Far From Home: The Complete Second Series (Far From Home 13-15) Read Online Free Page A

private courier to do the job. I'm afraid you're the only man I'd even consider."
    Landell laughed. "And you're more than welcome. I appreciate your loyalty!"
    "Oh, that reminds me," Clayton said. He handed the Bejugit a data tablet. "Just authorise that, and it'll go straight to your account. I made sure they added ten per cent on top for the inconvenience. It's not like they can't afford it."
    Landell reviewed the payment information on the table, smiled his appreciation and pressed one of his fingers to the screen. A second later, the credits transferred to his own account, safe and secure. "Thank you, Doctor."
    "You're welcome. Well, I won't keep you," Clayton said. He looked over at the timetable. "I see from the board over there your next flight out is in one hour."
    "Yes. Time waits for no Bejugit," Landell said. He shook the Doctor's hand once again. "You have my card, my friend. Whatever you want, don't hesitate to ask."
    "As always," Clayton said.
    He watched the Bejugit slither off, then glanced about. The promenade was a five minute walk away. He could hear the noise. Smell the food. There was no time for that . . . but perhaps just one drink?
    Why not? he thought. It's been a long goddamn trip for me, too.
    He headed in the direction of the promenade, carrying with him the case that may very well contain the cure to his Captain's regrettable affliction.
    *
    Dr. Clayton shouldered his way through the crowd – the majority of the merry men and women dominating Mickey's were faces he recognised from the Defiant – and got to the bar in one piece.
    "Whaddaya have?" the bartender asked him.
    "Jack. Double. Straight up."
    "Gotchya."
    Clayton ran his eyes over his surroundings as his drink was prepared. He turned back as the bartended set the glass in front of him.
    "Thanks," he said and lifted the glass to his lips. He'd tried many things, from all over the place, but sometimes that craving for good old Jack Daniel's overcame everything else. It wasn't anything special, but it did the job.
    That kid Dollar sounds like he's from some place like Tennessee, Clayton thought idly. I'll bet he grew up on the stuff. Fed it through a teat.
    A hand fell on his shoulder and he half-turned to see who it was.
    "Doc!" Banks said.
    Inwardly he groaned. "Hey there."
    "What're you doing here, Doc?"
    Clayton lifted the glass. "What d'you think?"
    Banks broke into a loud, grating laugh. The Doctor decided to hurry his drink and get out as soon as possible.
    I have to put up with these idiots and their antics on the ship, he thought. I'm not doing it here. Goddamn kids . . .
    "Lemme buy you a drink!" Banks yelled in his ear. Admittedly, the music was very loud.
    "I'm fine, kiddo. You here by yourself?"
    Clayton slung the rest of the Jack Daniel's down his throat and grimaced for a second from the resultant heat. A good heat, a welcome burn.
    "No, everyone else is over there . . ." Banks said, turning around to scan Mickey's for whomever he was with.
    Clayton took that as his cue to leave and swiftly waded back into the crowd. Seconds later he heard "Doc?" from where he'd been at the bar, but by then he was nearly at the door and well on his way.
    He found it nigh impossible to enjoy himself in a place like Mickey's where the drinks were so cheap and flowed freely. A medical man through and through, he found himself forever on the verge of giving each and every one of them a lecture.
    Still, I have a few bottles of good old Veluzevaran back in my quarters, he thought with satisfaction.
    "Sounds like a plan to me," he mumbled to himself as he strode out of Mickey's and onto the promenade, aware of the irony of rushing out of a bar to drink in private.
    *
    "I swear the Doc was here earlier . . ." Banks said. Now he couldn't be so sure. He'd had a lot to drink.
    Ken Dunham waved him off. "Nah, couldn't have been. The Doc wouldn't come in a flea pit like this."
    Banks seemed sure. "Oh, I don't know. Or maybe just someone who looked like him