The Artisans by J G Alva

Author:J G Alva [Alva, J G]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-01-06T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 17

Bob was reading in the Work Room when Pat returned.

From the doorway, Pat watched him, wondering if he stared long enough whether he might not discover some tick or gesture that would confirm his innocence. No such tick existed, but still…it would be a nice thing to find. Pat felt some conflict within himself at the dilemma, and this obviously manifested as a back ache…everything bad seemed to affect his back. Bob was unaware he was being watched, and simply sat casually at the table with his book. Occasionally, he would scratch at his beard, lick his fingers, and then turn the book’s pages. Other than that, it was just Bob Costar, sitting in a chair, reading. Pat was caught up in a momentary conviction that it definitely was not Bob who was feeding information to the Cult. Pat didn’t always dismiss gut feelings out of hand – as a man with an odd mind, he tended to take them more seriously, as he assumed his oddly wired brain was trying to deliver important information but had to go through other organs to do it – but in order to see through to who was responsible for this betrayal, he needed to.

It was easier said than done.

“Pat,” Bob said, with some surprise, finally noticing him in the doorway. “I didn’t hear you come in.”

Pat looked around.

“Where’s Darren?”

Bob sat back. Pat could finally see the cover; he was reading the Cult novel: Fall of the Ravenans, by Michael Broadbent.

“He’s down in the basement, still doing his research, I think.”

“Okay.”

“I think I know why the Cult have suddenly started acting so…desperate.”

Pat thought he had misheard him.

“What?”

Bob waved him closer, and Pat moved to join him.

“I’ve been reading Broadbent’s novel again,” he explained. “You know. In case there was something I missed.”

“I thought we agreed you were going to look at other cults as well-“

“Yes, yes, but this cult isn’t like any other. So there didn’t seem to be much point to me. But…the War.”

Pat frowned.

“The War?”

Bob tapped the novel.

“The war at the end. Remember? From the summary? The Artisans rise up to overthrow the Ravenans.”

“Oh…yes. I remember.”

“Well, it happens on the Summer Solstice. In the book, I mean. And it just so happens that tomorrow is the Summer Solstice.”

Pat collapsed in a chair next to Bob.

He said, “are you saying…?”

“That they’re going to start a revolution?” Bob gave a curious half-laugh that wasn’t at all amused. “I don’t see how they can. Not with bows and arrows. But if they think they can…then they could cause some trouble for us.”

Bob waited while that sunk in.

“We have to get them,” he continued. “The Cult. We can’t wait. Not anymore. Even if the case falls apart…it doesn’t matter. If we can round them up, hold them in custody, at least until after the Summer Solstice, then they’ll lose their joie de vivre. Or raison d’etre. Or whatever it is.”

Pat put a hand over his eyes. As if things weren’t complicated enough…

“Pat?” Bob said. He sounded worried.

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.