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eBook Category: Science Fiction
eBook Description: For eight years, Operative Jana Hannock has guarded the Bomb. Buried alone in a top secret installation that no one will admit exists, Jana has had virtually no contact with the outside world. But with the strange arrival of Operative Anthony Leighton, the routine of her life is thrown off-balance and memories of the war begin to resurface. With her loyalty in question and the fate of the continent in her hands, Jana must find a way to protect the bomb--while she still can.

eBook Publisher: Clocktower Books and Far Sector SFFH (magazine), Published: Far Sector SFFH, 2003
Fictionwise Release Date: November 2003

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Available eBook Formats [MultiFormat - What's this?]: eReader (PDB) [38 KB] , ePub (EPUB) [43 KB] , Rocket/REB1100 (RB) [25 KB] , Adobe Acrobat (PDF) [271 KB] , Palm Doc (PDB) [28 KB] , Microsoft Reader (LIT) [73 KB] , Franklin eBookMan (FUB) [98 KB] , hiebook (KML) [113 KB] , Sony Reader (LRF) [83 KB] , iSilo (PDB) [23 KB] , Mobipocket (PRC) [29 KB] , Kindle Compatible (MOBI) [71 KB] , OEBFF Format (IMP) [41 KB]
Words: 8300
Reading time: 23-33 min.
Microsoft Reader (LIT) Format: Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud ENABLED
Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Format:  Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud DISABLED
All Other formats: Printing DISABLED, Read-aloud DISABLED

For months, she'd known that he was coming. Her superiors, hidden behind the anonymity of distance and rank, had sent her brief messages to warn of his arrival. The first message had read, To Operative Jana Hannock: Be aware that he is coming.

The code told her too little. Jana had replied, Who? When? Why? But there had been no response.

A month later a second message arrived, the flashing mail message on her main monitor startling her out of her routine. It read, To Operative Jana Hannock: His name is Anthony Leighton. He is 31 years old. His rank is unlisted and classified. Be aware that he is coming.

And she had replied, When? Why? But there had been no response.

Two months after that, they sent her a third and final message. It was the entire military history and recorded life of Operative Anthony Leighton. It had taken Jana a week to scan through it all, at last finding that the date of his arrival was at the very end of the document. Jana came to know more about Anthony Leighton than she'd ever wanted to, including information on his childhood, family, most notable sexual experiences, and average caloric intake.

She'd known he was coming.

She just didn't know why.

"Well, you're late."

Anthony Leighton had his feet up on the table, finishing what looked to be the last of the coffee. Jana schooled her expression as she entered the kitchen, acting as if she didn't notice that he'd drunk more coffee in four days than she would have in four months. He was using up all her supplies, all the things she saved as treats--but she refused to complain.

"I didn't know you were setting a new schedule for me."

Anthony grinned and took a large, loud slurp. "Who said I am?"

Jana went to the cupboard to take out a bowl, but it was empty. Dishes teetered in the sink, food stuck like multi-colored concrete to their wedgewood blue surfaces.

"Have you washed a single dish since you got here?" she asked. Jana wondered if there was a scrubbing pad somewhere in the installation. She'd never needed one before.

"Sorry, Jana dear. Used to being a bachelor, you know? Only got myself to please."

According to his file, he had been living with his latest lover for almost a year. Henry, his name was. Henry Bayson, age thirty-four, married once, divorced, with one child, a son, who'd refused to talk to him after Henry had become involved with Anthony.

"I thought you were military," Jana said.

"Nine years, baby."

"Well, they taught me a thing or two about cleanliness and discipline."

"Yeah, you sure can follow orders. Get me some oatmeal--or whatever the hell you call that slop you eat for breakfast."

"Get it yourself."

"Ah, come on now, Jana. Not all dogs bite."

She'd turned the water on full, but she could still hear him. Suds cascaded over her hands as she washed one bowl, one spoon and one mug, and then wrung out and put away the dishcloth. She made a single serving of oatmeal and a small cup of black tea, feeling the prickle of Anthony's eyes on her the entire time. She sat down at the small table across from him, cramped quarters forcing them so close that their knees almost touched beneath the false-wood surface. She ate with her head down, silent.

"Come on, Jana. I was just joking with you. I didn't mean anything by it, okay? Just trying to lighten the mood."

She took a sip of her tea before it had time to cool. It scalded her tongue and the roof of her mouth, but she wasn't going to give Anthony the satisfaction of seeing her spit it out. She swallowed, feeling the tea burn its way bit by bit down her throat and then expand in a painful bubble of heat as it hit her stomach.

"Seriously, though. Why were you so late today?"

"The bomb doesn't take care of itself."