Apex Magazine Issue 59 by Sigrid Ellis

Author:Sigrid Ellis
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Apex Publications
Published: 2014-04-27T04:00:00+00:00

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A translucent patch of tape floated just over the now empty sidewalk. Lila sat before it, her meters spread out before her. So far, so good. Propellerheads descended on her, their skin pale compared to the burns on the machinery they wore. That her credentials were in order didn’t matter. Never mind that her research would eventually make their job easier. She had to deploy Bridger to make them leave her alone. They didn’t find Bridger more credible and Bridger probably wasn’t stronger than a man in propeller suit much less a team of them. However, he looked as if he didn’t care who was more credible or who was stronger.

The tape was working, but the propellerheads cordoned off the block anyway. They clanked to the intersections on either side to wave away the traffic.

“So Ashen is a policeman.” Bridger turned the sheet of paper over and over in his hands. “And studying linguistics for no useful reason.”

The forging of linguists started at childhood. Any later, not to mention with less than full–time study, and the candidate had no chance of surviving the certification trials, much less passing.

“Maybe he just likes linguistics.” Lila kept her gaze on her meters. Still good. “He seemed excited that you hadn’t stood him up.”

“I can’t go anyway.” Bridger shrugged. “You need me here, just in case, right?”

Traffic blocked off, the propellerheads flew away. The air pulsed with heat and noise, both of which faded as they headed towards distant, new intrusions in the sky.

“I should wait an hour before I seal this for good just to make sure the tape holds. In the event of a fresh intrusion, that’s plenty of time for a team of sealers to arrive, but I can wait by myself.” She sneaked another quick glance at the sky. “It’s too busy a day for the propellerheads to bother me again any time soon. You go prepare to meet Ashen.”

“Prepare?” Bridger’s gaze narrowed.

“It’s a private club.” She’d bury her face in her hands if she weren’t monitoring the intrusion. “You might want to clean up. Put on your best suit, waistcoat and trousers.”

The tape stretched. The street behind it seemed to bend and twist, buckling towards Lila then away. Bridger fell on top of her. His body tightened, as if it were impervious to explosions.

“Get off of me.” Lila pushed him away. “That’s how it’s supposed behave you… well–meaning but over–reactive giant slab of highly intelligent bronze.”

To his credit, he gave to her shove. He immediately stood and backed away.

“This tape is more flexible.” She double–checked her meters, just to make sure Bridger wasn’t right. “It doesn’t try to seal the intrusion, just hold it off long enough for someone to arrive to seal it for good. The tape gives to relieve the pressure.”

“Oh.” Bridger’s shadow covered Lila. “But aren’t you supposed to have someone keep watch over you?”

For once, he looked like the creature of flesh and blood he actually was. He didn’t loom. His weight shifted ever so slightly between his feet.

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