Carved In Stone, page 11
Simon knelt down by Theo’s cot, aware of their audience. “If she’s good–you know, the sketches– then we can have it ready for the boss at dawn, instead of tomorrow night.”
Theo understood their need to score points and gave in, rising. “Okay. I need coffee. I was already getting sleepy.”
Simon rushed off to secure a fresh mug and Theo pulled on his boots. “You guys get some rest. Even if the drawings are done, we can’t roll on it until Angela approves it.”
The rest of the crew went back to what they’d been doing, but Theo could see that Simon’s words of scoring early had sent fresh alertness into them. Theo understood and there was always the possibility that the boss would rise early, sensing they might have something for her. Angela was spooky that way and Theo respected it.
“I’ll call if it’s good, okay?”
That was welcomed with nods and calm returning to the tent.
Theo stuffed his laces into his socks instead of tying them and stumbled to the cave, almost hoping Jennifer did have something good. When she’d stated she was supposed to help with the blueprints, Theo had assumed she was like Neil–a map maker–but she’d offered enough ideas and proof of her words that he’d put her on outlining locations of key components like air and power, as well as waste and food setups.
He marched a bit faster, wishing he’d thought to grab his jacket. He’d forgotten how chilly midnight was.
Theo was entering the cave when Simon joined him, handing over the mug of coffee.
Theo sipped the coffee as he eased into the cave that had gaping holes and razor-sharp edges. There was a center gap that a horse could fall through. They had a lot of work to do to make this livable, but the addition of the hanging lanterns by the night shift certainly was a start. They made it possible for Theo to see that a crew had come in and cleaned these first level areas. Small piles of garbage were in the corners of each cavern, waiting for retrieval.
The smell of bleach was strong, and Theo took a mask from one of the many stacks that had been distributed throughout the areas they were exploring. There were also oxygen packs, for those who had trouble adjusting to being underground. Theo wasn’t one of those, but he did hate the smell of bleach and increased his pace. He still wasn’t feeling good about living inside the earth, but he knew that he could. He was hoping for a recount on that vote.
Theo stopped short of entering the area Jennifer was in, drawn by the hum of energy. They didn’t have a source of power in here yet, but the sounds and vibrations were unmistakable. An engine was running.
Theo advanced quietly, approaching the table from the side so she could see him coming.
“You shouldn’t be up yet.”
Her voice didn’t sound right and Theo carefully took the chair across from her, glancing over the blueprint she was laboring on. Her pencil flew across the sheet, adding details, notes.
Theo gaped in surprise at the nearly complete diagram of their air system. It was perfect, exactly as he’d envisioned it.
“I took it from your mind,” Jennifer said, hand not pausing. “I wouldn’t have insisted, though. I would have let you sleep.”
Theo didn’t tell her the others weren’t rooting against her. She obviously already knew that and didn’t approve of their competitions.
“I actually wanted those hours to go over it before I showed you,” Jennifer admitted, hand slowing a bit. “It’s the first one I’ve done.”
She gently placed her pencil on the table. “It’s finished, I think.”
Theo slid the draft around, confident he would have her do the rest of the blueprints. “It’s really, really good, Jenny. Honest.”
The teenager beamed at the praise, sending good energy throughout the cave.
In response, an odd howl filtered up to them, making both people tense.
“Is that something we should worry about?” Theo asked nervously.
Jennifer studied the sound, and then shook her head. “No, but note it for the boss. The herd might stampede if she doesn’t give them a logical explanation.”
“Is there one?” he asked nervously.
“Not one they’ll like. She’ll probably ask you to say its air in the pipes.”
Theo immediately told himself the same thing and felt that hair inside his brain lay down. He could deal with magic. Ghosts? No.
“Candy won’t be good for you,” Jennifer stated suddenly, returning to that tone of the dead. “Known as the architect of Safe Haven, your legend will be far and long.”
“If I avoid her?” Theo asked sullenly, already hating the message.
