Broken Glass (Glass Complex Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

Earl’s men? A severe penalty will be applied to anyone who harbors fugitives,” the officer threatened. He stood in front of Thomas, hands on hips and an undisguised arrogant expression on his face.
    He had been questioning these peasant farmers for the last two days and his attitude indicated that he doubted that any of them would know a soldier from Castlehome if they saw one in full uniform. Offworlders did not realize the best of Homeworld military were recruited from these same farmers, and they carried their military inheritance with substantial pride and exceptional loyalty. They could also dissemble; they were able to hide their military culture from the prying eyes of offworlders. As a result, the officer faced a burly, almost elderly farmer, unshaven, accompanied by a lout of a farm lad, both roughly dressed, who were transporting a trailer load of extremely rotten-smelling cheeses, and did not seem to question their legitimacy. The officer dispatched one of his men to examine the trailer and its cargo. The inspection was perfunctory, carried out with the rush of someone who wished his tasks were over quickly.
    “Well, have you?”
    “No, sir,” Thomas replied. “We ain’t seen soldiers for days. Maybe longer.”
    “And you, lad?”
    Steg kept his head down. He had recognized the lieutenant as one of the Imperial officers who had watched the sword fight in Castlehome. He waited a moment, scuffing a deeper groove in the dust.
    “N—n—no, sir. I ain’t.”
    “All right. On you go,” sighed the lieutenant as he signaled his squad to move aside.
    Steg and Thomas climbed back on board the tractor. Thomas started up the motor and released the brake. They edged slowly past the obviously bored soldiers and soon the tractor and trailer were rolling along at top speed.
    As they traveled on, their conversation was sporadic; Thomas complained about the delay, and Steg commented about the hardness of the seat. Another kay passed.
    At Thomas’s hand-signaled instruction, Steg clambered over the trailer, checking where the Imperial soldier had examined the load. Just behind where Thomas sat, Steg found a small device clipped to a restraining strap. He signaled Thomas, pointing out the bug. They continued in silence.
    Somehow the earlier magic of the morning had evaporated. Steg was no longer a farm hand taking merchandise to sell in Castlehome; instead, he was a fugitive and his freedom, indeed his life, were at risk. The road stretched ahead, empty and dusty, waiting to treadmill them through the day. The sun was relentless, building its summer heat as the hours and kays passed by. Thomas appeared to be asleep, responding to the curves in the road by coincidence rather than intent.
    Thomas again signaled Steg after they had traveled ten kays or so away from the Imperial troop. Steg acknowledged his instruction and reached for the bugging device. He eased the device gently off the strap and dropped it onto the road where the front and rear wheels of the trailer crushed it. He checked further in case a second device had been hidden elsewhere. Satisfied he turned back to Thomas.
    “Not very efficient,” he commented.
    “Thank your lucky stars, lad,” Thomas remained in character. “Those soldiers could have delayed us all day, or even told us to return home, at the very least.”
    Soon the sun arched overhead. Steg felt as though they had been traveling for days; next time he would make sure he had a cushion; the seat was harder than ever. Steg edged sideways, moving to ease his discomfort. As he moved, a wave of pain and nausea almost toppled him from his seat. He grabbed at Thomas, who looked startled at the intensity of Steg’s discomfort.
    Thomas pointed ahead at where the road again ran along the river. “Let’s take a break here beside the river. We have been on the road for over six hours, and must have covered seventy—seventy-five kays. Good progress, considering.”
    Steg did not reply, as Thomas