Stranded Justice (The Justice Trilogy Series Book 2) by Steven L. Hawk

Author:Steven L. Hawk [Hawk, Steven L.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, mobi, epub
Publisher: Kindle Press
Published: 2017-09-19T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

Aank gazed through the tiny window at the ground below. The vehicle’s running lights traced a pathway across the darkened floor of the forest as it raced back toward the mine and the rest of the Alliance crew. Aank had joined the rangers who had been dispatched to track the Zrthn columns. He knew their destination before the first Zrthns reached the ocean to the east, but couldn’t reveal the information without also revealing his ability to read the Zrthns’ thoughts. Unless it was an absolute necessity, he planned to keep that secret from his companions. And if he had to divulge the ability, he would limit the disclosure to Lieutenant Benson. The information would be passed along in the same fashion as he’d alerted Eli—with the knowledge that the Waa ability to read minds was one of the most closely guarded secrets of the Alliance.

But that was a decision for the future. For now, he concentrated on the activity below. He caught momentary “glimpses” of thought from numerous creatures, and he tried to match the fleeting thoughts with the animals briefly illuminated by the carrier.

None of the beasts below were what he’d describe as “aware.” As he had expected, all seemed driven by their instincts, basic needs, and natural predispositions. At the forefront of most of the thoughts were food, shelter, safety, and water.

As he was processing the glimpses he received, Aank felt a tender crumb of familiarity stroke his consciousness. The thin tendril was brief but Aank reacted immediately.

Eli? He broadcast the thought over a wide plane, pushing the single word to the outside world with as much intensity as he could muster. Then he paused to listen and feel.

Nothing.

Had he really felt the human’s presence or had he felt something else? He replayed the brief encounter, but couldn’t confirm nor discount the notion that he’d temporarily had contact with his human friend.

“Sergeant Jerrone,” Aank looked toward the front of the carrier to where the sergeant sat behind the controls. “What is our current location?”

The sergeant looked at his control panel, then spoke back over his shoulder. His eyes remained glued to the darkness outside.

“Approximately ten kilometers northwest of where the Agate went down. Why?”

Aank considered his reply. He couldn’t tell the truth—that he might have felt Eli’s presence. That would open a line of questions that he wasn’t prepared to answer. And had he really felt Eli? The moment was so brief, the link so tenuous, that it could have easily been something else tickling his senses.

After several seconds of consideration, he offered the only answer that made sense.

“Just curious, Sergeant. I thought I saw something, but it was probably nothing.”

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.