Natural Selection (A Free Spider Shepherd short story) by Stephen Leather Page A
Book: Natural Selection (A Free Spider Shepherd short story) by Stephen Leather
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Authors: Stephen Leather
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relatively normal surroundings of a hospital.
‘Bit of hospital food and a few days’ rest and you’ll be back out bollocking us again,’ Liam said, dropping down onto a wooden chair at the side of Pilgrim’s bed.
‘I’m afraid not,’ Pilgrim said. ‘That was my last op with the Regiment. I’m handing in my papers. I’ve got a job working for the “funny guys” instead.’
‘Funny guys?’ said Shepherd.
Pilgrim tapped the side of his nose. ‘Secret squirrel,’ he said.
‘Mi5?’
Pilgrim shook his head. ‘Six,’ he said. ‘Plenty of work for someone like me and the pay’s better. No mossies or leeches either, so far as I know.’
‘I’d never work for the intelligence agencies, either of them,’ said Shepherd. ‘From what I’ve heard you can trust them about as far as you can throw them.’
Pilgrim took a sip from a glass of water. ‘You all did okay out here,‘ he said, and they all knew that it was high praise from him. ‘Get some experience in the Regiment, remember what I’ve taught you, and who knows, in a few years time, we might be working together again. Oh, and by the way, I’ve got something for you.’ He reached into his bedside locker and produced four beige berets, with the winged dagger badge and the famous motto. ‘A lot of good men have worn that beret,’ he said. ‘Make sure you live up to it.’
He handed the berets to the four of them.
‘That’s it?’ said Shepherd. ‘We’re badged?’
Pilgrim smiled. ‘You are indeed,’ he said. ‘For better or worse.’
* * *
There are eight more Spider Shepherd: SAS short stories, including Narrow Escape, Warning Order, Hostile Territory, Rough Diamonds, Personal Protection, Friendly Fire, Dead Drop and Kill Zone.
Spider Shepherd left the SAS at the end of 2002 and joined an elite police undercover unit. You can read the first of his undercover adventures in Hard Landing, where he goes undercover in a high security prison to unmask a drugs dealer who is killing off witnesses to his crimes. The Spider Shepherd series continues with Soft Target, Cold Kill, Hot Blood, Dead Men, Live Fire, Rough Justice, Fair Game, False Friends and True Colours.
Hard Landing is available in the UK for 49p at – http://amzn.to/xxX2YU
And in the US for less than a dollar at – http://amzn.to/xWg1E7
You can read more about Stephen Leather’s work at www.stephenleather.com
‘Bit of hospital food and a few days’ rest and you’ll be back out bollocking us again,’ Liam said, dropping down onto a wooden chair at the side of Pilgrim’s bed.
‘I’m afraid not,’ Pilgrim said. ‘That was my last op with the Regiment. I’m handing in my papers. I’ve got a job working for the “funny guys” instead.’
‘Funny guys?’ said Shepherd.
Pilgrim tapped the side of his nose. ‘Secret squirrel,’ he said.
‘Mi5?’
Pilgrim shook his head. ‘Six,’ he said. ‘Plenty of work for someone like me and the pay’s better. No mossies or leeches either, so far as I know.’
‘I’d never work for the intelligence agencies, either of them,’ said Shepherd. ‘From what I’ve heard you can trust them about as far as you can throw them.’
Pilgrim took a sip from a glass of water. ‘You all did okay out here,‘ he said, and they all knew that it was high praise from him. ‘Get some experience in the Regiment, remember what I’ve taught you, and who knows, in a few years time, we might be working together again. Oh, and by the way, I’ve got something for you.’ He reached into his bedside locker and produced four beige berets, with the winged dagger badge and the famous motto. ‘A lot of good men have worn that beret,’ he said. ‘Make sure you live up to it.’
He handed the berets to the four of them.
‘That’s it?’ said Shepherd. ‘We’re badged?’
Pilgrim smiled. ‘You are indeed,’ he said. ‘For better or worse.’
* * *
There are eight more Spider Shepherd: SAS short stories, including Narrow Escape, Warning Order, Hostile Territory, Rough Diamonds, Personal Protection, Friendly Fire, Dead Drop and Kill Zone.
Spider Shepherd left the SAS at the end of 2002 and joined an elite police undercover unit. You can read the first of his undercover adventures in Hard Landing, where he goes undercover in a high security prison to unmask a drugs dealer who is killing off witnesses to his crimes. The Spider Shepherd series continues with Soft Target, Cold Kill, Hot Blood, Dead Men, Live Fire, Rough Justice, Fair Game, False Friends and True Colours.
Hard Landing is available in the UK for 49p at – http://amzn.to/xxX2YU
And in the US for less than a dollar at – http://amzn.to/xWg1E7
You can read more about Stephen Leather’s work at www.stephenleather.com
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