BACKTRACKER by Milo Fowler (e book reader txt) 📕

be so kind..." Kuan loweredhis voice. "In which direction is the—how do you say—the—?" Hefrowned at the floor.

The restroom? Is that all he wants?

Lennox gestured toward the left as they reached the second tier."At the end of the hall—the one marked MALES."

Kuan's expression brightened. "Ah. Yes," he noted thelocation. "Thank you." He paused. "Would you care to joinme?"

Lennox could feel his tight smile falter. "I really should be gettingback to—"

"This will not take long. There is something I would verymuch like you to see."

Lennox would have laughed, it was so absurd. I don't swing thatway. But the look in Kuan's eyes was serious.

"Any reason you can't show me right here?"

"He is not here."

"Who?"

"The boy."

Children aren't allowed— "Whatare you talking about?"

Kuan stepped toward the hallway and restrooms beyond. "Joinme. Please."

The servers passed in a steady stream, a Sally or a George hereand there, carrying platters of tinkling glass to and from the tables on thislevel. Fresh tuxedos and sparkling dresses made their way down to the dancefloor; others damp with perspiration returned to their seats to cool off, knockback a few more drinks. On any other night, Lennox would have been pleased. So many ordersmeant one thing: plenty of credit downloading into his reservoirs.

But tonight was not like any other night. If he could trace thingsback to the moment when this timeline had been interrupted, when theequilibrium in his gut was thrown off...

Cyrus Horton. When Horton had shown upearlier that evening, responding to the message Lennox had posted on the Link. Ihave only myself to blame.

The same was true now as he followed the monk into the darkhallway, lit only by white glow strips along the floor. Lennox could haveturned back, made a more convincing excuse. He didn't. Instead he gripped thecigarette lighter and removed it from his pocket, kept it in his closed fist,down at his side.

"Mr. Lennox!" The George at the urinal zipped up. He wasnot the only one in the MALES room, but he was the first to recognize Lennoxstanding just inside the door with the holy man beside him, both seeming out ofplace. Others soon became aware of their presence and stopped, stared, voicesdying off and leaving streams of splattering urine to echo against the walls ofthe spacious white room.

Lennox had to think fast. "Good evening." He allowed aconfident smile to stretch his face, the one he used to put others at ease."I'm afraid I have to ask you all to leave at this time. Mr. Ti is a guestof our esteemed Mayor Reeves, andit's against Mr. Ti's religion to use the restroomwhile others are...using it. So, if you please." He stepped back to usher themoutside. "There are other facilities located on the dance floor level aswell as near the entrance."

"Of course, Mr. Lennox." George nodded soberly, avertinghis eyes from the monk with what appeared to be respect. He gestured toward theothers. "Let's go, gentlemen."

Lennox nodded, pleased with George for following his lead.

The other men and SYNs filed out quickly, emptying the restroomwith curious backward glances. The door slid shut behind them, and the room wassilent save for the whir of the air purifiers in the ceiling.

"Lock the door, please," Kuan said.

Lennox folded his arms. "Whatever it is you need to show me,let's get it over with."

Kuan glided across the tiled floor, headed toward the long row ofstalls with white doors left ajar. "You will not want someone to stumblein upon us."

He approached the stall at the very end, the one with the closeddoor. OCCUPIED glowed from the display.

"I'll be the judge of that." Lennox remained rootedwhere he stood.

"Very well." Kuan glanced at him, and what looked like ahalf-smile turned back his thin lips. Then his hands were out in the open, freedfrom his sleeves, and he launched himself upward, vaulting over the stall'slocked door and disappearing inside.

What the hell?

In spite of himself, Lennox started forward, staring. Anotheracrobatic monk? This did not bode well.

"You're trying my patience, Mr. Ti." His voice echoed asif he were the last man standing in what remained of a sane world. He fingeredthe cold cigarette lighter.

"I beg your indulgence." The stall door clicked, flashedVACANT as it slid open, and Kuan emerged, struggling as he carried out a smallboy bound hand and foot. Unconscious. Set down on the tiles like so muchbaggage. "But as you can see, I spoke the truth."

Lennox's perspective of the room shifted, zooming to focus on thelimp body lying on the floor. "What's the meaning of this?" Is hedead? Impulsively, Lennox backed away and locked the door to the restroomwith his palm against the sensor grate. He glared at the holy man but kept hisdistance.

Kuan strode forward, leaving the boy behind. The kid's frailshoulder rose with each shallow breath."You reap what you have sown, Mr. Lennox." Kuan's eyes burned with intensity. "You sow to the wind, youwill reap the whirlwind!" He gestured back toward the body curled on thefloor. "You do not know who this is. You would never have known. But herehe is. You killed his father. He saw it happen with his own eyes."

Horton...had a son? Lennoxstared down at the boy, black hair damp and tousled, narrow wrists cinchedtogether.

He narrowed his gaze at Kuan. "What do you want?" Thiswas extortion at its best. He could feel it, whether the claims were true orfalse, and he knew what came next: demands.

"You are a very influential man, Mr. Lennox," Kuanconceded. In his eyes, there was now a deep sadness. "You have it withinyour power to do much good, to resurrect NewCity, to heal the wounds left bythe Plague and all else that you and your people have suffered. Yet there issomething more that drives you. It is something which causes you to do horriblethings. It darkens your soul."

Lennox almost laughed. "Stop screwing around. You can quitthe pious act and tell me what you want." The damn hypocrite.

Of course, he had no inclination to give this holy mananything. But he needed to know what was going on here before he called in oneof the mandroids to paint the tiles in