Ellie Quin Book 3: Beneath the Neon Sky by Alex Scarrow Read Free Book Online Page B

plot 451, Ellie?’
    ‘Yeah, that’s right.’
    Jez squinted. ‘Hmmm, I see nothing but sand and rocks.’
    ‘That’s home alright,’ Ellie shrugged. ‘But we should see a large rocky outcrop soon.’
    ‘Large? How large?’ asked Jez.
    ‘Well, not so much large….but big enough you won’t miss it.’
    They silently scanned the flat horizon racing towards them, and then finally Aaron spotted the slightest bump ahead of them. ‘That it?’ he asked, pointing.
    Ellie smiled, ‘that’s it. The only thing close to resembling a hill in the area.’
    ‘Okay here we go!’ said Jez, ‘a week on the ol’ farm!’ she announced with her rendition of a prairie accent.
    ‘Crud, Jez, we’re not that bad!’
    ‘Just kiddin’, farm-chik.’
    Aaron dropped altitude by a hundred feet and they skimmed the ground. ‘Here we go girls. You got your things ready?’
    Ellie felt the strap on her shoulder. Her bag contained the presents she had brought from New Haven, her diary of course and the things she needed for the next few days. A change of clothes, toiletries, would all be at home, just as she had left them in her own habi-cube all those months ago.
    ‘Yeah, we’re good,’ replied Jez casting a glance back at the three stuffed bags stacked by the bulkhead door.
    Aaron looked down at the jimp, who was curled into a ball on the seat beside him, fast asleep. ‘And you’re taking your pet monkey with you?’
    ‘Yes, he’ll love it,’ Ellie replied. ‘So will Ted, for that matter.’
    Aaron began to decelerate as the hill, Ellie’s ‘overlook’, rushed forward to meet then. He pulled the nose of the shuttle up slightly as they slid gracefully over the top of it.
    ‘And there it is,’ said Ellie. ‘Home.’
    Jez looked out at the farm nestling at the bottom of the reverse side of the slope leading up to the rocky outcrop; three one-acre domes surrounding a smaller one in the middle. ‘Hey, it’s bigger than I thought,’ said Jez.
    Which was odd, because to Ellie it looked a lot smaller than she remembered.
    Aaron eased back on the thrusters as they moved down the slope of the hill towards the farm. ‘You did call them to let them know you were coming?’
    Ellie shook her head. ‘Nope. I want this to be a big surprise.’
    Aaron nodded, ‘well, a four hundred ton surface shuttle dropping out of the sky into their back yard unannounced…I think it’ll be that alright.’
    As the shuttle settled to the ground amidst a furious, amber dust cloud, Ellie spotted the round bulkhead door to one of the agri-domes swing open and a figure cautiously emerge holding a protective hand up to cover its face from the swirling eddies of airborne sand.
    ‘Who’s that who’s just come out?’
    It was hard to see…..a lean man for sure. ‘My Dad, I guess.’
    Aaron turned round to face them. ‘Okay girls, I’m not going to cut the engines.’
    ‘You’re not? I’m going to get dust all over my hair,’ Jez complained.
    ‘So shoot me. Anyway, I’m not coming in for tea. I’m heading off now. I’ll be back in four or five days for you, understand?’
    Ellie nodded and then put an arm around one of his shoulders and hugged him. ‘Thank you, for bringing me to see them.’
    ‘Hey, that’s alright,’ replied Aaron awkwardly, taken aback. ‘They deserve it as much as you do. Just make the most of your visit, eh?’
    ‘I will do.’
    Jez reached out a hand and punched his shoulder affectionately. ‘Just don’t lose the shuttle in some seedy poker game alright? I know what you trucker-boys are like.’
    Aaron laughed, ‘yeah right. And you mind your city-talk, Jez. There’s little kids on that farm.’
    ‘Don’t worry, I’ll have them swearing like troopers before we leave.’
    Ellie gently prodded Harvey out of his slumber. He uncurled himself and dutifully followed her down the walkway as she made her way to the back of the cabin. Jez picked up the smallest of her three bags and Harvey, dutifully, the