Atomic Underworld: Part 1 by Jack Conner

Author:Jack Conner [Conner, Jack]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: BluA
Published: 2016-04-28T23:00:00+00:00

* * *

Tavlin left the police station and purchased bullets at a nearby gun store. Everywhere he went people huddled around radios, if they could get them to work, or congregated in city squares or shops where runners relayed the latest news if they couldn’t. Tavlin wondered what Octung’s designs were. They had launched their war at the same time their agents—if agents they were—reached some sort of critical phase at the factory in Muscud, culminating in the contents of the container. Or so Tavlin reasoned it. Were the two connected? Was the Octunggen presence in Ghenisa part of a larger plan?

In any case, he had to do something about the briefcase. He couldn’t keep carrying it around with him; it was too easily stolen, and, besides, he couldn’t bear to have it near him. Thus he picked his way down to the docks, which were not as extensive as those of Muscud. Taluushians might trade with the denizens of the Rift, but evidently they did not trade much with other under-cities. Nevertheless Tavlin was able to buy a length of chain with an anchor attached—a rusty, pitted thing that looked ready to break apart if breathed on too hard—and rented a boat with an outboard motor. It looked suspiciously like the one he had brought here, including a fresh plank where the bullet had struck. Sgt. Wales had likely not donated it, either. Crime did pay.

Tavlin revved up the motor and took the boat out into the tunnels. He ventured so far out he wasn’t entirely sure if he remembered the way back. At a conspicuous cross-roads, he tied the length of chain about the briefcase and dropped the anchor overboard. Chain rattled against wood, there came a plop, and the heavy metal dragged the briefcase under. Tavlin stared at the ripples with satisfaction, feeling lighter already. The ripples faded, he revved up the engine once more, marked the intersection in his mind, and headed back toward Taluush, hoping he remembered where it was. He thought of returning to Muscud, but for some reason he didn’t. He told himself that the enemy’s presence was stronger in Muscud—gods knew how many Octunggen bastards resided at that factory—but the truth was he knew better.

Still, after he docked the boat and paid the second half of the rental fee, he did not set off for the doctor’s office but instead returned to the coffee bar. More news filtered in regarding the fighting, and he listened to it tensely, side by side with the others. Gasps ran through the crowd with each new revelation. Tavlin added liquor to his coffee and drank it interspersed with puffs on his pipe, slowly chewing a bagel. When he’d had a belly-full of caffeine, carbs and bad news, he set off toward the Pleasure Garden. To reach it from this point he had to pass the Lavish, the first hotel he had stopped at.

As he approached the area, he heard flames and the cries of many people. He smelled smoke.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.