Shake (In Real Time Book 2) by Chris Mandeville

Author:Chris Mandeville [Mandeville, Chris]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Parker Hayden Media
Published: 2019-10-19T22:00:00+00:00

Flyx still isn’t back, and I wonder what’s taking so long.

Daum, Sharrow and I are sitting around the table playing a card game they pulled from a hidden cabinet. It almost feels normal. Almost.

The game is one I’ve never heard of where the goal is to take over an alien planet. I’ve won three out of five rounds so far, and I remember back to playing parlor games with the crew, prepping to go to 1906. I guess I am pretty good at games.

“Occupation,” Daum says, laying down his cards.

I lay mine down. “Annexation.”

“You took it again,” Sharrow tells me.

“Good game.” Daum yawns.

It’s catching, and I yawn, too, as I gather the cards to shuffle.

“We should get some sleep,” Sharrow says. “We have to be at the testing center at nine.”

“Flyx said he’d be back,” I say. “Maybe we shouldn’t leave yet.”

“Who said anything about leaving? We flip the room.”

“About that…” I’ve been thinking about it ever since she disappeared the couches. “Why make rooms transform? Don’t you have tons of unused space down here? I mean, wouldn’t it be easier to have different rooms for different purposes?”

“That’s old-school thinking,” Sharrow says. “And very American.”

“Aren’t we American?” I ask.

Daum chuckles. “What she means is, gobs of people don’t have much space for personal use, particularly in overgrown urbans like Shanghai and Tokyo. This could be a solution. Plus, smaller spaces are more efficient with resources.”

“But why do it here?” I ask. “Aren’t you guys isolated from the rest of the world? It’s not like your research gets shared. Or am I missing something?”

“No, you’re right,” Sharrow says. “But we have brilliant scientists here without much to do. My mom sets up research projects and contests so they don’t get bored.”

“Plus,” Daum says, “one day we won’t have to hide down here. Vank the ASPs!” He punches the air.

“Flank and vank!” Sharrow answers, like a cheer at a football game. Only in this game, the opponent is the Nazis and the losers might die.

“I’ve been meaning to ask you,” I say. “How exactly is the Resistance trying to stop the Nazis? The videos weren’t super clear on that.”

Daum shrugs. “We exist. That’s an act of resistance by itself.”

“That’s it?”

“It wasn’t always,” Sharrow says. “The founders used the wormhole to go back in time and try to prevent the ASPs from ever taking power.”

“But that didn’t work out so well,” Daum says. “They discontinued the program. I’ve never actually seen anyone show up from another time before you.”

“But you stand guard anyway?” I ask.

“Before yesterday, I’d have said it was a waste of time. Guess not.”

“Yeah, guess not,” I say.

“Aren’t you guys dozy? Let’s flip the room,” Sharrow says.

“We could wait up a little longer for Flyx,” Daum says.

“I can do another thirty, max,” Sharrow says. “But I’m uber-bored of this game.”

“I have an idea,” I say. “How about if I tell your fortunes?”

“You can do that?” Sharrow says, eyes wide.

“It’s one of my many skills.”

“Phee,” Daum says. “I’m in.”

“How do you do it?” Sharrow asks.

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