Insequor Read Online Free Page A

about 100 yards from the troops. The barrels popped in a cloud of grey dust and the bars screeched as they were dragged along and trampled. Behind him someone cursed and Carter turned to see the captain had emerged from the tent; he was pale.
    Now it walked through the antique cannon on the green and was bearing toward the tank. This time the captain had seen enough. “Open fire!”
    Immediately the air was filled with the snapping of guns. Carter looked across at his men; they were all emptying their rifles. His eyes followed the flashes and bangs to the thing. It was still walking toward the tank, sparks sprinkling off it. But the bullets did nothing; it wasn’t even slowing down.
    Next there was the flash of the tank’s gun, followed by the bang and a pressure cloud that sent everyone to the deck. Carter had covered his face just in time and when he looked up the creature was twenty yards further back down the road on the floor. But, without pausing, it righted itself, got up and carried on walking toward them.
    Nobody could move. As it neared the tank it simply walked through it, pushing the colossal metal hulk aside as if it were a fairy cake. The side got crushed and the metal groaned. The hatch flew open as the crew scrambled to escape but the thing walked on, past the tank, past the command tent and then was lost as it disappeared through a department store.
    Carter glanced at his men before turning to the captain. Nobody said a word.

Chapter 7
    Phones rang, people talked rapidly and cups of coffee seemed to float around the room. The interior of the police station was a lot bigger than it looked from the outside. Daniel sat at an empty desk after being delivered by the two cops. As his eyes read the faces of the people around him he noticed the one thing they all had in common was confusion. Sure there was anxiety, focus too and lots of adrenaline as all the cops busied themselves. But the bewilderment was there on everyone’s faces; subtle and shielded beneath the professionalism. Nobody really knew what was going on.
    Another figure walked into the room. This one was different. He was older, mid-fifties Daniel guessed, black skin with a fine beard. His eyes were tilted slightly but they looked alive, almost mischievous. An air of calmness seemed to billow out behind him like a cape and thankfully he appeared to be heading in Daniel’s direction.
    As the stranger approached the desk he stopped, took a brief look around, before taking off his coat and hanging it neatly on the back of the chair opposite. He sat down, cleared some space and took out a pen, before finally meeting Daniel’s expecting gaze.
    “You must be Daniel.” It wasn’t a question.
    “Yes, sir.” He wasn’t in the habit of calling people ‘sir’ but for some reason it seemed appropriate.
    “Detective Jones. You watched the news?”
    “Yes.”
    “And that was the thing you saw?”
    “Yes.” Daniel leaned forward, “I had to take the sheriff’s car to escape.”
    Jones kept looking at his notes and held up a hand; he held the pen in between the fingers like a sorely missed cigarette. “We’ve spoken to the officer in question, don’t worry. You’re not in any kind of trouble.
    Daniel breathed a little easier. “Thanks.”
    “I’m sure you did what you felt was necessary at the time.”
    “It was trying to kill me.”
    “I wouldn’t be so sure.” Jones's gaze trickled up to a TV on the wall. “Whatever it is, it seems non-hostile.”
    Daniel shook his head. “It tried to attack me .”
    “It’s not attacking anyone. It’s just walking. But we don’t know where it wants to go or what it’s going to do once it gets there.”
    When Jones spoke, his eyes looked Daniel up and down initially, but then momentarily held his gaze, offering comfort. He leaned back into his chair and ran his hands through his hair.
    “Where is it heading right now?” said Daniel.
    Jones picked up a manila wallet and with his other hand