can't personally remember their nam..."
Page 23: "He stooped to open a file drawer, rummaged around,..."
Page 24: "But Tommy's monster cut him off. It sprang free a..."
Page 25: "Tommy's monster didn't stop or speak until it foun..."
Chapter 8:
Death Flight
Stranger things have happened during the course of love and war.
Page 1:
"Captain Theodore Browne was a quiet man, often alo..."
Page 2: ""Fuck their mommas. And fuck this transport shit...."
Page 3: ""'The Rhode Island Pixie', wasn't it?"
"Naw..."
Page 4: ""Maybe you're right. Guess I'll have to come up w..."
Page 5: "One body bag at a time. Browne and Newbury finish..."
Page 6: ""It doesn't smell just real pretty right now!" Ne..."
Page 7: ""Aw, man, I should've just burned my damned draft ..."
Page 8: ""If I seem like a nigger, it's only because of thi..."
Page 9: "As they were turning northward for a short jog alo..."
Page 10: ""Christ, where in hell did THEY come from? I didn..."
Page 11: "The second batch of four missiles was closing fast..."
Page 12: ""Dump it all. We're going to run out of sky befor..."
Page 13: ""Four engine on fire. Extinguisher responding. I..."
Page 14: ""Anything on the MIGs?"
"Don't see 'em anyw..."
Page 15: ""Man," Newbury moaned, "I knew I should have signe..."
Page 16: ""We're going in," Browne mentioned matter-of-factl..."
Page 17: "As the last syllable rolled off Browne's West Texa..."
Page 18: ""No, but I've skipped a few."
"I'm going to..."
Page 19: "It wasn't enough. The Hercules was going in hard ..."
Page 20: ""Over there!" Newbury exclaimed excitedly. "Beari..."
Page 21: "He only just cleared the treetops on final approac..."
Page 22: "Browne was hanging upside down from his harness, s..."
Page 23: "Somehow he managed to crawl out of the airplane th..."
Page 24: "It had to be derangement, because the captain coul..."
Page 25: "Dear God, Browne moaned, they were walking!
Page 2: ""Fuck their mommas. And fuck this transport shit...."
Page 3: ""'The Rhode Island Pixie', wasn't it?"
"Naw..."
Page 4: ""Maybe you're right. Guess I'll have to come up w..."
Page 5: "One body bag at a time. Browne and Newbury finish..."
Page 6: ""It doesn't smell just real pretty right now!" Ne..."
Page 7: ""Aw, man, I should've just burned my damned draft ..."
Page 8: ""If I seem like a nigger, it's only because of thi..."
Page 9: "As they were turning northward for a short jog alo..."
Page 10: ""Christ, where in hell did THEY come from? I didn..."
Page 11: "The second batch of four missiles was closing fast..."
Page 12: ""Dump it all. We're going to run out of sky befor..."
Page 13: ""Four engine on fire. Extinguisher responding. I..."
Page 14: ""Anything on the MIGs?"
"Don't see 'em anyw..."
Page 15: ""Man," Newbury moaned, "I knew I should have signe..."
Page 16: ""We're going in," Browne mentioned matter-of-factl..."
Page 17: "As the last syllable rolled off Browne's West Texa..."
Page 18: ""No, but I've skipped a few."
"I'm going to..."
Page 19: "It wasn't enough. The Hercules was going in hard ..."
Page 20: ""Over there!" Newbury exclaimed excitedly. "Beari..."
Page 21: "He only just cleared the treetops on final approac..."
Page 22: "Browne was hanging upside down from his harness, s..."
Page 23: "Somehow he managed to crawl out of the airplane th..."
Page 24: "It had to be derangement, because the captain coul..."
Page 25: "Dear God, Browne moaned, they were walking!
Chapter 12:
Nuts
They're nuts. Or is he?
Page 1:
""Welcome to your insanity. My name is Barbara. I..."
Page 2: ""You get everything mixed up. Don't mind them, de..."
