The hairs stirred on the back of his neck as he neared Neve and Cameron’s cot. The door stood slightly ajar and he could hear Marin’s voice among the speakers within. Matt shivered slightly and tried to ignore the stirrings of power that he could feel more than sense. It wasn’t the same feeling he’d gotten the day the radio exploded, so it couldn’t have been anything that horrible.
Hope not, at least.
He closed his eyes for a moment, listening to the sound of Marin laughing ahead of him. If there was something wrong, she wouldn’t be laughing, would she?
Matt shouldered the door open fully. “What’s going on in here?”
“Just a little bit of insanity,” Marin said cheerfully, shaking her head. “Trying to figure out how we’re going to get Neve down into the tunnels.”
I’m not sure how that’s funny or insane, but it’s probably better not to ask. Matt nodded, glancing between Cameron and Neve. The latter was still sitting in bed, one leg stretched out and bulky under the blankets, her hair tousled from sleep. Cameron was up and dressed, his own hair in equal disarray.
“It’s probably something we should have thought of before we decided that we were going down below,” Cameron said, eyeing Marin. “Have you ever sent someone down with a broken leg before?”
“Don’t forget the ribs,” Neve said, rubbing her eyes. “It wouldn’t be a big deal if I wasn’t going to end up blacking out if I tried to slide down a ladder or something.”
Matt frowned at her. “What are you talking about?”
She shook her head. “If I try to use my arms to control my descent, that’s going to make my ribs hurt so bad that I’m going to drop like a rock. Believe me, this isn’t my first time doing this.”
Matt saw Cameron glance at her askance out of the corner of his eye but shook his head slowly instead of inquiring further. “We’ll have to come up with a way to get you down there.”
“I’d suggest sliding down carefully and I’ll catch you, but I have a feeling that won’t work, either,” Cameron said, handing her a change of clothes.
Marin shook her head, smiling wryly. “Either way, we’re going to have to figure it out fast, since I’m pretty sure we’re running out of time.”
“What makes you think so?” Cameron asked.
A whistle echoed through the corridor from outside, once, twice. Marin’s smile melted into a grimace.
“That,” she said, heading for the door. “You two pack it in and head for the steam tunnels. Find J.T. and Carolyn. They’ll get you there safely.”
“They don’t need to find us. We’re already here.” J.T. leaned against the doorframe, Carolyn at his side. “You three go. We’ll make it down on our own easily enough.” His gaze flicked to Marin. “Tala and Angie’ll be coming, too, right?”
Marin looked at her brother, who nodded. “That’s what Tala said, anyway, but I’ve got a feeling she’ll still be by the cookfire when we get out there.” He was already headed for the door, trusting his sister would follow.
Carolyn stood on tip-toe to kiss J.T. gently and stroke his cheek.
“Be careful,” the big man murmured.
“Always,” she said with a faint smile.
Steel glinted in the dim light and Matt frowned. She’s wearing a sword? I didn’t even know she knew how to use one.
Then again, there’s a lot about my sister’s friends—my friends—that I guess I didn’t know.
J.T. eased clear of the door so they could leave. Matt ducked past him, Carolyn on his heels. Marin lingered behind for a moment, looking at the three they were leaving behind.
“Don’t just hole up here,” she said sternly. “You need to head below.”
“We will,” J.T. said. “Don’t worry about that. You worry about making sure that Tala and Angie join us—and then make sure that everyone stays alive.”
“I’ll sure as hell try,” Marin said.
You, me, and everyone else, Matt thought as he caught his sister’s hand. Another whistle echoed from the watchtower.
“Come on,” he said. “We’re out of time.”
Blame the jerk on my flight to Phoenix for this being late — he had his seat cranked all the way back so I couldn’t reach my laptop, which was stowed under his seat like it was supposed to be. Had to wait until I got to my hotel before I could post it!
Hope his next flight entails a seat back kicking kid and a parent who this the kid can do no wrong.
*thinks* not This