Read Online The Trilisk Revolution (Parker Interstellar Travels) by Michael McCloskey - Free Book Online Page B

too.
    Imanol
lugged the big black case up the beach, headed for high ground. Straight ahead
he saw only a rocky hill. The few trees he saw were on flatter ground to his
left.
    The
house is supposed to be right up there.
    The
beach Imanol had landed on was shielded from the house by the hill. He still
felt exposed out in the open. If there was hidden security the attendants
failed to detect, they would notice his arrival. Then he would be walking into
a trap.
    He
sent one of his attendants forward to verify that the island looked like he
thought it should. The sensor had found the house within a minute. It was right
where his intelligence said it should be. The device scanned the dwelling and
found life.
    Trilisks!
    The
scan was positive. The device told Imanol in his PV that both the targets were
on the island.
    Blood
and souls. It’s a good sign I’m not dead already. If they were all powerful, I
wouldn’t have even made it this far.
    Imanol
increased his pace. It was hard going with the heavy case, but he had been
training with PIT since he joined. He had the energy he needed and lots to
spare. The tiny trail he followed led up the side of a hill overlooking the
house, which was built on a lower, flatter hill by a small bay. Imanol followed
the general route he had used in simulations built upon their model of the
island. Though the tiny details were different, the overall terrain was as
expected. Imanol saw details absent in the simulations: a scrap of fabric… a
lizard… a reddish rock. He stared at the rock, wondering if it held a hidden
camera… or a laser.
    As
he neared the top of the rise he slowed. He dropped lower and crept farther,
keeping his cover. Then he dropped to the ground and opened the big case.
    Inside
sat two cylindrical weapons secured by formed foam in the case.
    Imanol
pulled the first rocket launcher out of its soft prison. His plan was to kill
both of them at the same time in one shot. The explosive of the warheads was
surrounded by the toxin Maxsym had manufactured. That way, they might both die
so quickly that there would be no response. He slung the launcher over his
shoulder.
    He
checked his sidearms for the tenth time, even though they were configured to
notify him of any problems. They told his link all was well. Then he grabbed
the second launcher and turned toward the ridge he was on. He opened the
electronic sight and piped it through to his link. The augmented silhouette of
the house appeared in his personal view, right through the solid rock between
him and the dwelling. He could see two life forms—they looked human, though
running a bit hot. That was typical of the super-bodies created by the Trilisk
columns.
    No
sign I’ve alerted them. This is insane. I’m shooting two near-immortal aliens
on a remote island that look just like regular humans.
    He
watched them. One stood at a counter, perhaps a kitchen counter. The other sat
nearby. He could tell by their movements that they were talking. Chatting. They
looked relaxed.
    I
hope they come out onto their porch for some tea. Why do I feel like such a
murderer? I’m doing this for all of Terra… aren’t I?
    Imanol
could not shake his doubts. He kept arguing with himself as he scooched up to
the top of the rise just a meter before him.
    What
if these are good Trilisks? They’re going to die without a chance. Snuffed out
by me. I could be killing innocents. I’m going to rocket two unsuspecting…
things.
    He
rallied his resolve.
    There’s
no chance to win if they’re warned. It’s too dangerous. The risk is huge. It
affects the whole planet. I can’t play fair with the enemy. Not this enemy.
    Imanol
prepared the launcher to fire. Its missile was maneuverable enough to shoot
over the ridge and rapidly line up on the house, so Imanol did not have to get
a direct line of sight.  He acquired the house and kept scanning the
windows. He just wanted to catch sight of them—then he saw someone running for
the house. He quickly