Hoffman The Lost Children of Khao Ra

1. Auflage 2022
ISBN: 978-3-7554-1592-3
Verlag: BookRix
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: 0 - No protection

E-Book, Englisch, 273 Seiten

Have you ever wondered if you really are who people say you are?   What if you had a past that you can't remember?  What if you were born in another land, or were secretly in line for the throne?  What if you were the missing element of a buried conspiracy, and if you were to learn the truth of your pastmillions would benefit.  You could change the world, if you only knew who you were and where you came from...   This is a story of several strangers, the children of refugees, who found one another and learned that they actually knew one another when they were children.  What's more, that they were part of a plan to create specially gifted agents, but agents for whom?   One has managed to make a living for himself as a private investigator.  Another is an accountant for a company that hasn't always lived up to its advertised goal of helping the world.  One has grown up among the government agents of South Korea, and a fourth will do anything to find her missing father, even if it means she must become a criminal.   They are all linked by technology that no one fully understands, but which someone sees as the answer to several centuries of hardship, and for a people that have migrated across the globe looking for a place to call home and to rebuild the glory of their past.   Turn to Chapter One and become engaged in a world-spanning adventure to not only uncover the past, but to discover a future that these lost children never dreamed possible.  Learn how these young adults are connected by an exotic island in the Bay of Thailand, and the by secrets under a mountain called Khao Ra...

Autoren/Hrsg.

