[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.“So what can you tell me about this place? Anything we need to be aware of before we get there?”“The first settlers referred to this place as the Corridor.Not a totally appropriate description, but one that stuck nonetheless.”Haylie heard him start to speak further, but then stop.“What? What is out here?” she asked as casually as she could.Her throat hurt from the minute dust particles that wriggled their way past the air filter in the ventilation unit, making it difficult to speak.“Nothing at all.Sorry, I thought I saw something.I remember the Briel who scouted the area years ago were surprised that a planet had such an unusual area.Dead patches like this are rare.No microbes or plant life of any kind.That’s why I was intrigued when you told me this is where you suspect the root of our problems lie.”“Well, my information could be incomplete, but I trust the source.”Ray stumbled, letting out a curse she’d heard Kamran use before.She turned to face him, completely shocked at his outburst.“Are you okay?”Haylie reached out to catch his arm.As she made contact, a blinding cold burned its way up her arm and slammed into her chest.She couldn’t move and gasped slightly for air.Ray turned his head so they were mask to mask.His eyes, cold black beads, stared at her.“What’s your source again?” he asked through clenched teeth.“I’d rather not say.” Her skin seemed to itch like a thousand ants crawled over it.“It would be reassuring if I could trust it.I’d hate to think you’re putting our lives in danger based on the word of a scoundrel.Or a traitor.”Anger flashed through her.“My information comes from official records and my own observations.As chief of security, I think my word would be enough for your confidence.”“Of course it is.I didn’t mean to imply otherwise.” He smiled, but even through the EV mask she could tell it didn’t reach his eyes.Like hell he didn’t.As they scrambled up the next dune, it was Haylie’s turn to slip in the heavy sand and instincts kicked in.She caught Ray’s shoulder in a tight grasp in an effort to stay upright.He winced and cried out in pain as he jerked his arm free, sending her tumbling to the ground.They stayed like that for several heartbeats, staring at each other.She felt the blood pool in her stomach.He was going to kill her.She wasn’t sure how or why, but she knew beyond a doubt that he would.He was going to take the knife he had in his survival kit, slash her air hose and suit and leave her to die.“What’s wrong with your shoulder?” She adjusted her body slightly, so as to not alert him to her next action.Something in his voice changed.His hands flexed into tight balls.“I had an accident.I tripped and someone drove a knife into it.”As he lunged at her, Haylie swung her leg out, sweeping his feet out from under him and sending him crashing to the ground.The slight incline they were on made it difficult for him to regain his footing and gave her enough time to run.She bolted down the hill, heading southwest from the colony.“Get back here, bitch!” his voice screamed through the speaker.“Computer, switch to channel seven.” The words came out in gasps as she ran.“Briel security.Is there something we can help—?”“Shut up and listen.This is Chief Bond.Tell Taber there is an attack planned from the Corridor.I’m not one hundred percent sure, but I think it’s the Ecada.”“Hold.” The voice was replaced by the steady hum of static.Please god, let Taber be there.“Haylie?”She didn’t stop moving, but chanced a look behind her.Ray didn’t appear to be anywhere in sight.“Taber.I don’t know where I am exactly, can you give me a loc.”“You’re in sector forty-five.The scanner shows you just north of the Corridor.What are you doing there? Do you need assistance?”She spotted some rocks to her left and made her way over to them as quickly as she could
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]