Freelance Saga 2: Quantum Interference Read Online Free Page A

oversized leaves and eating whatever roots or insects he could find. He had grown sick after being caught in a heavy downpour. He had even been molested by a bug woman and chased by birds of prey!
    He walked through the forest. Every sound or sudden movement caught his attention. It was slow going , but he persevered. After a few hours of wandering he managed to reach the edge of the woodland and saw a river in a relatively open area.
    There were more trees on the other side, but this was a good sign! A water source like this would be vital to civilization. There had to be a human town or village along the course of this waterway.
    “Finally, a break.”
    Scott decided to observe the area for a moment. He wished that he could use the skills that he had acquired during his tutorial. The identify and observe skills would have saved him a great deal of heart ache and intestinal trauma.
    Just when he had thought that it might be safe to head toward the water he noticed movement from the opposite embankment. In the distance he could see a creature that looked like a cross between a giant rat and a lizard amble out of the woods. It had a spiked fin running along its back. That much he could tell. It was a little too far away to see every detail, but he believed that there were scales running down its overly long legs.
    Silently, he considered the creature. It would probably be able to run quickly. He had not seen a monster like it on this side of the forest, so it was either rare in the area or its kind chose not to cross the water for some reason.
    The creature looked around suspiciously. Scott wondered if it had caught his scent but it seemed more interested in the river bank than the woods on his side.
    Slowly, the bear sized monster padded toward the water’s edge. The closer it came, the more cautious it seemed to become. It drew its head down and looked around tensely.
    It sniffed at the ground then looked around again. When it reached the water it stood there for a moment gazing into it. The monster seemed like it was searching for something.
    The monster leaned forward and began to drink from the river. Scott wondered at its caution. It was a big creature, even for this bizarre planet. It would probably have had few to no natural predators on Earth.
    Scott’s attention was drawn away from the monster. Something in the water, he had seen something move in the water. That something was a dark shadow that seemed to sway and move with the current of the river. The shadow began to slowly drift toward the monster drinking on the opposite bank.
    From his vantage point he could see it, but the rat-lizard would probably not have had that luxury. Suddenly, the monster lifted its head. It sniffed the air then looked left and right. Carefully it took a step back.
    However, its caution would not save it. Dozens of tentacles ripped outward from the deceitfully still water and thoroughly ensnared the beast. Scott watched as the writhing mass wrapped the creature tight, squeezed the air from its lungs so completely that even its panicked scream had been rudely cut-off, then dragged it swiftly down into the depths.
    The water was barely disturbed after the initial assault ended. Just as suddenly as the brutal event had occurred, the area went back to a scene of perfect tranquility.
    Scott looked down then turned away from the peaceful scenery. It would not prove to be his savior after all. Even the monsters only went there out of desperate need. The rat-thing had known that going to drink could lead to its death. It still went. Nothing but severe thirst would have driven it to do such a thing.
    He sighed softly then started to walk again. The river was out, but if he stayed far enough from the water he might be able to occasionally use it as a guide. He would have to watch for river beasts and the occasional thirsty monster, but it was the best lead that he’d found so far.

Chapter 4: Soft and Pink
    Soft pink lips parted gently then