Read Ghost Fleet (The Pike Chronicles Book 4) for Free Online

a couple of demands, however.”
    “Go on?”
    “First, you must personally command the new force.”
    “Why me?”
    “Because I believe in you, Captain. From what I’ve heard and seen, you are a man of character and principles. I know you will do the right thing.”
    Jon nodded. “What is the other demand?”
    “You must release your Diakan prisoners.”

Chapter 6
     
    “Tobias, why aren’t you in bed?” said his mother as he walked toward her.
    “The banging woke me up,” he said, wiping the sleep from his eyes.
    His mother sighed. “It woke me up too. Somebody’s at the door. What would someone want at this ungodly hour?”
    “Maybe it’s daddy?”
    “Toby,” she said, her hand gently stroking his hair. “It’s not daddy. We talked about this. Remember?”
    “Yes, but maybe they were wrong?”
    His mother shook her head, as sadness filled her eyes. “I wish they were.”
    “Mrs. Bast, open the door,” said an angry voice from outside.
    Her eyes narrowed and she gestured for him to go into the other room. She turned and cautiously approached the front door. Toby stood in the doorway between the two rooms, curious to see who was making all the noise. The man had a loud, mean voice. He thought it must belong to a giant.
    “Who is it?” said his mother. “Do you know what time it is?”
    “We’re from the Governor’s office. On official business. Now open the door.”
    His mother stood at the closed door staring back at him. Scared. It was the same expression she would get when the food started to run out.
    “Hide,” she whispered, pointing her finger toward the back room.
    He backed away into the dark, until he couldn’t see her anymore.
    “Mrs. Bast! Either you open this door, or we will kick it open.”
    “No, for heaven’s sake, don’t break my door. I’m opening it.”
    He heard the snap of the dead bolt and the moan of the swinging door.
    “What’s this about?” said his mother.
    “We’re here for your son, Mrs. Bast.”
    “Toby? He’s only five. There must be some mistake.”
    “No mistake, Mrs. Bast. He’s been selected for the Chaanisar.”
    “But my husband just passed away. Toby’s all I have left. You can’t take him.”
    “We don’t need your permission, Mrs. Bast. Where’s the boy?”
    “Toby! Run!”
    He bolted. There was a crash at the front and his mother went silent. Fear took hold and his eyes started to water, but he fought back the urge to break down and cry. Why did these men want to take him?
    He reached the back door and struggled with the doorknob. Why did it have to be so big? He squeezed his trembling little hands around it and turned. There was a click and it opened.
    “He’s going out the back!”
    Toby ran through the back yard toward the gate. In the distance a dog barked. He stretched his arms in front of him, groping in the darkness until he found the gate. Thankfully it wasn’t closed. There would be no way for him to reach the latch if it was. He slipped through the open gate and out into the back lane. Racing into the night, he heard heavy footsteps behind him.
    The blackness scared him, but he kept running, relying on his memory to guide him. If he could just get to his special hiding place he’d be okay. He was good at hide and seek, and that was his best spot. None of the neighborhood kids found him when he hid there. It was just a little farther.
    “There he is.”
    A large hand seized him by the back of the neck and threw him down. He fell hard, hitting his head on the pavement, causing bright lights to flash in his before his eyes. The same powerful hand grabbed him by the arm and pulled him up to his feet.
    “Come here you little shit.” It was the same mean voice as before.
    The lights in his head vanished and he looked up at the man. He was no giant. His father was bigger than this man. Where was his father? He wouldn’t let anyone treat him this way. He lashed out at the man, punching and kicking him with all his