Sam hurdled over a fruit stall being set up for the day’s trade and skidded over the cobbled paving and down an alley. Behind, the four men were in hot pursuit.
Are they Agents? Where are their suits?
At the sound of a loud commotion, he turned and glanced behind him, turning in time to see one of the men slide and fall, clipping the side of the fruit display while attempting to make the sharp turn. The man clutched his ankle in pain as fruit and vegetables cascaded over the footpath and onto the street.
Ha! One down, three to go …
Sam turned back in time to see an approaching delivery truck with an oversized load of timber coming way too fast down the narrow alley. He ducked into a gap between two tall apartment blocks that was so narrow he had to squeeze through sideways. He was just in time to avoid being hit as the truck squeezed by.
BEEP! BEEEEP!
Sam kept running and smiled at the sound of the truck’s horn blaring and the brakes squealing. The men yelled in anger at the truck driver in the alley—they had obviously been forced to back up to let the truck past.
That will buy me some time.
Sam ran on, weaving through the maze-like cobbled streets of the old part of town until he burst into the central square of a large plaza. Running to the edges and ducking into the shadows of a colonnade, he paused to catch his breath for a moment, doubled over and panting. The men were still after him, but luckily Sam was able to keep a good distance and they remained behind.
A week ago I could have run all morning, Sam thought, sucking for air. I’m fast—but I’ve spent too much time on the run without resting.
Sam knew he didn’t have the energy to run these guys all over town. He decided to change tactics and find someplace to hide. Sam turned as he heard his pursuers emerge onto the far side of the plaza.
They might be slower, but they’re armed and well trained. I won’t get rid of them that easily.
Sam crept through the shadows, scanning all the buildings he passed but they were all little cafes and stores that were probably at least another hour away from opening. Even the church with the tall bell tower he’d seen from across town was closed. He sunk further into the shadows as the voices of the men echoed across the plaza. He saw them split up—they’d go systematically around the square, checking the buildings’ fronts and would find him in less than a minute.
Where can I go?
Sam glanced around as he crept forward. He kept close to the wall behind him, staying in the gloom and skirting around the sides of the buildings.
A solution!
Sam crossed a walkway to where a ladder stretched up to a tiled roof. He climbed up, then scrabbled to the top of the roof on his hands and knees.
‘There!’ one of the men called out behind him. They were at the base of the ladder in no time, one of them starting to climb. Sam heaved the ladder away from the building, leveraging himself against the roof, sending the leader sprawling to the ground below.
PING! PING!
Darts began to hit the guttering and roof around Sam. He kicked out at the stacks of new tiles waiting to be laid, sending a mess of broken terracotta cascading around the men below. They were forced to retreat momentarily. Sam ran agilely up the roof, across the ridge and leaped down onto the next roof.
Ahead, in the breaking dawn, Sam saw that the roofs of the old quarter of town were all the same—covered in old tiles, their similar heights and slopes marking out a terracotta path ahead.
This place was custom-made for my escape!
Sam felt a surge of energy as he ran along the roofs, sticking to the tiled ridge lines, taking twists and turns until he was brought to a sudden halt, his arms flailing back so the forward momentum did not carry him over the steep drop.
A street cut through his roof-top runway, separating him from the next block. The drop was two storeys. Beyond the next row of apartments was the beach-side road that he’d taken from the hotel.
He looked back where he had come from. The men were following fast along the rooftops, now only a block away from where he stood.
Twenty seconds, tops …
Sam contemplated the option in front of him.
No way can I make the jump to the other side. My Stealth Suit can’t glide me over, there’s not enough of a drop to … hang on, my Stealth Suit!
Sam remembered Tobias briefing him on the upgraded suit he now wore. There were more special features—one in particular that would be very handy right about now.
He changed the suit to blend into his surroundings, concentrating hard on the pattern and colour of the terracotta tiles and pulling the material over himself to cover his head and hands. He was now partially invisible.
Thank you, Enterprise tech-heads.
He saw the two men stop as he disappeared. Sam knew it would only buy him a few minutes at best—as soon as he moved fast, the Stealth Suit, or more specifically his mind control, would struggle to match a rapidly moving background.
But as Sam watched, the men put on glasses, the lenses tinted light blue and it seemed as though they could see him as clearly as before. They continued to approach, more slowly now, realising Sam was trapped.
Uh-oh.
Two choices—drop down to the street and hope I don’t break a leg, or jump and hope I make it across to the next roof … and don’t break a leg.
The sound of running footsteps could be heard in the street below as the large guy who’d tripped over the fruit stall caught up to them. Sam could see him looking in the doorways and windows of houses in the street.
Jump, it is then.
Sam started rocking on his heels, forwards and back, trying his best to convince himself he could make it, then he launched forwards, flying through the air. His arms and legs flailed in mid-air and it felt like his world was in slow motion.
I’m gonna make it, I’m gonna make …
THUD!