“Only if you avoid her,” Jennifer answered, retreating from his upset demeanor. “I’m sorry. She’s not one of us.”
“What does that mean?” Theo demanded angrily. “She’s a traitor?”
“She hates men. She’ll only worsen with time.”
“Does Angela know?”
Jennifer shrugged, coming back to herself. “I don’t know. Probably.”
“Then why would she put us together?”
“Because you like her and you’re lonely, and you’ll be content at times. Some days, especially since we all almost died, that’s a lot. You know?”
Theo felt his anger leave and nodded tiredly. “Yes, but tell her I don’t want that, will you? Even if I’m meant to be alone. I hate settling.”
Jennifer gave him a sympathetic smile. “Me too. Would you like me to search for you, to determine who else might be a match?”
It was a generous, rarely made offer and Theo knew that, but he said, “You shouldn’t waste it on me. The camp needs you.”
Warmed, Jennifer reached out and Theo reluctantly placed his big hand over hers, thinking she had the bone structure of a delicate bird. He felt like a giant in comparison.
Jennifer jerked as the door opened in her mind and she grinned in delight as a pretty face appeared. “Nice!”
She shoved the picture into Theo’s mind.
“Wow, that’s great! She’s, uh, wow. Not here yet. I don’t know her!”
Jennifer shut the door between them and returned to the paper, adding a few more details that she’d just thought of.
Theo was busy memorizing the woman’s profile so that when he finally met her, he wouldn’t miss her. Not only was she pretty and clearly the shot of wild that he liked, she was also a descendant. He’d been able to tell by her glowing red orbs.
“Thank you.”
“Please don’t mention it. Kyle won’t like me doing it.”
“My word,” Theo vowed, hoping no one had overheard them.
“We’re alone,” she stated.
Theo heard the light tremor in her tone and didn’t try to resist the urge to comfort her. “I wouldn’t. Ever.”
Jennifer forced herself to relax, waving at the entrance. “Shouldn’t you be sleeping now?”
“With this ready?” Theo snorted. “Not a chance. I’ll sleep next week.”
“Well, give me another twenty minutes before everyone comes in,” she instructed. “I have another idea for that power system and I think it’ll take about half the room.”
Theo didn’t argue. He would keep the men at the mess for twice that, talking about the first load of gear they needed. They would also update Doug so he could add their progress to the board.
Jennifer wasn’t aware of the time as she continued to work and the night passed. Food and drinks were put next to her and she consumed those items, but her mind was flying. She barely noticed when the evening faded into early morning. She loved being useful.
Chapter Six
Before dawn
1
“Samantha? Honey? You have to wake up now.”
Samantha responded to the urgency, lids snapping open.
Around her, papers, dishes, and gear dropped to the floor with a loud crash.
Neil rubbed a gentle hand over her furrowed brow. “It’s okay. Go to sleep, now.”
Samantha groaned, realizing what had happened. “I’m sorry.”
“No worries,” Jeremy stated from her feet. He’d already begun to clean up. “Just get a little more sleep while you can.”
Samantha wanted to help take care of the mess, but her roiling stomach said she had more urgent needs. “I’ll be back.”
She ducked from the tent, almost running to the bathroom.
Neil followed, waiting while she retched. He was hoping the disruption of the dream was all that had upset her stomach. He didn’t understand much about descendants and even less about pregnancy.
Neil held out the wipes when she emerged and they walked to the smoldering fire can as she cleaned her face and hands. The towels flamed up the instant they hit the red wood in the bottom of the can, bathing them both in fire glow.
Samantha felt Neil’s hot gaze, but all she wanted was to brush her teeth and she moved around him to take care of that. Afterwards, she needed to eat so her stomach would settle down.
A sharp pain lanced through her side and Samantha winced, but kept going. She’d had a few of those, but didn’t want to alarm her men. The doctor had her scheduled for a visit and she would tell him everything.
