BACKTRACKER by Milo Fowler (e book reader txt) 📕

blank expression. "I killed you, and you killed me! That's whyyour wife—my daughter—disappeared from your reality. It's the onlyexplanation." He turned away to check on the current status of the twoSYNs.

Muldoon stared at him. "I don't remember doing that."

Wouldn't I? And why would he be here, now, ifI killed him?

But this was a different reality.

"Maybe you haven't done it yet," Younger Horton saidwith a sly wink, pattingthe BackTracker in his pocket.

NINETEEN

 

"What is your relationship to the child?" The doctor gave the monk a doubtfullook. But the report had to be filed, and her fingertips hovered over themessenger in her palm.

Kuan Ti remembered the boy's mother, that night when she broughtyoung Harry to the temple. He had been only a baby then. Ten years ago.

"I am his guardian, in the absence of his father. Is thereanything that can be done for him?" His gaze remained on the boy's ears.The bleeding had stopped, but he was still unconscious.

"Once we have verified payment, we can discusstreatment." She tapped the messenger, her fingers moving across the screenin a superhuman blur. "What is your name?"

"Kuan Ti, but I do not believe—"

She held out a scanner. "Ident tag, please."

He presented his wrist with some resignation. He knew what she wouldfind. The scanner bleeped, and the doctorfrowned, tapping the screen again. Cold eyes focused on the monk.

"You have no credit."

He bowed at the waist with a faint smile. "I am a follower ofthe Way."

"Is there no one else who can provide payment for thischild's medical care?"

Gavin Lennox. Why not?

"Mr. Lennox, the owner of this establishment, promised theboy would be cared for." Yeng and I promised he would be kept safe. Butnow look at him. We have failed miserably. "I am sure it would be allright if you were to bill Mr. Lennox for your services."

She did not appear convinced. "I would need to speak with arepresentative of this establishment, should that be the case."

George—the SYN.

"I will find such a person. Please, do not leave. I willreturn."

Kuan hastened out of the common room and into the hallway, findingthe door at the end of the hall unlocked. It slid open as soon as heapproached. Quickly, he descended the dark stairway outside, lit only by glowstrips mounted along the floorboards.

Complete silence held The Pit in a cold, steely grip. The patronshad long since vacated the premises, along with the violent musical group onstage. Bodies remained, however—corpses cut down by the large man named Peter,when he and the two with him had made their entrance.

"Hello?" Kuan's voice echoed, hanging in the air as hereached the front gates and the desk nearby. A lone figure sat there, head inhis hands. Projected upward from the deskscreen before him, a Link alertrotated in a glowing holo image. "Is someone there?"

The figure trembled in the dark. Whimpering softly.

As Kuan drew closer, he saw why.

GAVIN LENNOX, OWNER OF THE PIT—DECEASED –

SLAIN UNDERGROUND—TIME OF DEATH—

"Why?" the SYN murmured, sniffing, eyes bleary as heglanced up. "Why Sir Gavin? Why like this?"

Kuan had no words of comfort for him. All he could think of wasthe doctor upstairs, that she would leave if she learned of this news. Then howwould Harry receive the help he needed?

"What will I do? What will happen to me? This place has beengreat—I'm like Sir Gavin's second in command. Where else could a synthetic land aposition like that, huh?" He broke down into sobs. "They'll probablyterminate me. You know what that means." He drew a finger across histhroat. "Into the SYNCorp recycle bin!"

"In your position, are you...privy to Mr. Lennox's line ofcredit?" He noted the blank look on the SYN's face and explained further,"The doctor upstairs requires payment for her services. She will not treatthe boy until payment is complete."

"It's gone—all of it. The governor took everything! It'llnever be the same here." Then, with sudden inspiration, "Maybe Reeveswill let me stay on in some capacity. You know, to keep the Pit running like itshould. I know the ins and outs of this place like nobody else."

This SYN is as self-centered as any human, Kuan mused. Perhapsbecause he was created by self-centered humans.

Footsteps echoed behind him, and he turned in time to see thedoctor taking her leave.

"You saw it too, huh?" the SYN called weakly after her.

"It's all over the Link." She left without another word.The gates creaked shut behind her.

"We must call for another doctor," Kuan said.

The SYN shook his headand wiped his runny nose on a sleeve. "Can't.Curfew's in effect for another couple hours. When morning comes, maybe."

The boy may not have a couple hours.

"What about—?" Kuan gestured toward the gates."Curfew does not apply to her?"

"She's the governor's personal physician. Special privilegesand all that." He blew his nose into his hands and wiped them across thedeskscreen, smearing it. "No other doctor, nobody else in town, would chance breaking curfew." He started sobbingagain without warning, covering his face. "What am I going to do?"

"I am leaving this place." Kuan stepped away from thedesk. "And I am taking the boy with me."

The SYN made no response, oblivious to anything beyond his ownsituation. He continued to be unaware of his surroundings minutes later whenthe monk appeared at the foot of the stairs with the boy's unconscious bodydraped over one shoulder.

The alley door crashed shut behind Kuan as he stepped out into thenight's cold mist. For a moment, he hesitated, glancing first toward the mainstreet in front of The Pit. Too exposed out there. He turned his gaze down theopposite end of the alley and the side street beyond. Both as silent as walkingpaths through a cemetery.

Underground... Abandoned subway tunnels...Secret lab...

He recalled the interchange between Lennox, the bald white monk,and the young woman before the three of them had left the penthouse together.Cyrus Horton—she'd mentioned him by name. The boy slung over Kuan's shouldershared the same surname. Coincidence? Unlikely. It had not been a day forcoincidences.

If this is an alternate version of NewCity,then the nearest subway portal would be...

He turned his back on the main street and headed down the alley inthe opposite direction. The dark street