Read Online Acolyte by Seth Patrick - Free Book Online

Never. ‘She liked the Belfast accent. Didn’t like the actual
words
, though.’
    Sam smiled. ‘I suppose you do need someone with a well-developed sense of humour.’
    Sam and Jonah’s laughter took a while to settle down, fuelled by the stern look on Never’s face.
    â€˜Guys, I’m going once I’ve finished this beer,’ said Sam. ‘If I go now, Helen will be amused when I stumble in. Any more, and she’d not take long to be
unamused.
’
    â€˜Understood,’ said Jonah, although Never grumbled.
    Sam fidgeted a little, and Jonah had an idea that he was going to raise an awkward subject. He wondered which it would be – Annabel, or work.
    â€˜You’ll be fine,’ said Sam. ‘I know you will. Wait until the dust settles, then go back to what you do best.’
    Jonah smiled, realizing that the great thing about being a little drunk was how easily he could convince Sam that there was nothing to worry about. ‘Thanks. But with the way the Afterlifer things are going, private work would be far less of a headache.’
    â€˜All this Afterlifer nonsense will settle down,’ said Sam. ‘It’ll blow over in a matter of months.’
    Raising an eyebrow, Never leaned forward. ‘You confidentabout that? From the FRS perspective things are getting hairy very fast, and no end in sight.’
    â€˜I’m confident,’ said Sam. He tapped a confidential finger to his nose. ‘I’ve heard things, in the last few weeks. A few rumours.’
    â€˜What kind?’ asked Never.
    â€˜That there’s something on the horizon.’
    â€˜Yes,’ said Never. ‘They’re going to cripple the FRS with legislation.’
    Sam nodded. ‘They want to, sure, but I don’t think the FRS has much to fear from what’s coming.’
    Jonah sat forward now. ‘You know what’s on the way, Sam?’
    â€˜I hear things. I can’t say much, but I think the FRS will be in a better position in the long run.’
    â€˜So if it doesn’t kill us,’ said Never, ‘it’ll make us stronger?’
    Sam shrugged. ‘I’m confident this country will make the right decisions.’
    â€˜Well,’ said Never, ‘the Afterlifers want to make the public wary of revival all over again, and they’re suddenly doing a fine job of it. You remember what it was like in the early days of revival? The public supported it in the end, but they easily could’ve gone the other way. What if the Afterlifers keep the momentum going, if they manage to bring all that fear roaring back? You really think this country will make the right decisions in a climate of fear?’
    â€˜What are you saying?’ said Sam.
    â€˜Put it this way: witch-hunts don’t make for good laws.’
    Sam shook his head. He smiled, even though Never was scowling. ‘The Afterlifer bubble is about to be comprehensively burst, Never. Trust me.’ The scowl didn’t shift from Never’s face. ‘Really. When I said things would blow over, it wasn’t just the new legislation I was talking about.’
    Now
the scowl shifted. Never and Jonah were both listening eagerly. Sam just sat there, his smile enigmatic.
    â€˜Oh for fuck’s sake, Sam,’ said Never. ‘Either spill the beans or buy another round.’
    â€˜OK, OK. I heard something from Stephanie,’ said Sam. ‘Stephanie Graves.’ He looked at Jonah, and Jonah nodded.
    Stephanie Graves had been a researcher at Baseline, and had also been responsible for the wellbeing of the revivers there. She’d been the one to understand much of the psychological trauma that revivers could suffer, and had developed widely used treatment methods.
    â€˜I didn’t think you were on speaking terms,’ said Jonah.
    Sam shrugged. ‘She left Baseline because she didn’t like some of the …
companies
I’d allowed into the