Infected 8: Impulse: A Whole New Day Read Online Free PDF Page B

waved at the passing vehicles. She nearly jumped out to tell him not to be an idiot, but there was no gun fire from the dark green things. A soldier, clearly not much older than any of them himself, waved back, as the thing flew off toward the other side of town. Where, after a few minutes, it was clear they were landing.
    She grinned.
    " Right on top of our pick up location. Naturally. That so has Braid written all over it." She growled the last half of that, but before Charity could ask who she meant, Ed explained.
    "Braid is the war name of the evil witch, Devorah Timberland. Her family came from the same world as Deidre and I. They all posses strange precognition, which is hard to demonstrate clearly to most. It's a level of knowledge as to what will happen that few can even comprehend. Right now there is a massive battle for the fate of this world, being played between her, and Advocate Yi, the protector of your people." He seemed pleased enough with his own explanation, but Will cleared his throat, which got Bridget to step in and go over it all again. It wasn't wrong after all, just a bit muddled, due to the lack of some information.
    "Advocate Yi is Proxy. Braid is trying to start a war between the Infected and the government, or the hate groups, so that billions of people worldwide will die. Brian is trying to stop her. Right now though the government kind of works for her side, even if they don't know it, and has been set up to attack the Infected, which will start things going in the direction that she wants. She's hard to beat, since she's always so far ahead of our plans that we can never tell what we're supposed to do. She's insane, and kind of knows it, but can't help herself. We have to stop her."
    Charity clenched her jaw and looked away then. It was hard to tell why, really, and could have been anything from nerves to the stress of the day or even that someone had just personally insulted her, without realizing it.
    Bridget looked at her, and waited for an explanation. It beat trying to drag one out of her, after all. They did move out, toward an empty, and still locked, hardware store, and stood in the front of it, under the awning so that they wouldn't be noticed from the air as easily. It was a nice brick red thing that seemed new, or at least well cared for.
    The other girl wiped at her cheek, seeming like she was testing the even brown surface of it for moisture. There were no tears, however. Just a mildly annoyed look. One directed at her, for some reason.
    Finally, Charity spoke, her voice tense and low. For a girl.
    "You're telling me that these two are actually aliens and that another alien is trying to take over the world? That has to be bull. It's too stupid to... I don't know. It makes more sense that this Braid person is Infected, doesn't it?"
    Ed bowed a little, his face dark, but not mean.
    "Aye, it does. That is not the case, mayhap. She is of the Timberland line, and as such, is truly mine own problem to take care of. That of Mary Wyrdcraft at the same passing. I am but an Elcampayn, however, and though she is of my world, I fear that I am unequal to the task of preventing her diabolical plans. So it has fallen by agency of the divine, that Advocate Yi must face her in my place. It is shameful that I cannot be of more use in this, but I must tip the hat to a man of greater skill and powers than mine own. But in answer to the question meant, while it may make greater sense, it is not the state of things. Devorah Timberland is from a far off realm, as are my sister and I. Our friends too." He paused, which seemed weighted, as if he were ready to be called a liar.
    Charity looked up at the awning above them, her big brown eyes slightly moist seeming. Glinting gently in the morning haze. It wasn't going to be bright that day, thanks to all the smoke and ash in the air.
    "Um, sorry? I'm pretty sure I don't know what you just said. Aliens are real?"
    Bridget patted her shoulder.
    "Close enough.