Neil’s lips disappeared into his scowl, but he managed to keep from nagging her when she vanished into the tent only to come right back out, kit in hand. He trailed her to the showers, annoyed with both her and himself. He would have to figure out a better way to wake her from her nightmares. Flying objects were dangerous, but so was this sudden alertness.
Neil stayed outside the door, approving of the heavy security that Marc was almost finished with. Not everyone would like the guns on the QZ tower, but Neil was betting the boss would be pleased.
Neil gazed through the shadowy flickers around them, not spotting any members up this early and he wondered if the mess had food going yet. If Samantha wasn’t going to sleep, he could at least get her to eat.
Neil was pleased when Samantha came from the shower and headed exactly where he wanted her to go. He finally spotted someone else moving. The large shadow and limp said it was Doug and they exchanged surprised greetings as they entered the mess.
“What are you doing out so early?” Doug wanted to know.
Samantha laughed. “Was gonna ask you the same thing.”
“Had to piss again,” Doug grumbled. “And Peggy was up.”
“Over here.”
Peggy sounded annoyed, and Neil and Samantha joined the couple hesitantly. Neither of them were in the mood to listen to people arguing.
Peggy already had stacks of plates set out and she handed one to each of them. “Li’s got a small buffet set up inside the truck for the early risers. Go get something. Coffee’s on the stove.”
The trio followed orders without replying, aware of her bad vibes.
“What’s she upset about?” Neil asked lowly when he thought they were out of earshot.
“I didn’t go back to bed, I guess,” Doug rumbled. “Didn’t want her wandering alone.”
Neil understood that. He didn’t want Samantha alone either.
Samantha wasn’t paying attention to the men or to the sweaty cook who greeted them happily. Her attention was on the stacks of pancakes that Li Sing was packaging for breakfasts for laboring people who wouldn’t be coming to the mess. “Can I?”
Li pouted. “You not wait four minutes?”
Samantha grinned. “For fresh?”
Li bobbed his head. “You get ‘em hot and sweet.”
“I wait!” Samantha groaned and took the stool in the corner, plate and cup still in hand. She loved watching people cook. She’d even enjoyed the shows on TV. That was how she’d found Kendle’s program. Her cooking gals had been replaced by Survival Challenge and Samantha had been sucked in from episode one. She’d only lost track because of her lack of free time.
Neil took a small plate of the muffins and fruit cups that had been chilled, and left the truck, not wanting anything as heavy as Li’s pancakes. They went down light, but hit hard. It was perfect for a mother-to-be with too much acid in her guts.
Neil joined Doug at the table and noticed a small plastic device lying by the big man’s plate. It looked like a pen with a needle in the end and Neil winced when he realized what it was for. It would suck to have to poke yourself multiple times a day.
“You gonna do it?” Peggy asked, glaring at Doug.
Doug scowled, fork stopping. “Geez, woman! Let me eat!”
“You’re supposed to do it before you eat,” Peggy insisted, picking up the tester. “Get it over with.”
Doug’s big arm pushed it away, fork coming up. “Later!”
Already pissed, Peggy leaned down and jabbed the needle into his hand.
“There!”
“Ow! What the hell!”
Beep!
Peggy eyed the readout and tilted it toward Doug. “You’re okay. You can eat now.”
Doug cradled his hand, gaping at her. “You... You’re not... Ow!”
Neil quietly left the table. It was safer inside the truck. Samantha would protect him.
2
“Tell them air in the pipes causes it, that they’ll hear it regularly. Compare it to the way the corn stalks howl.”
Theo, tired, only nodded at Angela’s instruction. The eerie howl would worry some of their people, but most of them would accept that explanation. In time, he would want the truth, but right now, all he could think about was sleep. Even his complaints seemed unimportant and he had accepted Angela’s comments on the impossible not really being so.
“Go on,” Angela ordered him off. “I’m good on updates.”
“I should escort you in,” he stated uneasily. The bad vibes about her going in had lessened as the weariness caught up. “I don’t like not going over it all again when they’re finished.”
