The Harvester Read Online Free PDF Page B

found the way of the Ancients.”
    “In light of your many years of dedicated service for the Agency, we will allow you to remain free until your trial in two weeks. Until you’re proven innocent, your harvesting will cease,” Mr. Laveaux says in his thick French accent.
    For some reason, the French have always annoyed me.
    “Until your trial, you must remain in the city,” Ms. Smith adds on. She looks over at Mr. Herald. “Mr. Herald, since he represents you and North America, is there anything you would like to add?”
    Mr. Herald jumps up in disgust. “This is an absolute travesty and I do not condone this one bit!” He storms off.
    I can’t help but crack a little smile due to him being my friend. Mr. Zundu catches my smile but says nothing about it.
    “Okay, Harvester Agent number 2748, we will see you in two weeks at this exact time for your trial. That is all,” Mr. Zundu explains to me.
    I nod at the Heads and exit the trial room. I head down a hallway where everyone gawks at me in passing because they all know what I’m going through. I can hear murmuring about me as I pass room after room. Some believe I did it and some believe there’s no way I could. Either way, I don’t care in the least, and I show it. I walk toward the main exit. Everyone in the Agency most likely knows about my situation and the Underworld does too. The Agency doesn’t know the truth. The Underworld set me up and they have set me up damn well. I figure it’s to get me out of the way for them to accomplish some sort of diabolical Vega plan. I would’ve done the same thing if I was him. I exit the Agency with my chin up and head straight.

I n the Agency’s secret underground parking lot, I sit idly by in my tricked out ’69 Barracuda. Shit.
    Without harvesting, what do I have? What? Do I go on a vacation or something? I don’t know what a vacation is anymore. The last time I did go on a forced vacation, two days into it, I ended up harvesting four Dead Ones. It’s inbred in me to do so. I floor the gas and peel out of my parking spot with a loud squeal. I need to blow off some steam, so I decide to go to one of the Agency’s recreational facilities deep inside a mountain range.
    About an hour later, I swim lap after lap in an Olympic-sized swimming pool. I never raise my head to take a breath due to Harvesters not needing to do so. I tire of swimming, so I hop out of the pool and get into the nearby spa where three other Harvesters—Rico, Dante, and Naes—already relax. All our Harvester Agent barcodes can be seen on the back of our necks. Rico shakes his head at me as I enter the spa.
    “I’m surprised the Agency is still allowing you to use their facilities,” he remarks to me obviously.
    “Shut up, Rico,” Naes retorts.
    “Yeah. Good idea to shut up, Rico,” I back up Naes.
    “You know he isn’t guilty, Rico, Dante,” Naes continues. “He’s the epitome Harvester Agent.”
    “We’ll find out at the trial, Naes,” Dante says in a sarcastic tone.
    Rico nods in agreement. Naes continues to feel as if he has to stand up for me. Most likely due to him admiring me. To be honest, I don’t mind.
    “With Harvey’s history of being the top Harvester for many centuries and the fact all three of us have studied all his techniques in the Academy and have personally worked with him at one time or another should solidify the fact that there is no way in hell Harvey aided the Underworld. Think about the time-shift he spoke of.”
    Rico and Dante think about his comment, but they are still not convinced of my innocence.
    Dante leans forward. “I think the fact escapes you, Naes, that it was his best friend he’s accused of aiding his escape from inevitable capture at Grant Cemetery.”
    “He’s not my friend, Dante, you asshole.”
    “Well, he was. You guys came up through the ranks together,” Rico chimes in.
    I feel the need to stand up for myself. “Correct me if I’m wrong here, guys. But you two were