Page 3: "I only just managed to snatch it away from his gri..."
Page 4: ""Remind me not to eat at your house." Fatso.
<..."
Page 5: ""No, no, me, Barb, me. It's my turn."
"Shu..."
Page 6: ""He always does. When's it gonna be my turn? Whe..."
Page 7: "Then something bumped me hard enough to knock me o..."
Page 8: ""No, nothing's quite as much fun as that, I'll gra..."
Page 9: ""What's this all about? Who the devil are you peo..."
Page 10: ""And snap you done!"
"Too bad he wasn't on ..."
Page 11: ""Maybe in the kitchen..." mused Fatso aloud, looki..."
Page 12: ""Why would he want to get smaller?" asked Fatso in..."
Page 13: ""What are you talking about?"
That brought ..."
Page 14: ""Huh?" called my wife from around the corner. She..."
Page 15: ""WILL YOU PLEASE SHUT UP!" I screamed, enraged.
Page 16: ""Ha ha," she answered sarcastically. "You're star..."
Page 17: ""Oh, but wouldn't he?" giggled Bones, and that set..."
Page 18: "Barb ignored the fat man, who had shaved his head ..."
Page 19: ""Yeah," added Barb, "Then we can make that Belly H..."
Page 20: ""Wait a minute," I said to no one in particular, "..."
Page 21: ""You'll need a helmet," reminded my red headed hos..."
Page 22: ""You better take that back, Boner! Tack it back, ..."
Page 23: "Just as I made the street, Hillary came out of the..."
Page 24: ""Worry about me, he says! Hey, Barb, did you hear..."
Page 25: "A great, green Cadillac darted into my path, its h..."
Page 26: "Half an hour and a couple hundred front yards late..."
Page 27: ""Nope, nothing's clean any more, Billy Boy. Nothi..."
Page 28: ""Every time," echoed Fatso.
"Speaking of ti..."
Page 29: ""And, Barb, ain't you gonna help the gentleman, ju..."
Page 30: ""Good mor-" she began, and stopped, her mouth gapi..."
Page 31: "On the way down the hall, I glanced back over my s..."
Page 32: ""Okay," I whispered conspiratorially with a snigge..."
Page 33: ""Barb who?" enquired John.
"She's takin' a ..."
Page 34: ""No sane man would," I agreed.
"And that sh..."
Page 35: ""Here's your coffee, sir. Will you be wearing the..."
Page 36: "Ignoring my last remark, Ms. Hinkley said, "No, yo..."
Page 37: ""Right," said I, "That's that. Time to get cracki..."
Page 38: ""Sometimes I'm William the Conqueror."
"Yea..."
Page 39: ""Sure it will, if we tell him what to say."
Page 40: ""Yeah," huffed Fatso, "I believe those two could e..."
Page 41: ""Sounds good to me."
"Uh... okay."
"..."
Page 42: ""Is not!"
"Is too!
"Not!"
"To..."
Page 43: "My phone buzzed. It was Ms. Hinkley, "I'm back wi..."
Page 44: ""Why not? I'd dress you if you needed it."
Page 45: ""A gun? Whatever for?" I hadn't thought of that...."
Page 46: ""And a raise you shall have. Once I discover the ..."
Page 47: ""Tucker? Are you okay?"
"Certainly. What ..."
Page 48: ""No. I just thought, well, never mind. It's the ..."
Page 49: ""This is gonna be great!" charged Bones.
"S..."
Page 50: ""Fine," everyone agreed, even Bones.
"Does ..."
Page 51: ""I don't think there's any distinction between the..."
Page 52: ""Don't you have some graphic displays for us, Tuck..."
Page 53: ""Oh. Well, I'll just have a little talk with Tomm..."
Page 54: ""Not yet. Not yet. Wait, let's see what happens...."
Page 55: ""This is highly irregular," complained Mike again...."
Page 56: ""My feet are too small, my dear Michael McMillan. ..."
