Read World Walker 1: The World Walker for Free Online Page A

talk about me either." She sighed. "Not much like him to talk at all, really. He must like you. Guess I'll give you the benefit for now. So. Any clue at all what the pyrotechnics were all about just then? I'm no weather expert, but that was pretty weird, right?"
    Bob shook his head. He was trying to tune in to her English accent. She walked toward him, pulling a spliff from behind her back and taking a huge toke. She waved it in Bob's direction.
    "Sorry - thought you were a cop to start with. You've got that look about you. No offense. Want some?"
    "No thank you," said Bob. "Tried it once and it made me fall asleep in the middle of a wedding."
    "Yeah, it can relax you," said Meera, "but where's the harm in that?"
    "It was my wedding," said Bob.
    "Oh God!" said Meera, laughing. "OK, that's not so good."
    "You looking for Seb?" he said. "I normally see him here about this time."
    "He's here," she said. She held up her cell, which showed a map with a flashing green dot. They walked up the trail. The light changed as the sun began to slice through the clouds, smog and trees. Everything around them was a sombre monochrome and it was eerily quiet. Bob heard a distant throb that made his guts churn. Too quiet. He grabbed Meera and half threw her under the canopy of a nearby tree, clamping a hand over her mouth when she tried to protest. The joint had fallen from her fingers and he ground it under his boot, making sure it was out.
    Gunshots suddenly broke the silence. A burst from an automatic weapon - no, two bursts.  
    "What the hell is going on?" said Meera.
    "Quiet!" Bob hissed. "You're going to have to trust me." Her eyes widened as the low throb Bob had heard became the unmistakable sound of an approaching helicopter, although much quieter than any he knew. Almost immediately a camouflaged helicopter blocked the light through the trees as it hovered less than a hundred yards away. A dozen heavily armed figures jumped out and formed a defensive circle within seconds with an ease born of years of practice. Seconds later, a tall man joined them, his eyes immediately scanning the area as if to pick out any details his highly trained team might have missed. He spoke quietly into a head mic and the team cautiously moved forward, weapons at the ready. The tall man paused briefly, then followed.
    Bob leaned forward until his mouth was brushing against Meera's ear.
    "Listen," he whispered. "I don't know who those guys are, but they're not wearing any kind of official uniform and the bird they arrived in had no markings. We could be in several hundred kinds of trouble here. I think our friends here may be the 'shoot first, don't bother asking any questions' types, so we need to get out while we can. We don't really know if Seb is here at all, so let's go."  
    Meera shook her head furiously. "He's here," she said. "I know exactly where he is."
    "What?" said Bob. "Where?"
    She pointed to a clearing half hidden by bushes. "There," she said. Bob already knew which direction she was going to point in. It was precisely where the guys with half a million dollars' worth of advanced weaponry had just gone. Where, minutes before, some poor fool may have got himself shot. Bob considered his options. Meera saw him hesitate and snorted.
    "You do what you like," she whispered, "I'm going to help Seb." She stood up and started to walk.  
    Bob grabbed her arm and pulled her back.  
    "I want to help him too," he said, "but we won't be much help dead." She looked afraid but determined. Crazy, stubborn kid . Bob shook his head. He couldn't help liking her.
    He looked around quickly before glancing upwards, coming to a decision. He pointed at the tree.
    "Can you climb that?" he said.
    Thirty seconds later, they were both halfway up the tree, hidden by the summer foliage. Their vantage point gave them an excellent view. Six of the soldiers had taken up positions around the clearing. The rest of them had formed a ring around something lying on the floor.