Earthbound (The Reach, Book 1) by Mark R. Healy Read Free Book Online Page B

paled visibly at the mention of that name.
    “I can’t talk about her.”
    “Why not?”
    “Bad memories.  I don’t want to even think about it.”
    “Did she make it out?”
    “No.”  Knile bit into the jerky, snapping half of it s length off in one bite.  “There was no way she could have.”
    “I’m sorry.  You two seemed destined for better things.”  Her voice softened.  “You were meant for each other.”
    “Doesn’t matter now.  Things didn’t go as planned, and that’s all I can say.”
    She reached out and put a hand on his shoulder.  “Well, if you decide you want to talk about it, I’m here,” she said with sincerity.
    “Thanks, Talia.”
    She straightened abruptly and forced a brighter tone of voice.
    “So, what do you need me to do?”
    Knile took another bite.  “I need a way into the Reach.  I need to get in there today.”  He nodded to himself.  “Yeah, has to be today if I’m going to make it up by tomorrow night.”
    She gave him a crooked smile.  “Something tells me you’re not here to ask for a dirigible.”
    “Not exactly.  I was hoping you’d be able to give me some advice.  Figured you’d be aware of any changes here in Link.”
    “Glad to know I’m good for something.”  Talia considered.  “Maybe Grove is the best bet.”
    “Grove?  Do we still have friends there?”
    “Giroux is still in charge, last I checked.  If you’re lucky, he might take pity on you.  I’m not exactly sure how you’re going to play it out once you get into Grove, though.”
    “I don’t know either.  I’m making this up as I go along.”  Knile paused.  “What about Roman?  Is he still there?  Is he doing okay?”
    “I don’t know,” Talia said, flashing him a guilty look.  “I haven’t been back to see him.”
    “Really?”
    “What?  Have you?” Talia said vehemently.  “Don’t judge me like that.”
    “I’m sorry,” Knile said.  “I didn’t mean it that way.”
    Talia flicked her hair in annoyance.  “Anyway.  What happens when you get inside the Reach?  There’s security all over the place.  You don’t think they’d have forgotten you by now, do you?”
    Knile laughed.  “No, I doubt they’ve forgotten me, but that doesn’t mean they’re going to catch me.  I spent years mapping out the Reach.  Years .  It can’t have changed that much.”
    She leaned back on the counter.  “This all seems real sudden, Knile.  It doesn’t seem like you.”
    “Passkeys aren’t handed out like candy, Talia.  This is an opportunity that’s too good to refuse.”  He moved over to the small, grimy window and looked out into the street.  “Besides, what am I going to do?  Head back out to the lowlands while I wait to die a slow and painful death?  No, I don’t think so.  I’m going to give it one last shot.  If I fail, so be it.  At least I’ll die knowing I tried.”
    Talia moved over next to him.  “Now you sound just like someone in one of those dirigibles, floating on your way to the Reach on a wing and a prayer.  Not such a crazy idea after all, is it?”
    He smiled back at her.  “I guess not.”
    She moved away and began to gather some items from around the room – a hooded jacket that was slung over a chair, a respirator from a bench, a pair of sunglasses and a backpack.
    “We’d best get moving,” she said, handing him the sunglasses.  “Unless you want to reconsider this crazy scheme?  You could probably lay low here if you wanted to.  Inspections aren’t as common as they used to be.”
    “Thanks for the offer,” Knile said, “but I need to do this.”  He dipped the flask under the water filtration unit on the bench and gave himself a refill.  “I need to try.”
    “Okay, then.”  She donned the jacket and fixed the respirator to her face.  Knile followed suit and eased his own respirator s back in place.
    “You got any other gear?” she said, her voice tinny through the