Jeanne G'Fellers - Sisters Flight by Jeanne G'Fellers Read Free Book Online Page A

pointed to the screen at her elbow.
    "That'd
be most of 'em," mumbled Genevic with a glance at her active monitor.
Harlis and Evangeline returned to the corridor to examine the map again. I
stood behind Rankil's chair, observing my lover at work. Rankil had described
much of the helm to me in such vivid detail that it all looked familiar.
    "Don't
care about any of them but one." Rankil pointed to the icon Tara had
spoken of. "Well, here we go. Computer, freeze program."
    "We
ready then?" Harlis appeared through the hatchway. "Evangeline needs
to get back to her group."
    "We're
ready, but the satellite is almost out of range." Genevic began the
surveillance sequence then rotated the terminal back to Rankil. "Here,
you're better at geography. Find us."
    "Me?"
I knew Rankil had been more than willing to let Genevic guide the procedure,
but she now took control, rotating the image until familiar features came into
view. As she worked, Rankil reached out to me with her thoughts, sharing her
own wonderment. It slays me how until six or seven passes ago my entire
world was my fathers compound, she shared as she narrowed the satellite's
view to the northern hemisphere.
    I
had an immediate answer to that negative thought, one so positive in its energy
that Evangeline must have heard, because she smiled. And my world was
restricted to the Serpent clan. Now they no longer exist, and you're not the
misplaced child you once were. I have you. You have me. Now Evangeline's people
need her. Find them before it's too late.
    Rankil
extended a brief mental caress as thanks then returned to her work. The
northern hemisphere came into view, then the expansive Juleskinstonwell
continent, and lastly the eastern coastline which Rankil followed south until
she saw the bulbous, pinched river mouth referred to as Two Fish Bay.
    "Slowly
to the northwest." Evangeline's eyes were, for once, on something besides
Rankil and me.
    "Satellite
will be out of range in five minutes," said Genevic without looking up.
    Rankil
panned upward, crossing the terrain of her homeland, passing the Aut town of
Railings, the farming compounds around the town then following a hair width
smear we knew to be the road leading to the foothills of her birth.
    "Keep
your heading," Harlis demanded when Rankil slowed.
    "Yes,
Harlis."
    I
placed a hand on Rankil's shoulder, squeezing it as a reminder of my presence.
    "There."
Evangeline thrust her finger at the screen, covering the sight her people disappeared
from.
    "Showing
details." Genevic placed an overlay on the screen, marking the satellite's
interpretations of various land features. "Large concentration of populace
in the area. Appears to be a town on the river fifteen kilometers to the west,"
she said, glancing down at the graphics key.
    "There
are no towns besides Railings, and it's on the bay." Rankil stared at the
tiny, unfocused image. "Let me see if I can pull in." She did so with
a skim of the keyboard then stopped, horrified, gasping like the rest of us as
the image came into focus. We hadn't found a town, but rather, an aperture in
the riverbank. And there were people—dozens, penned like nassies. Sisters close
enough to touch curled together for warmth. We had found the Yauld and proof of
the long-speculated source of Longpass's wealth. Both were hidden deep within
the Autlach lands. The Yauld were laboring in the largest crystal mine we had
ever seen.
    Chapter
Four
    Flashback
    Master: Remember all, including the pain. Apprentice: But remembering the
pain brings sadness. Master: It does, but it can also bring healing.
    Myrla
    Rankil
returned home very late, sweating and out of breath, body quivering with
unmasked pain. She said nothing to me as she entered but stumbled through,
shutting and bolting the door before she scrambled behind her armchair to
crouch. There she gazed not at the bookcase on the opposite wall but beyond it
to some place that I had never been and I am certain Rankil had never wanted