Children of Atlas by Dustin Porta

Author:Dustin Porta
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: coming of age, space station, mutant, civilization, chimpanzee, robots ai aliens automaton intelligent machines monster cyborg android, dome city, humor action adventure, apocalyptic apocalyse dystopia dystopian science fiction thriller suspense, abraham lincoln elvis presley

¤))

Outside Call Center

A building wind which tossed his hair about and tugged at his jacket was the first sign that Sebastian was approaching the Istanbul Connector. Beneath the high-pitched whine was a dull hum, like an animal lowering in the distance. He knew that as he drew closer, more tones would arise and blend into a cacophony as forceful as the great wind itself.

The viaduct had ended a day earlier and after cutting through a series of frustratingly narrow stairwells, side tunnels and dead ends, Sebastian was once again in a wide, flat, yellow service corridor. It was not the main passage but another wide one, lower in the structure of the first ring. Tightly-bound cables ran along the stained ceiling. Occasionally the strapping holding these cables was broken and they were strewn wildly across the floor like serpents, but for the most part the corridor was free of debris and it was a clear shot from here to the connector. Whenever terrain permitted he ran the throttle of the Red Baron wide open. He intended to put as much ground as possible between himself and the insufferable Julian.

A cool, humid air came with the breeze. It was a relief from the stifling warmth of the viaduct, but no less damp. Condensation on the warmer walls and ceiling grew green algae from the underside of back-lit ceiling panels. Small drifts of decayed matter collected against the walls and sprouted thin, leafless vines that curled up the side of water-stained walls toward the ceiling.

Sebastian was thirsty and he knew that this water dripping from the underside of the light panels was potable, but it wouldn't be long now before he reached the colony so he waited. Because Hewlett was using Call Center as a base for his incursions into the Wilds, the inhabitants would already know of his flight from the city. But if his intuition was right, the official report would mention only Julian Reeves and not muddle the story with multiple suspects. Any soldiers would be looking for him, but not the residents.

As long as he stuck to the outskirts of and avoided any soldiers there was no need to worry. Until very recently, Call Center had been independent and had no loyalty to New Lexington.

These were lean times though, Call Center had grown as much as any other population, while food production had stayed the same. Hewlett's decision to use the Call Center as a staging area for his military campaign had not helped relations. The people of New Lexington were not supposed to know that Call Center or the Istanbul Connector existed, and so trade between the colony and the city was forbidden. Instead, the soldiery sent their own merchant to act as an intermediary.

It would take a hefty reward to put Sebastian at peril from the locals, and once he was deep-station there would be no Lexingtonian soldiers.

There was an intersection up ahead.

An ancient sign in large red letters told Sebastian that he had entered the outskirts of Call Center.

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.