2041 Sanctuary (Genesis) by Robert Storey Read Free Book Online Page B

else?’
    The man swallowed. ‘There are no other options. It’s the only place in range with access to the next chamber.’
    ‘You’re saying give up and go back?’
    ‘We can’t see any—’
    ‘Fire the damn mortar.’
    ‘Yes, Colonel.’
    The man saluted and hurried away while Samson stood by, waiting.
    Soon after, an explosion thundered out and another spear soared out into the dark to punch home into the Anakim building over a mile away. The massive winch whirred into reverse, bringing the nano-fabricated cable taut, and the engineer gave the all-clear.
    Samson frowned and summoned one of his Terra Force captains.
    ‘Sir?’ the man said.
    ‘What’s the hold up? Why aren’t our men ready to cross?’
    ‘Word is the anchor’s not stable; no one wants to go over.’
    ‘Want? This is the U.S. Army; there is no want, only do.’
    ‘Yes, sir, but the engineers are predicting the same result. We’ve already lost many men,’ he indicated the mounting body bags from the most recent incident, ‘morale is low – would it not be wiser to try an alternate route?’
    ‘So you’re the hold up?’
    ‘No, sir.’
    Samson glared at him.
    ‘Yes, sir, but—’
    Samson pushed the man aside and moved to the nano-cable. He gestured to an engineer. ‘Hook me up.’
    The man bobbed his head and clipped a small line from the large cable onto the inbuilt harness of Samson’s armour and the exoskeleton within. Giving the connection a couple of yanks to ensure it was secure, the engineer then handed Samson two attachments for his boots. ‘These will allow you to walk on the cable; each step you take will slide your foot forward on either side. If you need to unhook, just use your visor control system.’ He stepped back to allow the colonel to mount the thick, wire rope.
    Samson clipped his boot adapters onto the cable and gave the signal to load up the equipment behind.
    A multi-wheeled rail rolled forward and another two lines secured him to the rolling stock. Samson braced himself against the resistance.
    ‘Colonel,’ the chief engineer said, moving to his side, ‘the equipment sled is designed to be pulled by two people, preferably three.’
    Samson leaned lower and grasped the cable. ‘Release the brakes.’
    The man’s expression was dubious, but he nodded and gave the signal. Samson lent into the harness, tensed his stomach and gave a mighty heave with his arms, while forcing his legs straight. The sled inched forward and Samson repeated the process and, like a strong man completing a truck pull, he dragged the weight behind him slowly gaining momentum. By the time he was halfway across, he was labouring. Sucking in air and expelling it in a cycle of pain, he grimaced and used his visor to redirect power into the exoskeleton to help him continue. Minutes felt like hours and he gritted his teeth. I will not fail . I will not fail! I WILL NOT FAIL!! A picture of Ophion’s face appeared in his mind, fuelling his anger and propelling him on.
    More agonising moments passed before the crumbling architecture of the Anakim monument came into view.
    Loose sediment fell from around the cable’s anchor point and the engineer spoke through Samson’s helmet speakers. ‘Colonel, it’s holding, but the closer you get, the greater the shear factor. The load is reduced, as there’s one man instead of three, but you need to act fast.’
    A crack appeared in the building’s stone façade and every step closer increased its size. Warning symbols danced across Samson’s visor and he slowed to a stop, his chest heaving.
    ‘Sir,’ the engineer said, ‘you need to move … NOW!’
    The cable shuddered and a web of smaller cracks spread out from the first. Samson stood up, detached his safety cord and secured a winch line from his armour to the cable.
    ‘What are you doing?!’ the engineer said.
    Another shudder set the cable rocking; Samson clipped another winch line to the sled and redirected all the power from his