Page 57: ""And you, Alice, your tramp's stares and steely ha..."
Page 58: "I took a deep breath. Two. Three. Bones and Fat..."
Page 59: ""Sure he is," scoffed a finally sober Bones. "He'..."
Page 60: ""Yeah, Tucker."
Then the nuts were gone. I..."
Page 2: ""You get everything mixed up. Don't mind them, de..."
Page 3: "I only just managed to snatch it away from his gri..."
Page 4: ""Remind me not to eat at your house." Fatso.
<..."
Page 5: ""No, no, me, Barb, me. It's my turn."
"Shu..."
Page 6: ""He always does. When's it gonna be my turn? Whe..."
Page 7: "Then something bumped me hard enough to knock me o..."
Page 8: ""No, nothing's quite as much fun as that, I'll gra..."
Page 9: ""What's this all about? Who the devil are you peo..."
Page 10: ""And snap you done!"
"Too bad he wasn't on ..."
Page 11: ""Maybe in the kitchen..." mused Fatso aloud, looki..."
Page 12: ""Why would he want to get smaller?" asked Fatso in..."
Page 13: ""What are you talking about?"
That brought ..."
Page 14: ""Huh?" called my wife from around the corner. She..."
Page 15: ""WILL YOU PLEASE SHUT UP!" I screamed, enraged.
Page 16: ""Ha ha," she answered sarcastically. "You're star..."
Page 17: ""Oh, but wouldn't he?" giggled Bones, and that set..."
Page 18: "Barb ignored the fat man, who had shaved his head ..."
Page 19: ""Yeah," added Barb, "Then we can make that Belly H..."
Page 20: ""Wait a minute," I said to no one in particular, "..."
Page 21: ""You'll need a helmet," reminded my red headed hos..."
Page 22: ""You better take that back, Boner! Tack it back, ..."
Page 23: "Just as I made the street, Hillary came out of the..."
Page 24: ""Worry about me, he says! Hey, Barb, did you hear..."
Page 25: "A great, green Cadillac darted into my path, its h..."
Page 26: "Half an hour and a couple hundred front yards late..."
Page 27: ""Nope, nothing's clean any more, Billy Boy. Nothi..."
Page 28: ""Every time," echoed Fatso.
"Speaking of ti..."
Page 29: ""And, Barb, ain't you gonna help the gentleman, ju..."
Page 30: ""Good mor-" she began, and stopped, her mouth gapi..."
Page 31: "On the way down the hall, I glanced back over my s..."
Page 32: ""Okay," I whispered conspiratorially with a snigge..."
Page 33: ""Barb who?" enquired John.
"She's takin' a ..."
Page 34: ""No sane man would," I agreed.
"And that sh..."
Page 35: ""Here's your coffee, sir. Will you be wearing the..."
Page 36: "Ignoring my last remark, Ms. Hinkley said, "No, yo..."
Page 37: ""Right," said I, "That's that. Time to get cracki..."
Page 38: ""Sometimes I'm William the Conqueror."
"Yea..."
Page 39: ""Sure it will, if we tell him what to say."
Page 40: ""Yeah," huffed Fatso, "I believe those two could e..."
Page 41: ""Sounds good to me."
"Uh... okay."
"..."
Page 42: ""Is not!"
"Is too!
"Not!"
"To..."
Page 43: "My phone buzzed. It was Ms. Hinkley, "I'm back wi..."
Page 44: ""Why not? I'd dress you if you needed it."
Page 45: ""A gun? Whatever for?" I hadn't thought of that...."
Page 46: ""And a raise you shall have. Once I discover the ..."
Page 47: ""Tucker? Are you okay?"
"Certainly. What ..."
Page 48: ""No. I just thought, well, never mind. It's the ..."
Page 49: ""This is gonna be great!" charged Bones.
"S..."
Page 50: ""Fine," everyone agreed, even Bones.
"Does ..."
Page 51: ""I don't think there's any distinction between the..."
