Black Bags by Erik Henry Vick

Author:Erik Henry Vick [Vick, Erik Henry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ratatoskr Publishing
Published: 2021-05-13T22:00:00+00:00

9

Sonoran Desert, Southwestern AZ

June 14, 1998, 11:27 am CST

Kai grumbled and tried to roll away from the insistent hand that shook him gently. “Lemme ‘lone,” he murmured, his mind sluggish with sleep.

Come on, champ. Time to wake up.

“Let me sleep,” he groaned.

Can’t do that, champ. We’re here. We’re home.

The scene from the roadside flashed through his mind’s eye. The man from the blue car holding a claw-hand out toward Reggie, the gun in the fat man’s hand twisting around, then slapping against his skull before it went off, scattering everything Reggie was in the wind. Shaking his head, Kai blinked his eyes open, seeing only the wall of the damn van he’d spent the last couple of days in, then scrubbed his eyes with the palms of his hands. He drew in a deep breath and flopped over.

Adeline was gone, and the side door was open. The ineffective dome light burned, but it couldn’t penetrate the darkness outside. Chavez squatted beside him, smiling a little.

“Where’s Miss Adeline?”

Don’t worry about her, Chavez sent. She’s being seen to. Come on, sleepyhead. It’s time to get moving. Lots to do, lots to learn.

Kai grunted and sat up. “What time is it?”

Almost noon.

“Wow, I really slept.”

Chavez grinned down at him and patted him on the back. You exerted a lot of energy.

“How did you…”

Chavez lost his pleasant grin. How did I make Reggie shoot himself?

Kai shrugged and looked down.

I’m a telecheiristiric—as I think you may be.

“A telecheri…” Kai shook his head. I don’t know what that means.

Chavez took his arm and pulled him to his feet. It means my gifts allow me to control other people remotely. It means I can make their bodies do what I want, regardless of what they want.

Oh. And you think I’m a telechair… He blew out a frustrated breath, and Chavez laughed.

It is a mouthful. All it means is “remote controller.” He tilted his head to the side and smiled. Have you ever seen a puppet show?

Of course, said Kai.

Chavez nodded. My power is like the rig a puppeteer uses to control the puppets. You know, the funny-shaped handle with strings that connect it to a puppet’s body.

Kai nodded. Telecheiristic.

Not quite. Telecheiristiric. Chavez grinned. But other members of the Program call me and people like me puppeteers.

Oh, I get it. Kai cocked his head and looked at Chavez askance. And you think I’m a puppeteer? Why?

I don’t know that’s your calling, not for sure, but the way you manipulated fat Reggie Capstrom makes me think so.

Kai couldn’t help but think about the Pig, about the things he’d made Reggie do.

You’re a good judge of character, champ. The Pig, that’s priceless.

My name’s Kai, sent Kai, bristling a little. The Pig never called me by name. He was always calling me ‘kid,’ or something.

No offense, Kai, sent Chavez. I’m not much like old Piggy. You’ll find that out as we go. He glanced through the open sliding door. We need to get moving, cha—Kai. People are waiting to meet you.

What people?

Other people from the Program.

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