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

her, Vinx, and Konya entering first.
    Vanov had pointed to a series of familiar letters on the door. Soske Busk, the son of the city’s creator. There were many buildings named after him and his wife.
    Just inside was where Alverson had set off the trap. There were scraps of medical supplies everywhere—and was that blood on the floor?
    Vanov led them down three flights of stairs. The longer they were inside the warmer it became. Just as Scott said it would. By the time the group moved out into a hallway, several removed their jackets.
    It was down this hallway the group had found the door, and stopped.
    Vanov remained in front of them, his hands on his face. He looked as if he’d just seen the face of his god.
    And what was that smell? It reminded Bart of old, unwashed shoes. “That’s a door.”
    â€œAnd it doesn’t appear to have any visible door handles either.” Carol frowned at Bart. “Isn’t that odd?”
    He shrugged. “Maybe it’s like an Aladdin door? Open sesame and all that?”
    Carol sighed.
    Bart grinned and held out his hands. “Mellon!”
    Carol gave him a lopsided grin. “You really are nervous.”
    â€œScared out of my wits,” Bart said as he peeled off his jacket. “I’m not in the habit of looking for traps.” He couldn’t help but be reminded of the trap that killed his parents when he was young, the same one that had killed the first real love of his life.
    Yes. He was nervous all right.
    â€œI’m afraid I don’t know the reference,” Vanov said and approached the door in reverence, much the way he’d bowed to Fabian.
    Which Bart found just too odd.
    Sonya moved up to stand beside the Historian. “Vanov, what exactly is the fight about below? About Stratos?”
    Vanov turned to her, his expression resigned. “Stratos has always been in the sky, for as long as I can remember. Much of the history after the Disruption is more muddled up—there are several groups who believe it’s been forgotten or hidden on purpose.”
    â€œThe history of Stratos?”
    â€œThe technology,” Vanov said. “When you don’t know the answers to the past you make up wild stories about it. No one today can build such a structure, much less make it hover in the sky. We build shuttles, simple propulsion engines, and smaller anti-gravity devices.” He held his hands out and looked up. “But nothing like this.”
    â€œYou mean some of your people believe the technology was hidden to prevent another Stratos?”
    Vanov nodded. “Still others—those in the majority—believe the city should be kept in the heavens but studied, and its technologies brought back to her people.” He held up a finger. “That is where the real division exists.”
    Bart had been listening and now moved closer, as did Carol.
    â€œDivision as to who owns the technology?” Carol frowned.
    â€œNot so much like that,” Vanov said. “But a division of fear. Those who fear the technology will be used only for a select few, and those who believe the technology will destroy what we’ve rebuilt.” He shook his head. “I’m afraid those who wish the city destroyed have been growing in increasing numbers through the past decade. Their prophets and seers have foretold the falling of Stratos for decades.”
    Well, that could be bad. Bart scratched at his stubbled chin. “That’s what’s happening now—with what the High Advisor is dealing with.”
    â€œThose who want it destroyed,” Vanov said, “verses those who want it preserved—only with control.” He smiled at Sonya. “Did you know that until the Edison arrived we didn’t have the transmat technologies? Their engineers fixed it for us—made us two new transmat pads.”
    With a glance at Carol, Bart rubbed at his face. Oh, yeah—he could see this