The Black Tower: The Complete Series by David R. Beshears

Author:David R. Beshears [Beshears, David R.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Greybeard Publishing
Published: 2014-12-04T05:00:00+00:00

Episode Six / Chapter Two

Sgt. Costa led the way through the fog, traveling in what they hoped was the direction of the bridge that spanned the chasm. Asher followed well within sight of her, with the others trailing along behind, all within sight of the person in front of them.

Susan Bautista and Church walked side by side, speaking in hushed tones. The fog seemed to bring that out.

Officially, Susan was Dr. Church’s assistant, but had really served as an associate to both Church and Banister for years. Her duties had often focused on keeping the rest of the world from getting in, whether it be through her direct intervention or simply serving as a conduit. She wasn’t a social person by nature, but was able to hide herself when she was representing the doctors.

Unfortunately, her responsibilities along those lines had greatly diminished since entering the tower. Her attempts at helping them to organize and process their ideas and theories often only got in the way and she frequently found herself standing to one side and waiting for one or the other to turn to her in search of mediation.

Much of that changed after the thirteenth floor. Dr. Church was depending on her more now that Banister was on the other side of the radio. While there was no replacing Banister, she was accomplished in her own right and fully capable of working through ideas with Church. She could stand in for Dr. Banister between communication windows.

Finding out that Doctor Banister had made it to the command center had made those communication windows difficult. Church had been unable to understand his friend agreeing to stay behind without a putting up a fight, and without telling him. Certainly together they could have come up with something, some way of keeping the team together.

But Susan got it. There had been no options. Banister and Carmody would stay behind no matter what they did. And she knew that if Banister had told his friend, Church would have absolutely stayed behind in some vain attempt to get them all to the next floor. The mission would have been lost.

Banister had only told Peter so that they would know what happened after the fact. He hadn’t wanted his friend left wondering.

Professor Asher had understood as well. He had been put into a terrible position, but he had kept Dr. Banister’s secret. He had waited until they were well on their way before telling anyone.

Dr. Church had been very, very upset. Even hearing that Banister and Carmody had survived and were back at command, he hadn’t forgiven Asher.

Susan wondered if this breach of trust could ever be overcome.

“Susan… do you see that?” asked Church. He was looking to their left.

Susan’s mind had been elsewhere. “What?”

“There.” He slowed his step. Susan slowed to match.

Asher, walking ahead of them, sensed something and looked back. “What’s going on?”

“I see,” said Susan.

There was something in the fog. Movement… something…

“People,” mumbled Church. “There’s someone there.”

Shadows, shadows within shadows. People moving.

“Is that—” Susan started.

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