Kaleidocide Read Online Free Page A

conversation—something that not many creatures on the planet could do.
    â€œI told you, Michael,” Terrey said, “there’s no existing tech that can make someone invisible to your people or to your scanning capabilities, let alone both.”
    â€œWere any of the guards taken out?” I asked Min, who shook his head no. “Any air traffic detected?” No again.
    â€œSo unless there’s been an unknown invention that cannot be seen by the human eye or current surveillance,” Terrey continued, “it’s magic. Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Net Aura kind of stuff.”
    I frowned at him and looked at Min again, who shook his head one more time.
    â€œAnd seriously, mate,” Terrey continued, “that kind of mystical stuff may be at play in this problem you have, which is what you really need to worry about, not something irrelevant that I’ll never tell you.”
    â€œOkay, what is it?” I asked, sitting down across from him.
    â€œYou’ll be dead within two weeks.”
    â€œHow so?”
    â€œEver hear of the word ‘kaleidocide’?”
    I thought for a moment, then said, “Yes, I have, because I met Zhang Sun once, and became curious, so I surfed the net about him. I saw some of the speculation—rumors that he’s into some weird religion that includes a ritual he uses to kill people, political enemies and such. Looked like an urban myth to me.”
    â€œIt’s not,” Terrey said. “And you’re next.”
    â€œExcuse me, sir,” Min interrupted. “Dead ends all around on the breach. Looks like the secret stays with him for now.” Another understated gesture from the cyborg, in the direction of Terrey. “But I can confirm what he is saying about Zhang Sun. I heard about his cult from reliable sources.”
    â€œThat’s right,” I said to Min. “You should know better than us.” I had recently discovered that my bodyguard had fled China because of Sun’s rise to power.
    â€œI want to hear about this,” said Lynn as she emerged from the other room, dressed and made up.
    â€œThat’s fine,” I said, and she sat down on the divan next to me after I brought it back inside and closed the big door. “Lynn, meet Terrey Thorn. Terrey, my wife Lynn.”
    â€œMy apologies for the intrusion, marm,” Terrey said to Lynn, who didn’t reply. “I had to show your husband how vulnerable he is, so he would let me save his life.”
    â€œMichael?” Lynn looked at me.
    â€œTerrey and I were in the British special forces together,” I explained. “Then I came here, and he went into the personal security business. We’ve lost touch, but I take it from this visit, Terrey, that you’re still in that business?”
    â€œOne of the top companies in the world.”
    â€œWhat’s the name again? ‘Terrey Will Take Care of You’?”
    â€œProtection Guaranteed.”
    â€œOh, right. Nice rip-off of Reality G.”
    â€œAn homage. I want a monopoly like theirs.”
    â€œMichael,” Lynn said again. “What’s going on?”
    â€œThe most powerful man in the world wants him dead,” Terrey said. “And he most certainly will have his way, unless you hire me.”
    â€œWhy you?” Lynn asked.
    â€œBecause, trust me, I’m the only one who can protect you against this. And you can trust me.”
    â€œWhat’s this ?”
    â€œA method of assassination that has never failed to end in the death of its target.”
    â€œWhat’s so special about it? Michael and Min keep assuring me that we’re as safe as anyone, with the BASS security measures.”
    â€œYou know how in most assassination attempts, the bad guy sends just one killer, or plants one bomb, or uses one other method of some kind? He can’t do more than that because of limits on money and ability to escape