Ignite

By Patrick Riot

An unlikely couple finds love in the vortex of violent social upheaval. Can their relationship survive their differing political stances? A terse political thriller, infused with an uncompromising romance.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Patrick Riot
• Release date: Aug 20, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310497469

Patrick Riot

Patrick Riot was created in the Large Hadron Collider near Geneva, Switzerland, and he has been on the run ever since, accompanied by his trusty sidekick, Higgs-Boson. Foo Foo is Patrick’s first book, and if justice is served, it will be his last. He is presently working on a foreign translation of Hamlet.Favorite Color: Murdered Zebra (black, white and red)Favorite Hat: FezFavorite Quote: "No comment."Favorite Hairpiece: William Shatner's

Book preview

Ignite

by

Patrick Riot

Digital Edition ISBN 9781310497469

Copyright 2014 Patrick Riot

All rights reserved

Smashwords Edition

Cover imagery

was taken from graffiti

on a wall in Cairo

during the Arab Spring

as seen in this photograph

by Darla Hueske

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

Thank you for downloading this ebook. You are welcome to share it with your friends. This book may be reproduced, copied and distributed for non-commercial purposes, provided the book remains in its complete and original form. Thank you for your support.

Disclaimer

This book is a work of fiction. The names, locations, events and things (hereafter known as the NOUNS) are products of the author’s sordid imagination or have been used in a fictitious manner. The NOUNS are not to be construed as real. Do not take the NOUNS seriously. Any resemblance that the NOUNS may have to any other name, location, event or thing (hereafter known as the REAL-LIFE-NOUNS) is purely coincidental. The author’s NOUNS are not the same as your REAL-LIFE-NOUNS.

Dedicated To

Karin Brown

First and Only

With Special Thanks To

Victoria Champion

&

Brian Mason

Table of Contents

Story

About the Author

What They’re Saying about the Author

Connect with the Author

.. 10 ..

The protesters crashed against the faceless, black armor-clad rock of riot police and were met with swinging stun-sticks. Their chant, which had been a singular, unified mantra, broke down and lost cohesion amid the screams, bone-crushing baton blows, reports of automatic fire, and cattle-prod electrical pops. There was a loud thok and a canister of tear gas whistled a graceful arc over the black wall and straight into the throng of people, a tail of smoke whipping behind it. Some of the protesters held their ground, interlocking their arms in a futile gesture of solidarity, but most scattered like rats as they abandoned their sinking ship of a cause.

One of the riot cops caught hold of Rome, grabbing him roughly by the back of his t-shirt, a black one with a screen print of Jesus hanging crucified upon the Golden Arches. The stun-stick was poised for its crushing blow.

Back off, brown eyes! Rome shouted through the green bandanna that he wore to conceal his features.

Rome said a silent prayer, hoping that this guy had attended the right briefing. He couldn't see the cop's face – total anonymity was the norm for the riot squad and the helmet made him inhumanly impersonal – but Rome saw the body language of hesitation. The expected blow never fell.

Whether it was the bandanna or the brown-eyed code phrase, the cop got the signal all right, because he moved on by grabbing a dreadlocked hippie by his hemp necklaces. The cop shoved the stun-stick into the guy’s belly, unleashing its pent-up charge with an electrical pop and making the perp jump like a firecracker. The cop followed up the first blow with a home-run rap across his unshaven face, sending a shotgun blast of blood and toothy shards into the air.

Rome scrambled to his feet and was grazed by a rubber bullet across the apple of his