Long Shot by Christopher Williams

Author:Christopher Williams [Williams, Christopher]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Science Fiction
Goodreads: 17570502
Publisher: Christopher Williams
Published: 2013-02-10T00:00:00+00:00

They caught the express tube just outside the spaceport and took it to the far side of the city. They exited in an area that looked to be middle class and they quickly walked to a lower-middle class area. There weren’t many people on the streets, and the few that were out all had a beaten-down look about them.

They entered a tall housing complex that had seen better days. The plaster was peeling off of the walls and years of accumulated graffiti fought for the limited space. The front door was open, without any type of security. The small apartment they entered was on the seventeenth floor and was unbelievably small.

The door was opened by a dumpy man who looked to be in his fifties. He was bald on the top of his head but had a mass of thick blond hair growing from the sides. He squinted through the crack for a moment before he threw the door open wide and grinned at them. “Glad you could make it. I was beginning to think you weren’t coming.”

Xim led the way into the room and shook the dumpy man’s hand. “Good to see you, Sean.” He looked back at Aaron’s group and introduced them, Sean already knew Michael. “Where are the others?”

“Hughes is following someone that I think might fit your requirements. Drew is trying to get his hands on the extra equipment you requested.”

Without waiting to even be introduced to Sean, Aaron began asking rather pointed questions. “Have you found a way to get us on that transport?”

Sean seemed rather surprised at the abruptness of the question and then his eyebrows drew down in irritation. “Maybe,” he answered.

“Maybe?” Aaron repeated, and there was no mistaking the anger in his tone. “That ship leaves in two days and we need a safe way to get onboard. And the best you can do is “maybe”.”

Sean’s eyebrows drew down even farther and he looked like he was about to snap right back when Xim jumped into the breach. “Wait a moment.” Everyone’s eyes turned towards him and he continued in a slower tone. “We should at least hear what Sean has to say before we begin judging him.”

Aaron studied Xim for a moment and the bald man’s eyes widened briefly in warning. Sighing, Aaron turned his attention to Sean. If they were going to get on that blasted transport, then they would need this man’s help. “My apologies,” he said in what he hoped was a friendly tone, “it’s been a long trip.”

After a moment Sean nodded. “Forget it.”

“Excellent,” Xim said and clapped his hands together. “Let’s have a seat and discuss where we are.”

“This way,” Sean said and led them into a small room, maybe fifteen feet square. It was the largest room in the apartment and had been intended as a common room for the apartment’s occupants, but Sean had it set up as a type of command center. Two tables rested against the far wall and the tables were bowed under the weight of computers and gear.

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.