Hoffman, Eric

Leseproben

Chapter Six
  The headquarters of New York City’s Paranormal Assistance Team wasn’t anything like Silverstar expected. It was a refurbished police precinct house, with cracks in the sidewalk and paint peeling off neglected wood trim and faded carpet that was threadbare where the office chairs ran over it. She followed Applejack, who moved through the place like a worn-out police chief. He grabbed file folders out of his mailbox and snarled all the way back to his office. “Shanay,” he said to the woman seated outside his door, “These are the corporate agents from Zahlmeister. This is Silverstar, and that’s, uh, Dollar Bill, I think.” “The name’s Dividend,” said her partner with an edge in his voice, “so called because I always give back more than I’m dealt.” “Pleased to meet you both,” said Shanay. “Would either of you like some coffee?” “I don’t think I should,” said Dividend, leaning in toward her. “You see, the caffeine might cause a telekinetic cascade that would level this building. I have to keep the power in check at all times.” “Careful, hotshot,” said Applejack. “Shanay’s been known to do that herself on occasion.”
Shanay rose from her seat. “Well, Mr. Dividend, if you’re having trouble controlling yourself today, I could send for a couple of agents to escort you from the building. I’m sure your big corporate sponsor wouldn’t appreciate an incident like that on government property, now would they?” He paused. “Would you happen to have any non-dairy creamer?” “Shanay, has the agent from Washington arrived?” asked Applejack. “She’s in your office, hon. You call out if you have any trouble in there, all right?” Silverstar decided that she liked Shanay. The agent in question was standing by the time the door closed behind them. “I’m Applejack. Are you the one from the Department?” “My name is Amaranth. I was told that you needed someone who speaks Thai.” Silverstar couldn’t take her eyes off the young woman. There was something vaguely familiar about her. “I’m Silverstar, from Zahlmeister Securities,” she said. “I’m sorry, but have we met somewhere? Did you go to school in Connecticut?” “I went to school in Minnesota,” said Amaranth. “I’m sure you’ve been briefed on why you’re here,” said Applejack, throwing the files on his desk like they were unwanted bills. “We have a rogue agent loose in the city looking for someone named Duc. She doesn’t speak English very well, so we want you to talk to her and find out what she wants. These folks from Zahlmeister will accompany you, and Pulse will tell you where to look. I’ll have a PANYC agent working alongside you, as soon as I figure out which one’s available. Any questions?” “And I’m Dividend,” said the agent from Zahlmeister, extending his hand out to Amaranth. There was a structure on the roof made of steel and bulletproof glass. It was a sort of geodesic gazebo, and it contained an upholstered platform upon which Pulse sat like a Buddhist monk in prayer. She didn’t turn her head as Applejack, Silverstar, Dividend and Amaranth approached, but it wouldn’t have surprised Amaranth to hear that PANYC’s resident telepath had been aware of their presence before they had even arrived. “What’s the word, Pulse,” said Applejack as he opened the sliding glass door. “She is at the University,” said Pulse, a slim woman with black hair and dressed in white and red. “I felt her flying over Midtown. She landed on one of the dormitories an hour ago and hasn’t moved since.” “Excuse me for asking,” said Silverstar, “but how do you know it was her?” Pulse turned her head slightly in her direction. “There are only a few people in the city capable of flight, and I have located all the others. She is currently the only person capable of flight in the city who thinks in an Asian language, so she will be easy to trace now that I have located her.” Her voice was calm and ominously even, and to Silverstar she sounded like someone who was consciously maintaining her focus while dealing with a splitting headache. “I want you to keep on her,” said Applejack. “Priority one. Where’s the Falcon?” “White Falcon is downstairs in the break room. He has completed his morning rounds. Shall I call him up to the roof?” “Yeah, get his feathered butt up here.” Applejack turned to the other women. “As soon as the target moves, the rest of you intercept her. I’ll keep tabs on you through a radio link. I’ll decide what to do next as soon as we know what her intentions are.” “Quick question, my fruit-faced friend,” said Dividend. “I’m assuming anyone named ‘White Falcon’ can also fly. What am I supposed to do?” “Hell if I know,” said Applejack. “Can’t you run across the rooftops or something?” “Are you kidding me? We’re like eight floors up!” “Whatever, pal. It’s not my problem. Why would Zahlmeister send you to catch a flyer if you can’t keep up?” Before he said something that he’d probably regret, Silverstar interceded. “Don’t worry, Dividend. We’ve got this. I’ll keep you posted on our progress by cell phone, and you can use your GPS to track our location.” Dividend was clearly unsatisfied with the way things were turning out, but he didn’t have much opportunity to complain. Shortly after White Falcon arrived, Pulse announced that their mysterious target had left NYU and was moving swiftly over the East Village toward Queens. Silverstar was happy to take to the air because Dividend’s privileged attitude was wearing on her nerves. Normally, being in an unfamiliar place would prompt her to find something familiar to cling to, even if he was a pain in the neck, but this was one time she preferred the company of strangers. White Falcon was—how could she put this delicately—gorgeous. He was a dancer, with all the muscle definition that comes from years of practice, and he flew by means of a pair of avian wings that were the technological development of the EagleCorp company. She had read about how Simon Eagle had invented wings and trained agents to serve on various teams throughout the world. White Falcon was EagleCorp’s contribution to PANYC. He flew like he truly enjoyed it, doing spontaneous barrel rolls and loops for no other apparent reason. Silverstar was seriously tempted to follow his example, but Amaranth’s flight was as straight as a needle and she didn’t want to appear like she was showing off. They stayed low through the city, staying even with about the fifth or sixth floor, to make certain their mysterious quarry wouldn’t see them coming. They had to swerve to the south to avoid flying over the United Nations Building, an illegal activity for all paranormal agents capable of flight ever since the first agents had been sanctioned. Once they had passed it, she followed White Falcon as he banked to the left out over the East River. A sudden feeling of dread washed over her. She stopped cold, full of anxiety and unwilling for some reason to fly out over the wide stretch of water. Amaranth apparently sensed her fear. “What’s the matter?” she said. “I…I don’t know,” said Silverstar. “I can’t…You’ll have to…go on without me…” “You’re having trouble breathing. Let’s land in that park.” Amaranth guided Silverstar downward until they were safely seated on a park bench. Silverstar was shaking with fear, but couldn’t figure out why. It was especially embarrassing when White Falcon landed nearby. “Dear Lord,” he said. “You’re whiter than my flight feathers. What’s going on?” “I wish I knew,” said Silverstar. “I just felt…afraid, I guess, as we got closer to the water.” “Afraid of what in particular?” said Amaranth, seated next to her. “I don’t know,” snapped Silverstar, and buried her face in her hands. “Well,” said White Falcon, “if you’re afraid of the East River, you’re not alone. Two hundred feet up is about as close as I usually get to it.” “We’re going to lose her,” said Silverstar. “I don’t want us to lose her because of me. Can’t you go on ahead?” “Yes, except this is your show,” said the White Falcon. “As I understand it, PANYC and Amaranth are here to assist Zahlmeister in this investigation, which is you. Don’t they have rivers in Connecticut? You must have flown over one before.” White Falcon lifted his wings and sat down on the other side of her. His presence felt very reassuring. “It’s funny,” said Silverstar. “I can’t remember ever flying over water this wide.” “I have an idea,” said White Falcon. “The...