Genmate Mistaken by Cara Bristol

Author:Cara Bristol [Bristol, Cara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Cara Bristol
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

“We need to get out fast!” Mysk cursed the preoccupation which had prevented him from noticing how quickly the water had risen. The entire encampment had been swallowed by a raging river, the knolls near-submerged islands in a sea, the plateaus barely visible. If she hadn’t chosen one of the higher knolls upon which to pitch her MHU, water would have been rushing in. As it was, they didn’t have long before it would. “Do you have storm weather gear?”

“No. It wasn’t one of the things we packed when we left ’Topia.”

“Take mine.” He started to unzip his suit.

“No. You’re so much bigger it won’t fit me anyway. Better one of us stay dry than both of us get wet.”

He couldn’t refute her argument, but it didn’t set well that he was protected and she wasn’t. She donned her pack, and he slung the AK-47 over his shoulder. They exited the MHU into the storm. The MHU’s automatic retractor didn’t work, so he manually collapsed the shelter. It folded into its own carrying case. He slipped his arms through the straps.

Drenching rain poured from the sky while water lapped at their feet, but it was the fast-moving, swirling current they’d be stepping into that worried him. “Give me your hand.”

“I don’t require assistance.” She waved him off.

She was as stubborn as any human female he’d ever encountered. He might have considered it amusing, except for the danger. The power of water shouldn’t be underestimated.

“All right. Stay close to me. Watch your footing. Watch for debris, too,” he cautioned as a huge log swept by. He kicked himself for not realizing what was happening and leaving sooner, but the floodwaters had risen so fast, maybe it wouldn’t have made a difference.

They waded into churning, thigh-deep muddy-brown water, the strong current pushing from behind. Water quickly filled his boots, turning them into lead weights on his feet, and, in short order, his legs were soaked despite the suit. Most of the knolls were completely submerged. The whole encampment had been transformed into a churning, grayish-brown sea.

Operating from memory, he led the way down a path between the knolls, avoiding the craters. Leaves, twigs, and small dead animals rushed past them. “How are you doing?” he called.

“F-fine. D-don’t worry about me.” Her teeth chattered. She was soaked to the armpits. He should have insisted she don his suit. It wasn’t perfect, but it would have provided some insulation and warmth.

Only the tallest hill—the one that had blocked his view of her—was visible now. He briefly considered taking refuge atop that hill but feared it would flood out, too. The only sure safety was getting away from the area altogether.

He squinted through the sheeting rain. “I think we’re about halfway across the settlement,” he shouted to be heard above the rushing water.

“T-that’s good,” she yelled back.

Once out of the settlement, they still had a cold, wet fifteen-minute hike to his pod. Something slammed into him from behind, and he wrestled with a tree branch, almost losing his balance.

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