Synaptic Manhunt by Mick Farren

Author:Mick Farren [Farren, Mick]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Science Fiction, Fiction, Fiction in English, English fiction
ISBN: 9780583125659
Publisher: Mayflower
Published: 1976-11-25T00:00:00+00:00

'I don't give a fuck about your mission, you're leaving town.'

Suddenly he seemed to relax. He half grinned.

'Anyway, A.A. Catto's gone.'

'Gone?'

'That's right, gone. Much as it hurts me to give you any assistance at all, she's left town. She's in a rented airship. It's passed the city limits and is heading for the nothings. So go. You hear me? Go!'

Jeb Stuart Ho nodded.

'I hear you.' Bannion pointed at the Minstrel Boy.

'And take him with you.'

The Minstrel Boy's eyebrows shot up.

'I ain't going with him. I'll leave town, but I ain't going with him.'

Bannion grabbed the lapels of his frock coat.

'Oh yes you are.'

'Why? Why have I got to go with him?'

'So you can lead him to A.A. Catto, and I can be sure he won't get lost and come back here. Okay?'

'I'm damned if it's okay. I don't mind leaving town. I've been thrown out of better towns than this, but him, I ain't no way going with him.'

Bannion tightened his grip on the Minstrel Boy's jacket.

'Oh yes you are.'

The Minstrel Boy tried to pull away.

'Listen, take your hands off me. You got it all wrong. Shit, I couldn't even help him if I wanted to. I can't track people through the nothings. It's just not possible.'

Bannion pushed the Minstrel Boy forcibly away. He stag-gered back across the lobby. He was fielded by two patrolmen who held him while Bannion sauntered towards him.

'You're a goddamn liar.'

The Minstrel Boy paled.

'What do you mean?'

'You know what I mean.'

The Minstrel Boy began to struggle.

'You can't do it. You can't do it to me.'

Bannion smiled nastily.

'I can. I'll do anything to make sure you two get out and stay out.'

The Minstrel Boy shook his head desperately.

'You wouldn't do that.'

'I would.'

Jeb Stuart Ho interrupted. He looked puzzled.

'I don't understand. What are you two talking about?'

Bannion turned to Ho. His grin became meaner and wider.

'He can follow A.A. Catto anywhere.'

The Minstrel Boy's voice became hysterical.

'No I can't.'

One of the patrolmen twisted his arm, and the Minstrel Boy shut up. Bannion went on.

'Any guide can get a fix on a single individual, provided you keep him shot full of cyclatrol. It gives them some kind of overall vision. Don't ask me how it works, but it does.'

Jeb Stuart Ho stroked his chin. He looked at the Minstrel Boy.

'Is this true?'

Sweat had broken out on his forehead. He shook his head.

'No, no, it's all lies. Nothing like that . . . argh!'

One of the patrolmen had twisted his arm again. He sub-sided.

'Yes, it's true . . .'

His voice rose again.

'. . . But it could kill me.'

Jeb Stuart Ho looked at Bannion questioningly.

'Is this true? Will the drug kill him?'

Bannion shrugged.

'It might. But it's not all that likely. He could go mad.'

Ho nodded.

'I suppose we'll have to take the chance.'

The Minstrel Boy began to struggle violently with the men holding him.

'No! No! You can't do this to me!'

Bannion swung round angrily.

'Shut him up.'

One of the patrolmen tapped the Minstrel Boy sharply across the back of the head with the butt of his nightstick.

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