Page 52: ""Don't you have some graphic displays for us, Tuck..."
Page 53: ""Oh. Well, I'll just have a little talk with Tomm..."
Page 54: ""Not yet. Not yet. Wait, let's see what happens...."
Page 55: ""This is highly irregular," complained Mike again...."
Page 56: ""My feet are too small, my dear Michael McMillan. ..."
Page 57: ""And you, Alice, your tramp's stares and steely ha..."
Page 58: "I took a deep breath. Two. Three. Bones and Fat..."
Page 59: ""Sure he is," scoffed a finally sober Bones. "He'..."
Page 60: ""Yeah, Tucker."
Then the nuts were gone. I..."
Chapter 16:
Spoils of the Sport
It's a game of life and death, and he'll play. For a price.
Page 1:
""I'm gonna take my fuckin' chance," grunted Lupus...."
Page 2: ""I believe it. Least ways when it's this or the G..."
Page 3: ""So? I've used guns before. I know all about 'em..."
Page 4: "Lupus slammed his fist down against the stiff matt..."
Page 5: ""Yeah," sighed Reed, brushing the scraps of Chubby..."
Page 6: "It wouldn't be long now, Reed groaned quietly. He..."
Page 7: ""Who's he up against?" asked Lupus, flexing his ri..."
Page 8: "The groom cackled sadistically. "That's right. A..."
Page 9: ""Well, whatever. I don't suppose it matters, now...."
Page 10: "Lupus groaned and shook his head. "No, thanks. I..."
Page 11: "To pontificate Groom's mockery of Lupus' fate, the..."
Page 12: "Through a gap in the curtain, Lupus could see the ..."
Page 13: ""Sixty seconds, slot four. How do you feel?" Gro..."
Page 14: "Groom might have added something more, but if he d..."
Page 15: "Silence followed. Lupus had been momentarily disc..."
Page 16: "Lupus breathed deeply. "Does anybody ever make it..."
Page 17: "Lupus knew this wasn't a good place to be. He had..."
Page 18: "Even as this thought crossed his mind, another jum..."
Page 19: "Slicing up from below, high energy ordinance began..."
Page 20: "Lupus struggled to his feet, re-shouldering the pu..."
Page 21: ""Next round to commence in four minutes thirty sec..."
Page 22: "The gladiator was putting the finishing touches on..."
Page 23: "He started climbing the ladder. Whatever was appr..."
Page 24: "Despite his pain and the bleeding, Lupus jumped up..."
Page 25: "Lupus was listening to all this in the detached ma..."
Page 26: "Breathily, Lupus enquired, "How about that upgrade..."
Page 27: ""End comm."
Lupus took a long, slow pull of..."
Page 28: "Lupus tried not to feel disappointed, but it was i..."
Page 29: ""The next Gideon? What do you mean?"
"Noth..."
Page 30: ""-didn't do my fuckin' job right," Groom was sayin..."
Page 31: "First priority was to be rid of the armor, but he ..."
Page 32: "Then he grew angry. God damn it all, that bastard..."
Page 33: "Either way, Lupus thought, The risks are equal, th..."
Page 34: "They watched as Gideon descended from his perch, i..."
Page 35: "Initial bolts of energy seemed to simply splash of..."
Page 36: ""This must be hell," Lupus groaned.
"You go..."
Page 37: "Instead of answering his question, Groom asked ano..."
Page 38: "All in all, considering what he had endured, the g..."
Page 39: ""Then I made it? I made it all the way to the Isl..."
Page 40: ""I guess you could say that." Groom stopped at th..."
Page 2: ""I believe it. Least ways when it's this or the G..."
Page 3: ""So? I've used guns before. I know all about 'em..."
Page 4: "Lupus slammed his fist down against the stiff matt..."
Page 5: ""Yeah," sighed Reed, brushing the scraps of Chubby..."
Page 6: "It wouldn't be long now, Reed groaned quietly. He..."
