Read Online Quantum by Jess Anastasi - Free Book Online Page B

change.”
    Rian took another piece of fruit from the crate Zahli had purchased. “How so?”
    Hendricks motioned for him to come along and then started off at a stroll.
    He glanced back at his sister. “Once you’ve secured the supplies, you’re off the books until the twelve hours are up. Comm me if you need anything.”
    Zahli nodded and then headed after Kira, who’d already gone on to the next stall in the marketplace.
    Rian took a moment to check his comm, but like the last twenty times he’d done so, there was still no new message on the ship’s logs. With every hour he didn’t hear from Mae, the icy claws in his spine dug harder and deeper, telling him something had gone wrong and he needed to help her.
    Slipping his comm away again, he took a few quick strides to catch up with Hendricks. As he did, Callan, the ship’s security specialist, and Lianna fell into step a few meters behind them.
    “We’re hoping to turn our little planet into a tourist mecca for history buffs,” Hendricks continued, as if there hadn’t been a break in conversation. “You’ve actually landed at a very fortuitous time. We’re having an official celebration tonight to commemorate the discovery.”
    “Discovery?” Rian tossed the core of the apple into a garden and glanced back at Callan and Lianna still following at a distance. Hopefully the celebration, whatever it was, wouldn’t get in the way of their plans to launch later in the day.
    “We discovered some carvings in a stone wall outside the city. The language is like nothing in this galaxy. Would you care to visit the site? Once you leave Nadira, you could spread stories of the marvel. Help get the word out.”
    He’d only been half listening, because he didn’t really care about what some small-time high president thought would put his back-of-beyond planet on the map.
    Except at the mention of a language like nothing in this galaxy , his skin started pricking like there were icicles in his flesh. Was this the other boot he’d been waiting to drop and kick him in the guts since going with the unsettling urge to land on Nadira?
    “I would love to see your discovery. Can I bring a couple of my people along? We’d be more than happy to spread the word.” Not. No way in the fiery pits of Erebus. Not if his current paranoid thoughts turned out to be right. Jezus , he really hoped for once that he was wrong.
    “Of course. The more the merrier, I say. It really is something everyone should see. I think our little planet is going to change history.”
    Rian glanced back and nodded at Callan and Lianna. The two of them caught up as Hendricks led them to the edge of the marketplace, where a shuttle sat waiting.
    “We have scientists, archaeologists, language specialists, all sorts of people coming and going from the site all day. None of them can make heads or tails of the carvings,” Hendricks said as they boarded the bus.
    “You don’t say,” Rian muttered in return, taking a seat near the doors. The more he heard, the less he liked.
    The trip out of the city limits to the discovery site took a little over half an hour, and Hendricks kept up a steady, one-sided conversation about the planet and his hopes for the future of his world.
    The shuttle set down on the edge of a field bordered by scraggly forest at the bottom of a sheer cliff. Above, inhospitable mountains provided a stark backdrop. A chaotic tent city blocked view of the site, as though it had started out as one or two tents and then increased over time. The makeshift shuttle stop had a line of people waiting to depart once the current passengers disembarked.
    Rian followed Hendricks off and then waited for Callan and Lianna to join him before they headed down the track worn into the grass from heavy foot traffic. Closer to the rock face, it got more and more crowded, people working on various instruments, taking notes, and conducting group discussions. Rian shook his head at the commotion. It really