Ignition - The Flight of the Death: The Deception Series, #1.5

By Eugene Pitch

You either land or you live. Are you ready to fly?

 

We're stuck in a hot air balloon hundreds of meters above the ground.
We are dying one by one.
If we land we die. If we stay in the air we die.
We are screwed.

 

WINNER OF THE HIDDEN TALENTS LITERARY CONTEST IN THE ADVENTURE/ACTION SECTION

What happens to mix the movies Speed and Mission Impossible?

 

Edward Muffen, after the unfortunate outcome of a dangerous mission, is released from the hospital. He could return to work in MI6, but to put the wounds of his body and also those of his heart behind him, he decides to take a trip. And what better way than a trip in a hot air balloon? Unfortunately, however, once on board, a nasty surprise awaits him.

 

IGNITION is a spin-off of the thriller CONCEPTION - THE PERFECTION OF EVIL in the Deception Series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hyperbooks Publishing
• Release date: Sep 25, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215613900

Book preview

PROLOGUE

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What is life if not a long series of coincidences that separates us from death?

Each of these coincidences bears the seeds of adversity, and when this sprouts we must be ready to fight with all our strength so as not to succumb. This is the innate drive that ignites in us every time and guides us towards life. A flame of distant origins that lies latently in our ego.

Amsterdam, 14 °C / 57 °F

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Edward Muffen was in high spirits. After days of convalescence at the hospital, now he was finally free. The doctors had told him to avoid efforts not to compromise the stitches that had been applied to the wound and to rest as much as possible. But Edward was the classic guy who had decided to take control of his life without delay or long waiting, and that case wouldn’t be an exception.

The sun had finally peeked over the roof of gray and heavy clouds, and that reassured him. Standing in front of the hospital entrance, he raised his hand over his eyes to shelter from the glare.

Hell, I really need a vacation!

But first, he had to make a phone call.

«Hello, Martin? Yes, that’s me. Look, I’ve just been discharged …»

As he talked on his cellphone he walked along a path bordered by perfectly-ordered flowerbeds.

«... and so I need to take a few days off again.»

«No problem, Ed. You charge the batteries and I’ll speak to the boss. Where will you go?»

«Don't know yet. Maybe a place warmer and less humid than the Netherlands.»

«A wise decision. Do not tire out too much though.»

Martin was a good person. One of those colleagues you would like to have as a brother.

Edward reasoned what to do. It was unnerving to choose from hundreds of tourist destinations available; however, it was a long time since he had enjoyed a pleasant trip. The last time was in 2014 on a cruise around the fjords of Norway. It would have been splendid if not for the abduction of a South Korean agent that, before becoming a diplomatic incident, had requested his personal intervention. Just two days after the departure. An unfair destiny that unites all those who work for MI6, for national security.

Ed Muffen looked at the sky and, for a moment, wished to be the seagull Jonathan Livingstone and fly away from his work and his injuries. Observing how the merciless clouds made him feel insignificant, he had an intuition. He checked his smartphone again and soon found the information he was looking for. Then he called a taxi to go back home. He was anxious to move.

And fate, too, was anxious to catch him by surprise.

CHAPTER 1

- 4 hours

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