Outlanders 49 - Shadow Box by James Axler

Author:James Axler
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Sci-fi
Publisher: Gold Eagle
Published: 2017-04-05T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Mariah Falk stared at the impressive view from the San Francisco mountain range as she followed Edwards along the thin trail leading to the summit of Humphreys Peak. It was so strange, she thought, to see how little it had changed since she was last here, more than two hundred years before.

Like a number of the Cerberus personnel, Falk had endured an extended period in cryogenic hibernation while the Russo-American conflict played out, and had missed the terrible years that had followed, when North America had been nothing more than aptly named Deathlands.

When Mariah had shown her findings to Lakesh earlier that day, he had immediately agreed that the triangulated epicenter of the quakes, here in Arizona, was worth checking, in case anything new was brought to light. Mariah formed one-third of an investigation team, along with Clem Bryant, for moral support, and Edwards, who was assigned to bodyguard duties. Together, the group had swiftly jumped to a nearby military redoubt, leaving them with a short hike to reach the mountain peak.

As she stood there, gazing at the reddish peaks that jutted around them, Clem Bryant’s rich, soothing voice broke into her thoughts. “You seem pensive, Mariah. Is something wrong?”

Mariah slowly turned to look at Clem. He had been following a few paces behind her on the narrow path, showing no signs of exhaustion as he hefted a large backpack full of supplies.

“I was just remembering the last time I was here.” Mariah smiled. “Must have been Christmas 1978, or maybe ’79. I came here with a group of college friends, did some skiing at Coconino, probably hiked along this very trail.” “How was it?” Clem asked. “The skiing, I mean.” “Dreadful.” Mariah laughed. “No sense of balance, scared of going fast, convinced I was going to break both legs. I was pitiful.” Mariah stood wistfully, looking out at the snow-dappled peaks of the far mountains, and she giggled once more. “Just dreadful.”

From a little higher up the path, Edwards cupped his hands to his mouth and called to them to hurry. The former Mag had shaved his hair to a severe crew cut that showed off his bullet-bitten right ear, and he wore an olive-drab undershirt that clung to his rippling muscles. “You two girls finish your slumber party and let’s get moving!” he shouted.

Mariah turned back to the path, shaking her head and preparing herself for the last half-mile trek to the site she had identified, but Clem stopped her, brushing his hand lightly against her arm. She looked at him and he smiled. “I miss ‘dreadful,’” he told her.

“Me, too,” she said, nodding before beginning along the trail once more.

“I don’t know what it is you two girls find to dawdle over,” Edwards growled as the three of them finally reached the epicenter of the quakes.

Clem raised his eyebrows in amusement.

“Something funny?” Edwards asked Clem, a threat in his tone.

“I detect an air of tension, Mr. Edwards,” Clem replied after a moment’s thought.

“And I wonder why that is?” Edwards growled as he stomped away to check their immediate surroundings.

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