Cloud Country by Andy Futuro Read Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Andy Futuro
buttons on the control panel. A blast of air hit her in the face.
“What are you doing?” John asked.
Now it was too hot, something was warming her seat. Saru pressed another button and the walls reappeared; she felt suddenly claustrophobic. She pressed the button again and the walls vanished.
“I’m trying to find a map, GPS or something.” Saru turned a nob and the radio came on. She froze. She heard the word “Hathaway” spoken by a perky female voice. It was message, repeating, over and over:
“Welcome to Hathaway Security’s Sky Defender Service: Keeping the Skies Open for Business. Due to recent terrorist activities, unauthorized flight is now prohibited. Please direct your aircraft to the nearest Hathaway-sanctioned airport, and submit to a friendly search. Activate your autopilot now to comply. Remember, your safety is our priority. Welcome to…”
Saru turned the dial, flipping through all the radio stations. The message played on every one. John reached over and switched the radio off.
“Ignore the message,” he said. “The scions are using the perceived terrorist attack in Philadelphia to consolidate power. If the Hathaways knew where we were they would have intercepted us already.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Saru said. “It’s never gonna end. I should have stayed. I should’ve made it easy on myself. What was I thinking?”
“The fool dwells in the past,” John said. “The fool claims to know cause, and the fool sees the future with clarity. What appears to be harmful now can be a blessing with the passing of time.”
“Bullshit.”
“Hardly,” John said, with infuriating calm. “We cannot say where your actions or my actions will lead. I was a Gaesporan. Now I am not. Who can say if this is for my harm or for my benefit, or for yours, or for others? All we can do is act to the best of our abilities, where we are, with what we know. If your mind remains trapped in the pity of the past and the fear of the future, you cannot see the opportunity of the now.”
“There is no opportunity ,” Saru hissed. “We are fucked.”
“A pithy analysis,” John said, dryly. “But narrow-minded. You are as limited by the routine of your thinking as I was by the rigidity of the Gaespora. Let us dissect the information you have shared with me. The Blue God protected you. The Blue God attempted to speak with you. Do you think this was an idle deed? Even if you have no desire to explore these visions, you can make use of the gifts of the Blue God. Are you so eager to squander your powers? Can you truly not fathom the rewards of a connection to such a being as the Blue God? You can protect yourself from the violence of others. You can hide yourself. Unlocking these visions may be the key to your survival.”
Saru thought. Could that be true? Could she actually have some kind of power? The power that Ria had had? It was true her skin had shone gold, and she had survived things that definitely should have killed her. And if she could learn to control that power? Make it come at will? A shiver ran down her spine, excitement, and fear, and a note of something else—lust, or hunger.
“You know how I can do that?” she asked.
“I know my own training,” John said. “I know much of how the Gods exert their will upon our humble rock. I know beings who may be able to help you more.”
“That’s the ‘place’ you’re talking about.”
“Indeed. There is a being in particular who comes to mind, a member of the Gaespora. Her name is Tess. She is fond of humans, but shy. She lives in a dimensional estuary, a place on the margin of our world and another. It can be found only by those who can hear her song.”
“Magic shit, eh?”
“If you insist. As a Gaesporan, Tess would reveal herself to me, but with my connection severed I must find her song on my own. I need not explain the advantage.”
“No, I get it. You can find this place with your psychic antenna, and if we ever make it
“What are you doing?” John asked.
Now it was too hot, something was warming her seat. Saru pressed another button and the walls reappeared; she felt suddenly claustrophobic. She pressed the button again and the walls vanished.
“I’m trying to find a map, GPS or something.” Saru turned a nob and the radio came on. She froze. She heard the word “Hathaway” spoken by a perky female voice. It was message, repeating, over and over:
“Welcome to Hathaway Security’s Sky Defender Service: Keeping the Skies Open for Business. Due to recent terrorist activities, unauthorized flight is now prohibited. Please direct your aircraft to the nearest Hathaway-sanctioned airport, and submit to a friendly search. Activate your autopilot now to comply. Remember, your safety is our priority. Welcome to…”
Saru turned the dial, flipping through all the radio stations. The message played on every one. John reached over and switched the radio off.
“Ignore the message,” he said. “The scions are using the perceived terrorist attack in Philadelphia to consolidate power. If the Hathaways knew where we were they would have intercepted us already.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Saru said. “It’s never gonna end. I should have stayed. I should’ve made it easy on myself. What was I thinking?”
“The fool dwells in the past,” John said. “The fool claims to know cause, and the fool sees the future with clarity. What appears to be harmful now can be a blessing with the passing of time.”
“Bullshit.”
“Hardly,” John said, with infuriating calm. “We cannot say where your actions or my actions will lead. I was a Gaesporan. Now I am not. Who can say if this is for my harm or for my benefit, or for yours, or for others? All we can do is act to the best of our abilities, where we are, with what we know. If your mind remains trapped in the pity of the past and the fear of the future, you cannot see the opportunity of the now.”
“There is no opportunity ,” Saru hissed. “We are fucked.”
“A pithy analysis,” John said, dryly. “But narrow-minded. You are as limited by the routine of your thinking as I was by the rigidity of the Gaespora. Let us dissect the information you have shared with me. The Blue God protected you. The Blue God attempted to speak with you. Do you think this was an idle deed? Even if you have no desire to explore these visions, you can make use of the gifts of the Blue God. Are you so eager to squander your powers? Can you truly not fathom the rewards of a connection to such a being as the Blue God? You can protect yourself from the violence of others. You can hide yourself. Unlocking these visions may be the key to your survival.”
Saru thought. Could that be true? Could she actually have some kind of power? The power that Ria had had? It was true her skin had shone gold, and she had survived things that definitely should have killed her. And if she could learn to control that power? Make it come at will? A shiver ran down her spine, excitement, and fear, and a note of something else—lust, or hunger.
“You know how I can do that?” she asked.
“I know my own training,” John said. “I know much of how the Gods exert their will upon our humble rock. I know beings who may be able to help you more.”
“That’s the ‘place’ you’re talking about.”
“Indeed. There is a being in particular who comes to mind, a member of the Gaespora. Her name is Tess. She is fond of humans, but shy. She lives in a dimensional estuary, a place on the margin of our world and another. It can be found only by those who can hear her song.”
“Magic shit, eh?”
“If you insist. As a Gaesporan, Tess would reveal herself to me, but with my connection severed I must find her song on my own. I need not explain the advantage.”
“No, I get it. You can find this place with your psychic antenna, and if we ever make it