The Temporal by Clay Boutwell

Author:Clay Boutwell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: japan, supernatural thriller, superhero action adventure, superhero action, thriller action and adventure, thriller and super villain, thriller action fiction

Chapter 24

Suteko grabbed Sam’s shoulders and met his eyes. Her face stole his attention away from all distractions, from all the death around them. In a moment, if one could call it that, they were the only sentient beings. Sam heard a slight ringing in his ears—the tinnitus he’d had since childhood. He was otherwise surrounded by complete silence. The oddity of the silence struck him to his core. No street noises, no wind, no screams—just complete silence.

Turning his head toward the source of the explosion, Sam saw in the distance one man in the process of falling over. The man appeared to be stuck, unable to move. He was, however, stuck in thin air; it was as if somewhere between beginning to fall and completing the fall, time had stopped. Likewise, there was a bird stuck in midflight and a boy with both feet off the ground running from the explosion.

The air immediately around him, however, wasn’t still, not completely. Tiny beads of water, warbled everywhere around him. Occasionally, a turn of his head would splash a prism of color into his eyes. The word surreal came to mind. That, and beauty.

Suteko touched Sam’s shoulder and pointed ahead. Agent Cobbs was a statue, his frozen lips in the process of hurling silent curses toward Sam and Suteko.

Suteko moved to Cobbs and searched his pockets. Finding his keys, she removed the handcuffs from Sam. She walked in front of him and gently massaged his irritated wrists.

“Sam,” she said in a soft voice that seemed extraordinarily loud within the context of the complete silence. “We need to leave.”

“Leave? What’s going on? Why isn’t everyone moving?”

“If you concentrate hard enough, you can sometimes experience a stronger encounter with eternity.”

“You mean you can stop time?” Sam asked in childish wonderment. The world seemed so strange with no breeze, no human chatter, no birds singing—only that constant ringing in his ear told him that he was still alive.

“No. Time continues within its proper context. We are merely visitors outside of time.”

It made no sense to him, but at this point, Suteko could say, “up is down” and he would at least consider it possible. She had modified time once before on Marcus’ rooftop. But this time, he was a witness and participant to the actual experience.

“Sam, we need to move. We were granted a stay, but time will pull us back like gravity. Help me carry Agent Cobbs. We must take him to safety.”

Sam followed Suteko’s finger and positioned himself in front of the agent. Suteko gently nudged the agent forward. Cobb’s stiff body fell into Sam’s arms. Suteko, in a surprisingly quick motion, lifted Cobb’s legs. Sam caught the man’s weight, gripping his hands around the armpits. He was amazed how light the muscular and fully-grown man seemed. It was like carrying a plastic mannequin filled with air.

“Quick. Away from the explosion area.”

“Why not take a car?”

“Things still caught up in common time can’t move.”

“We are moving Agent Cobbs, aren’t we?”

“We are carrying Agent Cobbs.

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.