Age of Voodoo (44 page)
Authors: James Lovegrove
Tags: #Science Fiction, #General, #Adventure, #Action & Adventure, #Fiction
He stood. He looked as though he was going to depart. Or perhaps not.
“Are you...?” said Caroline.
“Am I what?”
“Going to kill me now?” Her voice was small and meek, mouse-like.
Lex leaned close to her, his reflection appearing in the well-sharpened blade of the carver.
“Not so long ago,” he said, “someone gave me some advice. Someone who deserves paying attention to. He said, ‘Dead men won’t lie and liars won’t die.’ I thought it was a prediction but it seems it was a recommendation as well.”
“What does it mean?”
“In this context, I’m the dead man who won’t lie down, and you’re the professional liar who isn’t going to die. At least not today. I promise you that.”
Caroline’s shoulders sagged with relief.
“But,” said Lex, “call me again, ever, about anything, and—”
He faked grabbing for the carver.
Caroline almost fainted. Her heart clattered like a toy rattle.
“Clear?”
She just about managed to compose herself. “Crystal.”
“Good. I’ll see myself out.”
For a long time after Lex was gone, Caroline Hartington sat nerveless, numb, scarcely able to move.
Finally she took out her phone and scrolled through the directory to the name Leonard Duncan. She selected Delete from the options menu.
The onscreen prompt said:
Delete contact.
Are you sure?
Caroline, never surer, hit the Yes icon.
END CREDITS
Author....James Lovegrove
Solaris Editor in Chief....Jon Oliver
Solaris Desk Editor....David Moore
Solaris Publishing Manager....Ben Smith
Publicity....Michael Molcher
Technical Assistance....Jonathan Morgantini
Cheerleading....Kit Reed
Essential Maintenance Staff....Lou Lovegrove
TEAM THIRTEEN MAY RETURN...
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"The kind of complex, action-oriented SF Dan Brown would write if Dan Brown could write."
The Guardian
on
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Available to buy from the Kindle Store
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"The kind of complex, action-oriented SF Dan Brown would write if Dan Brown could write."
The Guardian
on
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Available to buy from the Kindle Store
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“The kind of complex, action-oriented SF Dan Brown would write if Dan Brown could write.”
The Guardian
on
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Available to buy from the Kindle Store
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“The kind of complex, action-oriented SF Dan Brown would write if Dan Brown could write.”
The Guardian
on
The Age of Zeus
Available to buy from the Kindle Store