The Dark Half of the Sun (The Young Ancients: Timon) by P.S. Power Read Free Book Online

they tried to hit on her in his presence he'd fight them. It was ridiculous of course, since he was the smallest person in the area, but Smythe smiled and bowed again. There was no irony in his voice when he spoke.
    "Wonderful. I'm sure that they'll all be most useful to use in this investigation, shall we embark then?"
    These people didn't take very long to get situated at all. In fact they hustled into the vehicle like there was an actual emergency, moving like they knew what they were doing, just as soon as the pleasantries were finished. The only odd thing being that the older guard, George, moved directly into the seat next to him, looking out the front of the craft. He watched carefully, but didn't comment on anything as they sped toward the new city.
    Tim was good to his word and had everyone moving off the craft in front of Godfrey's office space about eight minutes after takeoff. When they got out it was with more decorum than before, since the Major had come out to stand at attention, along with the boy that might be a thief, and a hastily put together line of military men, all at attention, with lines of children behind them in tan. They were less disciplined and gawked a little, but no one spoke overly, so the whole thing was fairly quiet and dignified.
    The Major, who'd wisely taken time to bathe it seemed and shave, saluted crisply. Each of the military men followed suit and that got most of the littlest children to do the same thing. It was a bit slow, but all the older kids did it too then, probably not sure if it was proper or not.
    "Sir! Welcome to Wildlands Station, sir!" He received a similar movement from Smythe, which signaled him to break the movement. All the military men held theirs however, until the Military Counselor spoke loudly.
    "At your ease!" He nodded, his face serious then, not waiting to see what anyone else actually did it. It took a bit for all the kids to relax, trying to copy what the soldiers did it seemed.
    There was no bowing this time. No mention was made as to who the rest of them were either. Instead Smythe waved back at them and spoke calmly about it.
    "Dignitaries sent to see that no children are being harmed or abused. I trust that this won't be an issue?" He said it softly, pitching his voice so that not everyone would be able to hear it.
    "No sir. The children are being well cared for. Except..." He turned a little red then, which with his light complexion was decently visible. Darker than Tim's, but the man was probably the second lightest person around at the moment. "Well, there have been some problems. Thefts. Some of the youngsters have left us. I thought it was to avoid prison, but..."
    Smythe nodded, looking well in command of the situation.
    "Exactly what we're here to investigate. Let's go inside and see to that then. This is the accused?"
    The miracle of Truth amulets was that, once used, a person was going to be shown to be telling the simple truth, or lying. There was no doubt left. The boy retold his story, about how three large men, dressed like military men, grabbed him, pulled him to the ground and stole the compressor unit he'd been using for practice.
    "Building furniture, sir." He was working very hard not to sound like a country hick, even though he clearly wasn't well educated. It didn't always work, but the effort made him look pretty good. It turned out he wasn't fifteen, as Timon had figured earlier, but was only thirteen.
    None of the children were over fourteen, since that was the age that you got dumped out of the orphanages in the main. You were an adult then, so the kids had to learn to fend for themselves. It was, according to the boy, why everyone was trying to learn to be like the military men. If they could do that, a lot of them figured they might make it into the ranks.
    Smythe nodded when he heard that part of things.
    "Good thinking. Major, see that all the children that want it receive early training to aid them toward that end. They can