Read Online SLAM by Tash McAdam - Free Book Online Page A

time they can’t
avoid a soldier group, Leaf takes on his ‘gentleman’ air again, so
rapidly that it bemuses the heck out of her. He’s like a chameleon,
switching from one personality to another without a pause, altering
everything about the way he carries himself – even his facial
expressions. It’s a dislocating sensation to watch it happen, let
alone try to keep up with it. They’re running, and then suddenly
walking at a gentle pace, admiring the scenery and being regaled
with the backstory of particular buildings, then abruptly running
again.
    The impromptu tour is actually quite
interesting; Serena has only been into Fourth City twice now, as
it’s dangerous for untrained Psionics to leave the slums, and
learning about Second City is almost as good. Apart from a slightly
different layout, it’s difficult to tell them apart. And, under the
guise Leaf has chosen for them as tourists, she can gape up at the
towering buildings to her heart’s content.
    It does go on for longer than she would like,
though. It’s getting dark and she’s extremely hungry by the time he
stops them.
    He glances back and forth, then
leans casually on the wall, evidently waiting for a gap in
pedestrians. Wondering where they are, she looks around and sees
that they’re in a narrow street that seems to be bracketed by
closed shops. The stores around them are only two stories tall,
unlike most of the City. She can see a cam on the building
opposite, although they’re positioned just out of its line of
sight. It’ll be impossible to avoid all the security cameras, but she
appreciates the idea of keeping her face off as many as possible,
especially if they’re about to do something like … oh, break into a
building.
    She ducks a bit farther back into the shadow,
then turns to see that Leaf has squatted down. He rustles for a few
minutes, setting her teeth on edge, although Abial looks perfectly
relaxed, as if she knows exactly what’s going on. It’s annoying,
and Serena is about to ask what’s taking so long when she hears the
familiar sound of an electric lock disengaging, and Leaf opens the
front door of what looks like a store that’s gone out of business.
Thick metal shutters guard the large window facing the street, and
the door appears sturdy, she notes approvingly. It should do for a
place to hide out while they try to find out what’s going on. Now
that they’re in the City, she hopes that they can access news feeds
that hold some information – at least what the public’s been told.
Leaf might know something useful as well. They could use any kind
of insight at this point. It’s hard to make a plan without
intel.
    Night has crept up on them, now, and the sky
is almost totally dark. She glances down the road one more time,
then follows Abial and Leaf into the building, eager to get off the
streets and down to business. Shutting the door behind her, she
turns to check out the place.
    “Here we go, folks. The owner got arrested two
weeks ago, but they ain’t showed anyone new around yet, so I took a
looksee, and I reckon it’ll be a suitable base for ya.” There’s a
note of pride in his voice, and suddenly he seems older again,
holding his body differently and looking even less the young
gentleman, more a ruffian in his late teens. He runs his fingers
through his hair, disrupting the harsh style it was combed into,
and grins broadly at them, looking rather devilish.
    “Yeah, looks good.” Serena stops looking
around the shadowy room and grins back at him. “Smart move, thanks.
We thought we’d have to base in the townships, but this’ll work
much better, long’s no one comes looking to move in.”
    She absently runs her fingers down the frame
on a dark workstation. The room is long and thin, with workstations
on both sides, and full of large shelves that run the length of the
place. Good for hiding behind if anyone comes poking around, she
thinks. Maybe this used to be a gamer cafe, or something.