The Flux Engine Read Online Free PDF Page B

clean and recently brushed. Beneath the garment, he wore a sturdy, loose-fitting white shirt, black trousers, and purple waistcoat that matched his duster. A short sword hung from the left side of the leather gun belt that encircled his slim waist. On the right, the belt held the long flux pistol he had seen earlier high on his hip, cavalry style.
    The sight of the sword made John nervous. It was broad-bladed with a well-worn handle and its crosspiece was round, shaped like a gear. He recognized it now; it was the symbol of the Enforcer Corps, the Alliance’s top lawmen. Enforcers were rumored to be efficient, tenacious, dangerous, and extremely deadly—exactly the kind of men decent folk wanted no part of.
    The Enforcer crossed to a side table where a pitcher of water stood beside a tin cup and several brown glass bottles. He poured some water into the cup, then added a few drops of dark liquid from one of the bottles.
    “Drink this, slowly,” he instructed, offering the cup to John.
    “What is it?”
    “Something to help you get your strength back,” he said with an easy smile. Despite the intensity of his gaze, the smile felt genuine and reassuring.
    John tipped the cup back, draining it quickly. A strong, bitter taste coated his tongue and lingered there long after he’d drained the cup. The stranger refilled the cup with water twice before John’s thirst was quenched.
    “Better?” the stranger asked.
    John nodded, still not trusting his throat.
    “Why am I alive?” he said at last.
    The enforcer pulled a small bottle from his pocket and handed it to John. A brightly printed label depicted a black cross over a field of red.
    Doc Terminus’ Emergency Stabilizer , John read. Guaranteed to retard the death process resulting from poison, impalement, serious injury, knife or gunshot wounds. Seek immediate medical attention after use. WARNING: Do not administer a second bottle of Emergency Stabilizer under any circumstances. Death will occur immediately.
    “I always carry some, along with Doc Terminus’ All Purpose Tissue Regenerator,” the enforcer said.
    “The machine,” John said, handing the bottle back to the enforcer. “What was it?”
    “You mean Doc Terminus’ Rectification Chamber,” he said. “You’re very lucky the Doc was here in town. If I’d had to take you out to his surgery, you’d have died for sure. As it was, you died on the table. Twice. Doc revived you, but we didn’t know if you would make it.”
    “Why?”
    “Why did I save you?”
    John nodded. The enforcer picked up a chair from the table, moved it beside the bed, and sat down.
    “My name’s Hickok,” he said sticking out a rough, callused hand. “Bill Hickok.”
    John shook it tentatively. Something about the name sounded familiar.
    “John Porter,” he introduced himself.
    “Well, John, I’m not the kind of man to beat around the bush, so I’ll come straight to it. In about ten minutes, the sheriff is going take notice that I’ve been gone too long and come up here. When that happens, he’s going to arrest you.”
    “Why?” John said, trying to give himself time to think. There was no way Hickok or the sheriff could know about his experiment, it simply wasn’t possible. Yet the woman had known, hadn’t she? Somehow she had known.
    Hickok watched him closely and John had the uncomfortable feeling that he could hear the thoughts turning in his head.
    “That was quite the trick,” Hickok said. “Doctor Shultz assured me that there’s no way that handler box you used could have affected Tommys all the way out at the mine.”
    “If it’s not possible, what makes you think I did it?”
    Hickok smiled. His face seemed open and honest as if he liked John and wanted to help him.
    “It’s no use denying it,” he said. “Shultz’ lab is dead center, right in the middle of the disturbance. Not to mention those burned out crystals in the handler box. Doctor Shultz said it would take a lot of power to do that.