Trouble Magnet Read Online Free PDF

surge of violent emotion that was rising like magma in his mind. So Flinx countered as he had learned to do over the past several years. Having grown up with the ability read the emotions of others he had gradually acquired, if not mastered, the concomitant ability to project them.
    Fear replaced fury in his would-be murderer’s mind. Fear, and utter panic. Eyes widening suddenly, the hardened fighter let the gun slip from his fingers as he staggered backward, his gaze fixed on the indifferent figure looming before him. Initially slim and harmless, in the killer’s mind the tall young man had abruptly acquired horrific dimensions. Here was something to be feared, to be avoided, to run away from as fast as his feet could propel him. What exactly that was, he could not say. The omission puzzled, but did not dissuade him from backpedaling rapidly. His companions eyed him as if he had suddenly gone mad.
    “Vynax, what the…?” Viewing the olive-skinned, red-haired youth standing in the entrance to the serviceway in an entirely new light, the other man started to reach for his own weapon. Dark green eyes shifted to meet his own.
    Any careful, cool, collected consideration of the confrontation vanished as an overwhelming terror swept through the man. All he could think of was to get away, to flee, to take himself anywhere away from where he was. Whirling, he scrambled and stumbled in blind horror down the serviceway in the wake of his compatriot. Both men were moaning and chattering as if possessed by ghosts.
    That left their female companion by herself. Maintaining her grip on the bewildered Deyzara, she stared at Flinx as if one of the graven monoliths of the Sauun had suddenly entered the serviceway and come thundering toward her. Stare as she might, she could not see anything that should have prompted the panicked flight of her normally assertive colleagues. Which made Flinx’s nonchalant approach all the more alarming. Though he towered over her, it was not his height that was intimidating. It was the intimation that he controlled something forceful and unseen; something potent enough to send not one but two murderous individuals like Howlow and Vynax running like scared little children.
    Still, she stood her ground until something small, reptilian, and angry looking poked its head out of the pack riding on the redhead’s back. One hiss in her direction brought her to the swift conclusion that no matter how potentially valuable his possessions, the disposable property of one ugly alien was not worth wrestling with mysteries that took the form of tall, soul-piercing strangers and small, gimlet-eyed serpents. Letting go of the alien’s rubbery wrists, she took off in pursuit of her companions. It was not necessary for Flinx to project any emotions onto her: she was sufficiently frightened already.
    The Deyzara stood unsteadily for a moment, then bent to recover his property that lay scattered on the pavement. Moon-like eyes regarded the tall human.
    “I am very much extremely grateful to you, stranger sir.” As did many of its kind, the Deyzara spoke excellent terranglo. “As one engaged in business on several worlds, I am not one to generalize as to the nature of a species.” Two-fingered hands adjusted and repositioned belongings recovered from the ground. “But I must say that until your arrival and intervention, my opinion of your kind was undergoing a most precipitous droppage indeed.”
    “Glad I was able to balance things out. If it’s any consolation, your opinion of my species probably still rates higher than my own.” Flinx turned to depart.
    Like a pale rope, one alien arm hastily transcribed anxious circles in the air in front of its owner. “Wait, good person! I believe it is customary among your people, as it is among mine, for such a selfless deed to be rewarded.” The other two-fingered hand began to fumble with a sealed length of some metallic fabric.
    “Some would say so,” Flinx murmured by