Mars Burning (The Saving Mars Series-) by Swanson Cidney

Author:Swanson, Cidney [Swanson, Cidney]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Williams Press
Published: 2013-08-03T16:00:00+00:00

29

Isles of Scilly, Earth

“This place is creepy,” murmured Jess.

Along with Pavel and Zussman, Jessamyn had agreed to await Jumble inside an isolated sea cavern. Just before sunrise, Jamal Boslough had commed the group in the cottage to say he had located a craft. He had been curt, indicating only that it would be best to meet up at this out–of–the–way location to avoid watchful eyes.

Zussman, upon hearing that the location for the meeting would be remote, had insisted on accompanying the two. Jessamyn suspected he’d armed himself.

“On Mars, we would say this is the kind of place that gives you the willies,” added Jess, her voice echoing oddly in the dim chamber.

“What are the willies?” asked Pavel.

“Honestly? No idea,” replied Jessamyn.

Zussman’s quiet ahem preceded his explanation that “the willies” referred to a sort of Slavic hobgoblin thought to be particularly ill–disposed to young men. “Called, variously, ‘villi,’ ‘willi,’ and ‘veela,’” concluded Lucca’s former butler.

A noisy rumbling announced the arrival of Pavel’s friend Jumble in the spacecraft meant to take them all to safety.

“You’re completely sure about this guy?” Jess asked Pavel.

“As sure as I am about anyone. He’s no supporter of my aunt.”

Jess heard someone shuffling into the sea cave, one booted foot landing noisily in a deeper–than–average pool.

“Shizer!” said a man’s voice, echoing off the cavern walls.

“That’s Jumble,” murmured Pavel.

“You lot in here?” called Jumble, squinting and turning his head from side to side.

“Right here, man,” said Pavel. “Give your eyes a minute.”

Zussman stepped protectively beside Pavel, and Jess noticed the butler’s hand upon a weapon tucked in the back of his trousers.

“Okay, okay,” said Jumble, shaking his soaked foot with a hang–dog expression. “So I know it’s not what you asked for,” he said. “Small enough I could’ve flown it straight to the cottage, but I figured, well, you’ll see…”

He pulled a wafer from his jacket pocket. “This is the best I could do for you, given the need for secrecy and my limited ability to convert monitored credits.”

“Brian Wallace’s creds are monitored?” asked Pavel. “Jumble, man, I’m sorry. I swear I didn’t know the creds had a heat signature on them.”

“You think that would stop me?” Jumble reached out and ruffled Pavel’s hair. “Just meant I had an upper limit imposed for the purchase.”

“Here she is,” said Jumble, converting the two–dimensional image on his wafer into a holographic image. “She’s not much to look at, but she’ll make it to the Moon and back again.”

“We’re not going that far,” said Jess.

Jumble shrugged. “Never say never.”

“Wait a minute,” said Pavel. “This is a Star Shark.”

Jumble grunted apologetically.

Zussman murmured a quiet, “Oh dear.”

“What’s the problem with Star Sharks?” asked Jessamyn. “If it’s space–worthy, I can fly it,” she added.

Pavel turned to her. “They only hold four passengers.”

Jessamyn’s shoulders felt suddenly heavy. “You mean, besides the pilot and nav?” she asked.

“No, Jess,” said Pavel. “They only hold four including the pilot and navigator.”

“Technically, they hold three,” said Jumble. “The fourth position is more in case of a rescue situation.”

“But we need room for seven,” said Jess, her voice rising.

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.