Doris Piserchia by Doomtime (epub)

Author:Doomtime (epub)
Format: epub
Published: 2023-03-25T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

As the last of the red sun faded behind the maze Creed crept across the ground toward Neo. The lakes were at his back and since the ground ahead of him was flat he made good time. He was in no hurry. There was the entire night in which he could work.

“I hate you, Neo!” he thought. Aloud, he repeated the words. Leisurely, smoothly, he advanced toward the encamped enemy. “How easy to kill you,” he said. “You’re all fools. All poor, dead fools. Tonight everyone in this city dies by my hand! I’ll spare no one. All Neons are condemned!”

All he had to do was focus his mind and the right thoughts came, virulent and direct. There were no guards posted because the people in the city knew the coast was clear to the east and for at least two hundred kilometers to the west. The northern and southern directions were made impassable by deserts and mountains. No one in Neo expected an attack from without or within, especially not from Creed who crept toward his goal with vengeful thoughts and as many weapons as he could carry. He had knives, clubs, bows and arrows, even sharp stones.

He had no confidence that his plan would work, which was why he allowed himself to grow careless. Instead of keeping a proper lookout he let his attention wander. Once or twice he stumbled in the darkness, skinned his knees and elbows.

Not even when he approached the rye field did he keep a weather eye peeled. In between threats to Neo he thought of a comfortable bed and a long sleep. That was why he didn’t notice the first shiny glints of Jack’s coming.

“I’m going to kill—” he growled, and suddenly his breath stuck in his throat. He hadn’t imagined it. His heart nearly congealed in fright as something in the field moved so silently

and so rapidly that he didn’t have to think twice to know what it was. Jack menaced, Jack moved.

The moon was only then blinking over the horizon, not yet strong enough to illuminate the field but vision wasn’t essential then. Every sense Creed owned was at full alert and perhaps a few he didn’t know he possessed.

“I didn’t mean it,” he said, but the words were a feeble croak. No one could have heard him and he tried again but the sounds were husky wheezes. Death slid across the field, trained its cold sights on him, grew frigid with intent.

Horrified at the realization that he was about to be undone by his own cleverness, he fell to his knees. “I’m Creed!” he croaked. “Jack, Jack, I’m a Neon! You know me. I belong here. I woudn’t hurt a fly!” A groan escaped him. It wasn’t a living mind out there, only a machine. “Don’t kill me!” he cried. “It was all a trick. I don’t hate Neo!”

Those weren’t the words he should be using. “Love!” he shouted. “Care, caution, indifference, friendship, fear, fear, fear, don’t shoot me!”

He

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