Read Online Council of Peacocks by M Joseph Murphy - Free Book Online Page A

light.
    “ What is that thing?” Matt asked.
    “ Localized low-gravity wormhole,” Wisdom
said. “You can think of it as a teleportation disk. We can use this
to get you home.”
    After a little coaxing, everyone stepped
through the portal. Jan and Josh worked together to carry Matt
since his shattered kneecaps made it impossible for him to walk.
Rebecca moved stoically, as if walking through a passive dream. On
the other side of the portal was the Civic Campus of the Ottawa
Hospital. As soon as Josh and Jan placed Matt on the ground, Wisdom
closed the first portal and opened a second one.
    Josh looked at Wisdom and nodded,
understanding the ramification. He turned to Jan, kissing her on
the lips.
    “ You can’t go with him,” she
pleaded.
    “ If I stay, you won’t be safe.” With a
look of apology, Josh turned away as Wisdom opened a second portal.
“The Edimmu are after me. You saw that.
    ***
    Josh glanced over at Wisdom. He stood on the
veranda staring out at the ocean. Still dressed in the same red
suit, Wisdom hadn’t moved since breakfast. Then, Wisdom motioned to
Annisa and whispered something in her ear. They both looked at the
ceiling. The servant nodded and then headed toward the stairs that
lead to the second floor.
    When Annisa returned, she wasn’t alone.
Beside her was one of the most beautiful women Josh had ever seen.
Long brown hair fell down over her shoulders in waves and curled
around her face. It was hard to determine her nationality. She had
high cheekbones and a delicate chin with large amber eyes. She wore
a tight, white jacket buttoned over a cream-colored bustier. Along
with loose white slacks, she wore matching white pumps.
    “Found yourself another stray, I see,” she
said. She crossed her arms over her chest and fought the urge to
scream at him.
    “Something like that.” Wisdom smiled but kept
looking out at the ocean. “I’m sorry about your condo, Echo. You
must be thrilled to see me.”
    “Well, somebody’s having delusions of
grandeur.”
    “I know you’ve been to see Propates.” Wisdom
stopped smiling.
    “How?”
    “You know me. I have my ways. We don’t have
much time. Events will move quickly now. I’ve tried to slow them
down but nothing I do works. I could explain more to you but it
would only make things harder.”
    “Christ, is it your father again? Did you
have another dream?”
    Wisdom frowned. “Didn’t I just say ‘no
questions’? I’m fairly certain I just said that?”
    “Zip it.” Echo walked over to Wisdom and put
a hand on his shoulder. “Cut the tough guy act. You’re scared. I
can see it in your eyes. What is going on?”
    Wisdom turned and brushed a curl of hair out
of Echo’s face. “Just the thought of losing...” He stopped and
pulled his hand away. “I can’t stand losing, you know that. It is
bigger than I expected. The Council made a deal with the Djinn. I
know, I know. No need to hyperventilate. I have a few tricks up my
sleeve yet. The boy over there is Joshua Wilkinson. He’s an
Anomaly, like the others but somehow different. I did not find out
about him the first time. As far as I know, neither did Propates.
He’s a wild card, and I hope it’s enough.”
    “What do you mean ‘the first time’?”
    “Just trust me, okay? It’s for the best that
you don’t know any more. I need a favor.”
    Echo exhaled slowly and stepped away from
him. “Of course you do. Not enough you get me to spy on Edimmu. Now
you show up, tell me the end is nigh and not to ask questions. This
isn’t my thing, Wisdom. I gave up all this Illuminati nonsense
nearly 200 years ago. I like my nice quiet life.”
    “I never stopped loving you. You know
that.”
    She stopped, bit her lip and crossed her arms
again.
    Wisdom cleared his throat and looked back out
at the sea. “I just wanted to tell you at least once before things
get hectic.”
    Echo bit harder into her lips. “Bastard,” she
said as tears built up in her eyes. Then she walked