Return to Dragon Planet: Book one of the Dragon Planet Trilogy by S A Robertson

Author:S A Robertson [Robertson, S A]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-08-24T22:00:00+00:00

2

“Sir?” A pause. “Chief Hanaway?”

Hanaway’s eyes creased. Once again, he had found himself drifting into a soporific daydream. It was happening all too often these days. And it was not a pleasant reverie either. Rather, in this particular moment of disconnection, his mind was assailed with images of the icy, benighted landscape of the Narinall Plains, lashed by a harsh wind. He was standing in the thick of the storm too, his skin flayed by particles of black dust and grime, barely able to breathe. And when he suddenly emerged, as if he had somehow carried the experience of the dream with him, his body felt raw, and his eyes hurt when they turned to the lamp on his desk. It was why he could hardly see who it was standing on the brink of his office, and his innards involuntarily tightened.

“What is it?” he demanded gruffly, pushing the hood of the lamp aside and squinting. Now Hanaway could see it was a young officer with a palm reader in his hand. He had probably knocked, but Hanaway hadn’t heard it.

“Sorry to disturb, sir. But I have a call on the red line.”

“Hmm?”

The communications officer stepped a little into the room. He was young with sandy hair. A new recruit then, Hanaway thought. What was his name again? Rice? Pryce? He couldn’t remember. But he wondered idly how long it would be before the lad would begin to have bad dreams too, like so many who ended up stationed in permanent quarters.

“From the Border Gate, sir,” the officer said. “Southern Hemisphere Approach. Supervisor Raabus Janik would like to speak with you. He said it was urgent.”

“Janik?” Hanaway felt his innards tighten even more. Although now for a different reason. “You sure?”

“Quite sure, sir. Should I patch him through?”

Hanaway didn’t answer at first. Instead, he turned his attention briefly to the window and looked out across the grim landscape and up to the Toran Ridge. He remembered his dream and thought, God how I hate this place. For there was a time he was sure he could have survived almost anywhere. Prided himself on his resilience. Now, all he wanted was to see the back of this rock, and as soon as possible.

“Chief Hanaway?”

Hanaway swivelled his attention back to the new recruit. “Alright, yes,” he muttered. “Put him through. And encrypt the line. Understand?”

“Of course, sir.”

The communications officer turned smartly and left the room.

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