Mark of the Phoenix: A Hundred Halls Novel by Thomas K. Carpenter

Author:Thomas K. Carpenter [Carpenter, Thomas K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Black Moon Books
Published: 2021-11-13T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

Nothing happened in the next few weeks, despite their constant attention. As far as Pax could tell, Bendt hadn't left the settlement since the previous time. Even his daughter, Jytte, was visiting the mine less. During this period, the Phoenix Corp team was wrapping up their mission, tagging the last few boomers. Once that was finished, there would be a few weeks of monitoring, and then the whole class would return to their home realm, and back to the Animalians campus.

The only excitement they enjoyed were Janelle's successful elixir experiments and the end of the windy season. They were warned that the last few weeks were the worst, requiring the smelter to be idled at times when the flow of air over the stack was so fierce that it might suck hot, plasma-like gases up and burn up the building.

It was only by chance that Pax knew Bendt left Lufterpost on a particularly windy day, because Kali had been lounging on her rock in the sun, and she saw him sneaking down the path in hiking gear. The word-picture Kali had sent suggested that Bendt carried something long on his back that could be a sniper rifle.

"Shit," said Pax, throwing herself off her bed and quickly throwing on her clothes to pursue. She made a quick visit to Liam and Jae-Yong's room to learn they were fishing, while Janelle was showing Professor Ansel her new elixir mixtures.

A backpack half off her shoulder, shoelaces not completely tied, and in a general state of dishevelment, Pax made it to the old trail where Kali was waiting patiently, sitting on her haunches.

"You're lucky you carry your clothes with you," said Pax, crouching down to finish her shoelaces.

By the time they were halfway down the slope, she felt like she'd finally come to order, but there was a good chance she'd forgotten something in her haste. She'd been keeping a pack ready in case of this happening, but the surprise left her mind reeling.

Pax and Kali moved like zephyrs through the yellow-green forest. Her foxlike companion took the lead, following the scent of the Danirian scientist. On the crown of the hill the wind noise was ever-present, a wailing that whipped past the buildings, but in the shadows of the valley, it was muted. Like diving beneath a turbulent sea to find a blissful kelp forest.

For the first half hour, they moved quickly, following a sure trail with ample scents, but when Bendt moved away from the path, Kali had a harder time following his journey. The path also provided clear sight lines, whereas the undergrowth could hide restless chompers.

Along the way, Pax used the tracker to check the locations of nearby boomers. Since the killings had begun, the normal territories that they'd kept to had been upended. Some of the smaller boomers from the north valley had been migrating down to pick up the territory that had been vacated.

It was only luck that kept Pax from being seen by Bendt when she crested a ridge that overlooked a stream coming down from the northern hills.

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