So this is what being entombed feels like.
“Your arms will go into those sleeves, but we’ll leave that bit for now…”
Focusing hard, Cally readied herself for a crash-course in not dying.
Sixteen
The sky had lightened from a cloudy black to a rich indigo when at last Noah came to find them. He stood in front of the suit so Cally could see him through her narrow window.
“Ryan’s asking for you to fine-tune our course. We must be getting close.”
“Yeah, sure.” Cally took the excuse to stretch, easing her back as much as the suit would allow, and focused on the bond. “We’re a bit off, not too bad. About ten degrees to the right.”
“Starboard,” Brent said from behind her.
“Ten degreesto the right, got it.” Noah grinned and turned to shout at the cabin. “Ten degreesright, Ryan!”
“Landlubbers,” muttered Brent.
“Do we need to let Gabe know?”
Noah looked past her, off their stern, to where Gabe’s yacht followed in their wake. “No, he can see us.” He pushed his face up to her visor and peered inside. “How’s it going?”
“It’s okay. Brent’s been great,” she said, speaking up so Noah could hear her through the helmet. “But so far it’s all theory. I can’t get a feel for the controls until we’re in the water.”And then it’s real.
“I’m sure you’ll do fine.” He leaned to the side to look past her. “Let’s get her out, Brent. She needs a break before you both go down.”
Extricating herself was less graceful than getting in, even with both of them helping, but it was worth it just to be able to move freely again. She’d lost track of time, but hours had passed as Brent walked her through everything repeatedly.Over and over.She smiled at the thought.Not long now, Antoine.
“How much farther?” she asked.
“I don’t know.” Noah gestured at the waves surrounding them. “This area all looks the same to me.”
She gave him a flat look.
He grinned. “I think we must be nearly there. It took three hours from Boston and WHOI is a way south, but we’ve been traveling almost five.”
At least Noah’s in a good mood.He was almost as keen as she was to have Antoine back.
She followed him into the relative warmth of the cabin, standing near the heater to work the chill from her bones. Zoey seemed to be asleep with her head resting on her arms on the table, but she looked up and gave her a nod before settling down again. Brent stood near the door, arms folded. Amir, another of Gabe’s thralls, sat at the table opposite Zoey.
“Bearing okay?” Ryan asked.
She checked the bond. “Yeah, still fine.”
There was nothing to do but wait, and not for the first time she wished she could use the connection to talk to Antoine.
Cally was looking at Noah when it happened. His eyes took on a distant look, and his face went slack. Then he screamed, primal and laced with desperation, the sound of it making her skin crawl. She took a pace toward him as he dropped to his knees and screamed again, clutching at his head.
Ryan reacted fast, pulling a gun from his belt and pointing it at Noah.
“No!” Cally cried, but she was too far away to stop him. Brent was closest, but he didn’t interfere. Amir didn’t move, just letting it happen.
A softthwipsounded, and a dart embedded itself in Noah’s chest, topped with a tuft of red feathers. His next scream was weaker, yet still raw. Ryan reloaded, calm and composed, and fired once more. The second dart struck beside the first, and Noah whimpered, still clutching his head.
Again Ryan reloaded, but when the weapon came up, it was pointed at Zoey, his expression grim but focused, his hand rock-steady.
Zoey sat frozen, staring at Noah, as stunned as Cally. Noah keeled over, slumping to the floor on his side.
