Velvet Dogma About 3300 wds Read Online Free Page B
When he saw them he spoke into his PODcom and headed their way.
Chapter 4
D ressed in a light grey jump suit with a black utility belt at the waist, the policeman waited for traffic to thin before he stepped into the street. Like so many of the people she'd seen, a pod covered his left eye. But where it seemed almost a fashion statement on the others, on this symbol of governmental authority the pod gave him an inhuman cyclopean appearance. He pointed his black gloved hand at the traffic light which immediately switched to red.
"We have to get this off of you."
"Why is it making that noise?"
"Proxemics. That woman Kumi probably has a proximity dampener. As long as you're within a certain distance of her, your parole collar remains inactive. Keeps people from running way."
She looked back and the policeman was halfway across the street. Part of her wanted to run up to him and explain why her collar was going off, explain how her reintroduction specialist had told her to run as she held off an attack by assassins. But then she'd never been good with the police. Last time she'd even seen a cop had been in court after she'd been arrested for trying to save the world. She made her decision.
She yanked Andy. "Come on." She let go of his hand as she accelerated into a full sprint, heading down Olympic. She screamed for the people on the sidewalk to move out of her way. For the most part they did. Only once was she forced to plow through a crowd as they waited to get into a restaurant. An elegantly dressed man with pods on both eyes went down hard.
She slowed long to see if he was okay, but the noise from her collar sent all eyes to her. Even the man on the ground looked upon her like a criminal and wanted nothing to do with her. He scooted away as if she'd hurt him. Putting her head down, she continued to the corner of 20th Street. She started to turn right, but was jerked back into her original direction by Andy. She looked over her shoulder and saw the policeman a dozen yards back and gaining.
"Follow me." Andy sped ahead.
She felt her side beginning to burn. Her breathing was ragged. Her legs felt heavier than before, yet she still found the reserves she needed to pour on the speed. By God, she wasn't about to be caught before she figured things out.
Halfway down the block, Andy turned down an alley. Rebecca made the turn and watched as he shoved an industrial-size garbage can into the entrance, broadside so it wedged against the walls.
The policeman wasn't able to get through until Andy and Rebecca reached the far end of the alley, but that was enough. They turned left and jogged over to 19th Street. A bus waited at the curb for an elderly woman to maneuver the stairs. They followed close behind her as the doors sssked shut, then found a seat.
But the electronic whine of her collar blared in the confines of the bus. Rebecca felt the glares from the other passengers. Had there been a driver, the bus might have stopped, but the vehicle was automated. She tried to catch her breath and turned to Andy.
He'd produced a pair of slim tools from a side pocket and began to work on her collar. "Give me a minute and I'll shut this damn thing up."
Rebecca caught the gaze of a regal-looking black woman. Her high cheekbones, spiked silver hair and matching silver POD all lent to her striking looks. Rebecca gave her a tentative smile which wasn't returned. Instead, the woman continued to stare at her, mouth moving as she sub-vocalized commands into her POD. To whom Rebecca could only guess. Was the woman talking to the police? Rebecca shook her head, pleading with her eyes for the woman to stop, not to tell.
"Keep still. Almost have it," murmured Andy.
The woman turned away. Rebecca looked at the other passengers, and as she locked gazes with each one, they turned away. This wasn't their problem. This had nothing to do with them. It was funny how she felt pulled in two directions. On the one hand she wanted them to
Chapter 4
D ressed in a light grey jump suit with a black utility belt at the waist, the policeman waited for traffic to thin before he stepped into the street. Like so many of the people she'd seen, a pod covered his left eye. But where it seemed almost a fashion statement on the others, on this symbol of governmental authority the pod gave him an inhuman cyclopean appearance. He pointed his black gloved hand at the traffic light which immediately switched to red.
"We have to get this off of you."
"Why is it making that noise?"
"Proxemics. That woman Kumi probably has a proximity dampener. As long as you're within a certain distance of her, your parole collar remains inactive. Keeps people from running way."
She looked back and the policeman was halfway across the street. Part of her wanted to run up to him and explain why her collar was going off, explain how her reintroduction specialist had told her to run as she held off an attack by assassins. But then she'd never been good with the police. Last time she'd even seen a cop had been in court after she'd been arrested for trying to save the world. She made her decision.
She yanked Andy. "Come on." She let go of his hand as she accelerated into a full sprint, heading down Olympic. She screamed for the people on the sidewalk to move out of her way. For the most part they did. Only once was she forced to plow through a crowd as they waited to get into a restaurant. An elegantly dressed man with pods on both eyes went down hard.
She slowed long to see if he was okay, but the noise from her collar sent all eyes to her. Even the man on the ground looked upon her like a criminal and wanted nothing to do with her. He scooted away as if she'd hurt him. Putting her head down, she continued to the corner of 20th Street. She started to turn right, but was jerked back into her original direction by Andy. She looked over her shoulder and saw the policeman a dozen yards back and gaining.
"Follow me." Andy sped ahead.
She felt her side beginning to burn. Her breathing was ragged. Her legs felt heavier than before, yet she still found the reserves she needed to pour on the speed. By God, she wasn't about to be caught before she figured things out.
Halfway down the block, Andy turned down an alley. Rebecca made the turn and watched as he shoved an industrial-size garbage can into the entrance, broadside so it wedged against the walls.
The policeman wasn't able to get through until Andy and Rebecca reached the far end of the alley, but that was enough. They turned left and jogged over to 19th Street. A bus waited at the curb for an elderly woman to maneuver the stairs. They followed close behind her as the doors sssked shut, then found a seat.
But the electronic whine of her collar blared in the confines of the bus. Rebecca felt the glares from the other passengers. Had there been a driver, the bus might have stopped, but the vehicle was automated. She tried to catch her breath and turned to Andy.
He'd produced a pair of slim tools from a side pocket and began to work on her collar. "Give me a minute and I'll shut this damn thing up."
Rebecca caught the gaze of a regal-looking black woman. Her high cheekbones, spiked silver hair and matching silver POD all lent to her striking looks. Rebecca gave her a tentative smile which wasn't returned. Instead, the woman continued to stare at her, mouth moving as she sub-vocalized commands into her POD. To whom Rebecca could only guess. Was the woman talking to the police? Rebecca shook her head, pleading with her eyes for the woman to stop, not to tell.
"Keep still. Almost have it," murmured Andy.
The woman turned away. Rebecca looked at the other passengers, and as she locked gazes with each one, they turned away. This wasn't their problem. This had nothing to do with them. It was funny how she felt pulled in two directions. On the one hand she wanted them to
Readers choose
Olivia Luck
Cassie Laurent
Destiny Allison
Clive Barker
Allan Stratton
Priscilla Masters
Graham Masterton
Richard Uhlig
Claudy Conn