Read Online Embattlement: The Undergrounders Series Book Two (A Young Adult Science Fiction Dystopian Novel) by Norma Hinkens - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Norma Hinkens
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there.”
Jakob rumples his forehead. “ Shoshane City? What for?”
“It’s a long story.” I sigh, too exhausted to have to defend my decision again to divert the mission for an abandoned child. “Let’s just say we have a delivery to make, and you have a few more stitches to take care of.”
T ucker and I make our way back over to Trout who’s still hunkered down in position monitoring the hillside, Izzy tucked in at his side. I throw myself down beside her and ruffle her hair. Tucker licks her chin and snuggles in between us.
“Did a bad dog hurt Panju?” she asks, a solemn look on her pale face.
I give an uncertain nod. “It’s a good thing you listened to me and stayed in the tree until Trout came and got you.”
She sucks on her thumb forcibly for a moment or two as if something’s suddenly occurred to her. “I miss my mama,” she announces.
I smile sadly at her. “Me too, Izzy.”
Trout and I exchange a knowing look.
“So the wolves have definitely gone?” I ask, peering into the shadows.
“No sign of them since Jakob took that shot,” Trout says. “Might be a good time for us to move out.” He bites his bottom lip. “That’s if Panju can handle it.”
I hesitate when I see the pain in his expression. Trout keeps his cards tight to his chest, but I have a sneaking suspicion Panju is a little more than just a friend to him. I can’t lie to him about her chances though. He’s always been brutally honest with me. “She’s not going to make it unless we get her to the city soon,” I say. “We’ll have to carry her, and that will slow us down considerably.”
“Sven and I can handle it and keep up the pace. It won’t be a problem,” he says, in the kind of tone that tells me he’ll die trying.
I gesture at the vacant hillside. “There’s a good chance the wolves will get back on our trail with the scent of more blood to lure them. If we keep going, we can’t afford to let down our guard for one minute.”
Trout jerks his head in Jakob's direction. “What’s going on with him? Mutiny at the base?”
“He was worried when the Council members arrived back. Jett told him we were joining up with an Undergrounder militia, but Jakob has a sixth sense for when someone’s lying. I think he was half afraid they might have killed us.”
Trout hikes an eyebrow at me. “Us? Or you ?”
I throw him an indignant look.
Trout laughs. “You know he was just waiting for an excuse to come after you like a hero. That’s how he rolls.”
I shift uncomfortably. “All I can tell you is that Panju wouldn’t be alive right now if he hadn’t come.”
“And you wouldn’t be alive if he hadn’t persuaded the Council to infiltrate the Craniopolis. Jakob’s a good guy.”
“He does have a knack for saving lives.” I give a flippant laugh. “And charming kids. Izzy bonded with him right away. Must be a Septite thing.”
I’m downplaying Jakob’s contributions because it makes me uncomfortable to be indebted to him, especially when I know he has feelings for me that I don’t have for him anymore. But Trout’s right. The Council wouldn’t even have attempted to rescue me if Jakob hadn’t forced their hand. I glance over at him, still seated at Panju's side. I made a vow to myself in the bunkers that I would lay down my life for Jakob Miller if it ever came to that, but so far he’s the one who’s stuck out his neck for me every time. Which is more than I can say for those lame, lying Council members Owen recruited. Inadvertently, I’ve whittled them down to the few good Undergrounders among them, and we’re all the better for it. Maybe Jakob belongs here after all.
Trout and I put our heads together and come up with a makeshift stretcher fashioned out of Jakob’s one-man tent and some sturdy branches lashed with nylon to transport Panju. When Sven lifts her onto it, she moans, a pitiful bleat with little conviction. It scares me how quickly she’s fading. Her eyes roll
Jakob rumples his forehead. “ Shoshane City? What for?”
“It’s a long story.” I sigh, too exhausted to have to defend my decision again to divert the mission for an abandoned child. “Let’s just say we have a delivery to make, and you have a few more stitches to take care of.”
T ucker and I make our way back over to Trout who’s still hunkered down in position monitoring the hillside, Izzy tucked in at his side. I throw myself down beside her and ruffle her hair. Tucker licks her chin and snuggles in between us.
“Did a bad dog hurt Panju?” she asks, a solemn look on her pale face.
I give an uncertain nod. “It’s a good thing you listened to me and stayed in the tree until Trout came and got you.”
She sucks on her thumb forcibly for a moment or two as if something’s suddenly occurred to her. “I miss my mama,” she announces.
I smile sadly at her. “Me too, Izzy.”
Trout and I exchange a knowing look.
“So the wolves have definitely gone?” I ask, peering into the shadows.
“No sign of them since Jakob took that shot,” Trout says. “Might be a good time for us to move out.” He bites his bottom lip. “That’s if Panju can handle it.”
I hesitate when I see the pain in his expression. Trout keeps his cards tight to his chest, but I have a sneaking suspicion Panju is a little more than just a friend to him. I can’t lie to him about her chances though. He’s always been brutally honest with me. “She’s not going to make it unless we get her to the city soon,” I say. “We’ll have to carry her, and that will slow us down considerably.”
“Sven and I can handle it and keep up the pace. It won’t be a problem,” he says, in the kind of tone that tells me he’ll die trying.
I gesture at the vacant hillside. “There’s a good chance the wolves will get back on our trail with the scent of more blood to lure them. If we keep going, we can’t afford to let down our guard for one minute.”
Trout jerks his head in Jakob's direction. “What’s going on with him? Mutiny at the base?”
“He was worried when the Council members arrived back. Jett told him we were joining up with an Undergrounder militia, but Jakob has a sixth sense for when someone’s lying. I think he was half afraid they might have killed us.”
Trout hikes an eyebrow at me. “Us? Or you ?”
I throw him an indignant look.
Trout laughs. “You know he was just waiting for an excuse to come after you like a hero. That’s how he rolls.”
I shift uncomfortably. “All I can tell you is that Panju wouldn’t be alive right now if he hadn’t come.”
“And you wouldn’t be alive if he hadn’t persuaded the Council to infiltrate the Craniopolis. Jakob’s a good guy.”
“He does have a knack for saving lives.” I give a flippant laugh. “And charming kids. Izzy bonded with him right away. Must be a Septite thing.”
I’m downplaying Jakob’s contributions because it makes me uncomfortable to be indebted to him, especially when I know he has feelings for me that I don’t have for him anymore. But Trout’s right. The Council wouldn’t even have attempted to rescue me if Jakob hadn’t forced their hand. I glance over at him, still seated at Panju's side. I made a vow to myself in the bunkers that I would lay down my life for Jakob Miller if it ever came to that, but so far he’s the one who’s stuck out his neck for me every time. Which is more than I can say for those lame, lying Council members Owen recruited. Inadvertently, I’ve whittled them down to the few good Undergrounders among them, and we’re all the better for it. Maybe Jakob belongs here after all.
Trout and I put our heads together and come up with a makeshift stretcher fashioned out of Jakob’s one-man tent and some sturdy branches lashed with nylon to transport Panju. When Sven lifts her onto it, she moans, a pitiful bleat with little conviction. It scares me how quickly she’s fading. Her eyes roll
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