Needle Rain Read Online Free PDF Page B

down the stairs. Kengshee and two others – Sungese from their olive skin and tilted eyes. “Kengshee, could you show your needle.”
    It was the balding red-faced man. He bent over, displaying the back of his close-cropped scalp. Peering at him, Samos saw a skin-colored bead just above the neck line. Kengshee reached back and the bead popped off – revealing the end of one of the needles.
    “You look skeptical, Mr. Samos.”
     He scoffed. “Because I am.”
    “Hmmm. This needle, like some of the Immolator needles, goes through the cranium bone as well as the brain. The metal of the needle is magically fused to the bone. Without a Needle Master using magience they cannot be removed. Without knowing every single detail of the twists and angles these needles go through you will die when they are withdrawn.”
    “You said they were safe!”
    “They are, if you follow instructions.”
    “You’re joking.” But Drager only stared back. “You’re not.” Samos sighed.
    Drager returned to the table. “As you can imagine, you must not move when I insert or extract these needles. This is why I will have to restrain you.”
    Samos stared at the table, at the manacles and the bolts that secured them to the table, knowing that even as a partial Immolator he would not be able to break free. Not without ripping the metal straight through his arms.
    “Very well.”
    Drager blinked. “I applaud your courage. The last problem. The imprinting. Simple. Hypnosis. Using zhenjui needling to reinforce it, every time you see a photograph of the Imperator or hear a certified order from him you will instead think you see a mouse.”
    “A mouse? Won’t that...”
    There was a twinkle of humor in Drager’s eyes. “I know what you are thinking. No. You will not obey mice but neither will you be compelled to obey the Imperator’s orders.”
    The three men of Drager’s chuckled until Samos swung his head and looked at them. They knew a threatening glance when they saw one. Kengshee put a hand to his sword. The others, he noted, were similarly armed along with an assortment of throwing knives. He lined up those facts and filed them away for the future.
    This was, Samos thought, very...organized. Like they knew he was coming. An Immolator with a change of heart. He supposed that this was like a big fat present being dropped into their laps. Maybe Drager was only one of many that the Sungese Kingdom had out, like the tentacles of an octopus groping for prey.
    With Immolators behind them a nation might dream of dominance, of facing down the Imperium. Rumor was that Sungea was next on the Imperator’s list of countries to be conquered.
    “Now, there’s just the matter of putting in the memory needle. It must go into your ear, otherwise it might be found. Just before you walk into that Needle Master’s office you must activate it by squeezing the worm between your finger and thumb.”
    “My...ear?”
    “Yes.”
    He hesitated.
    “Having second thoughts, Mr. Samos? I wouldn’t. Mr. Kengshee there has recorded this conversation. You can’t go back.” He paused as if to let that sink in. It did. It drove done into Samos’s heart like a heated spike. “I believe the intelligence of Immolators rises a bit. Why don’t you think about this later? Now.” He indicated the table. “Lie down.”
    Kengshee took a step forward. “Yeah. Lie down, man. If not, you won’t be the only one to suffer. Pela? That her name?” He grinned wickedly. His teeth were a brilliant white, and far too even for a common brawler.
    They knew him. Knew who Pela was. Though he would lie down and die to keep Pela safe, he didn’t need this. “Your words aren’t wanted. Shut your face, little man, or I’ll cave it in, even if your boss won’t.”
    Kengshee froze. He didn’t so much as glance at Drager for assurance. His eyes were hard as flint.
    Who in all the flaming hells is in charge here?
    He ground his teeth, wanting so much to hit Kengshee,