“A few hours yet?” Angela asked.
“Yes. They’re checking welds and ropes right now.”
“Just have them tell Marc, instead of me,” Angela suggested, already sure Marc wouldn’t go to bed until after she was topside. “He’ll stay within an arm’s length of me at all times.”
“Yeah, that’ll work,” Theo agreed. Marc would keep her safe no matter what happened. “Thanks.” Theo was in his bed in less than a minute, boots still on.
Angela, waiting by the QZ gate, observed the two guards who had just ended their shift over Tara and Missy.
“Boss,” Daryl greeted her. “New shifts up, QZ is clear.”
“Good. Calm night?” Angela asked Kendle.
“Uh, mostly. Kid had a bad dream. Both went back to sleep without coming out.”
“What have you picked up?” Angela insisted, trying hard to treat Kendle like any other Eagle.
Kendle frowned, though she’d been warned to be ready for this. “I only tried a couple times and couldn’t get anything from either of them. Like...steel doors and bottomless pits. Creepy.”
Daryl’s expression said she should know, but he didn’t speak. He hadn’t said a single word to her during their shift and he planned to keep it that way.
“Why?” Angela demanded, upset with them both. “She’s an Eagle. She fought in our war. Do your duty.”
Angela rotated to scold Kendle and found the Survival Challenge star cringing away.
“What the hell?”
Daryl felt it too, though not as strongly, and was able to choke out, “Heat!”
Angela immediately understood, forcing a barrier around herself that wouldn’t let anything get through without notice. “That’s me. Sorry.”
Both Eagles recovered, but kept their distance, and Angela wasn’t offended. “It’s an emotion thing.”
Uneasy, Kendle retreated further and Angela pinned her in place. “If you can’t try, you can’t stay.”
“And I told you to teach her something on every shift.”
Marc’s voice behind them held all the warmth of an iceberg.
Daryl sputtered, “I waited until we weren’t on duty because I knew we’d fight and be distracted.”
“Fine,” Marc approved. “What lesson?”
“We’re going to the training tent to get her kai lessons going,” Daryl defended. “And you know I wouldn’t abuse my skills to hurt her.”
“Does she know that?” Angela asked.
“Uh,” Daryl turned to Kendle. “I wouldn’t, you know. No matter how mad you make me. I’m a good guy.”
“There’s no such thing,” Kendle intoned, leading the way. “But come try to convince me anyway. I won’t be able to sleep yet. Maybe you can bore me into it.”
Angela swallowed a snicker. She didn’t want to like Kendle, but that spunk was hard to ignore. If Kendle ever settled down, she would be leadership and as much as Angela hated it personally, she also was anticipating it. Kendle would be a vigorous defender.
Of the women, her witch stated, still staying back and quietly taking energy to store.
And those women will defend their men and children together. It will all work out in the end, Angela answered. She believed that, but she also knew it couldn’t happen without pieces falling into place perfectly. She wasn’t counting on that, but she wasn’t going to interfere with however fate chose to handle that future. She’d done her part. Now, others would attempt to do theirs.
And when you end up on opposite sides? the witch questioned. Will you regret your actions then?
Never! Angela swore furiously. Never.
“Are you all right?” Daryl asked. Marc was scanning the foggy mountains cliffs and shadows, but Daryl had caught some of the emotions flashing across Angela’s face.
“Distracted,” she answered, smiling a bit at the word. Distracted didn’t even come close to her mental state these days, but this was a vacation with servants compared to what was coming.
“You know where I’ll be,” Daryl said dryly, and left them alone.
Marc took a moment to admire Angela’s hair in the sharp sunrays that were beginning to break through. It was like fire dancing on darkness.
Angela swept the defenses that Marc had handled overnight. She assumed he would keep going until she told him it was enough, which it wouldn’t ever be if the future didn’t change.
Wanting to be sure he understood her views on it, she asked, “Can we add another tower, with a few more guns?”
