Deviants (The Dust Chronicles Book 1) by Maureen McGowan

Author:Maureen McGowan [McGowan, Maureen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish Children’s Books
Published: 2012-10-30T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

LIGHT AND SPARKS rise from behind a long, low building close to the wall. Burn says it’s a Comp outpost for storing food and weapons, but Comps must not be stationed there tonight given all the Shredders. Shouts and screams pollute the night air and it’s hard to guess the exact number of monsters based only on shadows and occasional silhouettes. We climbed as high as we could, but still can’t see to the other side of the outpost, beyond which lies the Shredder camp, then a door through the wall.

With my mask at my side, one hand resting on its straps in case the wind picks up or we have to run, I shiver in my thin jacket. I was warm enough while we were moving—given the effort of walking quickly over the uneven and soft surface of the dust, not to mention climbing obstacles—but since we stopped, the night air has been biting through my clothing, chilling the light sweat I worked up on the run.

Burn looks toasty in his thick coat, not seeming to notice I’m cold. He did give one of his sweaters to Gage, and the garment hangs halfway down the thin man’s thighs as he leans against a partially intact ruin wall.

Gage turns. “How far to the next way out?”

“Don’t know,” Burn answers. “I don’t know for sure there is another way.”

“So we just wait until those Shredders leave?” I ask. A whole day has passed since we were separated, and Drake must be terrified.

“They don’t exactly look like they’re planning on leaving.” Gage pushes away from the wall, bends down, and whispers to Burn.

I jump up and move closer. For all I know, Gage is suggesting they offer me up as a sacrifice. I wouldn’t put agreeing past Burn. “What are you talking about?”

Gage looks at me and shrugs. “I was just saying that I’m fast and could run along the wall’s perimeter to look for another way out.”

“Too dangerous in the dark,” Burn says.

“Not with your goggles.” Gage points to the night-glasses Burn has pushed onto the top of his head.

Burn doesn’t reply, but his brow furrows in the moonlight and it’s clear he’s not going to give up those goggles for anything. He stands and walks to the edge of the raised platform.

“I’ll find out what we’re up against.” Burn leaps from the ruin, down fifteen feet to the dust.

I almost shout after him, but a loud voice might attract the Shredders’ attention, putting Burn in even more danger, so all I can do is hope and wait. Keeping low and sticking to the shadows, he moves swiftly and soon I’ve lost sight of him.

“Will he be okay?” I ask Gage.

“Don’t know.” He leans against the partial wall again, and pulls a shaking hand under the cuff of the borrowed sweater. “He should have loaned me his goggles. Your boyfriend has trust issues.”

“He’s not my boyfriend.” My cheeks heat. “And if you took the goggles, how do we know you’d come back?” That part of Burn I understand.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.