Neptune Road Volume IV Read Online Free PDF

he's
in the wheelchair and all..." he trails off. "Sorry. I don't mean
for every conversation I have to be about my wheelchair kid, but
that's what seems to happen."
     
    "I don't mind," Edward says. "Let me ask you
something different. You said you work in security?"
     
    "Oh! Yeah," Mike says, relieved to change the topic.
"I look after buildings and construction sites and the like. None
of that crazy activity you hear about - vigilante stuff, arrest
services, I stay away from that. Can't risk getting bonked on the
head. I've got the kid to look after. Oh there we go, back to the
kid. Sorry."
     
    "I really don't mind," Edward says. "Vigilante stuff,
eh? Sounds sketchy."
     
    "Oh yeah," Mike says. "You can hire somebody to go
pick someone up on some charge you made up, it's ridiculous.
Frontier justice it is, just like the Old West. This planet, that's
what it is. The Old West. I used to love Westerns as a kid - Clint
Eastwood, Pale Rider, all that."
     
    "Me too," Edward says. "My favorite was The Good, the
Bad, and the Ugly."
     
    "That's a good one," Mike says, taking a sip of tea.
"You sure you don't want anything?"
     
    "Oh, no," Edward says. "I just had lunch. You go
ahead."
     
    "I was just wondering," Edward goes on, "and of
course you don't have to even talk to me if you don't want to, but
I've got a bit of a problem. I'm trying to find someone who doesn't
want to be found."
     
    "Well that's the whole population, isn't it?" Mike
laughs. "Who in the heck in Scar City wants to be found? Nobody,
that's who."
     
    "Yeah," Edward laughs along with Mike. "Yeah, you're
right. Problem is, I really ought to talk to this guy. See, I've
got information for him. He's got a - condition. And, I work for
this geneticist, and we found some things. That could help
him."
     
    "Are you his doctor?" Mike asks.
     
    "Not exactly," Edward says. "Actually not at all. It
was an accident, our discovery. But I think he'd want to know. It's
just that, this person's profession is not being found. He's an
Agent. EarthAdmin. So you see my problem. I was just wondering if
you could keep an eye out for him." Edward slides a pair of photos
across the table - one is Debra Millman, one is David Millman.
     
    "That's two people," Mike says.
     
    "Yeah, either one would suffice," Edward says.
"Again, no obligation. But I'd sure appreciate it."
     
    "Well, I can't guarantee, but hey, if I see him, or
her, I'll drop you a line," Mike says.
     
    "Hey, thanks," Edward says. "See you - and your
biggest fan - at a game soon."

095 - A Conference Room in Scar City

     
    The woman at the end of the long, sleek conference
table stands. "As you all know very well," she says to her audience
of twenty or so (some present, some holographic), "our project is
fully launched and is reaching its most active stages. There is a
great deal at stake here."
     
    She steps back and points to a diagram covering
nearly the entire wall behind her. She is petite and fierce,
wearing a dark suit and black pumps. The attendees of this
gathering, seated (or projected) at even intervals around the
table, do not make a sound. The diagram depicts in great detail the
outline of a skyscraper made up of a series of stacked sections.
The top section is lit up.
     
    "Obviously the VTL propulsion platform will be the
final component to be completed, as it must be constructed atop the
rest of the structure. It is critical that we remain on schedule
and the we are able to access the materials and expertise required
to reach that juncture."
     
    She approaches the table. "The success of this
project, and thus your participation in it, of course will depend
to a great extent on stability. We require materials, security, and
of course people. Our ability to make use of these resources
depends upon each of you."
     
    She looks around the room. "Everyone here has a stake
in the success of this venture, and by extension, your own work,"
she says.
     
     

096 - Lair of the Bird People

     
    "Miss