Cronos Rising (22 page)

‘Not just her.’ Vale’s tone was soft. ‘He might have been a KGB agent, but Cronos - Ashington, Fyodorov, call him what you will - was a good man. He did good work for the Service, even if his ultimate motives were hostile. He was, in a sense, father to all of us, not just Helen. And we owed him. As did our country. There was never any question of murdering him.’

Purkiss gazed at the ancient face for a full two minutes, noting every line, every fold, every mottle.

At last he straightened. Beside him, Rebecca stared up into his face and he studied hers.

For the first time, he saw a defiance there, a slipping of the mask of calm.

Purkiss said, simply, ‘Carry on.’

He turned and walked out, a weight bearing down upon him, weariness dogging his every step.

THE END

John Purkiss will return in 2015 in NEMESIS

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Ratcatcher

Delivering Caliban

Jokerman

Tundra

Haven (short story)

Spiked (short story, exclusive to mailing list subscribers)

Cronos Rising

Nemesis (coming in 2015)

Severance Kill

Annihilation Myths

Redemption Road (coming in 2015)

Omega Dog

Delta Ghost

Alpha Kill

Sigma Curse

Epsilon Creed (coming in 2014)

Reunion

Snout