City of Wonder: A Channel Riders World Book

was in that stage of drunkenness where holding on to a thought for more than a second was next to impossible. The thoughts his mind tried to send him drifted away o

soft and blurry, but not enough to send him into unconsciousness wh

t in finding that very fine lin

eality; he clamped his jaw shut and swallowed convulsively. To his relief, the world slowed from a rapid spin to a wobbly, but less vomit inducing, image. He frowned when he realiz

ember why he knew it. The face was scowling down at him, age lines helping to make the scowl deep and darkly forbidding, the short white hair bristling as though in a temper of its own. Deciding that looking up had been a

on’t see you, then you don’t exist.

maintain the balance and not tip over into either true consciousness or complete unconsciousness. He tried to remember where he had set the bottle down and if he could find it again without opening his eyes. Despite his firmly

g that the man decided Michael’s version of reality was better and made himself vanish in compliance. He cracked an

es again, realizing as he did that he pinched them shut as the water hit. As his eye

ered. This time he was nearly cert

” the older

uld decide, the man turned the bucket upside down and sat on it as though it were a stool.

I’m here, Michael

uestion. Michael stared into the icy blue of the o

ryone else has run out of options. In fact about an hour ago, I was sent for because they thought you might have actually

rifting from the line of oblivion and coming dangerousl

ve wanted that,” t

so deep it left him a hollow, brittle shell. He gasped for air, felt it scorch his insides like

unnel all near death survivors spoke about and he almost wept for the joy of relief, only to have the hope torn a

ay withou

torment

the light behind him, Michael could only make out

dow man said. “You a

m clean regardless. Have a couple of the others clear this place out while you do. The bedding goes along with any drink y

ttle and Michael could see the contempt in the man’s eyes. McL

ot of The Defender,”

would let him drown in one of the large communal baths that were the standard in Haven before he could actually mana

taker’s eyes harden into determination. Michael sighed, realizing that he would be helped no m

stamped in his brain, solid as stone and Michael reali

edly. “If that doesn’t