Page 7: ""Who's he up against?" asked Lupus, flexing his ri..."
Page 8: "The groom cackled sadistically. "That's right. A..."
Page 9: ""Well, whatever. I don't suppose it matters, now...."
Page 10: "Lupus groaned and shook his head. "No, thanks. I..."
Page 11: "To pontificate Groom's mockery of Lupus' fate, the..."
Page 12: "Through a gap in the curtain, Lupus could see the ..."
Page 13: ""Sixty seconds, slot four. How do you feel?" Gro..."
Page 14: "Groom might have added something more, but if he d..."
Page 15: "Silence followed. Lupus had been momentarily disc..."
Page 16: "Lupus breathed deeply. "Does anybody ever make it..."
Page 17: "Lupus knew this wasn't a good place to be. He had..."
Page 18: "Even as this thought crossed his mind, another jum..."
Page 19: "Slicing up from below, high energy ordinance began..."
Page 20: "Lupus struggled to his feet, re-shouldering the pu..."
Page 21: ""Next round to commence in four minutes thirty sec..."
Page 22: "The gladiator was putting the finishing touches on..."
Page 23: "He started climbing the ladder. Whatever was appr..."
Page 24: "Despite his pain and the bleeding, Lupus jumped up..."
Page 25: "Lupus was listening to all this in the detached ma..."
Page 26: "Breathily, Lupus enquired, "How about that upgrade..."
Page 27: ""End comm."
Lupus took a long, slow pull of..."
Page 28: "Lupus tried not to feel disappointed, but it was i..."
Page 29: ""The next Gideon? What do you mean?"
"Noth..."
Page 30: ""-didn't do my fuckin' job right," Groom was sayin..."
Page 31: "First priority was to be rid of the armor, but he ..."
Page 32: "Then he grew angry. God damn it all, that bastard..."
Page 33: "Either way, Lupus thought, The risks are equal, th..."
Page 34: "They watched as Gideon descended from his perch, i..."
Page 35: "Initial bolts of energy seemed to simply splash of..."
Page 36: ""This must be hell," Lupus groaned.
"You go..."
Page 37: "Instead of answering his question, Groom asked ano..."
Page 38: "All in all, considering what he had endured, the g..."
Page 39: ""Then I made it? I made it all the way to the Isl..."
Page 40: ""I guess you could say that." Groom stopped at th..."
Chapter 20:
Castaways
Lost on a far away, frozen rock. Who will stock the freezers for the coming darkfall?
Page 1:
""The Dark comes. We must prepare." Ulgi stirred ..."
Page 2: ""You prepare, Old Man. All we want is our stew." ..."
Page 3: "First the elders approached, their chipped bowls h..."
Page 4: "Astar stepped forward. Of her asked Ulgi, "Will y..."
Page 5: ""No. Because I believe you're stuffed full of shi..."
Page 6: ""Not all of them."
"Then which of them were..."
Page 7: ""'As the Text says'," mocked Axial with uncharacte..."
Page 8: "Afram exchanged a few words with the young woman, ..."
Page 9: ""Nonsense. Afram wouldn't break the Code. And th..."
Page 10: "After many long minutes of silence, Midred's spott..."
Page 11: ""Certainly we will find truth in Ulgi's words," hu..."
Page 12: ""I have compared my sightings with those of the An..."
Page 13: ""And why wouldn't I?" cried Astar indignantly. "Y..."
Page 14: ""Then how does it tell you anything, at all?"
<..."
Page 15: ""I didn't want to alarm you with incorrect asserti..."
Page 16: ""That's strange. I wonder what he meant by that? ..."
Page 17: ""I don't know. I suppose."
"But what is it..."
Page 18: ""Then we have no need to fear the Dark?"
"U..."
Page 19: ""There is one thing, though." Rancor smiled, but ..."
Page 20: ""There is nothing to eat, because the microflora o..."
Page 21: "The clan gasped, their mouths opened as wide as th..."
