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Down on the 01 Level [MultiFormat]
eBook by Gene O'Neill
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$0.79 |
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$0.67 |
eBook Category: Science Fiction
eBook Description: In the far future, an ancient city is built up on many Levels, which are separated physically by the Company's rules. Bobbers break the rules by going down and bobbing back to their Level. Sandoval and Oberon find a way down to the lowest, most ancient 01 Level, and find a terrifying, deadly surprise awaiting them.
eBook Publisher: Fictionwise.com, Published: Science Fiction Age, 1994
Fictionwise Release Date: May 2002
Available eBook Formats [MultiFormat - What's this?]: Adobe Acrobat (PDF) [92 KB], eReader (PDB) [36 KB], Palm Doc (PDB) [23 KB], Rocket/REB1100 (RB) [21 KB], Microsoft Reader (LIT) [72 KB] - PocketPC 1.0+ Compatible, Franklin eBookMan (FUB) [94 KB], hiebook (KML) [83 KB], Sony Reader (LRF) [54 KB], iSilo (PDB) [19 KB], Mobipocket (PRC) [24 KB], Kindle Compatible (MOBI) [52 KB], OEBFF Format (IMP) [36 KB]
Words: 6565
Reading time: 18-26 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
 
Down, down and away
out of sight
to a lower Level
of perverse delight...
Dyed and banished Outside,
to wander and yearn,
dreaming of a life Inside,
but, alas, never to return.
--"Bobber Blues," Riga Maroux
The thick, yellow-brown haze clings to the rolling, golden hills, almost concealing the old freeway, a faded-gray, broken road, its white divider stripes long gone, only an overhead green sign left indicating an exit to a rusted-out no where. Suddenly a figure appears in the polluted haze under the useless sign. It's a man, ambling slowly--the gait of an experienced hiker.
He wears old-style, threadbare clothes and carries a backpack; and there is nothing remarkable about him in any way except for his bizarre color. Every inch of exposed skin is dyed a deep crimson, the color of fresh blood. The Crimson Man pauses, then leaves the road for the shade of a lonely live oak. But before he can even remove his pack, two horsemen ride into view from the hills to the east. Both riders are heavily dressed for the muggy heat--longcoats made from blanket remnants decorated with charms and dangling amulets, faded neckerchiefs over their faces, and dirty wide-rimmed hats pulled down low. Without a word one rider levels an old rifle at the Crimson Man, signalling for him to turn about and remain still, while the other horseman dismounts and rips open the back of the dyed man's shirt. The dismounted man reaches up to his saddlehorn, takes off a bullwhip, and uncoils it slowly as he judges the distance separating him from the Crimson Man. Then he lashes out with the whip, splitting open the back of the dyed man. Another pair of cutting lashes and the Crimson Man slumps to his knees, his head on his chest, his red back streaked with real blood. The man with the bullwhip moves close, jerks the dyed man's head up, and gestures with the butt of his whip in the direction of the old highway. The Crimson Man nods before letting his head drop back to his chest. Then the dismounted man curls the whip, mounts, and both horsemen ride off, kicking up a cloud of dust that mixes with the clinging filthy haze...
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