Read Online Siren's Call (A Rainshadow Novel) by Jayne Castle - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jayne Castle
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during the daylight hours.”
“Creatures of the night,” she said softly.
“We’ve got two problems. First, as I’m sure you know, standard-issue hunting rifles and other high-powered weapons don’t work in the Underworld. They don’t work in the thick paranormal atmosphere of the Preserve, either, so we don’t have a practical way to hunt down the dinosaurs.”
“I see.”
“Unfortunately, they’ve got a damn good way of hunting us.”
“How?”
“They sing.”
She blinked. “What?”
“The critters hunt with psychic energy,” Rafe said. “They use it the same way predators in the deep ocean use bioluminescence to draw their prey. There’s no way to know how their animal prey interpret the psychic lures, but thehuman mind translates the energy as music—hypnotic music. It’s damn near irresistible.”
She caught her breath. “Sirens.”
She didn’t realize that she had spoken aloud until she saw Rafe smile a little.
“The dino version,” he said. “We need to figure out what wavelengths the dinos broadcast on and then we need to develop defense mechanisms that can neutralize those wavelengths.”
“This is all quite . . . fascinating,” she said.
“I had a feeling you might be interested in the job.” Rafe glanced at his watch. “But if it turns out I’m wrong, I need to find someone else and fast. Every day spent looking for talent is a very expensive day lost in Wonderland. We’ve got research teams on site and ready to go down but they can’t make a move until we’ve cleaned out the monsters.”
She cleared her throat. “My fees are quite high.”
“Not a problem. Coppersmith will double them, plus add a bonus if you give us the para-physics data we need to solve the dinosaur problem.”
She tried not to show her surprise. But the truth was that no matter how much she charged, it would be a mere drop in the bucket to Coppersmith Mining.
Singing dinosaurs. Alien technology. The chance to help open up an uncharted sector in the Underworld. The Knightsbridge Dream Institute could not turn down such a golden opportunity, she thought. A successful outcome would put her one-person firm at the top of the dreamanalysis world. The Wilson Parsons Agency could go suck untuned quartz.
There was a great deal to be said for the pleasures of payback.
“When would you expect me to start?” she asked, trying not to let her excitement show; going for a cool, calm, and professional demeanor.
Rafe checked his watch again. “I’ve got a company jet sitting on the ground at a private airfield here in Crystal. If we leave today we can be in Thursday Harbor this evening. We’ll spend the night there and take a boat to Rainshadow at first light. Can’t fly a plane near the island even on a good day. Too much paranormal interference. Messes up the instruments. It’s possible to take a boat in after dark but it’s risky. Only the locals have the experience needed to navigate the area at night, and they do it only if it’s a flat-out emergency situation.”
“You want to leave this afternoon?” Shock and dismay cascaded through her. Well, she had known the offer to work for Coppersmith Mining was probably a little too good to be true. “I’m afraid that’s not possible. I’ve got a very important business reception tonight.”
“Cancel.”
She glared at him. “Easy for you to say. This is an important business affair held by a new client—the Dreamlight Research Department at Crystal City College. Coppersmith Mining may pay well for a one-time job but I have to think of future business.”
Rafe’s jaw twitched but she could see the frustration in his eyes. She held her breath.
“Okay,” he said. “We’ll leave tomorrow. Does that work for you?”
She glanced at her calendar again. “Yes, I can reschedule my appointments. I will have to be back here in Crystal by the twenty-fifth, however.”
“That’s cutting it kind of short. Might not work.”
“You said
“Creatures of the night,” she said softly.
“We’ve got two problems. First, as I’m sure you know, standard-issue hunting rifles and other high-powered weapons don’t work in the Underworld. They don’t work in the thick paranormal atmosphere of the Preserve, either, so we don’t have a practical way to hunt down the dinosaurs.”
“I see.”
“Unfortunately, they’ve got a damn good way of hunting us.”
“How?”
“They sing.”
She blinked. “What?”
“The critters hunt with psychic energy,” Rafe said. “They use it the same way predators in the deep ocean use bioluminescence to draw their prey. There’s no way to know how their animal prey interpret the psychic lures, but thehuman mind translates the energy as music—hypnotic music. It’s damn near irresistible.”
She caught her breath. “Sirens.”
She didn’t realize that she had spoken aloud until she saw Rafe smile a little.
“The dino version,” he said. “We need to figure out what wavelengths the dinos broadcast on and then we need to develop defense mechanisms that can neutralize those wavelengths.”
“This is all quite . . . fascinating,” she said.
“I had a feeling you might be interested in the job.” Rafe glanced at his watch. “But if it turns out I’m wrong, I need to find someone else and fast. Every day spent looking for talent is a very expensive day lost in Wonderland. We’ve got research teams on site and ready to go down but they can’t make a move until we’ve cleaned out the monsters.”
She cleared her throat. “My fees are quite high.”
“Not a problem. Coppersmith will double them, plus add a bonus if you give us the para-physics data we need to solve the dinosaur problem.”
She tried not to show her surprise. But the truth was that no matter how much she charged, it would be a mere drop in the bucket to Coppersmith Mining.
Singing dinosaurs. Alien technology. The chance to help open up an uncharted sector in the Underworld. The Knightsbridge Dream Institute could not turn down such a golden opportunity, she thought. A successful outcome would put her one-person firm at the top of the dreamanalysis world. The Wilson Parsons Agency could go suck untuned quartz.
There was a great deal to be said for the pleasures of payback.
“When would you expect me to start?” she asked, trying not to let her excitement show; going for a cool, calm, and professional demeanor.
Rafe checked his watch again. “I’ve got a company jet sitting on the ground at a private airfield here in Crystal. If we leave today we can be in Thursday Harbor this evening. We’ll spend the night there and take a boat to Rainshadow at first light. Can’t fly a plane near the island even on a good day. Too much paranormal interference. Messes up the instruments. It’s possible to take a boat in after dark but it’s risky. Only the locals have the experience needed to navigate the area at night, and they do it only if it’s a flat-out emergency situation.”
“You want to leave this afternoon?” Shock and dismay cascaded through her. Well, she had known the offer to work for Coppersmith Mining was probably a little too good to be true. “I’m afraid that’s not possible. I’ve got a very important business reception tonight.”
“Cancel.”
She glared at him. “Easy for you to say. This is an important business affair held by a new client—the Dreamlight Research Department at Crystal City College. Coppersmith Mining may pay well for a one-time job but I have to think of future business.”
Rafe’s jaw twitched but she could see the frustration in his eyes. She held her breath.
“Okay,” he said. “We’ll leave tomorrow. Does that work for you?”
She glanced at her calendar again. “Yes, I can reschedule my appointments. I will have to be back here in Crystal by the twenty-fifth, however.”
“That’s cutting it kind of short. Might not work.”
“You said
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