The Fourth Sage (The Circularity Saga) by Stefan Bolz

Author:Stefan Bolz [Bolz, Stefan]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Beacon Books Publishing
Published: 2014-06-12T04:00:00+00:00

* * *

They make it to Tier One in under ninety minutes. When they arrive at the duct leading to Kiire's room, Aries is exhausted, her chest hurts, and the right side of her face feels hot and swollen. I hope I'm not getting an infection, she thinks, when she touches her skin. Max matched her speed well and on several occasions they went in the direction he suggested rather than her. The two hurdles that needed the most time were the air filtration units between Tiers Six and Five, and then again between Four and Three. They had to take out some of the filters in order to crawl through the small openings in between the tiers.

This is Kiire's air shaft, Aries thinks to Max, as they approach the perpendicular duct only a hundred feet away from her own room. Wait here. Shouldn't be long.

Sounds good. Max turns on his back, stretching his legs. I'll be here.

As she crawls into the duct leading to Kiire's room, she wonders briefly what his reaction might be. What if he doesn't want to come with her? He might be angry about their last encounter. He might find the story she is going to tell him too absurd to consider. Were she in his shoes, she probably would. She arrives at the vent cover and pushes. It gives way immediately and she crawls through the opening. "Kiire," she whispers. "It's me. Don't be alarmed."

She expected him to be sitting on his futon, hood over his head, and immersed in something on his pad. Instead the room is completely dark. There is very little residual light. "Kiire, wake up. It's me," she whispers again.

On all fours she makes her way to his futon. When she's almost there, she stumbles over the clothing rack. It must have fallen to the ground. Her hands move over the bed. It's empty. Unmade.

He's not in here, she thinks to Max.

Where could he be at this hour?

I don't know.

She crawls through the room to make sure he isn't lying on the floor anywhere.

What time do you think it is? she asks in her thoughts.

It must be around 2:00 a.m., Max answers.

Where could he be if he's not in his room?

Her hand touches something wet on the floor. Then she finds his thermos. It's open. The water has spilled onto the floor.

Oh, God!

What is it? Max asks.

They must have taken him. Where else could he be? They must have found out about his hacking into the system and they came to get him. I'm coming back.

She crawls into the opening and back toward Max.

What now? Max asks.

There's only one place he can be, I think, she replies. Do you remember when I showed you the room I was held in?

Yes.

They must be holding him there.

I know how to get there. At least theoretically.

Okay. We need to go up several floors. I don't remember walking that long when they brought me back to my room. The ride in the elevator was seven seconds.

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