Freedom a serial by Martin Slusser

Janissary Project: Book XII. The finale of this series of books details the last and worst of the price Benny Grey pays for freedom. Was it worth it?

Two men muttered - Minor sparks of light shifted from the ground. A thin, child-like giggle came from one or two of the sparks. They swirled to the right, circling and giggling. Lights flashed from the windows in the block, and a racket of music filtered through crumbling brick walls.

Do you hear screams? - Mike shrugged, but the frown crept back to his face. Cindy moaned. Mike began massaging Cindy’s shoulder with one hand and both lips when the demon popped out of the TriV.

Ni-io - Soft singing came from the old warehouse. The preacher, Watkins, was guiding a packed house of mostly street kids in an angelic chorus. Sue lay in bed exhausted but smiling. That old boy sure knew how to show love.

Demon possessed - Watkins closed the Book and turned to see what horror now was creeping up on him. The shongili muttered a low growl, and sweat beaded on the minister’s forehead, but he wasn’t the object of the monster’s wrath. And, the minister noted, the growl was more whine and fear than anger.

You can faint, now - Foam running from his jaws, Harrison ran from the courtroom. Helpless and unable to move, Henri watched him go.

Unca Cahl - He turned, and there were the twins, dressed now in what clothes the neighbors could afford to lose. Their eyes were green ice, and the gaps in their teeth showed in snarls. He scowled, turning back to plead his case with Anna. He was chicken, a coward, yeah, but did that mean he didn’t want to marry her again . . . some day?

Freedom, Auntie - Harrison was slumped in the rear seat of the limousine. A worried Henri glanced back. The man was toying with a small quirt, hitting himself on the groin whispering curses and then pleas.

Finish it - Mike packed a bag. He glanced at the TriV, then away. Creel came from the bathroom and went to the refrigerator unit, opening it.

the Gili Yu - Anna stepped under the fierce glare of a guard to be ushered into Lady Aloè’s private apartments. The woman gave her a gentle smile and offered tea.

On usurpation - From Florida to Nova Scotia, nuclear fires burned. The West Coast was no better, and Europe was a raging hell of poisons killing what the bombs did not, as well as North Africa. In an act of retaliation, bombs from the space stations in Luna scattered over the world to fell enemy cities in Asia and the Pacific.