The Split Second by John Hulme; Michael Wexler

Author:John Hulme; Michael Wexler
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Law & Crime, Juvenile Fiction, ebook, Space and time, Fiction, Science Fiction, book, Terrorism, Technology, Science & Technology
ISBN: 9781599901305
Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's Books
Published: 2008-08-11T10:00:00+00:00

Gandan Monastery, Sühbaatar Province, Outer Mongolia

An entire World away, two figures garbed in traditional red gis sat in the lotus position on a rice paper mat. As a bell tolled, the statues of the great warriors who came before seemed to watch their every move.

“Devasyaaaa . . . ,” chanted the voices of their fellow monks. But the incomparable Li Po and his new Initiate did not join them.

Six months earlier, the lanky young Seemsian had come to Gandan to study under Fixer #1, and at Po’s instruction he’d forsaken his name and taken a vow of silence. The Initiate had also shaved his head, blindfolded his eyes, and covered his ears, tongue, and fingertips with beeswax—all in an effort to avoid deception by the five primary senses. For it was mastery of the fabled 7th that he now pursued.

“Focus!” The Initiate admonished himself with his inner voice. “Reach for that feeling that something is wrong!”

Those born in The Seems have no 7th Sense, but on a fateful night in the Department of Sleep, the Briefer turned seeker had felt the subtlest of twinges. Now he used the raised neck hairs, goose bumps, and chills down his spine to track the path of the Split Second, and even from this great distance, he could see in his mind’s eye that it had reached the launching point from which it would soon annihilate The World.

“Do you feel it, master?” asked the Initiate, though not with the help of his vocal cords. Affixed to his belt was a small pouch of tiles, each inscribed with Olde Seemsian characters that allowed one versed in their ways to say much without saying anything at all. But the way his hands shook as he arranged the ivory squares betrayed the fear that welled inside him. “The Essence of Time is loose.”

“The Powers That Be will determine if and when we are needed,” Li Po responded via his own set of squares. “I strongly suggest you return to your exercises until that moment arrives.”

“But The World is in grave danger!”

“The World is always in grave danger, young one. For its very existence depends upon the thinnest thread in the Fabric of Reality, and the simplest Twist of Fate.” Po had raised the act of silent communication to an art form, and his fingers now arranged the tiles with the speed of a World-class pianist. “Only by harnessing the power of our 7th Sense—and by releasing what we cannot control—can we ensure it will remain safe.”

The words rang of truth, but the Initiate’s ears were not ready to hear. In his heart was not the stillness of deep water, but rather the impatience of youth.

“I must go.”

“You are not ready.”

“Then I will fail, Master, but still I must go.”

The Initiate bowed to honor the lessons he had already learned, then made his way to the antechamber where travelers left their shoes and possessions. Hanging from a hook on the wall was a Briefcase, filled to the brim with Tools both new and old.

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.