The Sky Is Crying by C J Clemens & Daniel Martone & Laura Martone

Author:C J Clemens & Daniel Martone & Laura Martone [Clemens, C J & Martone, Daniel & Martone, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: NGU Publishing
Published: 2019-01-03T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

LILLY

During the ride across the vast desert, Lilly edged her way toward the front of the hovercraft, crouched behind the passenger seat, and, while pretending to focus on the proximity scanner on the dashboard, snatched glances at Remy Bechet. The strain showed on the pirate’s face—his squinting eyes, his clenched jaw, and the tiny blood vessel throbbing on his right temple. But given his steady expression, his shaggy, black hair flying in the wind, and his forearm muscles tightening as he clutched the wheel, she couldn’t deny the flicker of attraction thawing her deep inside.

He’d succumbed to her demand. He’d turned around at gunpoint, leaving Tosh behind—a decision that must have deeply pained him.

A lump formed in her throat. She wanted to explain that she never would have shot him—that she’d only aimed her weapon out of sheer desperation for the people of Vox.

But then she noticed Bechet’s face. He’d shifted his gaze toward Dreyla, and the obvious look of fatherly love and concern told her everything: he hadn’t left behind the doctor for her or anyone else on this planet. He’d done it to get his daughter out of harm’s way.

A peripheral flash alerted her, and she flicked her eyes back to the scanner.

“Uh-oh,” Bechet said. “We’ve got company.”

Apparently, he’d spotted the four incoming ships, too.

Lilly turned toward the back of the vehicle, planning to fire the rear blasters, but she knew they couldn’t possibly fight off all the vessels at once, even with the other two hovercrafts. None of them sported the kind of defenses that Darkbur’s armed pursuers likely had.

“They have come,” Lady Ris said, her eyes glowing with relief.

Confused by her expression, Lilly said, “Yes, I know.”

“No, not Darkbur’s people,” Lady Ris replied, pointing westward. “The mini-wings.”

Lilly followed her gaze, but she couldn’t see anything with the naked eye. Turning back to the dashboard, she spotted six dots on the scanner, swooping toward the four ships currently pursuing the trio of hovercrafts filled with the planet’s entire supply of nano-biotics. Once the well-armed mini-wings appeared in the sky, Darkbur’s ships turned around and headed back to Bane. Presumably, his men had calculated the odds and decided to give up the fight.

For now.

“Nice timing,” Bechet said.

“One less worry,” Lilly agreed.

The time passed uneventfully, but just as they were within sight of Trame, the hovercraft wobbled. Lilly glanced toward the front. Bechet’s hands had slackened off the wheel.

What’s he playing at?

Then he slumped forward, and the hovercraft veered dangerously off course.

Lilly made a dive for the steering wheel, but Dreyla beat her to it. After pushing the captain back, the girl grasped the wheel and yanked it to the side, just in time to avoid plummeting over a cliff that overlooked and partially sheltered Trame. Dreyla hovered over Bechet’s lap as she tried to guide the craft toward the monastery.

“What’s wrong with him?” Lilly asked as she tugged Bechet towards her.

Once free of the driver’s seat, the captain slumped backward onto the floor of the hovercraft. Murmuring incoherently, he didn’t budge as Lilly undid the buttons of his dark brown shirt.

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