Ambush by Sigmund Brouwer Read Free Book Online Page B

wanted. Almost 200 hostages were being used as a bargaining tool in Dr. Jordan’s game of war. We were less than two days away from the shuttle launch that was necessary to supply the dome.
    Far more important than all of our lives, however, was that the Mars Dome had to survive—for the future of millions and millions of people on Earth. Phase 1 had been to establish the dome, and we were now in Phase 2: growing plants outside the dome so more oxygen could be added to the atmosphere. Eventually people would be able to live on Mars.
    That was long-term.
    Now it seemed the short term was equally crucial. I knew enough about Earth politics to understand how easily wars started. World War I had begun because one person in a small European country was assassinated. Given the unrest of that time, it had been like a spark set among dry grass, and fighting had spread across Europe from there, dragging in the United States too. Now, with some of the World United countries ready to rebel, a hostage taking on Mars might be all it would take to start another world war. How many would die then?
    I was too miserable in my thoughts to even bother juggling.
    Mom once told me that it’s easier to hear God in quiet times. A nudge in your heart, maybe, or new thoughts that help you deal with your problem.
    It was easy to be silent in the storage room.
    I prayed, asking God to help. But more importantly I asked him to help me be as strong as possible, no matter what happened.
    Then from the silent darkness around me came a tiny voice, floating near my head. “Tyce,” it said from thin air, “listen to me without speaking!”

CHAPTER 14
    My head and neck froze, but my eyeballs went side to side and up and down.
    â€œGod?” I whispered. “Is that you?”
    After all, I had been praying to God. But somehow I hadn’t expected him to answer. Why would God want to talk to me out of all the people in the universe? On the other hand, maybe the voice was just my imagination. Was I going crazy, locked up in this dark room?
    â€œQuiet!” the tiny, floating voice said quickly. “Don’t bring the security guards in here!”
    It has to be God, I thought with a quick intake of breath. “But you could stop them so easily that—”
    â€œQuiet, Tyce! Listen! I don’t have much time!”
    â€œOkay,” I whispered, feeling weird talking to God like this. Had I lost my mind?
    A much louder voice interrupted. From outside the door. One of the security guys. “Kid, what do you want?”
    â€œHuh?” I asked.
    The door opened. It was night, and most of the dome lights had been dimmed. The guard stepped halfway into the storage room, which meant he almost filled it. “What do you want? Is it time for your bathroom break?”
    â€œNo,” I answered.
    â€œWhat’s going on then?”
    â€œJust talking to myself.” Was I just talking to myself? Had I imagined the voice?
    â€œWell, knock it off,” the guard grunted, then slammed the door shut.
    The silence returned to the darkness. I waited and waited, wondering if I would hear the voice again.
    It came. Floating in the air. “See? Told you not to make any noise. Are you ready to listen?”
    If it was God speaking, he didn’t have to point out that he was always right. But I wasn’t going to say it. Not if it would bring the guard back and prove God right again.
    â€œTyce, take out the robot pack. Set it on the floor.”
    If I do that and the guard walks in …
    â€œTake out the robot pack. Set it on the floor.”
    I was losing my mind.
    â€œThere is hardly any time left. Do it!”
    Slowly I leaned forward. The robot pack had been digging into my lower back for so long I was grateful to pull it loose. I hesitated, then finally leaned over and set it on the floor. This is crazy. Really. If the guard walks in and finds it …
    I waited for the voice to say something