Magician Interrupted Read Online Free PDF

and Paris heard Sammy before he saw him. The squeak
squeak of a trolley could be heard around the aisles. Sammy turned
out to be a scrawny guy with a face full of acne. He barely even
glanced at Paris before dumping a large pack on the bench and
loaded up fourteen green containers. His rations for the two week’s
he guessed. How was he going to carry all that shit? But the marine
was opening the pack and Sammy was opening the canisters. As he
dumped the contents onto the bench, the marine was fast and
repacking them into his pack.
    “You’ll learn how to pack once ya in the
marines, on the job probably. Consider this a freebie.”
    “Um, thanks.”
    They finished within minutes and the marine
shoved the pack towards Paris. It made a scratchy noise telling
Paris the pack was heavy. He adjusted the straps and turned around,
shoving his arms in the straps. After a little jiggling he grinned,
feeling good about life again. The pack wasn’t as heavy as he
thought.
    “Thanks … errr … guys.”
    “No problems.”
    There was a low snicker from Sammy and a
whoosh of air as the bald marine must have thumped him.
    Paris walked away and almost fell back as the
weight behind him pulled to the floor with gravity. The pack had
been resting on the bench! He laughed to offset his humiliation as
the two marines were laughing openly at him now. He headed to the
door with legs already shaking with the effort. His knees cracked
with each step. Opening the door he smelled it was almost lunch
time, the bakeries made his mouth water. He worried he wouldn’t
make it across the street though.
    “Who was that?” Sammy was asking.
    Paris paused, straining to hear the answer,
before closing the door.
    “Just saved that silly arse from being meat
for the grinder. Let’s close up for a bit and celebrate. I just
made a three hundred per cent profit.”
    He was so confused over feeling both shocked
and angry he stalked out with an adrenaline spike that didn’t last
long enough to get him to the bakery and finally dragged his feet
down the street. The pack was pulling on his shoulders making them
burn, and dug into his back in three locations. He thought about
what the marine had said about being saved from the meat grinder.
What was that about? As he headed towards the nearest bakery he
stood in line mulling over those words and then ordered several
pastries and a large jug of hot chocolate.
    “Eat here or takeaway?” The male stood there
looking both bored and impatient. Paris thought it was an
impressive combination.
    “Takeaway.” Paris didn’t think he could get
his pack off, or on again, without embarrassing himself. He was
sure someone behind him was pulling down on his pack and every time
he turned a wizened old man just gave him a toothy grin.
    “Nancy, takeaway jug, large.”
    “Sure, boss.”
    Paris watched as “boss” took a cloth, thin
paper material and placed several pastries on it. He wrapped it all
just as Nancy came back with his large takeaway jug.
    “Used one of these before, marine?”
    He puffed his chest up but shook his
head.
    “It’ll degrade after a day, it’s ah, a new
earthenware material.”
    “Sure, and thanks.”
    She smiled brightly. “You’re welcome,
soldier.”
    Paris handed over his money and headed out to
the now bright day. He felt a little badly for the brunette who,
upon raiding her cupboards during the night when he couldn’t sleep,
found empty shelves. He stomped down the street in his new boots
seeing the admiring looks of many people. A few even slapped him on
the back almost causing him to fall over.
    “Good for you, marine.”
    “Do us proud.”
    “Make it count,” another older male said.
    That last comment gave Paris reason to pause
and when added to the meat grinder comment he wondered at his
chosen career. After a few moments he realized he was passing the
careers center. Damn! He tried to walk quickly and pretended
interest in the shops to his right. Safely past he headed