Provenance I - Flee The Bonds Read Online Free PDF Page A

up.
    A thought darkened his mind. His Guardian couldn’t pick her up if she was SIS.
    He turned to face the shop window, took out his MCD, and tapped the screen. ‘Hi, Alex, how’s life upstairs — no nothing to report. Can you find out if CONSEC or PSYOPS have a watch order on me? — If I knew I wouldn’t be asking — no, I won’t forget; if I hear anything you’ll be the first to know. One more thing, send me that cloak-and-dagger upgrade, better send one to Steve as well — I don’t care, if SCITECH want me to protect him they’d better — right, thanks.’ Jason stroked the screen and tapped in a sequence. ‘Start. All rings broken, watch order on you, SIS and PSYOPS investigating Quads. Stop.’
    He stared at his reflection. SCITECH had told him that Steve held the key to stopping SIS. What they wouldn’t tell him was how and from doing what? He did know they needed to hurry. Once SIS had infiltrated the Quads, they could make their move.

11:50 SAT 21:10:2119
    Intra Zone, Wiltshire, England, Sector 2
    Beneath a crystal blue sky, Steve followed Penny and Digby along the canal’s narrow towpath. Penny lurched forward; Digby had spotted a pair of geese.
    Steve had spotted something else.
    In the distance, a red duffle coat topped with frizzy blonde hair stood next to a bridge. He looked up; the sun glinted on something. His heart accelerated as he snatched up his vibrating left wrist. The MPS flashed red. No, not here, not in front of Penny.

11:50 SAT 21:10:2119
    Red Zone, London, England, Sector 2
    Jason wheeled into Orchard Street and a lashing of rain. He exhaled noisily and slicked back his drenched hair. Next time he’d definitely wait for the car.
    With only a few hundred metres to go to his apartment, he finally allowed his mind to wander back to Carine.
    He’d decided on a menu of red meat pasta, red wine and chocolate, go for the primitive senses. He lifted his vibrating wrist; the MPS flashed red. This had better be —
    The impact punched the air out of Jason’s lungs and engulfed his chest in blistering pain. His reflex arc was faster than most, but not fast enough. He yanked out the still pumping injector and slumped against a shop front. The composite alloy cylinder rolled from his hand and clinked onto the wet pavement.
    Somewhere a woman screamed.
    Jason’s chest stretched his leather jacket, his wheezing gulps rapid and deep. He knew it made no difference; he’d known it the moment he’d smelt bitter almonds. Cyanide had broken his respiratory transport chain; histoxic hypoxia had begun.
    His Guardian knelt beside him. ‘Hang on Jason, help’s on the way.’ Jason’s nostrils filled with the savoury aroma of ‘Kubizkrisp’.
    The torrent of panic slowed and Jason’s pounding heart died away. A fun fair flashed before him; bright lights and vivid colours filled his vision. The picture changed, a sun-drenched Duke Island park, chasing a dog. He ran as fast as he could but he couldn’t catch the dog. Now on top of the Empire State looking down at the miniature cars, he wasn’t frightened, he knew he should be, but he wasn’t. More images sped by, but he didn’t recognise them. The images merged into a bright flicker.
    ‘Momma.’

11:51 SAT 21:10:2119
    Intra Zone, Wiltshire, England, Sector 2
    Steve stared at his MPS’s flashing red screen. An icon appeared; someone on Provenance had activated an EM surge that would have knocked out unprotected electrical equipment within a hundred-metre radius. That’s why it required sigma authorisation.
    ‘Who’s that?’
    Steve looked up. Penny had pulled Digby to a halt.
    ‘Message from work, nothing important.’ His MPS reset itself. Maybe a glitch — or maybe not. He’d seen her slink back into the shadow of the bridge’s brick arch. The frizzy blonde woman in the red duffle coat.
    As they walked up onto the bridge, Steve’s uneasiness remained. The woman had vanished.
    He copied Penny, resting his arms on the brick parapet.