Free Emerald Sky by David Clarkson Page A

foot on the brake,
bringing the truck to an abrupt stop. Jimmy’s body went rigid and his heart
rate quickened.
    ‘I didn’t see that coming!’
    ‘Cut the bullshit,’ said Esteban.
‘Quantum physics, the universe being economical, you and I both know that isn’t
you speaking. I’ve suspected for a while, but only now am I sure.’
    ‘S-sure about what?’
    Jimmy felt vulnerable. He wanted
desperately for a sign to guide him, but was still receiving none. Normally,
when faced with confrontation there would be danger close behind. With danger
being his most powerful trigger, the fact he was without help at least meant
that the soldier did not intend to harm him.
    ‘Dr Rayne – I think you know her better
than you’ve led us to believe. It was she that told you about the effects of
quantum physics on your power, wasn’t it?’
    An ordinary person would pause in order
to contemplate a lie before revealing the truth. Jimmy just answered the
question as soon as it was asked.
    ‘Yes, although I never really understood
most of it. She was the one who taught me to believe I could use my power to
help others.’
    ‘This was after you went on the run?’
    ‘Yes.’ He did not like betraying Emmy’s
trust, but in agreeing to lead the Americans to her, he had already broken his
oath. ‘After I escaped from the town I didn’t know what to do. I spent some
time travelling from town to town, paying my way by means of the poker table.
Bluffing was never really a problem. I’m hopeless at cards and always have
been. But then as soon as I was on the brink of losing everything, I could see
all of the other players’ cards. I never lost a hand after that.’
    ‘Sounds like the perfect crime to me.’
    ‘Exactly; it was a crime. Taking
money from those people made me no better than a thief. I hated myself for it,
but I could see no other way to get cash. It’s not like I could just take a
regular job. Even if I had any kind of skills, which I don’t, I knew that once
my name turned up on any database they would find me. For a while, I thought
about ending it.’
    ‘Suicide?’
    Jimmy nodded.
    ‘Jesus – so what stopped you?’
    ‘That was when I found her. I came across
her camp entirely by chance. All I wanted more than anything else was to die
and that is where I thought the visions were leading me – to my death. It
turned out I was wrong. Instead, they led me to Emmy.’
    ‘And she gave you back your sense of
purpose?’
    ‘Yes. She also explained a lot about the
changes that I was undergoing. She told me about how she had caused the
radiation. She never intended for anything bad to happen, it was her
grandfather who used the power they created to do those awful things. He’s the
one who’s to blame for what happened, not her.’
    ‘I believe you. The colonel speaks like
she poses some terrible threat to humanity, but there’s nothing in her file to
suggest that to be true. I’ve often wondered if bringing her in would really be
the right thing to do.’
    ‘So why do you continue to help them?’
    Esteban replied only with a solemn look.
Some things did not need to be put into words.
    ‘I think she’ll be able to help too,’
said Jimmy. ‘If anybody can bring my mother back, it’s Emmy.’
    As Esteban nodded his agreement, a call
came through on the radio. It was the leader of his backup team.
    ‘Agent Cruz, why have you stopped – is
there a problem?’
    Esteban placed the receiver to his mouth.
    ‘No problem. We will proceed as planned.’
    He put the truck back into gear and
continued along the desert highway. The radius that covered the area where the
fugitive was possibly hiding was huge, with only Jimmy’s unique insight to
narrow it down. They could be one mile away or they could be one hundred. There
was no way for them to know.
    ‘Tell me more about Dr Rayne,’ urged
Esteban. ‘It sounds like you are quite fond of her.’
    Jimmy blushed.
    ‘It’s hard not to be. She’s