Read Online Meteorite Strike by A. G. Taylor - Free Book Online

build bridges, not cars,” Daniel replied with a distinct edge to his voice. “Why don’t you two go and play for fifteen minutes while I sort this?”
    â€œBut I want to help you!” Robert protested as Sarah dragged him away.
    They wandered in the dunes for a while.
    In the east, a column of smoke stretched across the horizon where the fire had been the night before. The flames of the fire weren’t visible in the daylight, but judging by the amount of smoke, it looked as if it was still burning.
    To keep Robert occupied, Sarah got him to collect rocks that looked interesting. That worked for all of two minutes before he started complaining he was bored. Normally Sarah would have just shouted at him, but she bit her tongue. She really didn’t want to argue any more.
    In the distance the sound of the truck engine firing sent them running back. They found Daniel standing by the open door to the vehicle.
    â€œYou fixed it!” Robert cried, running to the door. Daniel slammed it as he got close, drawing him up fast.
    â€œWhat’s wrong, Daniel?”
    â€œAsk your sister,” Daniel replied, his face dark and serious as he held up the shoulder bag in his right hand.
    Robert looked round at Sarah, who managed a casual shrug.
    â€œLost something, Daniel?” she asked, meeting his gaze and holding it.
    â€œI think you know what I’ve lost,” he said, pulling the glasses case from the bag and tossing it at her feet. “I guess I should have kept a closer eye on my stuff.”
    Robert looked from Sarah to Daniel and back again in confusion.
    â€œSarah? What’s he talking about?”
    â€œHe’s not an engineer, Robert, just some kind of smuggler,” she said, taking his arm and pulling him away.
    â€œThat’s not true!” Robert cried, looking back at the man. “Tell her, Daniel.”
    â€œSarah, it’s not what you think,” Daniel began, shaking his head. “I am an engineer. But sometimes I’m paid to transport things around the world as well.”
    Sarah let out a laugh.
    â€œThat’s why you’ve got diamonds hidden in your flight bag, is it?”
    â€œI need them back, Sarah,” Daniel said evenly. “They don’t belong to me and if I don’t deliver them to Melbourne I’m going to be in serious trouble.”
    â€œAnd what if I don’t want to go to Melbourne any more?” she said, standing firm. “What if I want to head to Adelaide? Or Sydney? Or the nearest police station?”
    Daniel grimaced and reached through the open window of the truck, pulling out the keys.
    â€œThen we’d have a problem,” he said, taking a step towards them. “Why don’t you just give back the diamonds, Sarah. We can carry on like nothing happened.”
    Robert turned on his sister. “You ruin everything!”
    Sarah backed away in shock. “You don’t understand, Robert…”
    â€œDaniel saved us!” Robert’s eyes were big and filling with tears. “Daniel helped us and you stole from him.”
    â€œHe’s the thief! How do we know we can trust him? He’s lying to us, just like all the others!”
    Without warning, Daniel stepped between them, his hand closing around Sarah’s upper arm and squeezing. His eyes bore into hers and she felt her knees weaken as she tried to pull away.
    â€œWhere are they?” he demanded.
    â€œBuried. In the desert.”
    â€œI don’t believe you.”
    â€œI did it last night. While you were sleeping.”
    â€œYou’re lying.”
    â€œYou’re hurting me.”
    Daniel’s grip tightened on her arm.
    â€œI want that bag, Sarah.”
    They faced each other in silence for a moment, locked in a stand-off. Finally, the spell was broken as a small rock landed against the side of Daniel’s head, causing him to turn in surprise.
    â€œLet her go!” Robert cried out, picking