Free A Fractured World: A Post Apocalyptic Adventure (Gallen Book 1) by Laurence Moore Page A

the wall and dipped outside to inspect the bike. He glanced around, saw no one and wheeled it into the building.
    “You take care with that,” said the biker. “You don’t …”
    “Shut up,” said Tomas, walking back to close the metal door and wedge it shut.
    He snatched up his crossbow and pointed it at the man’s head. Stone backed away to the counter and lifted a stool to sit on. He kept his revolver level with the stranger. Emil poked her head from the back of the room and the biker looked at her, showing no reaction to her scarred face and patched eye.
    “Who are you?” asked Tomas.
    The man reached for something in his top pocket and Tomas leaned into him, the tip of the crossbow bolt pressed against a rough cheek.
    “Easy, old man.”
    He seemed unflustered by the weapons pointed at him and slowly produced a black comb. Tomas eased back and frowned as the man calmly dragged it through his thick grey hair and beard.
    “I used to come here years ago,” he said, popping the comb back into his pocket. “Some people tried to open it up. Make it into a diner. Like it was during the Before. That’s what they called them. Place you could eat, have decent conversation. But some guys came and shot the place up.”
    He nodded at the bullet holes that riddled the counter and back wall.
    “A name,” said Tomas. “Not a history lesson.”
    “Lucas,” he replied, grinning. “Just looking for somewhere to sleep. Not looking for any trouble, son.”
    “You alone?” asked Stone.
    Lucas turned in his seat to answer.
    “I am, looks like you’re not,” he replied, leaning from the booth to smile at Emil. “Evening, miss.”
    “We could cook you and eat you,” said Tomas, a flash of anger in his eyes.
    “I don’t think you’re the type,” snorted Lucas. “You want this place, fine. Let me take my bike and I’ll be on my way.”
    “Tie him up,” said Stone.
    Tomas fetched a length of rope from his pack and eased Lucas from the booth. The man placed his hands behind his back and did not struggle as Tomas tied his wrists together. Stone watched the biker very closely. The man had years on him, which meant he had survived for a very long time in the wastelands. It was rare to see older men in Gallen. They would all need to be careful. Tomas thrust him down on the dusty floor, next to his bike, and bound his ankles. Lucas shuffled around and leaned his back against the counter.
    “I’ve slept in worse places,” he said, untroubled.
    Emil took a seat at the counter and stared at the round bellied man on the floor.
    “He eats well,” she said, her voice hushed.
    “He doesn’t seem afraid of us,” whispered Tomas.
    “Should I be afraid of you?” asked Lucas, staring ahead at the door.
    Stone pulled on his long coat and hat. He thrust his revolver into his belt and picked up his rifle.
    “No one out there,” said Lucas, watching him head for the door. “Might as well stay in here in the warm.”
    “We’ll let Stone decide.”
    Lucas let out a low whistle.
    “That’s Stone? The Tongueless Man? Thought it was him. Let me get a look at the legend.”
    The only look he got was Stone’s back. Tomas fixed the door once more.
    “How do you know him?”
    Lucas shrugged.
    “How do you know anybody these days? Always find someone who claims to have seen him kill a lot of people.”
    Emil studied Lucas for a short time more then slid off the stool. She walked across to where Stone had been sitting and saw the maps he had forgotten to pack away. She glanced at Tomas, at the counter, right hand resting on his crossbow, staring hard at Lucas. She eased into the booth and saw at once that Stone had stolen more than one map from the Map Maker. She tried to picture the man who had ridden a horse into her village years before but she couldn’t draw his features in her head. She could only remember the words her father had spoken of him, describing him as an odd and disturbing man, but brilliant with a pen, a