Insequor by Richard Murphy Read Free Book Online

over the headsets again.
    “Fascinating. Gentlemen, you really should see this.”
    Daniel craned forward and reached for the door handle, but something pulled him back. It was Jones. “Wait.” He gently pushed Daniel back into his seat, before shifting up to the door. He pressed his face against the glass and then slid it back with force. He held on to the handle, the roar of the blades now deafening them all and the powerful down force sending wind, dust and dirt into the small cabin. Looking below his eyes widened.
    “Good god,” he said.
    Daniel shifted over to lean out, the harness still keeping him hooked into the chopper. He felt the soldier’s arm on his shoulder as he craned over to take a look too.
    Beneath them stood the creature. Its arms outstretched toward them, its face staring straight at them. It was motionless, yearning for what was above. Toby was walking around it fascinated, looking underneath the arms and even touching its body.
    “Remarkable,” said Toby’s voice. “Gentlemen, can you see this?” He looked up.
    Daniel gazed back down at it. Was it a machine? A robot? It looked so alive. They were about fifty feet above it, hovering dead centre.
    “What does this mean?” he said, almost to no one.
    “I’m not quite sure, Daniel,” said Toby. He was touching the metal of its head now, stroking it almost. Daniel saw him look at his fingers.
    He started to walk away from it, backwards, not taking his eyes off it. “I’m going to walk north, about a click. Come pick me up when I tell you.” The pilot confirmed his understanding and they watched Toby make his way across the dust.
    The three in the helicopter all stayed near the door looking down. The moon cast a long black shadow behind the robot. It didn’t move an inch. Finally, Jones slammed the door shut startling Daniel and the soldier.
    “Come on,” he said, “get strapped in.” The detective looked across, his eyes looking for a response; Daniel nodded and clipped his seatbelt.
    After a while Toby’s voice came through the headsets ordering the pilot to come and get him. The chopper leaned one way and then the other as it set off. Through the opposite window they saw the robot turn around and start to walk toward them, following once more; by now it was surrounded by police squad cars and another helicopter was tracking it with a spotlight.
    They touched down briefly, long enough for Toby to climb on board and give the signal before they were up and away again. This time a lot higher and the robot and its entourage got smaller and smaller until they were a distant dot of light.
    “This is all very peculiar,” said Toby.
    “No shit,” said Jones.
    Toby acted like he hadn’t heard. “I think we need to get you somewhere safe Daniel and take a look at our options.”

Chapter 11
    As the chopper put down, Daniel could see soldiers scattering around a base and what looked like the officer in charge head up to the landing pad. There were two armed soldiers with him and he was ushering instructions as he held his hat against the blizzard from the blades.
    Toby pulled open the door and held it back against the maelstrom before Daniel managed to jump out, Jones followed and the three men headed up a ramp to where a general and his men awaited.
    “I want these men detained!” said the general.
    “Yes, sir.”
    As the two soldiers approached Toby stepped forward, his arm outstretched, his other hand producing his wallet before they could even raise their guns.
    “Good evening, General Stagg.” Toby offered his hand and the general, confused, took it.
    “Good evening.” He paused’ looked Toby up and down before waving his men’s guns away, “And who might you be?”
    “Toby.” The teeth shined like icicles and the wallet dangled open right in front of the general’s eyes.
    The general looked at the contents. “I haven’t seen one of those in a long time.”
    Toby placed the wallet back into his jacket with a swift