Read Charles Ingrid - marked man 02 The Last Recall for Free Online

and the school."
    That jolted Thomas. "Shut down—"
    "Just long enough to move them into Quaker County. Art is presuming he'll win, of course."
    "We have other staff there. He's talking about pulling everybody out?"
    "The orphanage, the schools, the cartography section, everybody.''
    "Who's going to man the pumping station?"
    "Whoever wants to. The water down here is more important. Art's talking about centralizing the county seat, making water operations more accessible. He says the reservoirs need closer supervision."
    The heat in Thomas' stomach seemed to be nearing his throat. "He wants to close off the nesters, he means. Judge, granted the pumping station isn't crucial for agriculture, but it's our only working model to reconstruct the other systems by and the Palos Verdes community is a vital one. We've the textiles which are dependent on (he wind generators, and there's the fishing community—"
    Teal held up a seamed palm. "I know. I know." He leaned close. "The only way to stop Bartholomew is to oppose him."
    Thomas looked away in desperation. The wolfrat gave out a shattering squeal as one of the dinner guests approached. His tusklike teeth snapped the air, just missing the man's boots. He vaulted the beast's withers and straddled him.
    "Sometimes," the judge said, "you've got to do what you've got to do."
    "I'm not a DWP. You need somebody with a strong mechanical background and a good analytical mind. I'm Intuitive—that's what being a Protector is all about. I'm not your man."
    "Then find me one, and you'd better make it quick." Teal raised his voice. "Leo, get down from there. You look like a damn fool."
    The cobbler perched on the wolfrat looked up, face pale and lips thinned, but he stayed atop the wolfrat as though his life depended on it. Thomas' gaze slid away, saw the adoring girl watching Leo, and looked back. More than Leo's life evidently rode on the wolfrat's back.
    The vigorous belling of the dinner gong pealed through the air. The wolfrat bolted in response, springing airborne. The pegging rope broke with a snap. The cobbler's audience scattered with a scream as the wolfrat lunged free. Leo flew backward, head over heels, and landed with a hard bump.
    Thomas jumped forward as the wolfrat's eyes blazed with the knowledge that it was now free. Its razor jaws snapped and tore sleeves and skirts, victims just escaping its mayhem as it plunged through the crowd, on a direct path toward Thomas. It gave a bull-like squeal.
    Wolfrats never forgot a quarry. He'd been trailed for weeks through In-City ruins by the monsters. The corner of his mouth quirked now in wonderment. Had he eluded this killer once before?
    He reached for his power. He sent a spear of fear and amazement at the creature, hoping to slow it down long enough for him to reach his weapons.
    His touch did more than slow it down. The wolfrat slewed to a halt, sides heaving, glowering eyes shuttered in reaction. Before Thomas could do more, a shuriken sliced through the night and sank deeply into the wolf-rat's mangy neck. Lady stood, hand still outstretched from its throwing as the poisoned edge did its work and the creature fell to its side. It kicked its way into death.
    Teal stood up. "Get that pile out of here."
    The quiet crowd galvanized into action. Lady retrieved her throwing star and tucked it back into the waist of her skirt. Two or three of the judge's staff materialized and dragged the carcass off into the dark. Thomas watched them go.
    At his back, Judge Teal said quietly, "Thank you, Thomas. I have little doubt the beast was after me."
    Thomas blinked. He turned on his heel. He said nothing, his mind examining the idea that the wolfrat had single-mindedly been bent on running him down. But the judge had been behind Thomas. Suppose someone had scent-baited the creature and turned him loose on the judge's property? Bad luck the creature had been roped and hauled in for sport. Good luck the wolfrat had gotten loose. Bad luck a pair