Read Online Lightning by Bonnie S. Calhoun - Free Book Online Page B

She ejected the data glass, inspected the reader, and reinstalled the glass. The noise returned. The file hadreverted to squiggly, incomprehensible lines on top of each other. Missing words, empty spaces, fragmented sections. Her hopes dropped as she scrolled.
    Wait! There it was.
    She stopped and moved back up a page. The lines separated. The sentence she was looking for was gibberish with large spaces between word fragments, but parts were still there— Varro Chav . . . Everli . . . Moun . . . The additional missing letters let her know that if there was anything recoverable on this glass, she’d better get it fast before it all became corrupted.
    Did this mean her family could be in the Mountain? And who could she show it to who wouldn’t get her in trouble for removing Repository property?
    Her jaw clenched. The Mountain was not going to claim any more of her family. She felt the urge to scream. She tried to stand but her legs went weak. She raised her arm and with shaking fingers punched the access for Treva on her ComLink.
    Her friend’s image popped onto the screen. “Hey, girl! We’re just getting ready to leave. I’m glad you called before we got out of Link range. I’ve been thinking long and hard—” She frowned. “What’s the matter? You look terrible.”
    â€œI don’t know where to start, but I’m coming with you,” Selah said. The fear now gripping her brain was urging her to action.
    â€œWhat changed your mind, and why do you look scared?”
    â€œI just have to get away from here for a while, and I had a strange incident at the Repository you’ll have to help me figure out.” It was going to be a balancing act figuring out when to say anything. There had been something in thatfile about Landers that might help Bodhi, but she feared if she mentioned the possibility of her family being in the Mountain, Treva and Cleon would get Glade involved, and he would forbid her to go. He would try to take her data glass, and she wasn’t letting it out of her sight. This might be her only chance to help Bodhi.
    Cleon’s face pushed into the frame. His blond hair fell across his big brown eyes. If Mother saw that shaggy hair, she’d chastise him for sure. “What are you talking about, Sissy? What happened?”
    â€œNothing . . . I don’t know. I’m coming with you. I can’t stay here. Wait for me. I have to grab a few things.” She’d have to plan this right and not tell them everything until they were far enough from home that they couldn’t bring her back or contact Glade. Hopefully he would be far enough north as they went south that there’d be no communications.
    Treva pushed Cleon out of the way. “We’re loading the wagon with supplies. Come over to the Security Travel Depot when you’re ready. It will take us about a half hour, so hurry. We want to get to a campsite before dark.”

    Selah rushed around her quarters, throwing clothes and essentials into her backpack. She hadn’t pulled the pack out of the closet since she got to TicCity. It brought back memories of stuffing it this fast for her fateful trip when she had to leave her home and family. Now she found herself stuffing it with hopes of running to her family. She wished with all her might that this trip could give her the answersshe sought, but at the same time every bit of matter in her brain screamed not to go back in that place. She was lucky once, but would she be again?
    She cringed. This time she would have to go without Bodhi. He’d be another one who would never consent to letting her go back there.
    She carefully wrapped the data glass and reader in a cloth, shoved them in a leather pouch, and deposited it in a side pocket. Grabbing up the pack, she thought about contacting Glade, but then dismissed that idea.
    First she’d have to explain how she’d found the file while