Read Online No Sorrow Like Separation (The Commander Book 5) by Randall Farmer - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Randall Farmer
Ads: Link
seemed to last forever. “Thank you, thank you, thank you! The government stripped you of your title, but you’ll always be a doctor to me.”
Crows didn’t like physical contact, except when they needed it, and when they needed physical contact they went overboard. Now what does that remind me of? Zielinski asked himself, remembering his rules on Arm behavior. Still, he felt uncomfortable having a weeping man hug him.
Sky backed off. “So, we finally meet in person, at least in a situation where I can properly speak as I was meant all along to speak, in clear sentences of excessive length and appropriate virtuosity. Did you know I was being kept away from you while you were visiting Focus Rizzari?”
“I was being kept away from you, as well. I’m sure you know where else we met?”
Sky nodded. “Focus – my name for Anne-Marie, who terms me Crow – must be howling in hysterics. One might almost suspect she planned this whole thing.”
“I’m sure she did, including the matchmaking aspects of the deal.” Zielinski wondered if the theories were correct about a match between a Crow and a Focus being able to result in children. Only time could tell. He would need to keep an eye on the situation.
“Okay, Doc, I believe you. Anne-Marie can do nearly anything,” Sky said with a smile. “Do you have any idea how important your discovery is? Not just for us Crows, but for Occum’s Beast Men?”
Zielinski nodded. From what he had seen in his time with Occum, the Chimeras were as suggestible as the Crows, though likely in a different area of their Transform abilities. This was a male Major Transform feature. “You’re right. Occum’s already using psychological conditioning with his Enabler. This will fit right in and improve things immensely.”
Sky smiled. “I’ve got a deal for you, Doc. How about you teach me about these American Focuses and their nasty tricks, and I teach you about Crows. Have you ever heard of the dross construct?”
“Never.” Zielinski smiled. He hoped Sky’s openness never got back to his Guru Shadow, who had clearly ordered the other visiting Crows to keep their mouths shut. Shadow didn’t trust him.
Hell, Zielinski thought, I don’t blame him one bit. I’m not sure I trust myself, either.
Chapter 3
Bizarre Theft Perplexes Authorities
An entire boxcar of cattle went missing yesterday, we have learned. Not just the cattle, the entire boxcar. “The only thing that would make any sense is if someone pushed the thing down the track without using a locomotive,” an anonymous railroad worker said.
“Hunter Activity Near Chicago and Media Responses”
Gilgamesh: April 17, 1968
“Gather ‘round,” Keaton said. Gilgamesh finished toweling off; Keaton had him out running in the evening twilight with Carol again. Carol didn’t exude Keaton’s air of predator breathing down his neck (which was truly a Skinner trick). Carol instead focused on her running, holding a low burn to fight off exhaustion and quicken the recovery of her stamina. Despite his own stamina improvements, he barely kept up. Worse, unlike Keaton, Carol avoided city streets and took to the countryside and parks, preferring rocky and hilly terrain, which pushed him to his limits. After ninety minutes of steady running, Carol found a vineyard overlooking the Pacific Ocean and started doing quarter mile sprints, back and forth, back and forth. Gilgamesh followed her down the rows of vines, but not only couldn’t he come close to keeping up with her no-burn sprints, he hit the wall after just four, reduced to a jog for the remainder. She kept up her sprint practice for a full half hour.
Keaton’s lesson? He and the other Crows shouldn’t count on quick getaways. Her pithy comment on the subject was “run early and run long.” She had an uncanny knack for picking out what he, as a Crow, was naturally good at and
Crows didn’t like physical contact, except when they needed it, and when they needed physical contact they went overboard. Now what does that remind me of? Zielinski asked himself, remembering his rules on Arm behavior. Still, he felt uncomfortable having a weeping man hug him.
Sky backed off. “So, we finally meet in person, at least in a situation where I can properly speak as I was meant all along to speak, in clear sentences of excessive length and appropriate virtuosity. Did you know I was being kept away from you while you were visiting Focus Rizzari?”
“I was being kept away from you, as well. I’m sure you know where else we met?”
Sky nodded. “Focus – my name for Anne-Marie, who terms me Crow – must be howling in hysterics. One might almost suspect she planned this whole thing.”
“I’m sure she did, including the matchmaking aspects of the deal.” Zielinski wondered if the theories were correct about a match between a Crow and a Focus being able to result in children. Only time could tell. He would need to keep an eye on the situation.
“Okay, Doc, I believe you. Anne-Marie can do nearly anything,” Sky said with a smile. “Do you have any idea how important your discovery is? Not just for us Crows, but for Occum’s Beast Men?”
Zielinski nodded. From what he had seen in his time with Occum, the Chimeras were as suggestible as the Crows, though likely in a different area of their Transform abilities. This was a male Major Transform feature. “You’re right. Occum’s already using psychological conditioning with his Enabler. This will fit right in and improve things immensely.”
Sky smiled. “I’ve got a deal for you, Doc. How about you teach me about these American Focuses and their nasty tricks, and I teach you about Crows. Have you ever heard of the dross construct?”
“Never.” Zielinski smiled. He hoped Sky’s openness never got back to his Guru Shadow, who had clearly ordered the other visiting Crows to keep their mouths shut. Shadow didn’t trust him.
Hell, Zielinski thought, I don’t blame him one bit. I’m not sure I trust myself, either.
Chapter 3
Bizarre Theft Perplexes Authorities
An entire boxcar of cattle went missing yesterday, we have learned. Not just the cattle, the entire boxcar. “The only thing that would make any sense is if someone pushed the thing down the track without using a locomotive,” an anonymous railroad worker said.
“Hunter Activity Near Chicago and Media Responses”
Gilgamesh: April 17, 1968
“Gather ‘round,” Keaton said. Gilgamesh finished toweling off; Keaton had him out running in the evening twilight with Carol again. Carol didn’t exude Keaton’s air of predator breathing down his neck (which was truly a Skinner trick). Carol instead focused on her running, holding a low burn to fight off exhaustion and quicken the recovery of her stamina. Despite his own stamina improvements, he barely kept up. Worse, unlike Keaton, Carol avoided city streets and took to the countryside and parks, preferring rocky and hilly terrain, which pushed him to his limits. After ninety minutes of steady running, Carol found a vineyard overlooking the Pacific Ocean and started doing quarter mile sprints, back and forth, back and forth. Gilgamesh followed her down the rows of vines, but not only couldn’t he come close to keeping up with her no-burn sprints, he hit the wall after just four, reduced to a jog for the remainder. She kept up her sprint practice for a full half hour.
Keaton’s lesson? He and the other Crows shouldn’t count on quick getaways. Her pithy comment on the subject was “run early and run long.” She had an uncanny knack for picking out what he, as a Crow, was naturally good at and
Similar Books
