Read Online The Gathering: Quantum Prophecy 2 by Michael Carroll - Free Book Online
Authors: Michael Carroll
Ads: Link
you?”
Colin shook his head. “Of course not. But you have to…” Colin froze. His superhuman hearing picked up a familiar sound from far away. “Transport’s here.”
They ran back downstairs, Renata still clutching the bear. “It’s here, Dad!” Colin shouted from the hall as he picked up the largest of the suitcases.
He opened the front door and ignored the sudden onslaught of camera flashes and the cheering. The two police officers turned to look at him.
“Thanks,” Colin said.
“That’s what they pay us the big bucks for,” one of them replied. “But I should be thanking you. My wife’s cousin Dave was one of the people you rescued from the toy store tonight.”
“The shop assistant?”
“That’s him. You and Diamond saved his life.”
“Is he OK?”
“Cuts and bruises, a few minor burns. He’s a lot better than he would have been if you two hadn’t been there…” The police officer’s voice trailed off as he became aware of a low rumbling noise. He glanced upward and saw a large black vehicle descending slowly from the night sky. “What on earth is
that
thing?”
“That’s a StratoTruck,” Colin said.
“I want one of those!”
The StratoTruck was about the size of a transport helicopter, but shorter and wider. It had short wings at the back, and was powered by four large turbine engines that could pivot to provide forward thrust as well as lift.
As Colin’s parents and Renata filed out behind him, the StratoTruck gently settled on the road, the downdraft from itspowerful turbines blowing dust over everything. The craft was immediately surrounded by neighbors and reporters, all taking photographs or trying to touch it.
The StratoTruck’s hatch opened, and a burly man wearing combat gear and full body-armor climbed out and strode up to Warren. “Titan?” he asked, his voice gruff and low.
“That’s me,” Warren said, shaking hands with the man. “So you’re house-sitting for us?”
The man nodded. “Four tours of duty with the marines. I’m an expert in weapons and security. I’m the best man for this job. I give you my word that while I am here, no unauthorized person will gain access to your home.”
“That’s nice to hear,” Caroline said. “There’s food in the fridge and I’ve left a list of phone numbers just in case anything happens.”
Colin said, “You can use the video if you like but you’re not allowed to have your friends around.”
Renata laughed, but the soldier didn’t.
“Get in,” Warren said to the teenagers.
Colin climbed on board and saw that Danny’s mother was already there. “Where’s Danny and Niall?” he asked as Renata passed the bags to him. Mrs. Cooper didn’t reply; she looked extremely angry about something.
Then the StratoTruck’s pilot turned around and said, “We’re going to pick them up next.”
Colin almost dropped one of the suitcases. “
Façade?
What are you doing here?”
“Don’t worry, I know how to fly this thing.”
“That’s not what I meant! I just thought…”
“I’m as much a part of this as you are, Colin. Now get the others on board and strap yourselves in.”
Warren and Façade exchanged reasonably courteous nods, but Caroline refused to even look at him.
“All right then,” Façade said. “Everyone ready?”
As the hatch swung closed, and the StratoTruck’s powerful turbines whined into life, Colin peered out through one of the little windows and realized that he was almost face-to-face with Brian McDonald, who was staring back at him with a betrayed look on his face. Colin felt a knot twist in his stomach.
Oh God…I should have told him!
The police officers began to usher everyone away from the StratoTruck.
Colin looked at Brian one last time and mouthed the words, “I’m sorry. Good-bye.”
Then the StratoTruck lifted off the ground, spun about and soared into the night.
6
A FTER D ANNY , N IALL AND P ARAGON HAD been picked up, Façade piloted the StratoTruck
Colin shook his head. “Of course not. But you have to…” Colin froze. His superhuman hearing picked up a familiar sound from far away. “Transport’s here.”
They ran back downstairs, Renata still clutching the bear. “It’s here, Dad!” Colin shouted from the hall as he picked up the largest of the suitcases.
He opened the front door and ignored the sudden onslaught of camera flashes and the cheering. The two police officers turned to look at him.
“Thanks,” Colin said.
“That’s what they pay us the big bucks for,” one of them replied. “But I should be thanking you. My wife’s cousin Dave was one of the people you rescued from the toy store tonight.”
“The shop assistant?”
“That’s him. You and Diamond saved his life.”
“Is he OK?”
“Cuts and bruises, a few minor burns. He’s a lot better than he would have been if you two hadn’t been there…” The police officer’s voice trailed off as he became aware of a low rumbling noise. He glanced upward and saw a large black vehicle descending slowly from the night sky. “What on earth is
that
thing?”
“That’s a StratoTruck,” Colin said.
“I want one of those!”
The StratoTruck was about the size of a transport helicopter, but shorter and wider. It had short wings at the back, and was powered by four large turbine engines that could pivot to provide forward thrust as well as lift.
As Colin’s parents and Renata filed out behind him, the StratoTruck gently settled on the road, the downdraft from itspowerful turbines blowing dust over everything. The craft was immediately surrounded by neighbors and reporters, all taking photographs or trying to touch it.
The StratoTruck’s hatch opened, and a burly man wearing combat gear and full body-armor climbed out and strode up to Warren. “Titan?” he asked, his voice gruff and low.
“That’s me,” Warren said, shaking hands with the man. “So you’re house-sitting for us?”
The man nodded. “Four tours of duty with the marines. I’m an expert in weapons and security. I’m the best man for this job. I give you my word that while I am here, no unauthorized person will gain access to your home.”
“That’s nice to hear,” Caroline said. “There’s food in the fridge and I’ve left a list of phone numbers just in case anything happens.”
Colin said, “You can use the video if you like but you’re not allowed to have your friends around.”
Renata laughed, but the soldier didn’t.
“Get in,” Warren said to the teenagers.
Colin climbed on board and saw that Danny’s mother was already there. “Where’s Danny and Niall?” he asked as Renata passed the bags to him. Mrs. Cooper didn’t reply; she looked extremely angry about something.
Then the StratoTruck’s pilot turned around and said, “We’re going to pick them up next.”
Colin almost dropped one of the suitcases. “
Façade?
What are you doing here?”
“Don’t worry, I know how to fly this thing.”
“That’s not what I meant! I just thought…”
“I’m as much a part of this as you are, Colin. Now get the others on board and strap yourselves in.”
Warren and Façade exchanged reasonably courteous nods, but Caroline refused to even look at him.
“All right then,” Façade said. “Everyone ready?”
As the hatch swung closed, and the StratoTruck’s powerful turbines whined into life, Colin peered out through one of the little windows and realized that he was almost face-to-face with Brian McDonald, who was staring back at him with a betrayed look on his face. Colin felt a knot twist in his stomach.
Oh God…I should have told him!
The police officers began to usher everyone away from the StratoTruck.
Colin looked at Brian one last time and mouthed the words, “I’m sorry. Good-bye.”
Then the StratoTruck lifted off the ground, spun about and soared into the night.
6
A FTER D ANNY , N IALL AND P ARAGON HAD been picked up, Façade piloted the StratoTruck
Similar Books
