Read Online The Hidden Goddess by M K Hobson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: M K Hobson
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said, Miss Edwards, I’m just here to protect you. If you will cover me, I have a way to get us out of this terrible predicament.”
Emily lifted her shotgun again. An earthworm was whipping and flailing up from the ground; she wasn’t quite sure where she should put her shot. Finally, she just blasted the thing in two. She wondered if, like a normal earthworm, the thing would continue to live in two sections. But it had stopped wiggling toward them, at least.
“What does the Sini Mira want with me?” As she struggled to reload, she noticed that he had taken a pineapple-shaped device from his jacket pocket. He pulled a small glass vial from somewhere inside his shirt, pulling out the cork with his teeth. He poured the contents of the vial into the device and screwed the top shut as he spoke.
“I apologize,” he said finally, “but that is not for me to answer.”
Then, popping up from behind the wagon, he depressed a button on top of the pineapple-thing and threw it into the vast black pool of Exunge that was gathering in the middle of the ruined street.
There was a bright flash as the contraption exploded. A sparkling, glowing mat spread over the Black Exunge. Little glistening bubbles formed, glittering edges rushing out from the center of the pool like a piece of paper burning from the center. The Exunge solidified like cooling magma, turning an ashy-gray color. No more Aberrancies blossomed from within it; those that were still alive slowed, their movements becoming stiff and jerky.
“Aberrant-resistant bacteria,” he said. “It neutralizes Black Exunge, then devours it. It is a sadly fumble-handed technology for the battle situation. The bacteria must be kept warm, by the body, until it is ready for use, and then mixed with a high-powered glucose solution at the last minute.” He paused. “My name is Dmitri.”
Emily gaped at him, trying to think of what she should say to
that
when something slammed against her head, staggering her backward. Everything went blurry. There was a high buzzing sound and the rapid sound of beating wings. She thudded to the ground, her foot catching between two loose stones, twisting her ankle. Pain sparkled up her leg. She was aware of dark hairy parts pawing at her face and chest; shebrought up her shotgun to fend the thing off. A flying thing, buzzing and whirring, with a long tubular mouthpart.
A mosquito
, Emily realized, hazily. A giant goddamn mosquito.
She swung the shotgun blindly, trying to beat the thing back, but it was on her, probing and groping, heavy as a small child. Dmitri was trying to pull it off her.
But the needlelike feeding mouth of the thing was feeling for the place of bare skin between her belt and shirt …
Then the tube plunged in, and Emily screamed.
“Quiet now. Don’t try to move.”
A sour liquid was trickling down her throat, spilling over the corners of her mouth. Coughing, she spat it out. Her entire body vibrated and hummed; she felt like a string that had just been plucked. She itched all over.
“Slowly now, Miss Edwards,” Dmitri said as he helped her sit up.
Her hand fumbled at her waist, encountering a welting wound that was the size of a dinner plate. It itched like mad. She scratched with momentary frenzy before Dmitri pulled her hand away.
“Don’t,” he said. “You will make yourself bleed.”
Emily looked over. Nearby, the giant mosquito lay dead, its head blown half away, its myriad eyes dull and lifeless. Dmitri had the rifle by his knee. He was putting the cap on a small bottle that he tucked back into his pocket.
“What was that?” she asked suspiciously. Her voice sounded far away in her own buzzing ears.
“A restorative elixir … nothing baneful,” Dmitri said. “I know you don’t trust me, Miss Edwards. But as I have said—”
“Yes, I know. You’re here to protect me.” Emily blinked thick mucus from her watering eyes. She rubbed her face, trying to will away the terrible itching. Whatever
Emily lifted her shotgun again. An earthworm was whipping and flailing up from the ground; she wasn’t quite sure where she should put her shot. Finally, she just blasted the thing in two. She wondered if, like a normal earthworm, the thing would continue to live in two sections. But it had stopped wiggling toward them, at least.
“What does the Sini Mira want with me?” As she struggled to reload, she noticed that he had taken a pineapple-shaped device from his jacket pocket. He pulled a small glass vial from somewhere inside his shirt, pulling out the cork with his teeth. He poured the contents of the vial into the device and screwed the top shut as he spoke.
“I apologize,” he said finally, “but that is not for me to answer.”
Then, popping up from behind the wagon, he depressed a button on top of the pineapple-thing and threw it into the vast black pool of Exunge that was gathering in the middle of the ruined street.
There was a bright flash as the contraption exploded. A sparkling, glowing mat spread over the Black Exunge. Little glistening bubbles formed, glittering edges rushing out from the center of the pool like a piece of paper burning from the center. The Exunge solidified like cooling magma, turning an ashy-gray color. No more Aberrancies blossomed from within it; those that were still alive slowed, their movements becoming stiff and jerky.
“Aberrant-resistant bacteria,” he said. “It neutralizes Black Exunge, then devours it. It is a sadly fumble-handed technology for the battle situation. The bacteria must be kept warm, by the body, until it is ready for use, and then mixed with a high-powered glucose solution at the last minute.” He paused. “My name is Dmitri.”
Emily gaped at him, trying to think of what she should say to
that
when something slammed against her head, staggering her backward. Everything went blurry. There was a high buzzing sound and the rapid sound of beating wings. She thudded to the ground, her foot catching between two loose stones, twisting her ankle. Pain sparkled up her leg. She was aware of dark hairy parts pawing at her face and chest; shebrought up her shotgun to fend the thing off. A flying thing, buzzing and whirring, with a long tubular mouthpart.
A mosquito
, Emily realized, hazily. A giant goddamn mosquito.
She swung the shotgun blindly, trying to beat the thing back, but it was on her, probing and groping, heavy as a small child. Dmitri was trying to pull it off her.
But the needlelike feeding mouth of the thing was feeling for the place of bare skin between her belt and shirt …
Then the tube plunged in, and Emily screamed.
“Quiet now. Don’t try to move.”
A sour liquid was trickling down her throat, spilling over the corners of her mouth. Coughing, she spat it out. Her entire body vibrated and hummed; she felt like a string that had just been plucked. She itched all over.
“Slowly now, Miss Edwards,” Dmitri said as he helped her sit up.
Her hand fumbled at her waist, encountering a welting wound that was the size of a dinner plate. It itched like mad. She scratched with momentary frenzy before Dmitri pulled her hand away.
“Don’t,” he said. “You will make yourself bleed.”
Emily looked over. Nearby, the giant mosquito lay dead, its head blown half away, its myriad eyes dull and lifeless. Dmitri had the rifle by his knee. He was putting the cap on a small bottle that he tucked back into his pocket.
“What was that?” she asked suspiciously. Her voice sounded far away in her own buzzing ears.
“A restorative elixir … nothing baneful,” Dmitri said. “I know you don’t trust me, Miss Edwards. But as I have said—”
“Yes, I know. You’re here to protect me.” Emily blinked thick mucus from her watering eyes. She rubbed her face, trying to will away the terrible itching. Whatever
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