by George Mann
"How are you, Gabriel?" The concern was evident in Donovan's voice.
The Ghost turned away from the view, regarding the inspector from beneath the brim of his new hat. "Well enough, Donovan. Well enough. What about you? How's Flora?"
Donovan smiled. "I took your advice. Let's just say we're enjoying each other's company, more than we have in years."
They both laughed.
"It feels kind of empty, doesn't it?"
The Ghost ceased his laughing and met his friend's gaze. "Yes. I know what you mean. I've never been good at sitting by whilst the world keeps turning."
Donovan looked as if he was about to speak when he suddenly stopped and looked up. A dead bird was plummeting out of the sky, its broken, mangled wings fluttering aimlessly as it dropped onto the gravel rooftop nearby. Its body made hardly a sound as it landed.
Both men approached the bizarre corpse, stooping to take a look. It was just like the others the Ghost had seen, all over Manhattan, in his Long Island garden.
Donovan shrugged. "What is it with all these dead birds?"
The Ghost looked up. He caught a glimpse of a strange object in the sky, distant now, buzzing away over the rooftops. It glinted in the reflected light of the city; made of brass, about the size of a human being. He pointed it out Donovan.
"I have no idea. But judging by that, I think it's high time we found out."
Donovan grinned. He watched as the Ghost charged toward the lip of the building, launching himself into the air, his rocket boosters igniting as they fired him away on a bright plume of flame, his trench coat flapping open behind him like a shadowy pair of wings.
I have no name.
I am the judgment that lives in the darkness, the spirit of the city wrought flesh and blood.
I was born of vengeance and I have no past. I am both protector and executioner. I represent the lives of the helpless; those who will not or cannot help themselves. I show no mercy.
I exist only in the shadows. The alleyways and the rooftops are my domain. I feel the heartbeat of the city, like a slow, restless pulse; I flow unimpeded through its street map of veins.
I live to keep the city clean, to search out the impurities and deliver retribution.
I am Life and Death, Yin and Yang.
I have a name ...
I am the Ghost.
And I know where to find you.
E 0 R G E M A N N is the author of The Affinity Bridge and The Osiris Ritual, as well as numerous short stories, novellas and an original Doctor Who audiobook. He has edited a number of anthologies including The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction, The Solaris Book of New Fantasy and a retrospective collection of Sexton Blake stories, Sexton Blake, Detective. He lives near Grantham, UK, with his wife, son and daughter.
Table of Contents
Copyright
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
About the Author
