Different Paths by A. E. McCullough Read Free Book Online Page B

card was found in the Sgt. Major’s pocket.”
    “A what?”
    “A tarot card; the Wheel of Fortunes unless I am
mistaken.”
    “What’s a tarot card?”
    “In ancient Europe, tarot cards were once widely
used by gypsies for divining the future. Their practice and usage declined with
the centuries until in the late nineteenth century, tarot cards were considered
a gimmick items with no real power of divination.” Handing a printout of the
business card to her lover she continued. “However with the mystical influence
of the Sylvan Empire, over the last decade their popularity has grown.”
    Iaido nodded his head while he studied the
printout. “And this?”
    “This was in the Feds’ files. It’s a copy of the
business card of a fortune teller down in Five Points who goes by the name of
Talia Stargleam. On the back of the card is a handwritten note that just says,
‘Any Leads?”
    “Interesting. Anything in their files on this
Talia character?”
    “Not much, it seems that Talia Stargleam is a
Sylvan diplomat just recently arrived from Alpha Centuri. I am working on
getting a copy of her visa but the only thing else they have are her basic
stats; five foot nine inches tall, long silver hair, fair complexion,
articulate and helpful. There is a hand written scribble that must be from the
young Agent Smith that says…Hot Babe.”
     “Yes, that does seem like a remark our young Fed
would include in his report.” Still wiping off his sweat, Iaido asked, “Why
would a Sylvan diplomat work as a fortune teller?”
    “I wondered that myself, so I did some research.
It seems that all Sylvan Embassies are set up as a fortune teller’s store.
According to their legends, the gypsies of ancient Europe are the only
descendants of the Sylvans from the time before their Exodus.” Diana said, “Now
that many Sylvans have returned, many of the old ways are reappearing.”
    “Exodus?”
    “According to Madam Aleksandra’s blog, Sylvans
once inhabited Earth but left prior to the first Ice Age. She is quoted as
saying that ‘Terrans have forgotten their roots; a tree cannot flourish without
roots, it will wither and die, only by returning to the past will the future be
secure.”
    “That’s rather vague, don’t you think? Who is this
Madam Aleksandra?”
    “According to the federal database, she is the
head of the Sylvan Consulate” said Diana. “And if you want to talk with this
Talia character you will have to deal with her first.”
    Iaido nodded and moved toward the shower, “I think
I’ll pay Madam Aleksandra a visit.”
    “I’ll keep checking through the Feds’ files. Maybe
when the autopsy reports are filed they will show something enlightening but
I’m not holding out too much hope.”
    “Neither do I but as they say; hope springs
eternal.”
    Walking out of the room, Diana muttered under her
breath. “Spoken like the optimist you aren’t.”
    A short time later, Iaido ventured back into the
busy streets of New Atlanta. Dressed in civilian attire; which for Iaido was cargo
pants, shirt and a synthetic leather trenchcoat overtop, all in black. The
loose fitting clothes and dark colors effectively hid the numerous weapons he
carried and armor plates covering his vital areas. Moving effortlessly through the
crowd, he stepped off the moving sidewalk and into the past; or at least it
seemed that way.
    Old Town was one of the few sections of New
Atlanta that still had buildings standing from before the war; some even before
the Great Meteor Strike of 2012. Five Points, the section of Old Town Iaido
found himself in, was the oldest part of New Atlanta. Many of the buildings
were from the late 1900s, originally kept up as a historic district with
antique shops and restaurants for tourists.
    However the tourist industry changed greatly over
the last century.
    First, the Great Meteor Strike; then the Arabic
Wars with the United Islamic Nations and finally, the Galactic Civil War put an
end to mass tourism. The