Signs from Heaven by Phaedra M. Weldon Read Free Book Online

pulled at her lower lip on thought.
    Scott nodded to Fabian. “Have you heard anything? Or sensed anything?”
    â€œSomething—but it’s distant. Sort of weak. Almost like one of those old mill wheels—the kind with the water turning it? Only there isn’t much water left.”
    â€œKeep listening, and the moment you see something or hear something, let me know.”
    Scotty moved away toward Vanov.
    Abruptly Fabian and Sonya were alone. Together. Again.
    Fabian watched Sonya—until she noticed him watching her. Until that moment she’d been deep in thought. Now her eyes widened and she started to turn away.
    â€œPlease.” He reached out and touched her shoulder. “Sonya, stop running.”
    That made her pause, and she turned a sharp expression to him. “I’m not running.”
    He laughed. “Well, you’re doing a great impression of someone running while they’re not running.” He gave her a thumbs-up.
    â€œI’m sorry. I guess it’s been tough. But things are looking up. After that nonsense with Portlyn last month, I went to dinner with Brilson.”
    Fabian grinned. “Lodine? From the outpost?”
    Gomez nodded. “He’s nice—his taste in entertainment is a little unfortunate, though. He has this huge collection of holographic remasterings of really awful twenty-first-century films.” She sighed. “I don’t know if it’ll go anywhere, but the dinner was nice.”
    â€œGood, I’m glad.”
    She smiled at him. “Thanks, Fabe.”
    â€œNo problem.” He looked over her head. “Well, the others are walking off. Shall we join them?”
    She nodded. He pulled his parka closer to him and they went to catch up.
    The walls were smooth, whipped clean by the winds, as were the floors. If there had been any bodies left in this open veranda after the final battle of Stratos, they had long ago been taken by the elements.
    Walls moved and sloped, bent and dipped outward from the dais. Pattie’s tricorder gave a faint hum as she scurried from place to place, her legs making whispering noises against the marble.
    â€œThe structure of this place is incredible,” she said as she went about her work. “Commander Gomez, I am picking up several slight variations in structural thickness along the north and west wings of the city—the same places I detected weakening foundations from my scans on board the da Vinci .”
    Gomez nodded as she stopped in the center of the first open area. “Those are the pressure points Nancy was worried about. As for the city itself, it’s beautiful. All of it.”
    Vanov nodded as he moved to stand beside her. “Stratos was said to have been the home to thousands of priceless works of art—a collection to rival any in the galaxy.” He sighed. “Once we were an artistic race.”
    â€œBut you still are,” Pattie said as he scurried close.
    â€œNo, we’ve lost so much since the Disruption. Even certain arts in the building.” He pointed to the blue marbled wall in front of them. “This wall is fashioned entirely of blue gastion,” Vanov said as he pointed to the ceiling. “Its molecular weight has an astounding binding property when introduced to higher altitudes.”
    Pattie moved closer and touched it with several of her front legs. “It’s warm!”
    â€œIt’s getting warmer,” Scotty said as he moved closer. “The city senses when certain areas are occupied, so it’s sending power to the walls and floor to heat the cold. Since it was empty for nearly a day most of the city has cooled back down—except for the engine room. As well as the central control.”
    As they neared the front of the building Scott turned to face them. “Here is where we’re going to split up. Since we don’t have an accurate map of the city itself, we’re going to have to