| FAMILY TRADITION |
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| Family Tradition was originally published in Strange Horizons in August, 2004. |
The city -- my city -- is quiet tonight. I'm not complaining -- that's a good thing. It makes it easier to do my job. I'll get back to work in a few minutes. Right now, though, before I do that, I need to take care of whoever this is that's been following me for the last eight blocks. The heat and motion sensors situated in my cowl picked him up right away, the first block after I left my building. The government-prototype listening device in my left ear is picking up his every move, his every footfall. He's obviously an amateur. You can hear it in his feet every time he lands -- he lands too hard, on his heels, lacking the benefit of the years of martial arts training that I've had. An amateur, like I said, but still. . . he's keeping up. Since I first noticed him I've doubled back twice, and been up and down the sides of two buildings, the second six stories tall. I slowed down a bit to let him catch up on the roof of that one, but I didn't have to wait too long. An amateur, sure, but definitely one with potential. |
| To read more of Family Tradition, pick up a copy of Requiem today!! |