Proxima Five by Missouri Vaun

Author:Missouri Vaun [Vaun, Missouri]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781635551235
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Published: 2018-08-08T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

“What was that?” Leah came to an abrupt stop, and Hardy, who was only a couple of steps behind, bumped into her.

“I’m not sure. It sounded like it came from the garrison.”

“Should you go investigate?” She secretly hoped he’d say yes and take her along with him. Leah was dying to see more of the inner workings of the city.

“No, ma’am. I’m to stay with you. Commander’s orders.” His expression was so serious that it was hard not to laugh.

Leah had convinced Hardy to take her to the city market area. She was anxious to see if one of the antique dealers might have other items that would give her some clues about when this city had been settled. The digital watch was something she couldn’t quite accept without further exploration.

Hardy’s hand on her arm stopped her just as she was about to step into the path of a slow-moving transport. She’d been distracted for an instant by strange markings over a door. Markings on buildings seemed to be equal parts words she recognized and glyphs.

The shadow of the building at her back fell across the transport as it passed. As it moved from shade to sunlight, Leah saw the woman she’d shared the cell with. The woman saw her in the same moment and recognition registered on her face. The cargo area of the large transport was a cage, covered with a weathered tarp, and it carried passengers, captives. Leah held the woman’s gaze until they traveled so far down the avenue that the high walls along the narrow street hid her from view.

“Where are those people being taken?”

“A labor camp to the south.”

“A labor camp?”

“That is where the farming is done.”

“Why do they look like captives?” There’d been women, children, and a few men in the group inside the cage.

“Because they’ve done something to end up in a cage…broken the law…been picked up for stealing.”

Leah remembered how easily she’d been plucked from the street. The memory made her shudder. She tabled additional questions for a quieter venue. The street was noisy, dusty, and weaving single file through pedestrians and vendors made it hard to have a serious conversation.

She visualized Hardy’s hand drawn map in her head as they wound through the streets. If she was remembering correctly, they should be nearing the central hub of the city. After one more cross street, she saw a massive white stone structure up ahead. It looked like some ancient Roman temple, with wide stone steps and sculpted columns across the front.

“Hardy, is that the temple at the center of your map?”

“Yes, the Temple of the Nine.”

“Would it be okay if I went in?”

He hesitated, but then relented. “You go in and I’ll wait out front.”

The door of the temple was enormous. A tall rectangular opening at least thirty feet high. The walls were thick, insulating the darkened interior from the light and warmth of the outside air. Leah hugged herself against the chilly space. In the middle of the huge open cathedral was a single skylight at the highpoint of a central dome, supported by nine columns.

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