01 The Finisher by David Baldacci

Author:David Baldacci [Baldacci, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

LATE THAT NIGHT, I heard Harry Two bark. That was actually the second noise I heard. The first was my door crashing inward.

I sprang off my cot, my heart pounding painfully in my chest.

I saw Harry Two fly backward and strike the wall next to my cot. He lay there stunned even as I looked around and saw what was happening.

Jurik Krone stood before me. Behind him were Non, Ran Digby, Cletus Loon and Duk Dodgson, at twenty-four sessions old, the youngest member of Council. They all carried either long- or short-barreled mortas and they were all pointed at me.

“What is going on?” I shouted as I ran over to Harry Two and made sure he was okay. He lay there, his tongue hanging out and his breathing heavy, but nothing seemed to be broken and he did lick my hand.

“We are here to take you to Valhall, female,” announced Krone.

“You are not taking me anywhere, you git. I’ve had quite enough —”

Krone held up the book of the Quag that Quentin Herms had authored.

His smile was as triumphant as it was cruel.

I made the mistake of glancing at the floorboard where I had hidden it.

“This was taken from your digs earlier this night during the meeting at the village square,” said Krone. I winced at the utter glee in his voice. That explained why he was not at the meeting. He had been here, searching.

Krone continued. “It appears to be a book on the Quag. An illegal thing if ever there was one. Was it the Outliers that gave it to you, Vega? Does it show the routes they will use to attack us? How much are they paying you for your treachery? Or have they simply taken over your puny mind?”

I looked at each of them, my heart pumping so fast I had to steady myself by holding on to the wall. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m not a traitor. And I’m not working with any Outliers.”

Krone drew closer and pointed his short-barreled morta at my head. With his free hand he held the book close to my face. “Then explain this book. Where did you come by it?”

“I found it.”

“You found it!” exclaimed Krone. “Then why did you not report it to Council?”

“I … I was going to,” I said lamely.

“You lie,” he snapped, his features twisted into an ugly ball of fury.

He looked at Digby and Non. “Take her.”

They came forward and seized me by the arms. Harry Two started to attack them, but I ordered him back. Dodgson had taken aim at my canine’s chest and I was terrified he would shoot him.

“Don’t,” I screamed. “He won’t try and harm you. I’ll come with you. I won’t fight. Harry Two, you stay here. You stay!”

I was hustled out of my home and down the Low Road. All the noise must have woken up the village, because many Wugs in their nightclothes were out on the cobblestones as we reached the High Street, the buildings behind them ablaze with candle and lantern light.

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