The Impossible Future: Complete set by Frank Kennedy (mini ebook reader .txt) 📕

more holes than Swiss cheese. And yeah, I ain’t got a lick of military training, but I reckon this much. You try something one time and it don’t work, then turn around and do it the same way again and expect a different outcome, you’re pretty much nuts. And I suppose you heard how the last time Ophelia Tomelin and the Chief teamed up, the Chief’s whole damn squad got wiped out.” He looked for any hint of discomfort. “You heard about that, right?”

Linton cleaned her bowl, wiping a tiny piece of grapefruit from her lips. She sat back, looked east to the rising sun, and finished her beverage. Michael waited. He saw the contemplation and at last a hint of a wry smile.

“You are a rodent,” she mumbled. As Linton gathered her dishes and rose from the table, she faced Michael. “I have killed ninety-seven men on four colonies. Indigo trash, all of them, but better men than you. Do as you are told.”

In a cat-like twist, she deposited her dishes into the mobile kiosk. Linton walked away, finding another spot ten meters west on the promenade. When Michael finished absorbing the cold wave, he returned to Sammie.

“I have told you how much I hate these people, right?”

She landed a caring hand on his chest.

“I’m sorry, Michael. You’re trying to help, but you’re a Solomon. They won’t listen.”

“Funny me. I thought we were fighting on the same side. But I said too much. She was pissed.”

“Like what?”

“Told her what happened to the Chief’s last squad.”

“Oh, shit.” Her frown carried a condescension Michael thought he was growing used to. “Peacekeepers have an undying loyalty to their field commanders. If the commander has a black mark, they fight even harder. They want their commander to find redemption because no peacekeeper can live with failure. It’s about more than being a soldier; it’s part of the Chancellor idyll. One of Daddy’s first lessons.”

He felt sick. “Hell’s bells. I’m making friends right and left.”

“Don’t worry about it. She’s a mercenary. I’m sure she’s got her own issues to work through. After today, you’ll never see her again.”

“Right. And one day when I least expect it, she’ll come up from behind and…” He chased his hand across his neck. “Tell you what? Saving this Jewel better be worth it.”

“It will be if Jamie…”

Sammie stopped. She scanned the promenade.

“What?” Michael asked.

“Where is she? Linton?”

Sammie was right. Michael detected no sign of the sergeant.

“Super. Was there something in the Chief’s plan we missed?”

Sammie didn’t respond, so Michael joined her at the viewing platform. A silhouette emerged from the eastern sun. It flew in silence above the sea, its course certain.

“There it is,” Sammie said. “A little bit early, but it has to be…”

Michael caught new movement out of the corner of his eye. Four of Patricia’s crew moved toward the transport bays.

“I thought they weren’t supposed to move until…”

“After the shuttle docks,” she said. “You’re right, Michael. There’s something we missed, or…” They shared a knowing glance. “Or those aren’t the Chief’s people. I can’t see their faces.”

“And where the hell is the Chief? What about Ophelia?”

He said a silent curse but decided the time had come.

“He’s not here to save us this time.” Michael pulled his pistol out of the pouch. “We can do this. And yeah, Sammie, I can do this. I’m ready for whatever comes.”

She kissed him. “You are. Stay with me and follow my lead.”

“No sweat. This is probably a big fucking dream, anyway.”

34

M ICHAEL SENSED THEY WERE IN TROUBLE the instant they landed at the bottom of the stairs and stepped out onto Level 3. The promenade was empty. The mobile kiosk vanished, but arrangements of cushioned seating ensembles made it look like a nice place to recline. He should have spotted at least two mercs.

“Maybe we ought to go inside,” he told Sammie, pointing toward wide tinted doors. “Whatever’s going on, it ain’t out here.”

“Something is off. Let’s try inside, Michael, but don’t do anything to call attention to us.”

“Fair enough,” he said, moving toward the doors. “But I ain’t putting this pistol back in the pouch.”

They entered what appeared to be a lobby. A long desk with drifting holocubes of island images was unmanned, and wall signs pointed down a corridor to residential landings. He stepped toward the desk and heard a gentle swell of violins. He stopped. They stared at each other. They took a step back, and the violins faded.

“Really?” He whispered, then started toward the desk again. The violins rose into a soothing melody.

“Sounds like Chopin,” Sammie said. She caught Michael’s frown. “I loved Ms. Hansen’s music class. He was her favorite composer.”

“As far as I’m concerned, music didn’t start until Elvis.”

Sammie ignored him. “Let’s try the residences.”

As they left the lobby, the violins disappeared.

The carpeted corridor between landings was long and winding at a steady yet slight curvature. The overhead lights were dim. Michael thought about retreat.

He said, “Aren’t there a thousand people living here?”

“That’s what she said.”

“So why do I think this place has been ghosted?”

“It’s early. The sun hasn’t been up for long.”

“Everywhere I been, there’s always people up before the sun.”

Michael didn’t care for what Sammie said next.

“Let’s find out. Let’s knock on doors.”

“Hold the phone. Wasn’t it you said not to draw attention?”

Her eyes radiated indecision. She wanted to take command, as she did at every perilous moment in Alabama. But she couldn’t read her own people as well on this Earth, and Michael knew that terrified her. Her training had not prepared her as well as she thought.

“Maybe you’re right. Why don’t we backtrack? Go to ground level. We’re bound to run into one of our people.