Excerpt: Obstruction Currents (working title)

Taya’s eye was caught by two cloaked and hooded people standing across the street, looking at the window where she was sitting. The taller figure was leaning over as the smaller one spoke, gesturing. She frowned, Amcathra’s warnings whispering through her mind. Were they looking at her? “Do you see those two people out there?”

Rikard looked outside, one hand dropping to the airgun holstered at his side.

The tall figure straightened, one hand resting on the smaller figure’s shoulder, and was led away. For a moment Taya watched his overly correct movements, puzzled, and then she leaped to her feet.

Long black hair, perfect posture, and the stiff walk of the uncomfortably blind —

“Alister!” she cried.

Rikard drew his needle gun, but Taya was already scrambling out from behind the table. She dodged a waiter balancing a heavy tray and threw the teahouse doors open, running out into the street.

“Alister! Alister!”

Rain soaked her face and hair and began to trickle down the collar of her leather flight suit. She dodged an oncoming coach and ran several yards in the direction the pair had gone, peering around in vain for them.

“Hello? Alister?”