The Lost Patrol Read Online Free

major’s left leg shivered once more, but the man ignored it as he advanced.
    “His movements are odd,” Galyan said in Maddox’s ear.
    Maddox said nothing, watching the approaching major. There was a hole in the left thigh fabric. Had something just happened to Stokes?
    Stokes slowed and took his time pulling out a pack of cigarettes. He stuck one in his mouth and sucked it alight so the tip glowed, while slipping the cigarette pack back into a pocket.
    “I’m here to collect you,” Stokes said as smoke trickled from his mouth.
    “I am analyzing his speech patterns,” Galyan said.
    Maddox wondered why the major smoked a cigarette. Usually, the man smoked a stimstick.
    “The brigadier would like a word with you,” Stokes added.
    “I’m no longer in Intelligence,” Maddox replied.
    “I’m afraid it doesn’t work like that, old son. Once you’re in Intelligence, you’re always in Intelligence.”
    “There are Patrol officers who would disagree with you.”
    Stokes’ left leg shivered again, but the major continued to ignore it.
    Uneasy now, Maddox noted that the major wore a sidearm. For once in his life, the captain was unarmed. What could he do about that?
    “It appears you have us in visual,” Maddox sub-vocalized to Galyan.
    “I do,” the AI said.
    “It’s time to test the new sniper beam the Kai-Kaus installed in you. Target the major.”
    “Captain,” Galyan said, “the sniper beam is experimental. While atmospheric conditions are good, you are far too near the target for me to attempt a laser shot.”
    “I accept the risk.”
    “I could as easily hit you as the—Captain, that is not the major. I am seventy-four percent certain you are addressing an android.”
    “So some slipped through our net, eh?” Maddox muttered.
    “Are you well, Captain?” the thing that looked like Stokes asked. “You’re talking to yourself.”
    “Why are you smoking a cigarette?” Maddox asked.
    “I’m downwind of you, so it shouldn’t be a problem.”
    “You misunderstand. Major Stokes smokes stimsticks, not cigarettes. Your programming is off.”
    The two stared at each other. The major’s leg shivered again. Maddox finally noticed a dark substance smeared under the hole.
    “Did someone shoot you in the leg?” the captain asked. “Now, Galyan,” he sub-vocalized. “Shoot it now.”
    “You’ve interfered once too often, Captain,” the pseudo-major said. “This time, you will die.” Without another word, the thing reached for the gun holstered at its side.
    At the same time, a narrow, nearly invisible beam slashed down from Starship Victory high in orbit. It produced a faint haziness in the air. Then, midway between Maddox and the major, a spot of grass the size of a dime curled up, smoked, burst into flame and disappeared as a hole deepened.
    Maddox raised his hands to shield himself from the radiating heat, but that proved futile. So, he threw himself backward, rolling across the ground.
    The pseudo-major shuffled back from the smoking hole. In a blur of movement, he drew the gun and fired—the bullet passing where Maddox had stood a moment before.
    A second faint haziness appeared, burning a new tiny circle of grass and ground. This beam was much closer to Maddox than the first one.
    It caused Maddox to scramble madly across the ground to escape the radiating heat. Behind him, the major fired twice more, the last bullet clipping Maddox’s shoe.
    After the third shot, an invisible beam struck the major’s head. It burned through, turning the head and neck into blue-sparking, molten slag. The android toppled onto the ground, more of its pseudo-flesh melting. A second later, the beam quit.
    Maddox panted from his sprawled position on the ground. The Kai-Kaus chief technician who had told him about the sniper beam had spoken about it in glowing terms. The captain did not want to rely on Galyan’s single-person shooting skills again.
    He heard a whine. Maddox turned as he climbed to his