Fury of the Bold (Privateer Tales Book 14) by Jamie McFarlane

Author:Jamie McFarlane [McFarlane, Jamie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Fickle Dragon Publishing LLC
Published: 2018-04-27T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

And Then There Were Two

Tabby and I swam against the slowing flow of muddy water that had filled the tunnel. Without the AI's assistance, we'd have quickly become lost. The rushing water had changed the tunnel's outline so dramatically that all landmarks had been removed — not that we could have seen them through the detritus that now occluded the passage.

Tabby's hand grasped my ankle, at least, I hoped it was Tabby. She'd been on edge during the entire trip through the mountain, even before the tunnel flooded. I was concerned this new wrinkle might be over the top for her, no doubt bringing back the isolation she'd felt when she'd been grievously injured a few years ago.

"Doing okay back there?" I asked, thumbing my ring reassuringly.

"What could go wrong?" she replied, her voice quavering ever so slightly. Her bio monitor registered an elevated heart rate. "We just had a mountain collapse on us, I can't see a thing, and I keep running into chunks of who the frak knows what."

"It's just mud and rocks," I said. "Think of this: the water should make the tunnel more stable … you know … once everything settles."

The flow of water in the tunnel had slowed and was starting to reverse course as it sought a new level. If not for the grav-suits, we'd have been at its mercy. As luck would have it, the current was favorable and we floated along with it instead of resisting and being struck by debris.

"Show water inertia on HUD," I ordered my AI. A moment later, directional arrows displayed, showing the water as it swirled past my mask, eddying in front of me. I accelerated slightly so I cut through the water instead of allowing it to push me.

"What's up?" Tabby asked, hearing my instruction.

"When the water dropped through the cavern, gravity carried it too far. That's why the flow reversed," I explained. "We're in a backflow. I want to see where the water’s headed."

The data from my AI wasn't as conclusive as I would have liked, mostly showing a forward flow with swirls as we were redirected by the walls of the tunnel. Finally, however, I saw what I was looking for — a strong row of arrows that showed a mostly upward flow.

"This way." I turned so we diverted from the original tunnel and followed the new path, through previously compacted dirt and stone.

"I think I see something. Turn down your HUD," Tabby said.

The light from the arrows projected onto my HUD wasn’t that bright, but when my AI popped her suggestion up as a query, I accepted it. We continued to follow the flow of water as its velocity slowed. At first, I was unable to see anything different, but as my eyes adjusted, a faint blue glow spread through the mucky water.

"I see it." A sense of familiarity spread through me and I surged forward.

"Careful, Liam," Tabby called after me, rushing to keep up.

I careened off an unexpected outcropping. Fortunately my suit stiffened as I did.

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