The Runes of the Earth: The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant - Book One by Stephen R. Donaldson Read Free Book Online Page A

with.” Then he turned and strode away.
    Oh, she had some idea. Despite his power to disturb his mother, he clearly understood nothing about the woman who opposed him. But she could not imagine that she had any advantage over him.
    She could only guess what he might do next.
    Urgently she wanted to know how he had earned his knowledge.
    Her stomach clenched as she reentered Joan’s room to explain the situation as best she could to Amy Clint.

    B y the time she returned to her office, her resolve had hardened, taken shape.
    She could not allow herself to be drawn into Roger Covenant’s mad designs, whatever they might be. She had made her life and her commitments here: peoplewhom she had chosen to serve and love were dependent on her. And Joan deserved better than whatever her son might do to her.
    Linden had to stop Roger now, before he carried his intentions any further.
    To do that, she needed to know more about him.
    She also needed help. Joan was not her only responsibility. She had other duties, other loves, which she did not mean to set aside.
    Clearing space on her desk, she pulled the phone toward her and began to make calls.
    First she contacted Bill Coty, the amiable old man who ran what passed for security at County Hospital. He was generally considered a harmless, ineffectual duffer; but Linden thought otherwise. She had often suspected that he might rise to a larger challenge if he ever encountered one. Certainly he had made himself useful during the crisis following Covenant’s death, when the hospital’s resources had been stretched by burn victims, concerned citizens, and hysterical relatives. His characteristic smile twisted with nausea, he had soothed some people and shepherded others while shielding the medical staff from interference. And he could call on half a dozen volunteer security “officers,” burly individuals who would rush to the hospital if they were needed.
    â€œI know this is going to sound odd,” she told him when he came on the line, “but I think there’s a man in the area who might try to kidnap one of my patients. His name is Roger Covenant.
    â€œYou remember his mother, Joan. He thinks he can take care of her better than we can. And he doesn’t seem to care about legal niceties like custody.”
    â€œThat poor woman.” For a moment, Coty sounded inattentive, distracted by memories. Then, however, he surprised Linden by asking, “How violent do you think this Roger is?”
    Violent—? She had not considered Joan’s son in those terms.
    â€œI ask, Dr. Avery,” the old man went on, “because I want my guys ready for him. If he’s just going to break a window and try to carry her off, any one of us can stop him. But if he comes armed—” He chuckled humorlessly. “I might ask a couple of my guys to bring guns. I’m sure you know we aren’t bonded for firearms. But I don’t want a repeat of what happened ten years ago.”
    Linden scrambled to adjust her assessment of Roger Covenant. “I’m not sure what to tell you, Mr. Coty. I just met him this morning. I don’t think he’s in his right mind. But nothing about him seemed violent,” apart from his emotional brutality toward his mother. “Guns might be an overreaction.”
    Could she be wrong about Roger’s intentions? Was she inventing the danger? That was possible. If so, he hardly deserved to be shot for his dysfunction.
    â€œWhatever you say, Doctor.” Bill’s tone suggested no disappointment. Apparently he did not fancy himself—or his volunteers—as gunslingers. “We’ll start to keep an eyeon her room tonight. Unless he’s stupid, he won’t try anything during the day. I’ll make sure one of my guys is on duty all night.”
    Grateful as much for his lack of skepticism as for his willingness to help, Linden thanked him and hung up.
    Could she leave the matter