[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
quiet about it, we ll have water to bathe, water for our meals, to cook with.
202
Dead World
No one cares about us. An older man looked at the group surrounding him while
he spoke. We keep this water for us, and we ll have it a lot better.
Quick agreement sounded among the villagers.
What about these people? Perry piped up, his disgust not having dwindled. He
glared at Tor as he spoke. What part do you plan on taking in all of this?
Don t abuse the water and keep your people from falling into it. I can t save you
every day. Tor watched the man fume.
Obviously he had some clout among his people, for they grew quiet, watching him.
Perry shifted his gaze to Syndi, his anger not subsiding.
Do you think this water is going to hide what s really going on here?
Syndi s fingers twisted under his grasp, but Tor held on to her hand firmly.
There is another world down there, with cars that move underwater. Who knows
what else? I saw it! How long before they try to take over? And look at you& you would
turn against your own people. Perry waved his hand in disgust at the way Syndi held
Tor s hand.
If I were turning my back on my own people, I wouldn t have told you to dig, she
said, her voice quiet although her anger was mounting.
Perry threw his hands up in the air. I ve heard enough. You don t want us to know
what else is down there, what will happen next. You think we ll just sit back and be
happy with having a little pool of water.
Perry turned, pushing his way through the group surrounding the water.
Something made him stumble backward. It wasn t a normal movement.
Tor jumped to his feet, pulling Syndi up with him. In the intense heat, the quick
movement made him dizzy, but he ignored the sensation, struggling to see what made
the man act so strangely.
Then he saw them. Slowly surrounding the villagers who d huddled around the
water and underneath the makeshift covering, soldiers moved in on them.
Damn it!
Sitting on the edge of the small pool, the villagers had blocked his view. Soldiers
from Undrworld that he didn t recognize, wearing some kind of backpack, and all
heavily armed, closed in toward them in a half circle.
What? Syndi whispered, seeing what he saw.
No one move and you won t get hurt. One of the soldiers, his gun aimed at the
villagers, gestured with the weapon. Don t anyone get stupid, and no one try to be a
hero. All we want is Syndi Stone.
Oh God, Syndi whispered, her hand wrapping his arm with more strength than
he knew she had.
203
Lorie O Clare
His gut reaction was to send her into the water, have her swim to the tran-bus. All
of the villagers around him blocked his view of the soldiers. They also hindered his
ability to get a good shot fired.
She s not here. It was Bertha, the old woman, who pushed her way forward.
You think an old woman doesn t remember? Who do you think you are coming at a
bunch of unarmed villagers with your goons like this?
I remember too. The woman standing next to Syndi moved quickly around the
water, pushing her way through the crowd. You took my sister. And if you re going to
point those guns at us, why don t you take me too?
The outburst from the two women seemed to put the guards surrounding them in
an awkward position. Tor counted ten men, and realized the one talking was Ran Mose.
The packs on their backs leaked water, and he guessed that somehow they d rigged up
a contraption that aided them in staying on the surface longer.
Villagers moved away from the water, creating a more visible line of fire. Tor
reached for his gun, but Syndi moved faster, snatching it off his waist and darting
around the water before he could grab her.
Holding it behind her back, she stepped forward. Damn woman. He pushed his
way after her, knowing he made his presence known. Ran Mose smiled when he saw
him. Tor wanted to send his fist right through that smug grin.
So you are Ran Mose, she said, before he could reach her. What a joyful reunion
you ve created for me.
Syndi. Ran s tone grew softer. You re even more beautiful than I imagined
prettier than your mother.
And you re too ugly to live, she hissed, and pulled the gun out from behind her
back, firing at close enough range to send the man flying backward across the parched
ground.
Tor grabbed her, snatching the gun before she could lower it. Roln was right next to [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl fopke.keep.pl
quiet about it, we ll have water to bathe, water for our meals, to cook with.
202
Dead World
No one cares about us. An older man looked at the group surrounding him while
he spoke. We keep this water for us, and we ll have it a lot better.
Quick agreement sounded among the villagers.
What about these people? Perry piped up, his disgust not having dwindled. He
glared at Tor as he spoke. What part do you plan on taking in all of this?
Don t abuse the water and keep your people from falling into it. I can t save you
every day. Tor watched the man fume.
Obviously he had some clout among his people, for they grew quiet, watching him.
Perry shifted his gaze to Syndi, his anger not subsiding.
Do you think this water is going to hide what s really going on here?
Syndi s fingers twisted under his grasp, but Tor held on to her hand firmly.
There is another world down there, with cars that move underwater. Who knows
what else? I saw it! How long before they try to take over? And look at you& you would
turn against your own people. Perry waved his hand in disgust at the way Syndi held
Tor s hand.
If I were turning my back on my own people, I wouldn t have told you to dig, she
said, her voice quiet although her anger was mounting.
Perry threw his hands up in the air. I ve heard enough. You don t want us to know
what else is down there, what will happen next. You think we ll just sit back and be
happy with having a little pool of water.
Perry turned, pushing his way through the group surrounding the water.
Something made him stumble backward. It wasn t a normal movement.
Tor jumped to his feet, pulling Syndi up with him. In the intense heat, the quick
movement made him dizzy, but he ignored the sensation, struggling to see what made
the man act so strangely.
Then he saw them. Slowly surrounding the villagers who d huddled around the
water and underneath the makeshift covering, soldiers moved in on them.
Damn it!
Sitting on the edge of the small pool, the villagers had blocked his view. Soldiers
from Undrworld that he didn t recognize, wearing some kind of backpack, and all
heavily armed, closed in toward them in a half circle.
What? Syndi whispered, seeing what he saw.
No one move and you won t get hurt. One of the soldiers, his gun aimed at the
villagers, gestured with the weapon. Don t anyone get stupid, and no one try to be a
hero. All we want is Syndi Stone.
Oh God, Syndi whispered, her hand wrapping his arm with more strength than
he knew she had.
203
Lorie O Clare
His gut reaction was to send her into the water, have her swim to the tran-bus. All
of the villagers around him blocked his view of the soldiers. They also hindered his
ability to get a good shot fired.
She s not here. It was Bertha, the old woman, who pushed her way forward.
You think an old woman doesn t remember? Who do you think you are coming at a
bunch of unarmed villagers with your goons like this?
I remember too. The woman standing next to Syndi moved quickly around the
water, pushing her way through the crowd. You took my sister. And if you re going to
point those guns at us, why don t you take me too?
The outburst from the two women seemed to put the guards surrounding them in
an awkward position. Tor counted ten men, and realized the one talking was Ran Mose.
The packs on their backs leaked water, and he guessed that somehow they d rigged up
a contraption that aided them in staying on the surface longer.
Villagers moved away from the water, creating a more visible line of fire. Tor
reached for his gun, but Syndi moved faster, snatching it off his waist and darting
around the water before he could grab her.
Holding it behind her back, she stepped forward. Damn woman. He pushed his
way after her, knowing he made his presence known. Ran Mose smiled when he saw
him. Tor wanted to send his fist right through that smug grin.
So you are Ran Mose, she said, before he could reach her. What a joyful reunion
you ve created for me.
Syndi. Ran s tone grew softer. You re even more beautiful than I imagined
prettier than your mother.
And you re too ugly to live, she hissed, and pulled the gun out from behind her
back, firing at close enough range to send the man flying backward across the parched
ground.
Tor grabbed her, snatching the gun before she could lower it. Roln was right next to [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]