Page 22: "Before he allowed his circuits to lapse dormant, U..."
Page 2: ""You prepare, Old Man. All we want is our stew." ..."
Page 3: "First the elders approached, their chipped bowls h..."
Page 4: "Astar stepped forward. Of her asked Ulgi, "Will y..."
Page 5: ""No. Because I believe you're stuffed full of shi..."
Page 6: ""Not all of them."
"Then which of them were..."
Page 7: ""'As the Text says'," mocked Axial with uncharacte..."
Page 8: "Afram exchanged a few words with the young woman, ..."
Page 9: ""Nonsense. Afram wouldn't break the Code. And th..."
Page 10: "After many long minutes of silence, Midred's spott..."
Page 11: ""Certainly we will find truth in Ulgi's words," hu..."
Page 12: ""I have compared my sightings with those of the An..."
Page 13: ""And why wouldn't I?" cried Astar indignantly. "Y..."
Page 14: ""Then how does it tell you anything, at all?"
<..."
Page 15: ""I didn't want to alarm you with incorrect asserti..."
Page 16: ""That's strange. I wonder what he meant by that? ..."
Page 17: ""I don't know. I suppose."
"But what is it..."
Page 18: ""Then we have no need to fear the Dark?"
"U..."
Page 19: ""There is one thing, though." Rancor smiled, but ..."
Page 20: ""There is nothing to eat, because the microflora o..."
Page 21: "The clan gasped, their mouths opened as wide as th..."
Page 22: "Before he allowed his circuits to lapse dormant, U..."
Chapter 24:
Bridgehead
They came from a long, long way away. All they need is a toe-hold on our planet.
Page 1:
"Baja Station was the loneliest place on Earth, as ..."
Page 2: "After Sam reduced the pitch to his main rotor, and..."
Page 3: ""I hope you're going to be alright!" shouted the d..."
Page 4: ""Your wife lives in another world, Doc! Things are..."
Page 5: "Once he had progressed into the complex of passage..."
Page 6: ""Well, he did. But I think he's worried about get..."
Page 7: ""I'll go," offered Grearson, the youngest member o..."
Page 8: "Flipping the hoods of his coats back from his head..."
Page 9: ""Where do you think it's headed? From the looks o..."
Page 10: "Even though it was only a slight change, neither o..."
Page 11: ""To hell with the others! I wouldn't miss this fo..."
Page 12: "By the time they were all in the clear, and orient..."
Page 13: ""Fool," chided Shelm. "That was no meteor! Look ..."
Page 14: ""And maybe it was aliens from outer space," Yet an..."
Page 15: ""I don't know . . . ." Ashby had always been a fe..."
Page 16: ""We're coming!" Eskiel boomed back. "Just give us..."
Page 17: ""Correction, Doctor Eskiel. My collection is pric..."
Page 18: "Eskiel was still stuck on his colleague's first re..."
Page 19: ""I don't know. I'm no expert, you understand, jus..."
Page 20: ""But it'll be dark, by then!" protested Grearson, ..."
Page 21: "Knowing there was no other reasonable response ava..."
Page 22: ""Then it's the tractor," from Osborne.
"Or ..."
Page 23: ""Fine, Trudy," said Eskiel, his voice rough and th..."
Page 24: ""Like she said, this is her fourth tour at Baha. ..."
Page 25: "The men laughed. Most of them, anyway. A few we..."
Page 26: ""What in hell is going on, here?" breathed Eskiel...."
Page 27: "Still grumbling, the doctors accepted Eskiel's wis..."
Page 28: ""What other nation has a space program?" enquired ..."
Page 29: "Now the object was lower, closer. It seemed to be..."
Page 30: ""Oh, come on, gentlemen," scoffed Osborne. "Let's..."
Page 31: ""Who gives a shit?" interrupted Grearson. "That t..."
Page 32: "For the next half hour, Eskiel held the mike to hi..."
Page 33: "Ashby was the last. As usual, his opinion was unf..."
