Warriors of Isis by Jean Stewart

Author:Jean Stewart [Stewart, Jean]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781594933592
Amazon: B00TFUWI74
Publisher: Bella Books
Published: 2015-02-09T03:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Barely an hour after the Council meeting had ended, Whit and Kali returned to their home in the countryside to prepare Kali for the mission to the North Cascades. Upstairs, in their Spartan bedroom, Kali set about selecting appropriate clothing and dressing for the mission. And nearby, indefatigable, Whit sat on the edge of the bed. Knowing she could not broach the subject of her meeting with Razia and Ferris, she stubbornly tried a variety of arguments to dissuade Kali from going at all.

Annoyed, Kali finally said, “I guess wanting you to support my decision to undertake this mission is too much to ask.” With a fierce look, Kali grabbed her backpack and strode out of the bedroom, not even bothering to look at Whit.

Whit was feeling resentful and exasperated and responded by immediately changing into winter hiking attire and boots.

She finished by strapping on her laser weapon. Slamming the bedroom door behind her, she rushed into the hallway, dug her own backpack out of the storage closet, and headed down the madrone staircase two steps at a time.

Kali looked up as Whit charged into the small pantry off the kitchen. She watched silently as Whit jammed freeze-dried food packages into her backpack. “What are you doing?” Kali finally asked, knowing full well what she was doing.

“What I should have done from the very beginning,” Whit replied evenly. “This is a military mission, and it needs a ranking officer—me.”

For a moment, Kali simply stood and watched her in disbelief. Whit’s behavior baffled her. Then, her chin set in an obvious declaration of displeasure, she fastened her own backpack and stormed past Whit.

Seconds later, just before the front door slammed, Kali barked over her shoulder, “I’ll wait for you in the transport, Tomyris.” For a moment, Whit just stood there, her backpack slung over one shoulder, staring up at the ceiling and wondering how things had gotten so damn complicated. All she wanted to do was protect Kali and Freeland from harm. And now she felt like a fool for not having the courage to tell Kali about the two—pronged operation she had just devised with Razia and Ferris.

She knew that Kali would not approve.

A half hour later, after stopping by the house on Earhart Street to pick up Lilith and Styx, Whit drove the transport vehicle toward the Leader’s House. She was glowering, only half-listening to Styx and Lilith, as they provided Kali with some necessary information about the SAC installation.

“Whit,” Lilith repeated, “I asked why you were dressed like that.”

Glancing down at the wool turtleneck under her unzipped parka, and the insulated trousers and boots she wore, Whit purposely misinterpreted Lilith’s meaning. “Am I not dressed appropriately for this mission, Lilith?”

Silent, Kali stared straight ahead, into the darkness beyond the headlights. Whit knew this meant that Kali was absolutely livid and didn’t trust herself to comment.

“Surely you are joking, Whit. Please tell me you don’t intend to go on this mission…” Lilith said sharply, trying to maintain her composure.

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