Read Online Alien Devices: Tesla joins crew to prevent alien zombie apocalypse (The Secret War Book 2) by Raven Bond - Free Book Online
Authors: Raven Bond
Ads: Link
have all learned to get along together by making certain agreements and
rules you might say. Here in the East they call this the World of Reeds and
Air. There are no courts that cover the whole planet, too many countries.
Instead, it's understood that your word is bound by your life. Once you give
it, you cannot speak of this to anyone. Should Guang or anyone of the An Family
hear that you have, then they are within their rights to kill you. You had best
understand that. The Oath is taken very seriously.”
“I understand completely. Especially as someone tried to kill
me earlier today,” Abigail said impatiently. She looked at the Captain as she
spoke, “And I do agree to Mr. Guang's Oath. Now what was this mysterious
service?” Will sighed at Abigail's speech before he spoke.
“Well, we didn't happen on Hu Fan's ship by accident,” the
Captain explained. “He was carrying something that was stolen from the maker,
and belonged to An Fong. We got it back as well as found you.” He paused, “It
was a mechanical heart. I suspect that An Fong's heart is giving out on him and
he wants to keep living.”
“They can do this now?” Saira breathed in wonder.
Captain Hunting Owl shrugged at her reaction. Will hadn't seen a
need to tell anyone except Rogers what the package was. It had been Gustupha,
the Indian Savant whose call sign with Will was Mouse, who had built the thing.
He still didn't see any reason to mention that Mouse and he had planned that
Wind Dancer would play the courier for it. It gave them a chance to get close
to the reclusive crime lord. The theft had actually set them up better than
Will had hoped. His eyes rest on Guang for a moment. No need to mention that
either, he thought.
“Well, it's a thingamabob that keeps the heart pumping anyway,”
Will said to Saira instead. “You charge it like a sparkie.” He looked back at
Guang. “It's not the sort of thing you can really keep secret for long you
know. People sort of notice a big cable sticking out of your chest.”
“An Fong knows this,” Guang said placidly. “The secrecy is
needed now however. Others may try to assault House Fong if they perceive that
the ruler is weak. After the procedure is finished, he will ensure that no one
makes such a mistake.” Abigail frowned at this revelation.
“I have read of this in journals,” the Scholar said, “but I
thought that it was purely theoretical. How do you know this was an actual
device?”
“Well the tinker who made it told me,” Will said evasively.
Abigail raised her eyebrows at that.
“Indeed,” she remarked skeptically. “And who might this
'tinker' be?” Will looked at Abigail, and realized that she wasn't going to let
this go. He tugged absently on his braid for a moment.
“Remember, Abigail,” he said, “that what we say here must go no
farther. If you speak to anyone of this, it could endanger innocent lives. His
name is Gustupha. Nice man.”
“You do not mean Gustupha Butthi?” Saira asked. “This is why we
were in Calcutta so long? You know him?”
Will winced. He'd hoped to only give away enough to satisfy Abigail's
curiosity. He should have known better. The name would be too famous to just
pass by. Abigail's face also showed surprise equal to Saira's outburst.
“Are you saying.” Abigail demanded, “that one of the Council of
Science, the saviors of mankind, the leader of Northern India, built such a
thing for a crime lord?” Will shrugged, holding up his hands towards her.
“Like I said, he's a nice man,” Will replied. “Remember what
you promised, Abigail.” The Capitan looked around the room. “And I should not
have to remind anyone else.”
“Excuse me,” Rogers interrupted from where he stood by the
door. “While this is all well and good, I would like to return to the questions
at hand. If we agree that Guang here is to lead the search for Lord Hadley,
then we are free to pursue our original purpose here until
rules you might say. Here in the East they call this the World of Reeds and
Air. There are no courts that cover the whole planet, too many countries.
Instead, it's understood that your word is bound by your life. Once you give
it, you cannot speak of this to anyone. Should Guang or anyone of the An Family
hear that you have, then they are within their rights to kill you. You had best
understand that. The Oath is taken very seriously.”
“I understand completely. Especially as someone tried to kill
me earlier today,” Abigail said impatiently. She looked at the Captain as she
spoke, “And I do agree to Mr. Guang's Oath. Now what was this mysterious
service?” Will sighed at Abigail's speech before he spoke.
“Well, we didn't happen on Hu Fan's ship by accident,” the
Captain explained. “He was carrying something that was stolen from the maker,
and belonged to An Fong. We got it back as well as found you.” He paused, “It
was a mechanical heart. I suspect that An Fong's heart is giving out on him and
he wants to keep living.”
“They can do this now?” Saira breathed in wonder.
Captain Hunting Owl shrugged at her reaction. Will hadn't seen a
need to tell anyone except Rogers what the package was. It had been Gustupha,
the Indian Savant whose call sign with Will was Mouse, who had built the thing.
He still didn't see any reason to mention that Mouse and he had planned that
Wind Dancer would play the courier for it. It gave them a chance to get close
to the reclusive crime lord. The theft had actually set them up better than
Will had hoped. His eyes rest on Guang for a moment. No need to mention that
either, he thought.
“Well, it's a thingamabob that keeps the heart pumping anyway,”
Will said to Saira instead. “You charge it like a sparkie.” He looked back at
Guang. “It's not the sort of thing you can really keep secret for long you
know. People sort of notice a big cable sticking out of your chest.”
“An Fong knows this,” Guang said placidly. “The secrecy is
needed now however. Others may try to assault House Fong if they perceive that
the ruler is weak. After the procedure is finished, he will ensure that no one
makes such a mistake.” Abigail frowned at this revelation.
“I have read of this in journals,” the Scholar said, “but I
thought that it was purely theoretical. How do you know this was an actual
device?”
“Well the tinker who made it told me,” Will said evasively.
Abigail raised her eyebrows at that.
“Indeed,” she remarked skeptically. “And who might this
'tinker' be?” Will looked at Abigail, and realized that she wasn't going to let
this go. He tugged absently on his braid for a moment.
“Remember, Abigail,” he said, “that what we say here must go no
farther. If you speak to anyone of this, it could endanger innocent lives. His
name is Gustupha. Nice man.”
“You do not mean Gustupha Butthi?” Saira asked. “This is why we
were in Calcutta so long? You know him?”
Will winced. He'd hoped to only give away enough to satisfy Abigail's
curiosity. He should have known better. The name would be too famous to just
pass by. Abigail's face also showed surprise equal to Saira's outburst.
“Are you saying.” Abigail demanded, “that one of the Council of
Science, the saviors of mankind, the leader of Northern India, built such a
thing for a crime lord?” Will shrugged, holding up his hands towards her.
“Like I said, he's a nice man,” Will replied. “Remember what
you promised, Abigail.” The Capitan looked around the room. “And I should not
have to remind anyone else.”
“Excuse me,” Rogers interrupted from where he stood by the
door. “While this is all well and good, I would like to return to the questions
at hand. If we agree that Guang here is to lead the search for Lord Hadley,
then we are free to pursue our original purpose here until
Similar Books
