The Reluctant Assassin by Eoin Colfer Read Free Book Online

the blue mark. “This is the Chevron, and I was named for it; but that’s a story for another day, when I visit you in prison, maybe.”
    The lady had not fallen for his ruse.
    “I am innocent, miss . . . Agent. You must let me go.”
    Chevie stood up, twirling the chair under her palm. “I’ll have to get back to you on that, once I review the video. I’ll bring you some McDonald’s in an hour. Until then, don’t go anywhere, time traveler.”
    Riley watched the door close, thinking, Time traveler?
    And, What is a video?
    And, Why would she bring me Scotsmen? What help would that be?
    The hazmat team was unlike any hazardous materials team that Chevie had ever seen. There was no sign of the white virus overalls, or wi-vi suits as the federales had nicknamed them; instead the four agents were dressed in what looked like synthetic rubber, and they seemed pretty ripped for a science squad.
    Chevie jogged along the basement corridor to Agent Smart, who was strapping a crossbow across his chest.
    “What are these guys? Chemistry ninjas? And why are you bringing that bow?”
    “So many questions, Agent Savano.”
    “Yeah, well I’ve been a little out of the loop around here. Nobody mentioned time-traveling witness protection even once before today. Now everyone’s jumping into the past except me.”
    “You don’t have hazardous materials training, Chevie. This squad does, plus they have serious combat skills, too. As for our outfits and equipment, our clothes are hemp-based and will biodegrade in the open air, and the weapons are high-end design but not too sci-fi for the locals, should we meet any. We go back, clean up, and beam home. And if something does get left behind in the field, then there’s no domino effect.”
    “With respect to the . . . er . . . domino effect, why don’t you go back a little early and rescue your father? Now that you have his Timekey and know exactly where he was.”
    Agent Smart shook his head. “You didn’t read the entire file, did you, Chevie? Wormholes are a constant length to the nanosecond. Think of them like straws; you move the front and the back moves too. So, if an hour has passed here, then an hour has passed there. This particular wormhole measures just under a hundred and twenty years, so that’s how far we’re going back.”
    “How long will you be gone?”
    “Not long. Ten minutes, tops. Any more than that and we’re dead, and you’re to shut this thing down, dismantle the pod, and go home to California.”
    “Way to think positive, Agent. What are we going to tell the fire brigade this time?”
    Smart pulled a full face mask over his head. “Not a problem. I’ve powered up the dampers; no blackouts this trip.”
    Chevie surveyed the time squad, clad head to toe in padded black body armor, bristling with blades and bows.
    “You guys look futuristic, even with the old hardware. What happens if you get caught before the hemp melts? The boy, Riley, swears there’s some kind of magical killer back there.”
    Smart’s voice was muffled by the filter over his mouth. “Ah, yes. The bogeyman. It’s classic transference, Savano. Blame Mr. Nobody. Even if there is some Fagin person back there, I think my boys can handle him.”
    Chevie thought so too. These guys looked like they could take down a small country.
    “What if there’s an earthquake, and your boys are stuck in the rubble?”
    “Well, that’s what the red button is for, though these suits have been in storage for fifteen years, so I hope the mercury switches still work.”
    This statement brought the gravity of the situation home.
    “Self-destruct?” said Chevie. “You are kidding me? This isn’t an episode of The Twilight Zone .”
    Agent Smart’s shoulders jerked as he chuckled. “Yes, it is, Chevie. That’s exactly what it is.”
    Chevie did not chuckle; she had a sense of humor, but selfdestruct jokes were not to her taste.
    “So I gotta just twiddle my thumbs here while you machonerds