Read Online Double Cross by Sigmund Brouwer - Free Book Online Page B

had driven all of the previous night and the beginning of this day to get here.
    But our mission wasn’t finished.
    We couldn’t let anyone at the dome see the platform buggy. We guessed by now that they all believed it had been blown up in a mysterious accident. Dad was upset thinking how sad Mom must be. He wanted to get back to the dome as soon as possible to let her know we were alive. The thought of how Mom must be feeling tore me up inside too.
    But we had to wait. On the long drive back, Dad and Rawling had begun to guess what had happened. If they were right, we’d find out soon. But only with Ashley’s help.
    The computer chirped.
    If you don’t stop with these messages, I’ll go straight to the director. He’ll track the message to see where it came from. I’ll make sure you’re punished. How could you dare pretend to be Tyce? Don’t send me any more messages … please.
    I knew by now that Mom would be crying. Dad and I wanted to send an e-mail to her, but Rawling asked us to wait just a few hours. He was afraid that if Mom showed happiness or excitement, then Director Steven might wonder what was happening.
    And it was Blaine Steven who we needed to get. By himself. Away from the dome.
    But how could I convince Ashley to help us? How could I convince her that I was alive and the e-mails truly were coming from me?
    I remembered something. I reached into my pocket and held it in my hand.
    You gave me one of your silver earrings. Remember?
    I hit Send. Snores reached me. What was it about adults that made them snore? And what about those hairs on their shoulders and the backs of their arms? And the nostril hairs? And …
    Her reply came 30 seconds later.
    Tyce? I want so badly to believe it’s you. But maybe the real Tyce told someone about the earring before leaving the dome. Maybe you heard about it and are pretending to be him, which would be the meanest thing in the world to do. So if you are Tyce Sanders, tell me what question I asked you on the day you left the dome.
    I grinned. How could I forget her question? It was something to think about whenever I could, especially after what Dad and I had talked about.
    I began to keyboard a reply.
    Why is there something instead of nothing? Why not nothing? And where did the something come from? Did it exist forever? But how can something exist forever? But if first there was nothing, how did the nothing suddenly become something? How can stars and planets just come from empty air?
    Once again, I sent the message. I leaned back in my wheelchair and waited.
    The snoring behind me grew louder as Dad and Rawling fell deeper and deeper into sleep.
    The computer chirped. I scanned her message.
    Tyce ,
    It is you! What happened? I mean, at the dome Director Steven announced that the platform buggy had exploded. He said there was no GPS signal, so you weren’t traceable. The satellite photos showed a small crater where the platform buggy had sent its last signal. But if it didn’t explode, why have you guys let everyone at the dome think you are dead?
    I leaned forward in my wheelchair. Rawling had jotted down on a piece of paper the instructions to give to Ashley. I decided to dash off a quick e-mail to her before I began to keyboard them in.
    Don’t let anyone know we are alive. Tonight they’ll find out anyway, and then I can explain. But first you need to help us. At 8:00 tonight, go to the dome entrance. Let me in without anyone knowing it. In the meantime, I’ll be sending another long e-mail with more instructions.
    Again, I sent the message.
    I thought about our plan. The dome entrance had two ways of getting in. The first, of course, was through the large doors that allowed platform buggies in and out of the dome. The second was a normal-size door so techies and scientists could just walk out in space suits.
    I’ll keep it a secret. (So will Flip and Flop! They’re sitting right beside me.)