Freeze: A Dystopian Urban Fantasy Military Romance (The Great Keeper Series Book 1) by Adelaide Walsh

Freeze: A Dystopian Urban Fantasy Military Romance (The Great Keeper Series Book 1) by Adelaide Walsh

Author:Adelaide Walsh [Walsh, Adelaide]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-04-21T18:30:00+00:00


Chapter 7

There was no way to get from Metz to Espérer and back except on foot, which restricted the number of people who actually travelled between the two cities. The Journeymen didn’t go to Espérer unless they needed to.

Rosie and Joseph needed to. They trekked through the forest between Outer Metz and Espérer, walking briskly.

“Do you really think we’ll make it there and back before daybreak tomorrow? I have to be at work in the morning,” Rosie said.

Joseph was thoughtful, “I think it’s possible if we get help from the Keepers. They could take us home once we get there. It’s a good thing they don’t have to walk everywhere.”

“They only use their powers when it’s absolutely necessary.”

“It’s absolutely necessary that you get to work on time tomorrow.”

Rosie sighed, “That much is true.”

They walked briskly through the greenery, regularly stopping to catch their breaths as they leaned on the tall trees that rose from the ground. The tops of the trees shaded them from the afternoon sun. At first the plants appeared still and inanimate but the closer they got to Espérer, the more they met large shrubs whose leaves spread out flat against the soil as if offering Rosie and Joseph a carpet to walk on. The shrubs were showing them the way to Espérer.

“Have you ever passed through here before?”

“No, never,” Joseph said in awe of the hospitable shrubs.

They saw small, wispy whirlwinds littered with soil and twigs dancing the Russian Polka. The whirlwinds stopped for a few seconds to bow to them courteously.

Rosie was enjoying all this immensely when she saw something strange ahead of her.

“Joseph, look.”

She pointed to what looked like a man staring down at an area beneath a tree. The man splayed himself on the ground, oblivious to any inquisitive eyes. Then he shifted until Rosie could only see his curved back.

“What’s he doing?” Rosie whispered, as they dropped onto their bellies.

“He’s lying on the ground in fetal position. I think he’s crying. He keeps repeating something.”

“What d’you think he’s saying?”

“I don’t know, Rosie. I can’t read lips.”

Joseph crept closer to the man, inching his way forward on his belly. Finally, the man raised his head, one knee still resting on the ground. Joseph could hardly believe his eyes. He knew that face. Quickly, he slipped a mobile phone out of his pocket, aimed and took a picture.

The man got up, took one more look at the ground and walked away somberly. Joseph stayed on his belly for a long time, waiting for the man to get as far away as possible. Minutes later, he crept towards Rosie -not quite sure what to say.

“That was Lieutenant Nick Blade.”

“What? Are you sure?”

“I’m sure. It was him.”

“What do you think he was doing?”

Joseph thought for a moment, then said, “He was kneeling in front of a patch of soil, the way Journeymen do at graves.”

All color drained from Rosie’s face.

“You don’t think ---?”

“I think we should find out what’s buried under that tree, Rosie. Tomorrow. When we come back with the Metz police.



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.