Read Online Exodus Code by John Barrowman, Carole E. Barrowman - Free Book Online Page A

down.
    Jack looked up. They were about ten metres inside the mountain.
    Without warning, a thunderous rumbling shook the entire basin. Jack pitched forward. Renso grabbed him and pinned him against the wal until the tremor settled.
    ‘This volcano is about to blow again, Jack. I don’t know how you got down here or what you were doing with that… that animal over there, that’s none of my business,’ Renso pointed back to the grotto at what was curled beneath the blanket with Jack.
    ‘We’ve got to get out of here. Now!’
    Suddenly a geyser of black steam exploded up through the mountain, firing chunks of flaming rock out through the top, pelting Jack and Renso as they shuffled towards their way up. Renso half-carried, half-dragged Jack to where he’d left his rope. The air was thick with tar and sulphur.
    ‘Renso, we should dance and then we should have a drink and then… who knows.’ Jack chuckled, grabbing and shaking his friend’s hand.
    ‘My friend, I don’t know much about what happened during these last few hours, but one thing I do know. You, Jack Harkness, are stoned.’
    ‘I thought you died, Renso,’ exclaimed Jack. ‘I’m so glad you didn’t.’
    ‘No thanks to you,’ said Renso, wrapping his rope round Jack’s waist and tying it off in two thick knots. ‘You were a man possessed this morning. Eyes bleeding, weird sounds coming from your mouth and then you attacked me.
    You leapt over into the cockpit and you tried to snap my wrist, ended up tearing the hel out of my skin.’ Renso held up his wrist, showing Jack three raw patches where his skin had been scratched away. ‘Then you knocked me out.’ Renso tested that the rope around Jack’s waist was secure. ‘Next thing I know, you’re flying through the sky like a bloody big bird and my Hornet is about to meet the mountain.’
    Jack grabbed Renso’s shoulders, pul ed him forward and tried to kiss him.
    Renso slapped him upside the head. ‘Jack, no time. I’m going up to the top and then I’l pul you out.’
    ‘I can climb. I’m a seasoned climber. I once raced Hilary to a summit… now where was that? Wasn’t Everest, I know that.’
    ‘You’re in no condition to climb without my help. Stay here.’ Renso pushed Jack against the wal .
    ‘Just for a few more minutes. OK? I’l get you out of here soon.’
    ‘Okee dokee, my fine fine friend,’ Jack giggled.
    Winding the extra rope over his shoulder, Renso began to climb the rock.
    In the grotto, Gaia stirred.
    Jack watched, mesmerised, as the beautiful young Indian woman shook off the blanket, stretched her naked body and began walking along the ledge towards him. Her movements were graceful, her smile inviting. Jack could taste ginger. He could smel her pleasure. She lifted her arms enticing Jack into an embrace. In the thin beam of moonlight, her eyes shone like cobalt.
    Jack could feel his loins ache for her. He took another step.
    ‘Jack, stop! Snap out of it, Jack!’
    Jack looked up. Renso was standing at the precipice, paying out the rope.
    Behind him, Jack heard a low feral growl. Without looking back, he tugged on the rope.
    Jack was yanked off the ledge. For a second, he was swinging loosely over the precipice.
    ‘Jack,’ yel ed Renso. ‘A little help would be good.’
    Grabbing the rope, Jack used the momentum to climb.
    Then he looked back and saw the Indian woman, her arms outstretched, her dark eyes pleading with him to return. Jack hesitated. The rope released a little. Jack slipped back towards the ledge.
    In that instant, Gaia whipped her sword from behind her back and swung it at Jack’s neck.
    ‘You must not leave!’
15
    RENSO HAD FOUND enough crevices in the rock face to move with speed and efficiency, which was good, because the air inside the mountain was heavy with ash, and the stink of sulphur made his eyes water.
    When he was almost at the top, Renso looked back down. Jesus, no.
    Jack had moved. Behind him, the creature was slinking along the