Laughing Wolf Read Online Free Page A

yesterday’s crisis had passed. He would have joked with Mentor had they not been studying physics together.
    â€œExplain the importance of Johann Clavius.”
    â€œHe discovered the unified field equation in 2165.”
    â€œGood. What else?”
    â€œBy using principles of hyper-spatial geometry, he proved three particles exist that can travel faster than the speed of light.”
    â€œAnd what does this imply, theoretically, at least?”
    â€œIf these particles have the same magnetic spin, and are aligned along a certain vector path, their time coefficient can be transposed.”
    â€œAnd?”
    â€œTheoretically, they would vanish into the past.”
    â€œAnd the equation for this process is …?”
    â€œI … I … can’t remember.”
    â€œReview it as you travel to Rome. And speaking of Rome, you have five minutes and fifteen seconds to catch the 8:36 shuttle.”
    Felix rose from the table and walked by a scanner, being sure to expose his teeth to its rays. Grabbing a copy of Virgil’s Aeneid — whose contents he was trying to learn by heart — he approached the door to his father’s bedroom.
    â€œI’m off!” he announced.
    â€œAre you visiting the Forum?” his father asked.
    â€œI think I’ll tour the Domus Aurea . But my shuttle’s leaving. I’ll see you later this afternoon. Dad? Did you hear me?”
    â€œYes,” his father spoke. “Have a great day, fili mi .”
    â€œYou, too. Bye.”
    A minute later, Felix was exiting his building. He chuckled. His shuttle was leaving in ninety-three seconds yet he would catch it because there was hardly any lineup at the Portal. Was this his lucky day?
    At Central Depot he was in such a rush that there wasn’t time to take in his surroundings. It was only when he’d clambered on board that he noticed the craft was strangely empty. Normally the aisles were packed with commuters, to the point where the auto-steward would have to guide him to a seat, whereas today less than half the g-pods were full. Was there a public holiday or something?
    Unless ….
    Before his thoughts could sour, Stephen Gowan waved him over. He was sitting at the front of the craft and the pod across from him happened to be vacant. Did he want to apologize for his brusqueness yesterday?
    â€œHello!” Felix greeted him, seating himself.
    â€œIt feels … busy,” Stephen said, with a look of confusion.
    â€œBusy?” Felix laughed, mistaking his intention, “How can you say that when the shuttle’s half empty?”
    â€œIs it cold in here?” Stephen asked. His hands were shaking slightly.
    â€œIt feels normal to me.”
    He was going to ask Stephen where he worked in Rome, but his g-pod’s membrane closed and the floor vibrated — signs the shuttle had left its moorings. Activating an external monitor, he watched as a tractor beam steered them from the depot and lifted them above the downtown district. He glanced into the offices that drifted past.
    â€œFelix,” Stephen gasped over his pod’s speaker, “Have you undergone ERR?”
    â€œNo. When the time came to decide, I opted out at my father’s suggestion.”
    â€œSo … you know fear?”
    â€œWell, I experience it from time to time. You must remember it, too, from when you were young.” He was gazing at the monitor still. The shuttle had floated past a line of windows yet he’d glimpsed a total of fifteen people. Where was everybody? And instead of accelerating, the shuttle was braking.
    â€œBeneath my ERR, I’m afraid,” Stephen whispered.
    â€œAfraid of what?”
    â€œThere’s something inside me. It’s about to explode.”
    â€œWhat’s inside you? You look kind of pale.”
    â€œIt’s too late. It’s taking over ….”
    Slumping forward, he exposed the whites of his eyes. The shuttle