Read Online Holes in the Ground by J.A. Konrath, Iain Rob Wright - Free Book Online

extremely weird,” Nessie said. “He’s kinda cute, though. I mean, in a devilish rogue sort of way.” When no one answered, Nessie looked at her shoes and said, “Nevermind.”
    “I meant the timing,” Sun said. “Right before you catch the batling, you also have a mysterious, non-human stranger turn up and ask for Andy?”
    “The timing could be entirely coincidental,” Dr. Chandelling said. “We can’t find any correlation between the two. The batling has terrestrial relatives. Lucas, as you call him, is something else entirely. They don’t seem to be related, at least, not organically.”
    “Maybe spiritually?” Nessie said. She’d apparently recovered from her embarrassment. “Many ancient texts delve into the war between light and darkness, good and evil. It’s woven throughout history, regardless of culture or time. When the evil spirit shows up, a savior appears.”
    “You think the Manx man is the savior?” Andy asked.
    Nessie shook her head. “He could be. But he also fits into the mold of a prophet. Someone who foretells of a savior. Remember… he gave us your name, Mr. Dennison-Jones.”
    Andy frowned.
    If I’m the savior, then we’re all doomed.

Chapter Nine
    Who do they think they are?
    Dr. Gornman paced the floor of Kane’s office on level 2. The carpet beneath her feet was a deep pile and her heels caught every few steps, adding to her frustration.
    I’ve dedicated the best part of ten years of my life to this facility. Is this any way to repay me? Letting outsiders come in and undermine me? Who does Kane think he is, chastising me in front of them? Without me his precious facility would grind to a halt. It’s not like that incompetent, misogynist fool, Chandelling, could take charge if I decided to leave.
    That’s exactly what I should have done years ago. Left. With my experience I could work in any lab in the world. I only came here because I mistakenly thought I was doing some good in the world. But that was nothing but a fantasy. This isn’t God’s work. The Spiral is nothing but a prison—and like any prison it is ineffectual and does nothing to change the inmates. All we’re doing is warehousing a bunch of creatures that could be of real benefit if we actually did something with them other than keep them in cages.
    This whole place is a paean to old-fashioned thinking. A bunch of flashy new computers doesn’t change that.
    I could have gone somewhere else, where my skills would be appreciated, instead of deep down in this cesspool where nothing worthwhile ever happens.
    But then, I would have missed out on these recent events…
    “Dr. Gornman?” Kane entered the office and moved over to his desk. “Please, take a seat.” He gestured to the chair opposite.
    Gornman dumped herself down, folded her arms.
    Kane leaned forward on his desk and sighed. “Look, Doctor. You are a valued member of this team and undoubtedly the brightest person here.”
    Gornman blinked. She wasn’t about to be swayed by flattery. She knew she was smarter than anyone at the Spiral—she didn’t need an antique General to tell her that.
    “But when we have guests at this facility, it is our obligation to welcome them and to accommodate their needs.”
    Gornman stayed completely neutral.
    A twinge of frustration—perhaps even anger—flashed across Kane’s face. “The Dennison-Joneses are here at the request of the President via the Director of Homeland Security, who may I remind you is the Grand Registrar of the Order, like his father, and grandfather before him. We are sworn to follow his instructions to the letter. That is the oath you made, Dr. Gornman. Am I correct?”
    “Yes.”
    “So you will work alongside the Dennison-Joneses and avoid acrimony. But most of all, you will never again question my authority or circumvent my command of this facility. Is that clear, Dr. Gornman?”
    Gornman gave no answer.
    “Is. That. Clear?”
    Gornman said softly, “Yes, it’s clear, General.