God's Bounty Hunter (Biddy Mackay Space Detective Book 1) by T Olivant (reading in the dark .txt) 📕

“Why did you let me do it?” Biddy asked suddenly. “The doctors said I could have killed you, even with the stungun.  You must have known that.”

“Ah, well.  One of the few things denied to the Gods is the ability to die.  I suppose I liked the idea of regaining that strength.”

“But you’re not a God, are you?”

“Who’s to say?  Kepler wasn’t a God, but Lu Tang just might be.  It’s something I’ve got to think about.”

“Ah, right.” Biddy was totally out of her depth.  Luckily at that moment a young female doctor arrived with a stern face.

“It’s time for your pain relief, Mr. Tang.” The woman pressed a button on the bed and Lu Tang’s eyelids began to droop.

“Thank you, Detective,” Lu Tang murmured.

Biddy managed a small nod.  Just because he had turned out to be more victim than perpetrator, didn’t mean that she liked the man.

“He’ll be out for a couple of hours,” the Doctor explained, tucking the covers neatly around him.  As she leant down to check his pulse, Biddy could have sworn the woman muttered ‘blessed be’.

The Scotclan detective rubbed her eyes.  She was tempted to lie down beside him.  Biddy had managed a couple of hours sleep once she had been allowed to return to the Black Maria, but it hadn’t made up for the days spent junked up on adrenaline.  Her body hadn’t worked out that the case was over yet.

All of her crew had been granted official pardons.  Even Elvis had returned to the fold, but Biddy hadn’t decided what to do about him yet.  Or Hastings, who was still officially under investigation for trying to kill Lu Tang.  Just because the portal drive was gone didn’t mean that any of her problems had disappeared.  And Macleod seemed to be sitting pretty in the heart of Scotclan, and that wasn’t something that filled her with confidence.

Biddy sat and listened to Lu Tang’s breathing, slow and steady.  Perhaps she could just close her eyes for a second –

A figure appeared in the doorway.  It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen, a face of such age, such calmness that the only word for it was holy.  There should have been a bright light, a choir of heavenly voices.  Anything other than a small cough and a shuffle of feet.

“Would you like a tea?” Tolly, the Head of the Gods, most powerful and divine creature in the universe held out a mug.

Biddy swallowed. “Yes, thank you,” she said.  As she took the cup from his hand their fingers met for a moment and she was surprised to feel… nothing.  Warm dry skin.  Just like any other human.

“Our friend is sleeping, I see.”

“He won’t ever fully recover,” Biddy said, the accusation clear in her voice. “He’ll never be able to live a normal life after what was done to him.”

Tolly smiled and it was like the sun shining down from heaven.  Biddy found this completely infuriating.

“What is normal?” Tolly replied, his fingertips pressed together. “One might say that your own life has been far from normal.  And I hear that you are to be promoted.  Would you prefer a normal life?”

“Lu Tang never had a choice.”

Tolly nodded. “Is that the name he has chosen?  Yes, you are correct.  He was a victim of the actions of others.  But that need not define his future.  He can do that himself.”

Was there any Augment that didn’t love the sound of his own voice?  Biddy folded her arms. “I just need to know something.  Did you know?”

Tolly raised an eyebrow. “You mean did I know that he wasn’t really an Augment?”

“Yes.”

“Not at first.  It was entirely possible that someone had slipped through the net.  But I was pretty sure he wasn’t who Scotclan said he was.  And then when I spoke to him it started to become clear.  His body was shutting down, rejecting the augmentation process.  If he had been a true Augment that process would have completed hundreds of years ago.”

Biddy chewed her cheek.  She believed Tolly, or wanted to anyway.  She hated to think that anyone could have known the truth about Lu Tang and let him carry on.

“You sent the plastic man.  You hired me.”

Tolly’s face didn’t lose an atom of composure. “When I heard about the Westward Ho! I had to do something.  If the Clans wanted the Augments badly enough to cause such a tragedy… well, I knew that it had to stop.  I knew you had the reputation of being something of a rebel, and I took a chance.  I’d say it paid off.”

“Would you?” Biddy shrugged.  She glanced at the sleeping figure on the bed.  Biddy thought she had never felt so sorry for anyone in her life. “What will you do with him?”

“Take him home with me.  He may not be a normal Augment, but he has earned the right to be one of us.  He can come back to Mars.”

“And if he doesn’t want to go?”

“Then I won’t force him.  But I think he might just come with me.  Otherwise, he’ll be one more piece of property for Scotclan and its enemies to fight over.”

Biddy rubbed a hand over her eyes.  There were a hundred things she should be doing right now.  Making up with Scotclan would be a good start.  Sorting out what was left of her ship might be another.  And yet, she couldn’t help but feel there was somewhere else she was needed more.

“Can I stay here until he wakes up?”

Tolly looked at her for a second, then shrugged. “Humans.  So sentimental.  Of course, you may stay here as long as you like.”

Biddy’s eyes were shut before the God left the room.

Afterword

Thanks for reading!  This new series grew out of my novel The Last Poet Laureate