It Takes Death to Reach a Star by Stu Jones & Gareth Worthington

Author:Stu Jones & Gareth Worthington
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: scifi, futuristic, dystopian, novel, thriller, book, artist, movies, tv, future, futuristic, cinema, booknerd, bookworm, bookswag, swag, author, authors, hollywood
Publisher: Vesuvian Books
Published: 2018-05-22T00:00:00+00:00

WE MARCH ALONG THE well-worn trade route between Logos and Fiori, one of the few paths in the Vapid left alone by the Rippers—at least most of the time. It took a bit of time to convince Faruq to come with me and make contact with the resistance. His reservations were understandable, but the resistance may be the only way to find his sister—and besides, Fiori is one of the few enclaves where Musuls seem to be free of Baqir and Kapka, not to mention the criminal warlords in Kahanga.

Without warning, Faruq stops and surveys the horizon. He pulls a small prayer mat from I don’t know where, lays it out, and kneels on it, facing east.

“What are you doing?”

He glances at me. “It is time for me to pray.”

“It most certainly is not. Get up, we have to keep moving.”

“No. This is my duty.”

Faruq touches his forehead to the mat, offering prayers to Ilāh.

“You’re going to do this right now, in the middle of the Vapid, while we stand exposed?”

Faruq does not answer.

No point arguing. Just let him get it over with. Who am I to judge him for being true to his ways? His faith is valuable to him. It’s all he’s ever known. Just like the rest of us, he is trying to make sense of the madness in his life.

Mere minutes later, he stands and collects his mat.

“We ready?”

“Of course.”

One tired foot in front of the other and without speaking, we move at a painfully fast pace down the snow-covered Vapid road. Every step brings us closer to Fiori and our destination: the Forgotten Jewel.

The silence is too loud, even for me. “When we get to the Forgotten Jewel, you’ll need to tell them everything you know about Kapka and your sister, so they can help find her. Think of it as a trade. When was the last time you saw her?”

“We got separated after I came back to Kapka’s palace for you. She was hiding, but when I returned, she was gone. One of the street merchants told me he thought he saw her hide in a trader’s cart. If this is true, she could be anywhere.”

“And you figured she may have come to Logos?” I keep walking, head down, chin tucked into the rat stink of my furry collar.

“Partly, though when I saw Logos destroyed, I knew she would have fled already. She’s resourceful.”

“Why all the effort to get past the guards?”

“I was looking for you.”

“Oh?”

“I know it seems strange, but I felt I knew too much. I had to come and tell you, and ...”

“Yeah?”

“I thought you might help me find my sister in return. You know how to get around better than I do.”

“You said you knew something. That it was bad. Are you going to tell me before we get to Fiori? Probably best if I’m aware, so we’re singing from the same hymn sheet.”

“Hymn sheet?”

“Forget it.”

Faruq shrugs and sinks his hands deep into his pockets, his breath steaming from his lips.

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