Time Was Read Online Free Page B

quickly through a dimly lit corridor, thirteen seconds ahead of schedule.
    â€œHere,” said Psy–4, turning left into a shorter corridor that dead-ended at a large steel door. On the wall next to the door was a hand-scan panel. He removed his gloves and placed his hand against the screen.
    There was a languid flow of green light at the point where his hand made contact.
    Radiant killed all cameras and sensor devices with a snap of energy.
    Something moaned mechanically.
    Then Psy–4 nearly dropped to his knees in pain.
    â€œAre you all right?” asked Radiant, placing a hand on his arm.
    â€œ. . . uh . . . yes, yes . . . I’m . . . I’m fine.”
    â€œYou don’t sound fine.”
    Psy–4’s voice was granite. “Just give me a second and I’ll be all right. Okay?”
    Radiant took a step back. “I’ve never seen you like this. It’s genuinely frightening.”
    Psy–4 didn’t hear her; he was staring at the steel door. “Down there,” he whispered. “Something’s not right. . . .”
    â€œPsy–4? Come on, we don’t have long left.”
    â€œ. . . so dark . . . and lonely . . . lonely . . .”
    Radiant reached up and touched the side of Psy–4’s face, startling him from his reverie.
    â€œHuh—wha—? Oh. I . . . I apologize. Come on.”
    â€œAre you sure that you’re—? Okay, okay, don’t glare at me again. Is everything running as it should be?”
    â€œYes. Three hundred sixty-two seconds from now.”
    Radiant smiled. “Plenty of time.”
    â€œNo,” said Psy–4. “We— I’ve been distracted. It shouldn’t have happened.”
    â€œBut—”
    â€œNot a word, Radiant. Not one more word from you.”

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    Â 
    NO! screamed the child. NO! Don’t leave me, don’t leave me here, you’re so close, I’m right down here, not far, I promise, really, really . . . please come, please . . . I hurt . . . please . . .
    Please don’t kill me, Father. I don’t know what I did wrong but I won’t ever do it again, I promise, I promise, I promise, I’ll be good, I’ll make you proud of me, you’ll see, just, just  . . . please . . . please . . . please don’t . . .
    . . . ohplease . . .
    . . . someone . . .
    . . . come get me . . .
    . . . ohplease, someone . . .
    . . . someone come . . .
    . . . come get

13
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    Â 
    â€œMe?” said Zac.
    â€œYes, you,” replied Preston. “And don’t go pulling that modesty routine with me, okay? It impressed some of the folks at WorldTech but I never bought it for a second. You’ve got the sharpest mind I’ve ever known—aside from my own, of course—and I’m bored to death with not having anyone in my employ of equal intelligence. There’s no . . . challenge here anymore. Do you understand, Zac? Hannibal has crossed the Alps and this time has taken Rome. Wit , Zac, I’m dying here for lack of genuine wit, lack of a good argument or a chess partner who’ll beat me nearly as often as I beat him. My mind is shriveling from boredom.”
    â€œAs evidenced by that ham-fisted Hannibal metaphor.”
    â€œI’m not sure I like your tone of voice.”
    â€œWith all due respect, Sam, I don’t give a rat’s ass if you like my tone of voice or not. You should have heard yourself, all that ‘Poor, poor, pitiful me’ crap. How tragic, to have achieved all your goals before hitting forty. My God, the money, the fame, the power and women . . . it’s a wonder you can stand at all from the constant anguish.”
    Preston was astonished.