Jay Caselberg Jack Stein 3 The Star Tablet v2

[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

you? I ve been standing out here with these things for at least half an hour.
Yes, something happened. I ve been talking to them.
Jack couldn t see Dog s eyes, but he could read the expression of disbelief.
You can believe me, or you can doubt me. Frankly, I don t give a damn. But I
suggest you listen to what I have to say.
Dog slapped Jack s rifle down on the table beside him. Take it, he said.
You re going to need it.
He spun on his heel and started stalking toward the door.
McCreedy! yelled Jack. Stay where you are. You can t leave.
Dog stopped in midstep but didn t turn around. And why the hell not?
Because if you leave, you ll die.
I m tired of your stupid fancies, Stein. You always were weird. I ve got
what I need.
Jack almost let that one pass. He reached for the rifle. What was that,
McCreedy? I suggest you turn around,slowly.
Dog turned. Very slowly he placed his own rifle down on the floor and lifted
Page 138
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
his hands.
Jack was suddenly struck by the ludicrous nature of the situation. There they
were stuck in an arena full of aliens, and he was stark naked and pointing a
heavy-beam rifle at his pilot. He laughed.
What, Stein! What? What s so damned funny? Dog s words were full of fury.
Look at us, McCreedy. Look at us. Look around you.
An alien shifted position and he glanced in its direction, but quickly
returned to watching Dog.
Leave the weapon where it is. Come over here. Slowly.
With his hands still raised, Dog did as he was told, walking carefully across
the intervening space.
And put your damned hands down, said Jack. That s far enough.
Dog s jaw was set, and though Jack couldn t see them, he knew his eyes would
be full of anger.
What? Dog spat the word.
Look at you, McCreedy. Look at me. Is that some weird fancy? It s real and
there s a reason for it.They told me what it was.
Dog glanced around at the aliens.
Yeah, them, said Jack. Without lowering the weapon, Jack recounted what the
alien Billie had told him. Though he didn t completely understand it yet, he
thought he had the details right enough.
As he finished, he could sense the tension going out of Dog s stance, and he
carefully lowered the weapon and laid it across his lap.
Are you ready to listen yet? he asked.
Damn, said Dog. Damn.
Yeah.
McCreedy turned, linking his fingers behind his neck, and looked up at the
ceiling. Damn, he breathed again. What are we going to do?
Your choice, Dog, said Jack. You can go and take your chances, or you can
let me finish what I m here to do.
Dog let his hands drop to his sides and turned back slowly to face him. I m
sorry, Jack. This is all too weird. I m not used to this shit.
Jack considered for a moment. Yeah, all right.
He didn t know if he could trust him now, but he couldn t afford not to.
Without McCreedy he was stuck here anyway. He rubbed his cheek with one hand
and sighed. Okay. I have to try to go back under. I ve got to find out what
we need to do. Can I trust you, Dog?
Dog bowed his head. Yeah, he said quietly.
Page 139
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
Good. Jack lifted the rifle and proffered it, stock first. Take this. It s
only in the way. You might want to go and have a scout around outside while
you re waiting. I don t know how long I m going to be.
He had a momentary second thought, a quick rush as Dog reached for the
weapon, but he needn t have worried. Dog took the gun and held it, barrel
down. He stood there for a couple of seconds looking at Jack.
You ll be okay here& alone?
Yeah, said Jack. I m fine.
Dog nodded. He turned without another word, his head still slightly bowed,
and crossed to the door, then disappeared outside. He d left the other rifle
on the floor.
Jack watched him go, then swung his legs back onto the table and lay back. It
was strange how calming an adrenaline rush could be. Crossing his hands on his
chest, he closed his eyes.
Twenty-three
Billie was back beside him and Jack felt a wash of relief. It was far better
talking to Billie than Talbot. It felt& natural.
That was nice, Jack, she said.
What?
The way you handled the other one. Nice.
Thanks, I think, said Jack. So they were aware of him and what he was
doing. That was confirmation enough.
What do you want to know, Jack? asked Billie.
I want to know where you are.
She shook her head. We cannot tell you that.
Jack sighed. We again.
Billie pouted. Sorry.
It s okay.
She narrowed her eyes at him, then rubbed her already messy hair.
Okay, then, said Jack. Why can t you tell me?
Billie frowned, concentrating. She could be anywhere. There are many
pathways. Where the portals lie, often many paths come together and lots of
doorways. It s like a hall. If you go too far, you can take the wrong door. If
you do not know the door, you don t know where it leads.
Jack thought about that for a moment. But what about all those charts
outside? They re directions, aren t they? Maps, right?
She nodded. Sort of.
Page 140
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
If this were the real Billie, she d be showing signs of boredom by now.
Instead she uncrossed her legs and let them dangle over the edge of the table,
still looking at him intently.
So if I want to find you, I need to find the right door.
Uh-huh.
She looked sideways at him.
But to do that, I have to be able to travel. You just got through telling me
that there was too much risk.
Billie sighed. You think they haven t thought of that? How do you think they
travel, Jack?
How?
They ve been making jumps for centuries.
Jack frowned. Of course they had. But how?
Temporal dispersers. It s a small piece of technology that sucks up the
temporal energy and scatters it. It stops it building up. If you have one of
those, you can jump.
A silvery shape suddenly appeared in the air between them, slowly spinning.
It was star-shaped, four points and a thickened center. The surface shimmered
with strange patterns. Jack watched it as it turned.
And that s all I need?
She nodded enthusiastically.
This was weird for a dream. It was as if he were back home just chatting away
with her, working through the details of a case. Billie had done the research
and was giving him the answers he needed. He shook his head. He d lost count
of the number of times he d used Billie as a sounding board. He missed it.
Jack leaned back. And these guys will give me one?
Nuh-uh.
What do you mean?
Her face grew serious. The device is configured for them. It could be
reconfigured, but it would take time. They are not sure how it would work on
your form, if it would work at all. There would have to be study.
Time was something he didn t have. Shit, he said. So what am I supposed to
do? [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

pobieranie @ do ÂściÂągnięcia @ ebook @ download @ pdf