Page 34: ""They're just being cautious," offered Grearson.
Page 35: ""A what?" asked Ashby, entering the hypothetical d..."
Page 36: "Grearson opened his mouth as though to rebut his c..."
Page 37: "From behind Eskiel, Grearson whispered, "Something..."
Page 38: "She was right about that, at least. Eskiel made a..."
Page 39: "Osborne grunted derisively, his tone more sarcasti..."
Page 40: ""If there's nothing to worry about, what's that sm..."
Page 41: ""I'm still here, Doc. And everything's still fine..."
Page 42: "Off the air, Eskiel growled, "She keeps saying tha..."
Page 43: "Sighing, realizing there was nothing more to be do..."
Page 44: "He and Shelm exchanged knowing glances. Catching ..."
Page 45: ""My God," breathed Eskiel. Nobody else dared to s..."
Page 2: "After Sam reduced the pitch to his main rotor, and..."
Page 3: ""I hope you're going to be alright!" shouted the d..."
Page 4: ""Your wife lives in another world, Doc! Things are..."
Page 5: "Once he had progressed into the complex of passage..."
Page 6: ""Well, he did. But I think he's worried about get..."
Page 7: ""I'll go," offered Grearson, the youngest member o..."
Page 8: "Flipping the hoods of his coats back from his head..."
Page 9: ""Where do you think it's headed? From the looks o..."
Page 10: "Even though it was only a slight change, neither o..."
Page 11: ""To hell with the others! I wouldn't miss this fo..."
Page 12: "By the time they were all in the clear, and orient..."
Page 13: ""Fool," chided Shelm. "That was no meteor! Look ..."
Page 14: ""And maybe it was aliens from outer space," Yet an..."
Page 15: ""I don't know . . . ." Ashby had always been a fe..."
Page 16: ""We're coming!" Eskiel boomed back. "Just give us..."
Page 17: ""Correction, Doctor Eskiel. My collection is pric..."
Page 18: "Eskiel was still stuck on his colleague's first re..."
Page 19: ""I don't know. I'm no expert, you understand, jus..."
Page 20: ""But it'll be dark, by then!" protested Grearson, ..."
Page 21: "Knowing there was no other reasonable response ava..."
Page 22: ""Then it's the tractor," from Osborne.
"Or ..."
Page 23: ""Fine, Trudy," said Eskiel, his voice rough and th..."
Page 24: ""Like she said, this is her fourth tour at Baha. ..."
Page 25: "The men laughed. Most of them, anyway. A few we..."
Page 26: ""What in hell is going on, here?" breathed Eskiel...."
Page 27: "Still grumbling, the doctors accepted Eskiel's wis..."
Page 28: ""What other nation has a space program?" enquired ..."
Page 29: "Now the object was lower, closer. It seemed to be..."
Page 30: ""Oh, come on, gentlemen," scoffed Osborne. "Let's..."
Page 31: ""Who gives a shit?" interrupted Grearson. "That t..."
Page 32: "For the next half hour, Eskiel held the mike to hi..."
Page 33: "Ashby was the last. As usual, his opinion was unf..."
Page 34: ""They're just being cautious," offered Grearson.
Page 35: ""A what?" asked Ashby, entering the hypothetical d..."
Page 36: "Grearson opened his mouth as though to rebut his c..."
Page 37: "From behind Eskiel, Grearson whispered, "Something..."
Page 38: "She was right about that, at least. Eskiel made a..."
Page 39: "Osborne grunted derisively, his tone more sarcasti..."
Page 40: ""If there's nothing to worry about, what's that sm..."
Page 41: ""I'm still here, Doc. And everything's still fine..."
Page 42: "Off the air, Eskiel growled, "She keeps saying tha..."
Page 43: "Sighing, realizing there was nothing more to be do..."
Page 44: "He and Shelm exchanged knowing glances. Catching ..."
Page 45: ""My God," breathed Eskiel. Nobody else dared to s..."
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