Read Online Timeless by Teresa Reasor - Free Book Online Page A

frown.
    “It’s where the lightning strikes the sand and melts it into glass then sand adheres to the outside while it’s liquid.” Quinn offered it to him. “I’ve seen them before, but none as long as these. They’re very fragile and most break into pieces when you dig them.”
    The man took the vein-like sculpture and turned it in his hands to study, then passed it on to Adeline.
    “There may be no damage to the dam,” Quinn continued. “But I want you all to go on the premise that there is, so you’ll be prepared should something unexpected happen. I’d use the ROV if it wouldn’t take several days to go over the structure in the time you six can do it in a few hours. If there’s damage, we’ll have to evacuate the site and get the engineers in here to repair it before work goes any further.”
    Fergus Fraser cleared his throat drawing everyone’s attention. “Mr. Nicodemus will not be happy with any delays.” His unhurried manner of speech seemed irritatingly slow to Quinn.
    “He’ll be more unhappy if the dam gives way and water covers the site again.”
    Fraser inclined his head in agreement. “I’ll notify him of what’s happened and what you’re doing to correct the problems.”
    “My crews will be carrying audio feeds. “’Twill take only a few minutes to set them up and go back to the ship to monitor them.”
    “What about the pumps, Quinn?” Fergus asked.
    Quinn held his tongue for a beat as his resentment spiked. The foreman’s worry over the pumps seemed petty when his brothers and the other four divers would possibly be risking their lives for the sake of a few bloody stones. “I’ve set some of the more mechanically inclined staff to checking the pumps. The two I looked at will have to be replaced. The motors were blown and the ground fault receptacle melted. They must have received a hell of a strike.
    Fraser swore beneath his breath.
    “I’ve never seen anything like this. That it happened to one is strange, but to happen to all four—” Quinn shook his head.
    “There’s something else strange as well,” Rob said, gaining everyone’s attention. “I was checking my compass while on the dock. There’s something wrong with it. The needle goes around in an erratic manner and won’t give a true reading. We checked some of the others and they’re doing the same.”
    “The only way that would happen is if they were exposed to a powerful magnetic field,” Fraser said, his pale eyes holding a light of interest.
    “We have a few magnets aboard Grannos but we don’t store them anywhere close to the diving equipment,” Quinn said.
    “All things in nature have a magnetic field, Quinn The lightning may have done more than melt some sand. If there is any lodestone nearby it could have changed the magnetic field. But the chance of it affecting your team’s compasses is doubtful unless they were very close to it.”
    “We were on the dock about forty feet from the cofferdam,” Rob offered.
    Fraser shook his head. “From that distance the field would not be strong enough.”
    Quinn studied the compass. He frowned at the needle’s erratic swivel. What the hell was wrong with it? “You say they’re all like this?”
    Logan nodded. “Aye.”
    Fuck. His people would have to dive without compasses. He’d call the dive off if he could. “I’ll move Grannos here.” Quinn pointed to a position in the center of the cofferdam. I’ll point her bow toward Slioch and we’ll use cave diving reels tied beneath the deco station to fan out. Visibility is poor. If it’s too bad, we’ll wait a few hours and let the current carry more of the silt downstream before we dive.”
    *****
    Regan stood at the waist high dump sifter and gently worked the dishwashing liquid into the goose’s feathers while Stephen Berthold held its beak closed and Henry held the bird’s body still. “I think that’s got it,” she said. She picked up the spray nozzle attached to the hose and began to