World Walker 1: The World Walker by Ian W. Sainsbury Read Free Book Online Page B

come to the window of your apartment and look outside." Seb walked to the window but hung back, remembering the soldiers. He flattened himself against the wall, then took a quick glance before jerking his head back. No uniforms, just one guy in front of a long black car. The tall guy from the clearing. Well, if he has a long, black car, he must work for the government.  
    "The soldiers with you shot...at me," said Seb. "Why? What the hell's going on?"
    "Mr. Varden, believe me, what they did was contrary to their orders and they will be dealt with. I have sent my squad away. It's just me and a driver. I have answers to some of your questions, but you're going to have to trust me and come down here."
    "Give me a couple minutes," said Seb and hung up. He considered his options. He could run again, but this guy had found him pretty quickly. He certainly didn't trust him, but maybe he could get answers to a few questions. Start with the simple ones like, "Did you see that alien?" and, "Any idea how I can recover from massive blood loss and survive being shot in the heart?" before moving on to the tougher stuff like, "Think my brain tumor's disappeared too?". And Mee would be turning up soon. He didn't want this Westlake guy knowing about Mee. He could send him away, agree to meet later. He opened his closet and pulled out a black suit and shirt. A girlfriend had once called him vain because he wore black so much, not realizing that he only did it because he hated shopping and buying everything in one color made life easier.
    Five minutes later he walked out of his apartment building. Westlake stuck out a hand. Seb stayed out of reach. Westlake shrugged.
    "I can't blame you for being cautious, Mr. Varden," he said.  
    "You said you have answers," said Seb. "Well?"
    Westlake shook his head slightly.  
    "Not outside. What I have to say concerns information vital to American national security. Step into the car, please."
    "Oh, come on," said Seb, "there's no way I'm getting into a car with you. Despite the national security bullshit." He thought of Meera again. "There's a coffee place around the corner. Let's go there."
    "Very well," said Westlake. He took a step toward Seb. He spoke quietly. "But there's one thing I need to tell you right away."  
    Seb leaned in. Westlake's right hand was in his pocket and as Seb came closer, it came out fast. Westlake was holding something and Seb flinched as it headed toward his face. Even as he recognized it as some kind of small aerosol can a fine spray hit him as he was breathing in. He staggered, his legs suddenly unable to support him. The taller man caught him by the shoulders as he stumbled, maneuvering him in the direction of the waiting car. An old couple with bags of shopping hesitated as they watched Westlake push Seb onto the back seat. Westlake turned toward them.
    "Likes his drink a bit too much," he said. The old woman grimaced and pulled her husband away. Westlake got in and pushed Seb into the far corner of the car. He shut the door and caught the eye of the driver in the rear view mirror.
    "Go," he said.
    Ten minutes later, Bob and Meera walked into an empty apartment. Meera had kept a key for a couple of years, partly because she occasionally stayed over, partly because Seb would occasionally leave his somewhere on one of his lost weekends.
    "No sign of a struggle," said Bob, picking up the water glass and sniffing it. He turned to Meera, who was looking at her phone.
    "He's ten blocks away," she said. "Think he's gone for another run?"
    Seb felt like he was at the bottom of a deep well, lying with his head lolling uncomfortably on his shoulder. Drool slid down one cheek. The well was pitch black and he had the sense that he was moving. He could hear a man's voice, muffled at first then quickly getting clearer.
    "Asgert acwurwf," came the voice. A picture came into Seb's mind of a tall, dangerous man. "Yus, na prublush. Yus, sir. I've given him enough to knock out a horse.