The Forever Gate Read Online Free PDF Page B

Yesterday you were begging to save my life."
    Briar's chin quivered. "Yesterday you were collared. Innocent until proven guilty, and all that. Today you're a User fugitive. A terrorist. I had to give you up. Mayor Jeremy promised he'd have my hide if I harbored you."
    "Jeremy." Hoodwink nearly spat the name. "Bad move, Briar. Very bad move. Because now I'll have your hide."
    Hoodwink drew his green sword and Cora screamed. Hoodwink had wanted to scare Briar, not her, and when he saw the look of fear on his wife's face, a look that said "I don't even know who you are anymore," Hoodwink felt utter shame.
    The knock came again, more frantic.
    Hoodwink raced into the hall past Cora and Briar, making for the rear entrance. He heard Briar open the front door to the troops, and the clank as the gols dashed onto the travertine floor behind him.
    He swept through the kitchen, toward the back door, and the scullery maids screamed at the sight of his sword.
    The back door abruptly flung open and reserve troops flooded inside with swords raised.

CHAPTER SEVEN
     
    Hoodwink backtracked through the kitchen and took the grand staircase in the hall moments before the troops from the front converged on him. He climbed those stairs three at a time and came out at a lung-burning dash across the second floor. He sprinted across the ermine carpet, toward the sealed window that backed onto the rear alley. He leapt, and swung his sword to shatter the glass as he struck.
    The fall wasn't a great one, and he landed tumbling in the snow below.
    "Hey!" One of the sentries assigned to the back door spotted him.
    Hoodwink waded through the alleyway drifts, the shouts of pursuit harrying him on.
    He stumbled over the windrow that blocked the end of the alleyway, and emerged onto the main street. The going became way easier. This quarter of the city was the first to get the gol shovel treatment, so the roadways were clear, and framed by white windrows. He veered off into Luckdown district, and the path became bumpy with unshoveled snowpack.
    Hoodwink nearly slipped more than once, though he had nails hammered point-first through the soles of his boots. Behind him, the shouts grew closer. He glanced over his shoulder. The guards were only paces behind.
    Hoodwink took a sharp right at Down Street. Too sharp. He slid right into a foodcart.
    He scrambled to his feet —
    Into the arms of a guard.
    "Give 'er up, krub!" the gol said, tightening his arms round his chest. Others quickly approached—
    Hoodwink angled the guard between himself and the bottom of Down Street, then kicked backward. He and the guard tumbled onto the sloped snowpack, and gravity took over. The two slid down the steep hill, picking up speed by the moment. Bumps in the packed snow jolted the two constantly. The few street-goers gave the pair a wide berth, not wanting to join in that perilous slide.
    The soldier tightened his grip during the slide, slowly crushing the air from Hoodwink's lungs. Hoodwink tried to pry that grip open, but it was like trying to take off one of the collars. He focused on the spark inside him instead. He wouldn't be able to generate much. He closed his eyes, and released a flare of electricity up and down his torso. The man's arms jolted away.
    Handy, that.
    Still sliding down, Hoodwink turned, and gave the man a good punch in the nose. Finally the road curved up to catch them, and the two slid to a halt. Hoodwink scrambled upright, kicked the gol in the belly for good measure, and raced on. Behind him, the four remaining soldiers slid to the bottom of the street and gave chase.
    There was a market ahead, one that was always crowded after the snowstorms. Sure enough the throngs were packing it today. He hurried in among the market crowd, weaving his way past peddlers, entertainers, beggars, clientele. He sat down, inconspicuous, beside a stand of skewered dog meat, and waited. The four guards jostled their way through the market, and passed almost right in