Araphel (Daughter of Mars Book 2) by Matthew S. Cox

Author:Matthew S. Cox [Cox, Matthew S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press
Published: 2017-09-13T06:00:00+00:00

The Wraith rendered the world in tones of grey, detailed enough to perceive the ancient drill marks in the stone walls. A virtual map hovered above and to the left in Risa’s vision, providing the only color. Coordinates ticked down, a meter at a time, as she advanced toward the location Maris gave her. Voices echoed, too quiet for ordinary ears to detect. Another small panel appeared low and right, estimating the distance to the sound source at forty-eight meters.

She slowed to a pace that muted the crunch of her boots on the loose dirt, and placed her steps one in front of the next, following a track rut left by the borer machine. The ten-foot span between the tunnel’s walls indicated the excavator had backed out. In and out… an exploratory dig. I wonder what made them abandon this shaft.

Once the muttering increased in volume enough to make out a discussion about one of the Manglers Gee-ball players, Risa opened her eyes a slit to allow a peek with night vision. Two men sat on boulders flanking a rough, round hole. Both held rifles across their laps. Like fools, they’d placed e-lanterns on the floor out in front of them. Idiots tended to be jumpy. Looks like the drill punched through the wall of an existing chamber.

Risa opened her eyes the rest of the way. Rumors abounded concerning non-humans on Mars. Some even named them: Ixylid. She let off a silent sigh. More than likely, any ancient construction came from a secret expedition by humans no one admitted to or knew about. A momentary debate about how best to approach without getting shot played out in her head. She considered a speedware charge and dive into the hole, sneaking up and killing the lights, or the straightforward approach―walking out in plain sight.

“That’s completely beside the point,” said the man on the left. “Haltemeyer’s the league leader in reflection goals. Six out of ten times they pass to him, it’s right in the goal.”

The other sentry shook his head. “There’s no damn way he’s that good. Because he’s got that record, they should be defending him three to one, but they don’t. It’s rigged.”

Risa approached the lantern. “Am I interrupting?”

“Gah! Fuck!” shouted the man on the left, fumbling his rifle.

The other man farted, but didn’t move.

“Denmark’s expecting me.” Risa stepped into the light. “You should put the lanterns behind you so you can see. Having to look past the light source leaves you blind.”

The man who screamed leaned against the wall, hand clasped over his chest and gasping for breath. She smiled at the calm one. He waved her in.

Risa stuck one leg in the hole, ducked, and pulled herself in by grasping the edges. Dirt crumbled under her fingers. A vaulted chamber lay on the other side, three stories tall. Eighteen square columns connected the floor to the ceiling in a regular grid pattern. Four post-mounted lamps cast a soft light around the immediate vicinity. A room of bare, smooth rock stood empty except for nine cots and a desk.

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