Heart Sung by Keri Ashe

Author:Keri Ashe [Ashe, Keri]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-12-17T00:00:00+00:00

SAMANTHA

Even though the nuts and bolts mostly remained intact, the floating carts were blasted to pieces. I tossed some parts aside. But this facility, factory, whatever, was huge. There were chambers off the underground ramp.

“Where are you going?”

Jannik followed me as I descended. Light spilled from the far end—which used to end in a half-disintegrated building until the explosion cleared the debris.

In a side room, I stopped short. “Oh.”

Stored here was something I hadn’t understood before. Glowy-nuts were screwed onto the wastebasket bolts. The glow was gone, replaced by blinking lights on top of the glitter can. This was how they went together. Completed units looked less scary.

I then understood that the big scissor clamp things were oversized wrenches to twist the two elements together. And the lights? Well, I guessed these things were ready to go.

For some purpose.

“Here.” Jannik’s voice came from across the tunnel. As I watched, he pushed one of the floaty carts from the room opposite.

Which surprised me. “I didn’t think I could get you five paces from one of those.”

“If it means leaving this place…” Jannik gave it a shove, and it floated across the tunnel.

I guided it, kind of like pushing a boat in water. Since seeing the assembled versions, I figured those were the ones to take. Reaching up, I used the controls of the cart to lower it to the floor.

Again, I used the wobble method, moving the devices forward by tilting them on opposite rims, walking them onto the cart.

Jannik stood back. Given the glow, the explosion, I didn’t blame him. It took time to tilt-wobble more of them into place.

“Maybe we can drive this upstairs, grab a couple separate parts,” I mused aloud.

He angled his head at me. “Are you feeling well?” Jannik asked.

“Fine. A little out of breath.”

His features pulled together in concern. Why?

Then I saw the cart platform rush up at me. Jannik grabbed me before I smashed into it, holding me in his arms.

Eyes squinted at the side of my head. When I moved my fingers to my temple, they came away red.

“You’re more injured than we realized,” he said, eyes serious.

I barely heard him over the ringing in my ears. Concussion? Well, considering we should both be dead, I’d take it.

“Put me down, baby. We have a lot to do,” I said.

His face moved closer. “I don’t think so.”

What did he mean?

Rocking, bobbing, I opened my eyes wide. Around me, short trees passed on either side. Ahead, the wedge of Barney’s head. When I tried to move, my arms were bound.

I saw shi-na wrapped around my arms, my torso.

“You’re awake,” Jannik said. Pressed against his chest, I felt his voice vibrate.

“What happened?”

“You keep falling asleep while standing,” he said. “We’ll need to consult Grexi.”

Falling asleep?

“Where are we?”

Shadows filled the gaps in the trees. The sun set in front of us. Lizard smell filled the air. It took me until then to realize Jannik was driving Barney.

“The stuff?”

“We’ll need to find camp soon,” Jannik said. “There is one we used before not far ahead.

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