TW09 The Lilliput Legion NEW by Simon Hawke Read Free Book Online

"For medicinal purposes."
    Gulliver sniffed the glass and smiled. "Good malt whiskey," he said, with a weak smile. "Thank God for something familiar."
    He drained the glass.
    "I think I had better sit down, if I may," he said.
    "Please do," said Forrester. "I know things have been very confusing for you since you arrived here, Dr. Gulliver. One moment, you were in 18th century London, and the next, you were somehow magically transported to a sort of prison cell and held there without explanation for twenty-four hours. In fact, it was not really a prison cell at all, but something we call a 'secure transport coordinate zone.' We maintain a number of such secure areas and one of their functions is to handle unusual cases such as yours, where it becomes necessary to transport someone from the past without adequate preparation or warning. It was necessary to hold you for that time so that we could take certain precautions."
    "I know you must have many questions," Forrester continued. "So do we. Alexander Steiger was a soldier, a Temporal Observer . . . a sort of spy, if you will. Since Cpl. Steiger had no time to send us a complete report, he sent you, instead Whatever it was that attacked you and killed Cpl. Steiger located you by means of this."
    Forrester held up a little plastic envelope containing what looked like a tiny, bright blue seed.
    "By means of
that
little thing? What is it?" Gulliver said.
    "It is a highly sophisticated signaling device," said Forrester. "It's been deactivated. It was implanted under your skin, behind your left ear."
    Gulliver's hand went to the spot behind his ear. "What... But . .
how?
There is nothing. . "
    "You were rendered unconscious for a time," said Forrest He held up his hand as Gulliver was about to speak. "Yes I know you don't remember. And there is no point in feeling around behind your ear, Doctor. You will find no evidence of surgery, I assure you. Not even the faintest scar. Please, try to understand, we have the ability to do things that someone from your time could not even begin to understand. It is unavoidable that you will be exposed to some of them, and I will attempt to explain whatever I can if there is time; but in many cases, explanation itself would require a complex explanation, and it would involve a challenge to your systems of belief. I know it is difficult, but please try to bear with me and accept that what I tell you is the truth. We need your help, Dr. Gulliver Millions of lives could be at stake. Will you help us?"
    "I do not understand any of this, General," said Gulliver nervously, "and I must admit that I am frightened, although somewhat less frightened now then when I first arrived here. You have been most considerate. And as you have pointed out I have already seen things that defy belief on the island of little people and somehow I have managed to accept them survive. There is much here that I don't understand. I cannot comprehend how it is possible that I have been somehow transported a thousand years into the future, but I cannot deny the evidence of my senses." He gestured at the window. "That is unquestionably
not
world I came from. Sandy . . . or Cpl. Steiger, as you I him, accepted my tale when everyone else believed me to mad. And now, because of me, he is dead. That, General something I can comprehend only too well. Yes, of course I will do whatever I can to help."
    "Good," said Forrester. "Then if you will bear with me, I'll attempt to answer some of your questions and explain who Sandy was and why he sent you here. . . ."
    "Excuse me, sir," said Forrester's orderly, interrupting them.
    "Yes, Roberts, what is it?"
    "Sgt. Danelli of the I.S.D. just called from the base hospital. There's been an attempt on Col. Steiger's life."
    Delaney was out of his chair like a shot. "Is he all right?"
    "He's been wounded, sir," said Roberts, "but I'm assured it's only superficial. In fact, I was told he'll be on his way up here momentarily. Unfortunately, both men